|
The winter atmosphere in Rethymno is very relaxing and the weather is usually mild. You can visit the city and it’s attractions without the crowd and the heat of the summer. Most shops and businesses are open and because there are many university students in Rethymno, the city stays alive all year long.  You will always find a taverna open or a “cafénio" to warm you up with a "tsikoudia" and to taste the local "meze". At night, many places fill up with students and locals. It's not rare than someone takes out a “bouzouki” (lute) and starts to play a Greek folk song or, as they call it, "rebetiko". Rethymno offers a lot to see and the old town is well preserved with a lot of Venetian and Ottoman remains still in place. Impossible to miss the Fortezza Castle; it is so large that it can be seen from almost anywhere in town. Other major landmarks of Rethymno are the Venetian Harbour and the Egyptian lighthouse, the old mosque and the Neratzes minaret as well as the Rimondi fountain. Don't miss the archeological museum located in the Venetian Loggia. If you have time you can discover the various churches and mosques scattered around town. The surrounding areas of Rethymno offer a large range of activities, even in the winter. If the sky is clear you can visit the mountain of Psiloriti -the tallest in Crete- for hiking or skiing. Yes, if there is snow it is possible to do cross-country skiing in Crete, some travel agencies propose skiing trips around Psiloriti and the White Mountains (Lefka Ori). Not far from Psiloriti, don't miss the village of Anogia and it’s inhabitants who all wear black, preserving the traditional characteristics of an old Cretan village.
AboutRomain Picon wrote this article on behalf of Rethymno.Rentals. Romain is a French travel writer who lives in Greece and visits Crete every year. He has worked as a trekking guide and even composed a unique travel guide for Athens. This article has been proofread and edited by Valanti. Have a question? Leave it in the comment section below!
|
RSS Feed
