Rethymnon

Overview
Anyone could be forgiven for mistaking the hugely popularpackage tour resort town of Rethymnon for a sort of Cretan-inspiredtheme resort, but the best thing about the town is that itspicturesque historic heart is actually genuine. The old town isjust that, old, its winding alleys overhung with pretty woodenflower-bedecked balconies flaunt historic Venetian and Turkisharchitectural influences. Fortunately a recent mad spate of touristdevelopment has left the old town untouched, so it can now delightthe many snap-happy visitors and serve as a bustling venue fortavernas, restaurants and souvenir shops. To the east is one ofCrete's longest sandy beaches, which has become the target ofdevelopers and is lined with apartment blocks and hotels.Excursions are easily made to Heraklion, Hania or the monastery ofArkadhi.

Money
The Euro (EUR) is the official currency, divided into 100 cents.Banks and bureaux de change are widely available and travellerscheques and major credit cards are widely accepted. ATMs arewidespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenientmethod of obtaining euros.

Time
Local time is GMT +2 (GMT +3 between the last Sunday in April and the last Sunday in October).

Language
Greek is the national language, but English is widely spoken.

Climate
Crete enjoys hot, dry summers and mild winters. Temperatures inJuly and August range from 86ºF (30ºC) during the day to72ºF (22ºC) at night. Rainfall is almost non-existent insummer but showers can be expected between October and April.

Shopping
There is an overwhelming amount of gift shops offering touristsouvenirs, as well as a variety of handicrafts such as pottery,baskets, woodcarving and woven goods. Cretan embroidery can befound at Haroula Spridaki, while various items carved from olivewood are at Olive Tree Wood. Palaiopoleiou offers genuine antiquesand old textiles and those interested in modern ceramics and Greekpottery should stop at Omodamos. Self-caterers will find numerousgeneral stores and mini supermarkets scattered about, and there isa daily market below the Porta Guora, as well as a bakery justbehind the Rimóndi fountain.

Nightlife
Nightlife ranges from noisy pubs and bars around the innerharbour or inside the old town, to more relaxed bars on the beach.Fortezza Disco is the flashiest in town, along with other danceclubs like the Metropolis, NYC, Nitro and the Opera Club. A newyounger bar scene has appeared above the inner harbour around thePlatía Plastira, with music bars sporting outdoor terraces,such as Enzzo, Karma and Art.

Activities
Daily boat excursions are the latest activity in Rethymnon,taking tourists to the beautiful beaches at Bali or Marathi, andinclude lunch at a local taverna with unlimited wine. Eveningcruises are also a popular activity.

Restaurants
The inner harbour sports an array of touristy restaurants andfish tavernas, many of which are expensive for what they are; theSamaria taverna and O Zefyros are more reasonably priced and two ofthe best here. Better value can be found in the streets around theRimóndi fountain where there are some old-fashioned cafesserving local fare including delicious helpings of traditionalyoghurt and honey. These include Kyria Maria, Agrimia and ZanfotiKafenío, all overlooking the fountain.