Modern Cretans feel the urge to share their secrets of life with the world. Besides their history and culture, they are also willing to share with people their prized cultural heritage known as Cretan Diet. Cretan producers and local processing, packaging, and marketing companies warrant that all Cretan products are pure, without chemical substances or other preservatives and additives. Cretan products, being part of centuries old tradition, are treated with the same respect as that afforded to them by our ancestors.
Taste Crete
Modern Cretans feel the urge to share their secrets of life with the world. Besides their history and culture, they are also willing to share with people their prized cultural heritage known as Cretan Diet. Cretan producers and local processing, packaging, and marketing companies warrant that all Cretan products are pure, without chemical substances or other preservatives and additives. Cretan products, being part of centuries old tradition, are treated with the same respect as that afforded to them by our ancestors.
Rethymno is a place to experience the finest cuisine, which can be found in many tavernas in and out the city. You also get to see and learn about the making of simple Cretan dishes. Olive oil, wine, wheat, honey, milk, cheese, meat, greens, vegetables – the ingredients used in Cretan cuisine are plain, precise, clear and, most important, genuine and natural. The Cretan gastronomy is based on the produce of the fields, which guarantees a wholesome diet and contributes to the Cretan’s good health and long life span. Cretan cooking does not depend on various techniques of preparation. Its success lies in the ingredients that are used.
Rethymno provides a comfortable and warm atmosphere that’s perfect for a casual lunch or dinner, or a place to take the family out. There is something to please everyone in the café menu showcase inspired by the Cretan cuisine. Owing to the olive oil, which is often used as a topping, Cretan dishes are particularly delicious. Try a variety of freshly made local dishes, such as fresh salads, “dacos”, fried snails (boubourista), “apaki” (smoked pork), lamb cooked as “”tsigariasto” or “antikristo” and “gamopilafo” (traditional Cretan pilaff). Don’t miss the chance to taste the local cheeses like “feta”, “graviera”, “mizythra” and the unique “stakoboutyro” (butter from sheep and/or goat). As a dessert the people of Rethymno prefer home made sweets such as cheese pies from myzithra cheese, fried pastry with honey, lychnarakia (small sweet cheese pies) and preserved fruit.
Wine Cellar Restaurants offer an exceptional dining experience in an amazingly ambient cellar venue with friendly, unpretentious service brought to you by talented wait-staff. The menus reflect an innovative patchwork of complex, bold flavours based on varied Cretan recipes brought together with warm hospitality.
An award-winning wine list, hand-crafted cocktails and local dishes (mezedes) are offered in the local cosy “rakadika” and cafes that are spread out all over the historic center. Lovers of gastronomy will enjoy the flavours of authentic dishes based on traditional recipes and local produce.
The Bars in the historic center and the coastal road of El. Venizelou take a more innovative approach with cocktails made with tsikoudia as a main ingredient. You may also visit many open-air concerts and many other seasonal festivals including the famous Cretan Diet Festival.
Active Tours
Rethymno, the prefecture between the towns of Chania and Heraklio, abuts the Cretan sea to the north and the Libyan Sea to the south. The terrain of the prefecture is mainly mountainous with multifarious morphological changes such as imposing gorges, a large number of caves, lush valleys and small rivers. From action and adventure in the wild unknown places, to entertainment, shopping and historically rich tourist destinations the journey will inspire passion and surprise by exploring sites you may have never thought about.
Mountains and mountain ranges dominate the interior of the prefecture. In the east rises Mount Psiloritis, or Ida as it was called during ancient times, with its sacred cave of Zeus, and south west the mountain range of Kedros; together the two massifs border the beautiful valley of Amari. On the north easterly border of the prefecture rises Mount Kouloukonas also called Talaia Mountain. South of the town of Rethymno is Mount Vrysinas, and in a south westerly direction lies mount Kryoneritis. A few areas of flat land can be found mainly in the northern coastal region between the massifs.
There exist about 850 caves, the most important of which are the Ideon Antron and the caves of Melidoni, Sfendoni and Gerani, which are of particular archeological, historical and folklore interest. Furthermore, the mountainous areas reveal gorges of unique beauty such as the gorges of Mili, Kourtalioti, Kotsifou, Patsos, Prasses, Argiroupoli and Arkadi, to name only a few.
Uncover these natural wonders through biking, walking, hiking and sightseeing in Rethymno’s endless wilderness attractions.
The prefecture of Rethymno is an area embellished with particularly beautiful nature and scenery. Following various magnificent routes, the visitor is led to the most interesting places like for example to scheduled and traditional settlements. Remains of buildings dating back to the Venetians can be found in the villages of Maroulas, Cromonastiri, Mountros, Monopari, and Amnatos, while traditional villages such as Garazo, Spili, Anogia will bring the visitor closer to the customs and traditions of the people, which have remained unchanged through the passage of time. The grape harvesting and visits to many wineries are ideal places to begin the expedition.
The prefecture of Rethymno surprises with its contrasting scenery. The harsh mountainous areas alternate with fertile valleys, and an imposing rocky coastline is interrupted by far-stretching, sandy beaches, each area revealing its own, particular beauty. The lagoon of Preveli, the springs of Arguroupolis and Kournas Lake, the Nida Plateau as well as the beaches of the north and south coast are options that display the lush flora and fauna of the region offering a captivating scenery.
Rethymno boasts beaches with crystal clear water, which make it an ideal resort for summer holidays. Most of the beaches were awarded the “blue flag”, which acknowledges and guarantees clean beaches. At the north coast, you will mainly find far-stretching, sandy beaches, which are organized and offer accommodation like for example in Episkopi, Rethymno, Adelianos Campos, Panormo and Bali. These places combine a refreshing bath in the sea with entertainment, accommodation in one of the most modern hotel complexes of Crete and water sports such as water ski, surfing, sea parachuting, diving lessons offered in diving centers. At the south coast, you will find various small bays such as that of Aghia Galini and Plakias, which are organized and show a rapid development with respect to tourism, while a large number of small and remote bays promise even the most demanding visitor a different holiday experience. Some of the picturesque beaches at the Libyan sea are Korakas, Souda, Damnoni, Ammoudi, the Lagoon of Preveli, Triopetra, Aghios Pavlos and Kerame.