RETHYMNO BEACH
The beach of Rethymno is 12 km long, it starts from the historical city center and extends to the Eastern part of the isle reaching Scaleta. Rethymno beach has fine-grained brilliant light brown sand. Close to Rethymno it is mostly crowded, but further towards the west it gets quieter. The water is clean and you can do all kinds of water sports.

EPISKOPI BEACH
The beach Episkopi is located 14km west of Rethymnon, in a fertile valley with lowlands. It takes its name from the nearby village, Episkopi, located 2km southern. The beach is bounded on the west by the river Mouselas and west by the river that runs in the gorge of Petres, next to Zourida bridge. It is a long beach, 3.5km long, which is sandy, shallow . It is very well organized, since there are many restaurants, taverns, bars and all the amenities one could need. In the western part of the beach you can find places with lifeguards, showers, changing rooms, umbrellas, snack bars, water sports, etc.

AGIOS PAVLOS BEACH
This is one of the most amazing beaches of Crete, located 50 km outside Rethymno town. The beach is formed between the Akoumianos River and the edge of Melissa Cape. The bay is absolutely fantastic with its wild majestic landscape and enormous sand hills. The beach is ideal for snorkelling and the sunset is stunning.

GEROPOTAMOS BEACH
Geropotamos’ Arch is located 16km east of Rethymno and a few meters west of Geropotamos beach. It is named after the spectacular natural arch formed in the west end of the beach. Kamara (i.e. Arch in Greek) is a tiny beach with sand, small pebbles and crystal blue waters. The beach is surrounded by vertical cliffs, which provide natural shade.

The coastline from Kamara to Skaleta is full of caves and amazing rock formations. Monachus monachus (mediteranean seal) finds shelter in these cavities.

MALIOU TO RIAKI
“Tou Maliou to Riaki” (i.e. Malios’ stream) is located 15km east of Rethymnon city, in a fairly secluded area, just a few kilometers east of Skaleta and west of Geropotamos. It is quite unknown to most locals, though it is very close to the main road that connects Heraklion and Rethymno. The beach is formed in a small bay with a pebbly beach and crystal clear deep waters, protected by vertical cliffs. Characteristic of the cove, also called Spilies (i.e. Caves), are the beautiful cave rocks that protect the small beach on the west. Beyond the west edge (and the east end) of the beach, there are several caves and rocks with amazing formations. These are very important, because the endangered Mediterranean seal Monachus monachus finds shelter in these cavities. On the beach there are umbrellas, sun beds and a small canteen on the beach, and that’s all!

CARNIVAL IN RETHYMNO (17th of  March)
It is the fantastic colorful and breathtaking Carnival in Rethymno. Year after year we celebrate our Carnival like no other town in Greece can do. Parties and masquerades all over the town for three weeks. Traditional and modern with music and theatre, street parades and children's events. Our "Treasure Hunt" is legend. So is our Grand Parade with many floats and thousands of happy paraders.

CLEAN MONDAY (18th of  March 2013)
Every year various burlesque folk customs are revived in Armeni, Gerani, Melidoni and Meronas: the “moutzouromata” (“Smudging”) when revellers go round smudging people with soot, the “Tsagaris” (“Shoemaker”), the “Tambis” and the “Abduction of the Bride” Also this public holiday is celebrated with the consumption of shellfish and other fasting food, a special kind of azyme bread, baked only on this day, named "lagana" and the widespread custom of flying kites.

EASTER (5th of May )
Undoubtedly Easter is the most important festival of the Orthodox Church. During this period the religious belief of the people is felt strongly, since Easter celebrations are not restricted to Easter Sunday only, but they also include the previous week, Holy Week, during which the ceremonies preparing for the great celebration are carried out. The parish congregates to attend afternoon and evening services. On Good Friday the Epitaph is decorated with fresh, sweet-smelling flowers, and in the evening it is carried through the neighbourhoods followed by the congregation, who chant and scatter roseleaves onto it. The following night, on Easter Saturday, Resurrection is celebrated. The faithful, all equipped with candles, take home the "Holy Light", which has been passed on to the congregation. At home they sit around the festive table in order to enjoy the Mayiritsa and to smash the red painted eggs. On Easter Sunday people have barbecues in the countryside, grilling lambs and celebrating the Resurrection of Christ as well as the beginning of spring.

RETHYMNO DAYS From April to May
For a second consecutive year the Association of Residents of Old Town Rethymnon will be organising its cultural festival 'Rethymnon Days' from mid April until the end of May.

With the focus on the promotion of the historical and natural monuments of the town, a plethora of events will include art exhibitions, concerts and theatre performances mainly by artists who live in or originate from Rethymnon.

BEACH VOLLEY TOURNAMENT From the beginning of June until 1st of July
On the sandy beach of the historical centre of the city, local and foreign teams participate in this unique festival of sport set beside the Venetian harbor.

CRETAN DIET FESTIVAL 1st week of July
 The Rethymno Public Garden will be a welcoming place in the heart of the city, where you can try excellent Cretan wine, taste traditional food from fresh ingredients of the Cretan land, listen to traditional Cretan music from local artists, meet, talk and learn from the producers about nature, share ideas and moments from their daily life.

CRETAN WINE FESTIVAL
Every summer the town of Rethymnohosts its wine festival  – a 2-week celebration of Cretan wine, music and dance. An entrance fee was charged, you bring  a carafe and some glasses, and you could drink as much wine as you want, whilst listening to some very good Cretan music and watching some fantastic dancing.

RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL -August
Every summer the festival inspires us with music and colorful images of the past. Hundreds of artists from all over the world gather each year in Rethymno to participate in the festival with theatrical, music and dance performances, art exhibitions .

