Updated: August 24, 2026
Greece › Crete › Rethymno Hotels
By Santorini Dave • dave@santorinidave.com
My Favorite Hotels in Rethymno
• Best Hotel in Rethymno: Avli
• Best Romantic Old Town Hotel: Rimondi
• Best Historic Boutique Hotel: Veneto
• Best Luxury Beach Hotel: Nautilux
• Best Family Resort: Grecotel Creta Palace
• Best Value Near Rethymno Old Town: Hotel Ideon
The Old Town and Venetian Harbor area is the best place to stay in Rethymno for couples, first-timers, and visitors without a car.
Staying in Rethymno: My Tips
- Rethymno is Crete’s best all-rounder. It has a beautiful Venetian-Ottoman Old Town, a long sandy beach right in town, good restaurants, easier crowds than Chania, and a useful location between Chania and Heraklion. It is not quite as spectacular as Chania, but it is easier and more practical.
- Stay in the Old Town for atmosphere. This is the best area for couples, first-timers, food, nightlife, boutique hotels, and evening wandering. The lanes are largely pedestrianized, the harbor and Fortezza are close, and you do not need a car. The downside is parking, which is in public lots outside the Old Town.
- Stay by the beach for pools, space, and families. Rethymno’s long town beach starts just east of the harbor and continues for kilometers along the coast. The closest beach hotels let you walk to both the sand and the Old Town. Farther east, around Perivolia, Missiria, and Adelianos Kampos, hotels become larger and more resort-like, but you’ll need taxis or buses for dinners in the Old Town.
- Old Town vs beach is the big decision. I prefer the Old Town for short stays, couples, food, and first-time visitors. I prefer the beach strip for families, pool time, and travelers who know they will swim every day. Nautilux is the best upscale choice if you want a real beach hotel within easy reach of the historic center.
- Match the hotel to the kind of trip you want. Choose Avli, Rimondi, or Veneto for Old Town atmosphere; Nautilux or Aquila Porto for beach plus town access; Grecotel Creta Palace or Caramel for a full beach-resort stay; Kapsaliana Village for countryside and food; and Royal Senses or Royal Blue for a resort stay near Panormos.
- Rethymno has no airport. You will arrive through Chania or Heraklion, both about 75 to 90 minutes away by car. Buses from both cities are frequent and practical. The KTEL bus station is on the western edge of town, about a 10- to 15-minute walk from the Old Town, but take a taxi if you have luggage.
- The Rethymno to Santorini ferry is useful but seasonal. In 2026, the SeaJets high-speed ferry is scheduled seasonally from late May to mid-October, with twice-weekly service on Tuesdays and Saturdays and a crossing of about 2 hours 20 minutes. Schedules can change, so do not build a tight international flight connection around it without checking current ferry times.
- Rethymno is excellent without a car. The Old Town, harbor, Fortezza, restaurants, beach, and bus station are all walkable. Rent a car for Kapsaliana, south-coast beaches, mountain villages, Arkadi Monastery, Preveli, wineries, or a more flexible Crete itinerary.
- Do not judge Rethymno by the harbor restaurants. The Venetian Harbor is beautiful, especially at night, but many waterfront restaurants are aimed at passing tourists. The better meals are in the backstreets of the Old Town, away from the water. This is one of the best food towns in Crete if you choose well.
Rethymno Beaches
- Rethymno Town Beach: The easiest beach in the region and one of Rethymno’s biggest advantages. It starts just east of the harbor and runs for kilometers, with sand, sunbeds, beach bars, shallow water, and hotels along the shore. Nautilux is the standout upscale hotel with direct beach access. It is convenient rather than wild, and best for couples and families with older children.
- South Coast Beaches: The best scenery is south of Rethymno on the Libyan Sea, 45 to 75 minutes away by car. Preveli has the famous palm river setting, Plakias is a useful beach town with tavernas, and Triopetra and Agios Pavlos feel wilder and more dramatic. These are best with a rental car.
- Bali and Panormos: East of Rethymno, these smaller coastal villages are good for calmer water and a more compact beach stay. Bali has several sheltered coves and a more resort-like feel. Panormos is smaller, quieter, and more traditional.
Where to Stay in Rethymno
Rethymno Old Town is the best area for most visitors. Stay here for boutique hotels, restaurants, bars, historic lanes, the Fortezza, Rimondi Fountain, and the Venetian Harbor. It is the most atmospheric part of town and the best choice if you are staying 2 or 3 nights.
The Venetian Harbor is the prettiest part of Rethymno but not the best place to eat or sleep. It is scenic, central, and romantic, but the busiest harbor-front spots are touristy. I prefer staying a few lanes back in the Old Town.
The town beach area is best if you want sand and Old Town access. Nautilux is the best upscale beach choice, while Aquila Porto and smaller hotels closer to the center are more practical than romantic.
