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Rethymnon Beach

Rethymnon Beach lies to the east of Rethymnon town in the central west of Crete in Greece.

This beautiful beach stretches for 13 km and is lined with hotels, apartments and resorts. There are plenty of tavernas, cafes and convenience stores here, and it is only a short walk to the old town of Rethymnon, along the pleasant esplanade of Sofokli Venizelou.

The waters are beautiful turquoise turning to deep indigo, as there are shallow areas for youngsters and deeper areas for adults. Various spots have life guards with towers.

With views across the bay to the old town with its small harbour and ruined Venetian Fortezza atop a small hill overlooking the Cretan sea, and the old lighthouse, this wide sandy beach is ideal for holidays combining sea and history, sun and cultural experiences, sand and Cretan cuisine.

Make no mistake, this is a busy town beach with umbrellas, showers, equipment and water sports. This is a very popular holiday destination, great for kids of all ages, perfect for families.

Tavernas & Restaurants

Rethymnon Old Town

Exploring the Region

The beach is organised with sun loungers and umbrellas in many areas.

Rethymnon Beach Activities

Rethymnon Beach - perfect for parasailing and lots of other water activities

Rent a jetski, banana boat ride, parasailing experience, water ski ride or 'crazy sofa' ride with Popeye Watersports at the marina on Sofokli Venizelou.

Lottie Watersports offers flyboard or hydroflights, boat and jet ski hire as well as cave boat trips by speed boat, leaving from the beach near the the marina on Sofokli Venizelou. You can also go nuts on the banana or sofa ride.

Jet skis at Rethymnon Beach, Crete, with the old town and fortezza in the background

Go parasailing or kite surfing off this beach with Ikarus Watersports based at Baja Beach Club, 12 Chiou St, Platanias, which also has pools, kids activities, water slides, a restaurant and bars. Rent gazebos or sun loungers in luxury.

Accommodation Rethymnon Beach

Civitas Suites Hotel is on the edge of the Old Town of Rethymnon, close to the old harbour and close to the beach.

This beautiful building holds the character of the old town whilst providing modern elegance, at an affordable price.

"Great location - in the heart of the city, close to everything. Apartments are fine furnished and elegant. Employees are helpful. Very clean."

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Palm Beach Apartments on Rethymnon Beach, Crete

Palm Beach Hotel Apartments are located on Rethymnon Beach across the road from the beach. This family-run hotel has good quality rooms with lovely views, all beach equipment, and its own cafe-bar on the ground floor. From here stroll 1.5 km to the Old Town of Rethymnon easily and enjoy the historic and cultural centre of town. This hotel is 69 km from Chania Airport.

"100% recommended. Everything since the first step! We were greeted with fresh orange juice and allowed to check in early as we were already in town. The staff at this hotel is the sweetest and the food amazing! Totally recommend it! The fisherman’s platter and seafood pasta are a must try!"

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Creta Palace on Rethymnon Beach in Crete

Ayervedic massage at Grecotel Creta Palace - on the beach in Crete

Creta Palace Resort is one of the best hotels on Crete, sitting on beachfront of this marvellous sandy beach, it offers quality five-star accommodation with 10 in-house restaurants, cafes, bars, 2 pools and a day spa. This hotel is 4 km from town. This resort is 71 km from Chania Airport.

Choose from bungalows or suites dotted about in the gardens or guestrooms in the central hotel. Relax as there are plenty of activities organised for the children. Visit the organic farm that grows the food for all the restaurants here - Agreco Farm - about 6 km inland - to see the whole growing process, be a farmer for a day, bake bread, pick vegetables and visit the animals at the petting zoo. Enjoy fresh traditional Cretan food at the farm taverna.

Elixir Day Spa - at Creta Palace - treat yourself to some pampering massages, body wraps and facial treatments. Try an ayervedic style massage on the beach. Pure bliss.

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Rethymnon Beach in Crete - a blue flag sandy wide beach

Exploring the Old Town

View to Rethymnon Beach from the old harbour with lighthouse

Enjoy the highlights of the Old Town of Rethymnon:

The characteristic narrow streets
The tightly packed little Old Venetian Harbour
The tiny Rimondi Fountain on the north end of Petichaki Square
The Venetian Loggia
The ruins of the Venetian Fortezza
The Porta Guora or Great Gate which formed the entrance to the old town
The Minaret of the Nerantze Mosque
The Historical and Folk Museum
Take a walking tour of the historic town with local wine and food tasting
Take a ride on an old pirate ship to hidden caves and beaches

Rethymnon Old Harbour and pirate ship

Day Trips Around the Region

Arkadi Monastery is 23 km from Rethymnon Town

Arkadi Monastery is 22 km inland from Rethymnon Town

Explore around the Rethymnon Region:

Tavernas and Restaurants

Lemonokipos Restaurant, Rethymnon, the name means 'Lemon Garden'

Restaurants along the beach side:

Le Dome - traditional Greek food and great service

Seperi - modern Greek food, great for vegetarians

Petit Fleur - an experience with Mediterranean cuisine

The Living Room Cafe - a funky cafe-bar by the marina

Prassin Aloga - for Cretan cuisine and seafood on the walk into town

For beach bars you can relax at Baja, Copacabana, Bora Bora and Cactus.

In town you can't go past:

Lemonokipos - Greek food in a relaxed courtyard

Veneto - set in the atmospheric courtyard of a restored Venetian mansion, this is one of the best restaurants on the island

Avli - a bar, restaurant, enoteca, grocery store and suites show the modern creative flair of this historic location mixed with design nous

Turtle Conservation

The Loggerhead Turtle Caretta caretta - classified as a vulnerable species by the UN - uses Rethymnon Beach as a nesting ground, so please be aware of conservation efforts to protect the turtle nesting sites, the turtles and the hatchlings.

Getting to Rethymnon Beach

This beach lies 1 km to the east of the town centre. Arrive here via ferry or flight into either Chania or Heraklion, although Chania is slightly closer. Rethymnon town is 65 km from Chania and 82 km from Heraklion.

Then take a hire car or bus, see timetables below. The beach starts about 2 km from the bus station, therefore, depending upon where on the beachfront you need to get, it is best to get a taxi for under €10 to your destination.

See the location of this beach on this map:

Be a Pirate

The legendary Pirate Barbarossa was active in these seas long ago. Today you can take a ride on the Black Rose pirate ship, which is just like a real Spanish galleon, and cruise and snorkel on the beautiful local beaches. See the pirate caves where the treasure was stashed. The cruise leaves Rethymnon Harbour in the evening, for a sunset cruise, mateys! All aboard me 'arties! Argghh.

Pirate Cruise from Rethymnon - 1 hour