With plenty of free time to explore at your own pace, this morning trip to the romantic town of Rethymnon is as relaxing as they come. You'll journey along the west coast of Crete to Rethymnon where you'll discover history, architecture and charm by the bucket-load.

As soon as you arrive you'll be able to do exactly as you please. Wander around the weekly market stalls where the aroma of fresh produce will entice you to taste local flavours, and where you'll find plenty of souvenirs. The imposing fortress is also a must-see with its maze of narrow streets that wind their way around enchanting historic buildings.

Or you can simply take it easy and stroll along the picturesque Venetian harbour to take in the vistas over the bright blue sea, colourful fishing boats and beyond. There are plenty of traditional cafés and restaurants to sit down and soak up the town's laid-back Mediterranean air.

The town is a great place to visit, lots of different shops, alleys, bars, bakeries, restaurants etc as well as having a nice harbour. The market is a nice walk around but small and limited in the variety of goods so that part I would say is a tad overstated. Expect a 2hr journey there and back so it is a full day with 4 hrs in the town.

We liked the opportunity to visit Rethymnon and the market, but not long enough time there. There were many side streets we were unable to visit, and we did not have the chance to see the fortress. So needed to be a full day visit. It was a long journey timewise, plus the bus was almost an hour late picking up which was uncomfortable standing around in the heat. The guide could have given more information there and on the journey.

The TUI rep and the coach driver were lovely however this experience was not one: it was a pick up at our hotel, drop off by the market and then meet up a few hours later. Taking a taxi would have been the same and much cheaper!

The guide was very informative and advised everyone well and clearly before we left to explore the town.

Like: The guide's knowledge and simple directions to navigate the town. Could be better: Perhaps some additional guidance or information around the Fortress which we had time to visit during our free time.

We were picked up on time, the driver was very good & the tour guide was excellent. Beautiful traditional town & good value for money

Why you’ll love this…

Morning trip to Rethymnon
Free time to explore as you wish
Find bargains at the weekly market
Stroll along the Venetian harbour
Discover the historic old town

Cancellation policy

Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 1 day before the experience begins.

What’s included

Transport

This experience meets the Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria. By choosing this experience you can protect the places you love, care for the environment and support local communities.

Booking fee

Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.

Pickup points

To see which pickup points are available, check under availability & prices.

Provider

TUI Hellas Travel, Tourism and Airlines SA, with Tax Number 094469778 and Travel License Number 0261Ε60000126100

What people say about this experience

4.2/5

All reviews are verified

Based on 14 reviews

Review categories

Value for money

3.9/5

Staff

4.3/5

Safety

4.3/5

Service

4.3/5

All ratings (14)

5 stars (8)

57%

4 stars (2)

14%

3 stars (4)

29%

2 stars (0)

1 star (0)

P
Paul
Travelled as a couple
25 October 2025
4.2
United Kingdom
The town is a great place to visit, lots of different shops, alleys, bars, bakeries, restaurants etc as well as having a nice harbour. The market is a nice walk around but small and limited in the variety of goods so that part I would say is a tad overstated. Expect a 2hr journey there and back so it is a full day with 4 hrs in the town.
P
Percy Mills
Travelled as a couple
14 September 2025
3
United Kingdom
We liked the opportunity to visit Rethymnon and the market, but not long enough time there. There were many side streets we were unable to visit, and we did not have the chance to see the fortress. So needed to be a full day visit. It was a long journey timewise, plus the bus was almost an hour late picking up which was uncomfortable standing around in the heat. The guide could have given more information there and on the journey.
T
The B family
Travelled with family
2 August 2025
2.6
United Kingdom
The TUI rep and the coach driver were lovely however this experience was not one: it was a pick up at our hotel, drop off by the market and then meet up a few hours later. Taking a taxi would have been the same and much cheaper!
K
KJ
Travelled with family
20 June 2025
5
United States of America
The guide was very informative and advised everyone well and clearly before we left to explore the town.
T
Trevor & Julie
Travelled as a couple
14 May 2025
4.6
United Kingdom
Like: The guide's knowledge and simple directions to navigate the town. Could be better: Perhaps some additional guidance or information around the Fortress which we had time to visit during our free time.
T
TUI Musement Traveler
10 May 2025
5
United States of America
We were picked up on time, the driver was very good & the tour guide was excellent. Beautiful traditional town & good value for money