Fabulous Day Trips from Heraklion You Don’t Want to Miss: One day in Rethymno

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Crete’s third-largest city, Rethymno, is one of the most fascinating day trips from Heraklion. With its blend of Venetian, Ottoman, and Renaissance architecture, this charming city offers a window into Crete’s rich and layered history. From the stunning Fortezza fortress to the cobblestone streets lined with traditional cafes and artisan boutiques, Rethymno is the perfect place for a full-day exploration — easily arranged by your Olive Green Hotel concierge.

Start Your Day in the Old Town

Twenty minutes after leaving from Heraklion, my concierge chauffeur dropped me off at ‘Bourouni’ on the way into Rethymno, where I practically fell out of the car to capture the magnificent view over the Heraklion coast and the far off Dia Island. 

When I arrived in Rethymno it was time to seek out the best coffee. History and traditional Cretan culture are practically set in stone and put on display in this beautifully preserved old town. I had three hours to blissfully wander through the enchanting sights, taking in the Venetian Harbor, Rimondi Fountain, and the astounding Neratzes mosque. I was in awe at all the transcendent architecture that was present in almost every single building on every single street. Venetian fortifications blend harmonically with orthodox and catholic churches, mosques, grand mansions of Venetian architecture, arches and cobblestone streets and they all create a magical atmosphere which had me in my element. A walk along the many alleys is the best way to discover all these aristocratic houses dating back to the sixteenth century, the times when the Venetians ruled over the island. Among the most important Venetian buildings, it’s worth paying a visit to Rethymno’s 9-meter tall Lighthouse.

Sit at one of Rethymno’s seaside cafés and enjoy the view and the atmosphere of the pretty seaside promenade.

An important historical site in Rethymno is Rimondi Fountain, which you can access from the sea walking up to Platanos Square. The Venetian fountain dates to the 1626 and it still bears the characteristic Lions of Saint Mark as well as some inscriptions in Latin. The coat of arms of the Rimondi Family is still engraved in the fountain. During your stop here, do not forget to drink a few sips of water… they say it’s a must if you want to return to Crete.

Not far from the Venetian harbor, it’s possible to reach the Fortezza, the wonderful Rethymno’s fortress built to defend the city against the pirate incursions and the Turkish threat. Unfortunately, the city (and the whole island) finally fell to the Ottoman empire, which ruled on Crete since the end of the 1600s until 1898.

Testimony of the Turkish domination is exceptionally visible in Rethymno’s City architectures. Several Venetian mansions were remodeled according to the Turkish style and still portray beautiful wooden facades and typical harem balconies.

The Turkish imprint is also evident in the different mosques and minarets still standing in the old town. The most impressive of them belonging to Neratzes mosque, is now a music school thanks to the magnificent acoustics of the domed building.

Visit the Historic Arkadi Monastery

At around 14:30 I was sad to leave the peaceful cafe patio to meet back with my driver, but looking forward to the next leg of wonder. We would be heading to the historic Arkadi Monastery (30 min drive). Built on a fertile plateau above a resplendent natural scene of olive groves, vineyards, pine, cypress and oak trees, northwest of Psiloritis mountain. Arkadi is one of the most historic monasteries in Crete and has quite the bloodstained past. It is the place of the tragic battle of 1866, which opened the way for the liberation of the island from Turkish rule in 1898. In 1866, during the  Cretan Revolt, 943 Greek, especially women and small kids, found refuge from the Turkish in the monastery. The battle against the Ottomans lasted for several days, and when realizing they were unable to save themselves, they blew up barrels of gunpowder, choosing to sacrifice themselves rather than surrender.

UNESCO has designated Arkadi as a European Freedom Monument. Nowadays all is peaceful, battle axes are long gone, but I felt I could still sense a faint air of turbulence as a wandered the boxed in confined spaces of the regimented monastery walls.

It’s Katholikon (main church) dates back to the 16th century and its remarkable history made the monastery a landmark of Crete.

Explore Anogeia – A Mountain Gem

No trip to Rethymno prefecture would be complete without visiting Anogeia, one of Crete’s most traditional mountain villages. Known for its music, textiles, and unfiltered Cretan spirit, Anogeia is a beautiful place to enjoy lunch with a view. 

A visit to Anogeia is a great excuse to try Crete’s creative and tasteful gastronomic offer with dishes including grilled lamb or antikristo as well as fresh vegetables and salads. I propose Delina restaurant located right next to an artificial lake, and then for best Greek desert and greek coffee or galaktoboureko in Perahori (the main square of Anogia).

Anogeia is also known for its fabric production. Women of the region weave and create fantastic rugs, scarves, and tablecloths that you can take home as a souvenir. The village is also home to several musicians and dancers, and festivals in the area are not rare.

For those into nature and hiking, exploring the gorge of Patsos can be a great opportunity to learn more about Crete’s local fauna and flora. Patsos gorge can be considered a fairly easy if compared to the more imposing Samaria in the region of Chania.

Why Stay in Heraklion

Those looking to explore both the Eastern and the Western Crete, Heraklion is the perfect base. Heraklion capital city is the perfect spot to easily reach places such as Rethymnon or Lassithi’s region capital, Agios Nikolaos.

Staying in Heraklion during your Crete holidays is a winning move that will make it easy to reach some of the best local beaches, but also to some of the island’s most characteristic villages.  

We recommend staying at the centrally located Olive Green Hotel, a boutique eco-friendly hotel that reflects modern Cretan hospitality. Not only are you steps from Heraklion’s best restaurants, museums, and shops — you also have concierge access to curated local excursions like this one to Rethymno.

Final Thoughts

A day trip from Heraklion to Rethymno offers everything you could want from Crete in just a few hours: culture, history, food, and awe-inspiring nature.

Whether you’re sipping a frappe under Venetian arches, walking through a battleground-turned-monastery, or hiking among ancient trees, this is a day that stays with you.

Let your hotel concierge handle the details, and you just enjoy Crete.