Perivolia, Missiria, and Adelianos Kampos are the beach-resort areas east of the center. Stay here for bigger hotels, pools, family facilities, and easier swimming. Grecotel Creta Palace is the best full-scale family resort, while Caramel Grecotel is smaller and more stylish. Stay in the Old Town if restaurants, atmosphere, and walking matter more.
Panormos and Bali are better for quieter beach-village stays outside Rethymno. Royal Senses and Royal Blue are the strongest resort options near Panormos. They are not Rethymno Town hotels, so expect to drive or take taxis for Old Town sightseeing and dinners.
Kapsaliana is completely different: a restored village in the olive groves near Arkadi Monastery. Stay here for food, quiet, countryside, and a more memorable inland Crete experience. A car is essential.
The 10 Best Hotels in Rethymno
1. Avli Lounge Apartments
The best hotel in Rethymno for food, atmosphere, and Old Town character. Avli is more than a hotel. It is one of Rethymno’s best restaurant addresses, with a courtyard fine-dining restaurant, the excellent Raki Ba Raki meze bar, Enoteca wine bar, and a small collection of beautifully designed suites spread across Venetian-era buildings.
Suites are individually decorated and full of character, with details such as stone walls, antique fireplaces, canopy beds, jacuzzi baths, and private balconies in select categories. Guests also have access to a rooftop jacuzzi with Fortezza views. This is my top choice for couples and food-focused travelers who want to be deep in the Old Town. It is not a beach hotel and not ideal if you want large resort facilities, but for a stylish Rethymno stay, Avli is the standout.
2. Rimondi Boutique Hotel
The best romantic boutique hotel in Rethymno Old Town. Rimondi sits in the heart of the historic center near Rimondi Fountain, the Neratze Mosque, the harbor, and the best Old Town lanes. It has the rare Old Town advantage of pools, courtyards, a spa, and a more resort-like feel than most boutique hotels in the center.
Rooms, maisonettes, and suites are spread between two buildings, the Palazzo and the more luxurious Estate. Some rooms add balconies, terraces, jetted tubs, or outdoor jacuzzis, and guests can use facilities in both buildings. Rimondi is my favorite for couples who want romance and a pool without leaving the Old Town. Families needing more space should look at the Rimondi Residences or one of the beach resorts.
3. Veneto Boutique Hotel
The best historic boutique hotel in Rethymno. Veneto is set in a restored Dominican monastery in the Old Town, giving it some of the strongest historic atmosphere of any hotel in the city. It is close to Our Lady of the Angels Church, Neratze Mosque, the Archaeological Museum, and the main Old Town restaurants.
Suites are individually designed around the old architecture, with stone arches, wood beams, terracotta floors, spiral staircases, or private terraces depending on the room. The courtyard restaurant and wine cellar are real strengths, not afterthoughts. Veneto is best for travelers who want history, food, and Old Town atmosphere. It is not the place for beach access or big-hotel amenities.
4. Kapsaliana Village – Kapsalianá
The best countryside hotel in the Rethymno region. Kapsaliana is a restored historic village in the olive groves near Arkadi Monastery, about 15 km from Rethymno. It is one of the most distinctive hotel stays in Crete, with old stone houses converted into rooms and suites, a beautiful pool, gardens, vineyard, museum, and an excellent Cretan restaurant.
This is the place to stay if food, wine, quiet, and inland Crete matter more than beach access. Cooking classes, olive-oil tastings, guided walks, and other village experiences make it feel like more than just a hotel. You are not in Rethymno Town, and a car is essential. For two or three nights of countryside after an Old Town stay, it is excellent.
5. Nautilux
The best luxury beach hotel in Rethymno. Nautilux sits directly on Rethymno Beach east of the center, with a private beach area, two outdoor pools, an excellent wellness center with a heated indoor pool, and a much more polished resort feel than the older beach hotels closer to town.
Many rooms have balconies, while selected suites add private heated pools or outdoor jacuzzis. The Old Town is about a 30-minute seafront walk away, so you can still get into central Rethymno without making every evening a taxi trip. Nautilux welcomes guests age 12 and older, making it especially good for couples and families with teenagers. Choose it if you want beach and luxury without completely giving up Rethymno Town.
6. Royal Senses Resort & Spa – Panormos
The best full-service luxury resort near Rethymno. Royal Senses is a large hillside resort east of Rethymno, with excellent sea views, several pools, a kids’ pool and water park, spa, and a good choice of restaurants and bars. Rooms, suites, and villas are spacious and contemporary, with private pools in several categories.