CELEBRATION OF THE HOLY VIRGIN 15th of August
In August the 15th the celebration of the Holy Virgin is held with religious ceremonies and great feasts with food, wine and dances all around the prefecture of Rethymno and in the entire island of Crete.

NATIONAL ANNIVERSARY 28th October
This day is characterized by military parades. It is also called "Ohi Day", meaning Day of No, in honor to the negative answer of the Greeks when the Italians asked them to surrender during World War II, on October 28th, 1940.

ALANA RESTAURANT (Salaminos 15 Old Town Restaurant)
Enjoy lovely courtyard dining in the historic old town with plenty of cool, soothing vegetation. The menu is harmonious mix of Creative Greek and Mediterranean cuisines. Try the "Taste Nest" salad with ruccola, red cabbage, currants and walnuts with a honey-balsamic dressing all in a phyllo pastry nest. There is a good grill selection with fresh meats as well as some other interesting main courses, such as pork sirloin with Aegina nuts and plums or chicken breast with a delectable sauce of Samos sweet wine, yoghurt and tarragon. Fresh pastas round out the innovative. Try the inventive heart-shaped ravioli filled with mozzarella with a fresh tomato coulis.  Reasonably good wine    selection and attentive service.

AVLI RESTAURANT (Xanthoudidou 22 Old Town Rethymno)
Set in a magnificent 1530's Venetian villa with an impressive, romantic multi-tiered courtyard, Avli may well be one of the finest restaurants on the island of Crete. The eclectic interior décor, art collection and table settings all add to the unique ambiance. The cuisine is innovative Cretan, with so many mouth-watering selections that it is difficult to choose. All the salads are superb, especially the house salad with greens, green apple, pear, avocado, walnuts and roquefort dressing. For real Cretan cuisine you can't beat the young mountain kid with honey and thyme or again taking creative license with sea bass in a lemon-saffron sauce with arthichokes and asparagus. There is a beautiful wine cellar with more than 450 labels to choose from.

CASTELVECCHIO RESTAURANT (Chimarras & Kapmitsi)
Castelvecchio can boast a beautiful setting in a renovated Venetian house high up on a hill next to the old Fortress. Dining is on one of the many terraces with splendid views and sunslets over Rethymno. This family-run operation has been pleasing guests for many years. The Greek/International menu has an abundance of interesting items such as the lamb in a creamy feta & tomato sauce,

PIGADI RESTAURANT( Xanthoudidou 27 Old Town Rethymno)
In this Chef owned/operated establishment, you can be sure that attention to every detail is taken seriously. The extensive menu is liberally-interpreted Greek cuisine with Mediterranean overtones. Enjoy such delicacies as the grilled rabbit with anthogalo cheese, chicken with ouzo and mastic or the grilled veggies with honey & garlic. Respectable wine list and extremely amiable service.

STELLA`S KITCHEN (Souliou 55)
A Cretan version of a diner, serving wonderfully fresh, cooked dishes like a Greek grandmother used to make. Every day there are new plates to try because Stella has customers who eat there daily, All Rethymnites in the know, know Stella's place, so you might be hard-pressed to find a seat, but wait a bit and something always frees up. You must make your difficult choice by looking at the delicious prepared dishes on display, such as pork or lamb Fricasse or chicken Giouvetsi or Fasolakia or Pork baked with orange or stuffed peppers. There are also always several meatless dishes for vegetarians.

HARIS CREPERIE (Mesologiou 8-10 Old Town Rethymno)
The crepes are huge, hand made and you can watch them being made. It is certainly one of the best creperies of the country with a variety of choice. Situated In the heart of the old city, the prices are reasonable and locals appreciate it. It is almost impossible to finish the portions but our advice is to ask for a doggy bag.

NOSTOS RESTAURANT (Machis Kritis 118 Platanias )
At Nostos you will find a wide variety of Greek dishes, many of the them based on well-known Greek recipes. What makes Nostos special is its chef, Mihalis Harisis, whose inspiration has created unique tastes with fresh ingredients. The menu of Nostos includes soups, salads, apetizers, meat dishes, young lamb and goat dishes, as well as seafood dishes. There is an excellent wine list with carefully selected Greek wines and the people of Nostos will gladly help you to choose the right wine to accompany your meal.

The people of Nostos like to describe their restaurant with the following words:

"For the ones who wandered in the world of taste, Nostos (return in Greek), to stand for the ultimate challenge of never leaving again".

KECHAGIAS TAVERNA (Stavromenos)
his family-run taverna 10 km outside Rethymno epitomizes the concept of „filoxenia” (hospitality). The down-home, delicious cooking is thanks to Mrs.Kechagiadaki and her son Kosta runs the operation. Must try their incredible Special Saganaki, which is a sausage, smoked pork, onion & pepper ragout. For dessert they give Tiganites (little fried donut-like pastries with honey). Summertime dining is on two large shady porches and in the winter cosy up to the big central fireplace.

KNOSSOS TAVERNA  (Nearchou 40 Old Port Rethymno)

Visitors who appreciate dining in a 600-year-old taverna little known to tourists sneak off to this small, charming family-owned find along the old Venetian harbor. Specializing in fish as fresh as the day's catch, all meals are lovingly prepared by Maria Stavroulaki and her mother. You can't go wrong with the grilled whole fish with fresh vegetables, or baked lobster with pasta. Happiness is snagging the single table on the open second-floor balcony overlooking the blinking harbor lights.

SOKAKI LEMON GARDEN
The Sokaki lemon garden is perfect for couples on a romantic evening  Its  atmosphere and hidden location makes it all the more attractive and the lemons and pomegranates are picked fresh from the trees. The dishes are a mix between Cretan classics and new cuisine.