Lonely Planet Experiences: Rethymnon Conquered
Crete, Greece
From USD 86.07
Office phone number: +30 698 678 0970
Lonely Planet Experiences: Rethymnon Conquered
Crete, Greece
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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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!
Experience the best travel stories for yourself. Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this city adventure hand-picked by the world's leading travel publisher. Lonely Planet Experiences powered by Urban Adventures bring stories to life in the best-loved cities around the globe.
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Highlights
- Navigate the labyrinth of Venetian and Ottoman streets like a local
- Visit local craftsmen and artisans as they work in their workshops
- Learn about different local wines at a unique wine tasting
- Sample unique Cretan flavours like traditional koulouri, Greek coffee, Cretan pastries, and cheese and olives
- Wander through layers of history and cultural influences, listening to tales, myths, and legends
- Each Lonely Planet Experience comes with six-months free access to Lonely Planet’s Guides App which includes over 8,000 destinations guides and unbeatable discounts to Lonely Planet Guidebooks.
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
- This tour supports local artisans such as a traditional instrument maker, a wood craftsman and a leather bag maker. In promoting their work and their enterprises, this tour works to support them financially.
- By joining this tour, you’ll meet a phyllo maker in the last remaining workshop of Rethymnon that produces the main ingredient for baklava following the old traditional process.
- All the food you sample during the tour is sourced from local villages, farmers & stock-breeders of Crete.
- On this tour you will visit a 100% local, family-owned restaurant that serves traditional Cretan dishes.
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Schedule details
- Duration: 4 hours
- Meeting point:
The Square of the Four Martyrs in the centre of modern Rethymnon (in front of the Four Martyrs Church).
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 9.30 AM
- Ending point:
Fortezza, the Venetian fortress in Rethymnon, near the Venetian Port.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, local food and beverage samples, coffee or soft drink.
Exclusions: Additional food and drink, items of a personal nature, tips / gratuities for your local guide.
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
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, local food and beverage samples, coffee or soft drink.
Exclusions: Additional food and drink, items of a personal nature, tips / gratuities for your local guide.
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!
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure 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.
Additional Information: 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.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +30 698 678 0970
Email address: info@creteurbanadventures.com
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