This is the better of the two Royal resorts for families and anyone who wants lots of facilities without leaving the hotel. Guests also have access to the beach at sister property Royal Blue across the road. This is a resort stay, not a Rethymno Town stay. Choose Royal Senses for pools, activities, and resort facilities. Stay in Rethymno Town if you want to walk to restaurants, shops, and the Old Town every evening.
7. Royal Blue Resort – Panormos
The best luxury beach resort in the Rethymno area. Royal Blue sits directly on the coast east of Rethymno, with a private beach, large pools, thalassotherapy spa, restaurants and bars, and rooms, suites, and villas with shared or private pools.
I prefer Royal Blue to Royal Senses for couples and anyone who puts direct beach access, quiet, and relaxation ahead of kids’ facilities and a bigger resort setup. Royal Senses is newer and has more going on; Royal Blue has the better seaside setting. Rethymno is about 18 km away, so stay here for beach, pools, and downtime rather than nightly walks through the Old Town.
8. Caramel Grecotel – Adelianos Kampos
The best smaller luxury beach resort east of Rethymno. Caramel is more intimate and design-focused than the big family resorts along this stretch of coast, with bright suites, bungalows, maisonettes, and villas, a beautiful pool, beach access, and some higher-category rooms with private pools or outdoor jacuzzis.
Caramel is best for couples and families who want a stylish resort without the scale of Creta Palace or Royal Senses. Adelianos Kampos has restaurants and shops nearby, while Rethymno Old Town is a short taxi ride away. Stay here for beach and resort calm, not for walking into the historic center.
9. Grecotel Creta Palace
The best full-scale family resort near Rethymno. Grecotel Creta Palace sits on the beach east of the center, with large pools, a children’s pool, kids’ clubs, teen activities, beach service, and extensive dining.
Rooms, bungalows, suites, and villas range from standard garden-view accommodation to upgraded categories with private plunge pools or swimming pools. This is the easiest choice for families who want proper resort facilities while still being close enough to visit Rethymno Old Town by taxi or bus.
10. Casa Vitae
The best private-villa stay in Rethymno Old Town. Casa Vitae is a restored Venetian property in the historic center, now arranged as a small collection of private villas rather than a conventional hotel. The one- and two-bedroom villas have private pools, kitchens, living space, and terraces, making this one of the rare Old Town options that gives you real privacy and outdoor space.
The location is still central enough for restaurants, shops, Rimondi Fountain, and the harbor, but the experience is very different from Avli or Rimondi. Choose Casa Vitae if you want Old Town atmosphere with the independence of a villa. For full hotel service and restaurants on-site, Avli is better.
Beach Hotels near Old Town Rethymno
Rethymno is one of the easiest places in Crete to combine beach time with an Old Town stay. These are my favorite hotels along the town beach, starting with the best combination of beach and walkability:
• Aquila Porto Rethymno – best overall for beach plus easy access to the Old Town.
• Batis Aero Beachfront Hotel – smaller, good-value beachfront hotel within walking distance of the center.
• Palm Beach Hotel – good for couples and families wanting a smaller beachfront stay.
• Nautilux Rethymno – the best luxury hotel on the town beach, but farther from the Old Town.
Rethymno Hotels FAQ
Is Rethymno a good base in Crete, or is Chania better?
Rethymno is one of the best bases in Crete, with a beautiful Old Town, a long sandy beach, and a central location between Chania and Heraklion. Chania is prettier and my first choice for most first-time visitors, especially for exploring western Crete. Rethymno is easier for combining an Old Town stay with daily beach time and better positioned for exploring both sides of the island.
What is the best area to stay in Rethymno?
The Old Town is best for most visitors, with Rethymno’s best boutique hotels, restaurants, historic lanes, and evening atmosphere. Stay along the town beach instead if swimming, pools, and family convenience matter more.
What is the best hotel in Rethymno?
Avli is my favorite hotel in Rethymno for its Old Town location, characterful suites, and excellent food. Rimondi is my favorite for romance and a pool in the Old Town, Nautilux for beach luxury, and Grecotel Creta Palace for families.
Should I stay in Rethymno Old Town or by the beach?
Stay in the Old Town for atmosphere, restaurants, boutique hotels, and sightseeing. Stay by the beach for swimming, pools, and easier family logistics. Rethymno makes this choice easier than most Crete towns because the beach begins close to the Old Town.
Do I need a car in Rethymno?
No, not if you stay in the Old Town or near the town beach. Rent a car for Preveli, Plakias, Triopetra, Arkadi Monastery, mountain villages, and south-coast exploring. Avoid staying deep inside the pedestrian Old Town if you plan to drive every day.
How many nights should I stay in Rethymno?
Three nights is a good minimum for the Old Town, Fortezza, restaurants, and beach. Stay four or five nights if you want to explore the south coast, Arkadi Monastery, villages, and beaches without rushing.
About Santorini Dave