This year I summered on the north coast of Crete, between Heraklion and Chania, Rethymno lies, it's a small town that gets under your skin faster than you think. It is a place where you don't measure time by hours, but by the number of sunsets, and where every stone in the cobblestones carries a story older than your name.

Rethymno

Rethymno has been at the crossroads of roads and cultures for centuries. The Venetians gave him the beautiful Fortezza, built in the 16th century to defend the city against pirates and the Ottomans. Today it is a perfect place for a walk before sunset, the view from the walls reveals the whole city, the blue of the Aegean and the olive hills beyond.
The Turks left minarets and oriental courtyard houses in the city, and the Greeks combined it all into one warm, chaotic and beautiful whole.

Local legend says that during the Ottoman rule, couples in love had to meet secretly in the secret courtyards and hidden passages of the old town, maybe that's why even today, when you walk through its streets, you have the feeling that you are part of someone's love story.

The old town of Rethymno is a labyrinth of narrow streets with facades in the colours of honey, peach and terracotta. You pass under Venetian arches, past Turkish houses with wooden balconies, and through small squares where time stands still with the sound of a spoon clinking against porcelain.
Hidden corners not to be missed:

The Rimondi fountain from 1626, where cold water still flows, and is surrounded by cafes, perfect for morning coffee.

The Venetian arches at the entrance to the old town are perfect for photography in the golden light of the evening.

The small street of Ethnikis Antistaseos is full of handicrafts, ceramics and jewellery made of local silver.

The main city beach in Rethymnon stretches for kilometres and offers everything from sunbeds and cafes to quiet areas where you can lay down your towel and listen only to the waves. The sand is soft, and the sea is turquoise and clean.
If you want to escape the crowds, go to Episkopi beach or even further to Preveli beach, where the river flows into the sea through a palm forest - a scene right out of a movie.

Night life

When the sun sets behind the Fortezza, Rhythm changes its face. Along the coast, restaurant lights come on, and street musicians perform Greek ballads. For a quiet night, sit in one of the cafeterias by the sea and watch the fishing boats return to the harbor.
If you want more energy:

Livingroom Lounge Café – a modern bar with cocktails and a view of the sea.

Metropolis Society Bar – a place to drink, talk and dance to DJ sets.

Ice Club – for those who want to dance until dawn with a mix of Greek and world music.

Locals will tell you that the nightlife in Rethymno is the best in Crete, because the city has a big university, which means a lot of young people and a lot of fun.

Retimno is not only beautiful, but he has a soul. It is a city where you can drink coffee next to a Venetian fountain in the morning, swim in the sea in the afternoon, and listen to music under the stars in the evening. A city where you don't need a map, because it's best to wander. And the city to which you will return, maybe already next summer (like me :D), maybe even earlier.