Information & Facts
Activities
Daily boat excursions are the latest activity in Rethymnon,
taking holidaymakers to the beautiful beaches at Bali or Marathi,
and include lunch at a local taverna with unlimited wine. Evening
cruises are also a popular activity, and there are opportunities
for hiking and horseback riding. Sights within the city include the
mosque of Sultan Ibrahim Han and the Venetian fortress as well as
an archeaological museum.
Language
Greek is the national language, but English is widely
spoken.
Money
The Euro (EUR) is the official currency, divided into 100 cents.
Banks and bureaux de change are widely available and travellers
cheques and major credit cards are widely accepted. ATMs are
widespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenient
method of obtaining euros.
Negatives
Rethymnon doesn't have the ruins and archaeological sites that
many Greek holidaymakers expect for such an old city.
Nightlife
Nightlife in Rethymnon ranges from noisy pubs and bars around
the inner harbour or inside the old town, to more relaxed bars on
the beach where holidaymakers can enjoy the sounds of the sea while
sipping on the favourite drink. Fortezza Disco is the flashiest in
town, along with other dance clubs like the Metropolis, New York
Club and the Opera Club. A new younger bar scene has appeared above
the inner harbour around the Platía Plastira, with music bars
sporting outdoor terraces.
Restaurants
The inner harbour of Rethymnon sports an array of restaurants
perfect for holidaymakers and fish tavernas, many of which are
expensive for what they are; the Samaria taverna is more reasonably
priced and among the best here, while Famagusta offers a range of
food from Greek cuisine to western and Chinese. Better value can be
found in the streets around the Rimóndi fountain where there are
some old-fashioned cafes serving local fare including delicious
helpings of traditional yoghurt and honey. These include Kyria
Maria, Agrimia and Othonos, all overlooking the fountain.
Shopping
There is an overwhelming amount of gift shops geared towards
holidaymakers offering tourist souvenirs, as well as a variety of
handicrafts such as pottery, baskets, woodcarving and woven goods.
Cretan embroidery can be found at Haroula Spridaki, while various
items carved from olive wood are at Olive Tree Wood. Palaiopoleiou
offers genuine antiques and old textiles and those interested in
modern ceramics and Greek pottery should stop at Omodamos.
Self-caterers will find numerous general stores and mini
supermarkets scattered about, and there is a daily market below the
Porta Guora, as well as a bakery just behind the Rimóndi
fountain.