Food and Drink
- Local Brewery
- Rethymnian Brewery (Brink's Beer). Try the Blonde or Dark ale at local tavernas
- Wine Bars
- Meli (Paleologou 38). Extensive list of local Cretan varieties (Vidiano, Kotsifali)
- Street Food Stalls
- Nikolas Souvlaki (Arkadiou 70). Classic gyros approx. €4.50
- Popular International Cuisine
- Pagliaccio (Platia Plastira) for authentic Italian pizzas and pasta
- Best Food Delivery App
- E-food.gr or BOX. Very efficient in Rethymno
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Dakos (rusk with tomato and mizithra cheese) and Gamopilafo
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Stella's Kitchen (Souliou 19). Fresh, authentic home cooking with many plant-based options
- Best Dessert Spots
- Mona Lisa (Konstantinou Paleologou). Famous for authentic gelato and waffles
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Laiki (Farmers Market) on Thursdays near the city park (Parko)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Skroutz.gr (The 'Amazon' of Greece)
- Grocery Delivery
- Sklavenitis or AB Vassilopoulos via their online apps
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- The seafront strip (Eleftheriou Venizelou) and the streets around the Venetian Port
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Fortezza Castle (Venetian Citadel) and the Egyptian Lighthouse
- Museums & Art Venues
- Archaeological Museum of Rethymno (Agiou Fragkiskou)
- Historical Sites
- Rimondi Venetian Fountain and the Neratze Mosque
- Religious Sites
- Arkadi Monastery (23km away, symbol of Cretan resistance)
- Annual Events
- Rethymno Carnival (February/March, the largest in Crete) and the Renaissance Festival
- Cultural Districts
- The Venetian Old Town (Palia Poli)
- Theater Venues
- Erofili Theatre (Open-air inside the Fortezza Castle)
- Local Markets
- The Saturday Market by the KTEL station for clothes and local goods
- Music Scene
- Galero (Venetian Harbor) for live Rebetiko and traditional Cretan Lyra music
- Street Art
- Scattered murals in the modern city center, especially around the Public Garden
- Cooking Classes
- Cretan Cooking Classes at Agreco Farm (Adelianos Kampos)
- Art Galleries
- Museum of Contemporary Art of Crete (Mesologgiou 32)
- Historic Buildings
- The Loggia (Venetian meeting hall, now a ministry shop)
- Local Heritage
- Cretan Knives (traditional craft found on Messolongiou Street)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Mili Gorge (hiking trail starting 4km south of town)
- National Parks Nearby
- Samaria Gorge National Park (2 hours drive, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The 12km promenade along Rethymno Beach
- Scenic Viewpoints
- St. Anthony Gorge (Patsos) for dramatic cliff views
- Birdwatching Locations
- Potami Dam Lake (Amari Valley)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally restricted; check local fire regulations, especially at Episkopi Beach
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- ACS Courier or Geniki Taxydromiki. Shipping to EU approx. €25
- Tech Repair Services
- iRepair (Leof. Kountourioti). Fast phone and laptop repairs
- Table Tennis Spots
- Rethymno Table Tennis Club (OAA Rethymnou)
- Language Classes
- Lexis Modern Greek Language School (Kallithea)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Public Library of Rethymno (Agias Varvaras 26)
- Community Centers
- Xenia Cultural Center
- Gaming Lounges
- GNET (Gerakari 1). PC gaming and esports
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- OPAP Play (various locations for electronic gaming)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €3,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €90,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,200 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €66,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,800 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €140,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €2,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = €100,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €2,600 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €208,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €1,800 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €144,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 22%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5%
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 44% (for income over €40,000)
- VAT
- 24% standard rate; 13% for food/utilities
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable under EU ATAD directives
- Property Tax
- ENFIA (Annual tax based on location/size, approx. €3-6 per m²)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 3% transfer tax + notary/legal fees (approx. 7-10% total)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Greece Nomad Visa: 50% income tax reduction for 7 years for qualifying relocations
Essentials
- City
- Rethymno, Crete, Greece
- Population
- Approximately 35,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 50-100 Mbps (VDSL) with 5G widely available via Cosmote
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (€). 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: Piraeus Bank, National Bank of Greece
- Tap Water
- Safe to drink, but high mineral content; many prefer bottled or filtered water (approx. €0.50 per 1.5L)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Cosmote (best coverage), Vodafone, Nova. Prepaid 50GB data plans approx. €15-20
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut and Wise are widely used. Local accounts require an AFM (Tax Number)
- Accommodation
- Mix of Venetian Old Town houses and modern seaside apartments
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, POS terminals are mandatory in Greece and accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and local agencies like Crete Homes (approx. €800-1,200/month)
- Budget Accommodation
- Rethymno Youth Hostel (Tompazi 45, approx. €18-25/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Old Town (close to the Venetian Harbor and Rimondi Fountain)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Kallithea or Koumbes (quieter, cheaper, and within 15-min walk to center)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Workhub Rethymno (Zampeliou 23). Fast Wi-Fi, dedicated desks approx. €15/day or €180/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Living Room (Eleftheriou Venizelou 5). Spacious, reliable Wi-Fi, and sea views
- Networking Events
- Digital Nomads Crete Slack group and local Entrepreneurship meetups at the Chamber of Commerce
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Rethymno Facebook Group; weekly meetups at Home Bar
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No Uber/Bolt; use 'Taxi 18300' or local radio taxi stations. Flat rate to Chania airport approx. €100
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Motosport (Leof. Pahatouri 34). Scooters approx. €20/day, e-bikes €15/day
- Best Beach Nearby
- Rethymno City Beach (Blue Flag) or Preveli Beach (35km south, famous palm forest)
- Top Regional Airline
- Aegean Airlines / Olympic Air (via Chania or Heraklion airports)
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair and EasyJet service Chania (CHQ) and Heraklion (HER) daily
- Highway Access
- E75 (BOAK) National Road connects Rethymno to Chania and Heraklion
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- KTEL Bus Station (Emmanouil Kefalogianni 1). Direct buses across Crete
- Public Transport Passes
- Local blue buses €1.20 per trip; tickets sold at kiosks
- Regional Travel
- KTEL intercity buses to Chania (€7.30, 1 hour) or Heraklion (€8.30, 1.5 hours)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Rethymno General Hospital (Trantalidou 17)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Rethymno (Melissinou 52). Classes approx. €12 drop-in
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Palestra Gym (Kallithea). Modern equipment, approx. €50/month
- Laundry Services
- EasyWash Self Service (Kountouriotou 78). Approx. €5 per load