Rethymnon Conquered

Tour snapshot

Conquer the historical
city of Rethymnon (just like many, many others before you). Hear tales of
previous conquerors like the Byzantines, Venetians, and pirates (for real), and
trace the footsteps of aristocrats, sultans, and warriors as you walk the
winding streets of this fascinating city. See the colours and taste the
flavours that only locals know!

Go beyond the guidebook and get
to know the real Crete! You could read pages of history, but they won’t
tell you the stories of Rethymnon like we’ll tell you – that’s a task best
left up to locals. This walking tour of the old town of Rethymnon will
show you the city the way locals see it. From the classic historical sites
to the local craftsmen and vendors that make Rethymnon the city is, we’ll
show you everything you need to understand the city the way the locals do! 

Given Rethymnon’s long, rich, thousand-or-so years of history, it’s only
appropriate that we kicking things off with a bit of this history. The
city began to grow after it was conquered by the Venetians, evidence of
which can be spotted throughout the city.

We will start our day with a freshly brewed Greek coffee and learn how the
different conqueres influenced the island’s culinary traditions but also
read your future at a cup reading attempt!

From there, we’ll wind our way through Sabbionara, entering the old
Ottoman district. Known for its impressive door frames and mix of
histories,  we’ll walk by  Mosques and Catholic
Churches, alongside Venetian mansions, temples turned into mosques, and
find out how all these have influenced the Cretan music by visiting an
artisan that still makes handmade musical instruments.

Next, it’s time to discover Crete through its incredible flavours. Learn
the secrets of the famous Cretan diet, sampling local bites such as
traditional koulouri, a sesame seeded bread ring (similar to Turkish
simit), and cheese and olives (naturally), and of course learning why
Cretan olive oil is considered one of the best in the world by tasting it.

Moving on, we’ll continue our personal conquest of Rethymnon by venturing
through the most noteworthy streets of the old city, checking out
“Instagram” photo stops, and shops selling authentic local souvenirs. We will
walk you into a secret garden to  sip some local wine (which has been
cultivated here since 1600 BC!).

It’s here that we’ll end our walking tour of Rethymnon, and it’s the perfect
place to continue your walk through the city or enjoy the beautiful waterfront
views. Your guide will be more than happy to make recommendations for what else
you can do in the city, especially where to grab more food!

Additional information

Dress standard: As this is a walking tour,
we advise you wear comfortable walking shoes. During summer, don’t forget your
sunglasses and, of course, a camera as Rethymnon is sure to amaze you!

You
will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.

Confirmation of booking: If you have your
voucher, your booking is confirmed. We’ll see you at the start point. Get
in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email
address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.

The guide will
point out places of interest, such as museums, and make recommendations of
places that participants can visit in their own time after the tour.

Child Policy: This is a child-friendly
tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this
tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking.
Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge.
Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the
age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.

• Duration: 4 hours
• Meeting point:

  The Square of the Four Martyrs in the centre of modern Rethymnon (in front of the Four Martyrs Church).

• Starting time: 9.30 AM
• Ending point:

  Fortezza, the Venetian fortress in Rethymnon, near the Venetian Port.