Steeped in history and both blessed with fine harbours, Crete's second and third cities are treasure troves. On this double-destination tour, you'll explore Chania – known as ‘Little Venice' – in the morning and Rethymnon in the afternoon. Yiannis, our expert local guide, says, ‘Most Cretans still think of Chania as the capital of the island, even though Heraklion has been the official capital since the 70s. It has more soul and historical significance, and among Crete's large towns it is, in my opinion, the prettiest.'
The fun begins in Chania, the island's second-largest city. The imprint of Venice can be found all over the old town. Nowhere more so than at the colourful, curving harbour. Here, Venetian dockyards blend into terraced cafés. Enjoy a guided tour of the old town, visiting the market and the famous ‘Leather Lane', before enjoying some free time. Yannis adds, ‘If you like football, check out the Greek National Football Museum in Chania. The name might sound grandiose for what looks like a shop – but it's got a quirky collection of memorabilia.'
Next, make the hour-long journey east to Rethymnon. It's smaller and quieter than Chania, but has a similar abundance of charm. Here, a maze of narrow alleys links the old harbour to the Fortezza citadel. Everything in between dates from the Venetian and Ottoman eras. On your guided tour, you'll encounter churches of all styles and mosques. You'll also have free time to find a nice taverna for lunch.
