Your stay — Civitas
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Rethymno.
The Property — Civitas
Stepping into Civitas feels like walking into a quiet, well-kept secret off Rethymno’s main drag. The lobby is small and unfussy, with cool marble floors and a scent of lemon polish — it’s the kind of place that does the basics right without fuss. The rooftop terrace is the real draw: a narrow pool with clear views over the old town’s minarets and the sea. It suits independent travellers who want a clean, central base with character rather than a resort bubble.
Chronicles of Rethymno
Rethymno preserves one of Crete’s most intact Renaissance cityscapes, built largely by the Venetians after they captured the island in 1204. The fortress, the Fortezza, was completed in the 1580s to defend against Ottoman raids — but the Ottomans took over anyway in 1646, adding minarets and Turkish baths to the skyline. After unification with Greece in 1913, the town became a sleepy trading port, then a slow-growing tourist destination from the 1970s. Today its old town is a tight grid of cobbled lanes, arched doorways and now-rare undisturbed layers of Venetian, Ottoman and Neoclassical architecture.
Best Time to Visit
Full Rethymno guide →Best months
June and September: settled sun, daytime highs around 28-30°C, sea warm enough for swimming, streets busy but not overwhelming. July also works if you can handle 32°C+.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are the core peak. The town fills with northern European package tourists and ferry day-trippers. Hotel prices double from shoulder-season rates. The main event is the Renaissance Festival, held at the Fortezza through July-August, with open-air concerts and theatre.
Budget shoulder season
May (last half) and October (first half). May still has spring flowers and quiet beaches; October retains 25°C sea temps but hotel rates drop 30-40%. Crowds thin sharply after mid-September.
Weather & packing
Rethymno can feel sudden strong northerly winds (the meltemi) that whip through the old town in late afternoon, dropping temps by 5-8°C in minutes. Pack a windproof layer you can shove in a day bag, even for July stays.
Live City Briefing — Rethymno
- Rethymno’s old town pedestrian zone has been extended south through Tsouderon Street since early 2025; traffic is banned 18:00-02:00 in summer, so expect quieter evening walks but a longer taxi drop-off walk.
- The long-awaited new municipal car park under the Fortezza opened June 2025, adding 400 spaces and reducing summer parking chaos near the waterfront.
- A new direct ferry route from Athens (Piraeus) to Rethymno port launched April 2026, cutting travel time from Chania airport by one hour for those arriving by sea.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Civitas, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the upper floors (3rd or 4th) facing the rear courtyard. These are farthest from the street and lift noise, and the higher position minimises foot traffic outside your door.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground floor and 1st floor rooms because they back onto or face the street directly, picking up late-night bar noise and morning delivery trucks. Also steer clear of rooms near the lift shaft — the motor whine is audible at night.
Best views
Rooms facing the rear courtyard give a tolerable view of rooftops and the occasional garden; front-facing rooms look onto a busy Rethymno street with parked cars and people. If you must have a sea glimpse, a high-floor corner room (3rd or 4th, side-facing) might catch a sliver, but don't bank on it.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are the quietest. The 4th floor is top floor, so no footsteps above you, and the lift rarely stops there unless someone is going all the way up.
🔊 Noise notes
Rethymno's old town is pedestrianised but the street side of Civitas is a main road, so expect motorbikes, scooters and delivery vans until midnight, plus early morning rubbish collection. The lift is a standard two-person hotel lift — use the stairs (they're marble and echo badly).
Insider tips
1) Free parking is a myth in Rethymno's old zone — park at the municipal lot a 5-min walk north, or ask the hotel for their partner garage (book ahead in summer). 2) Request a room with a fan rather than relying on the a/c; the a/c units are old and noisy, and on a 3-star budget they cycle on and off loudly all night.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Civitas
Free basic (15 Mbps) for all guests; premium tier (50 Mbps) €5/day; no login constraints
One lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only historic sections
No digital newsstand; no physical papers. Built in 1925 as a tobacco merchant's house; original wooden stair balustrade preserved in lobby
Check-in from 15:00–00:00; early bag-drop from 10:00 (free); late check-out until 13:00 costs €30 (subject to availability)
Free for day-of arrival/departure at reception; no lockers
Step-free access via side ramp (call ahead); wide lift; three accessible rooms on ground floor. No pool or upper-level accessibility
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park 'P1 Rethymno' at 22 Iroon Politechniou (€10/24h, 500m walk); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €1.50 per room per night (climate resilience tax, charged by hotel)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; €50 incidental hold on card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: μητροπολιτικός ναός Μεγάλη Παναγία (852 m · ~11 min walk)
- Church: Τεσσάρων Μαρτύρων (924 m · ~12 min walk)
- Church: Άγιος Αντώνιος (1.2 km · ~16 min walk)
- Church: Κυρία των Αγγέλων (1.3 km · ~16 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Πλατεία Τεσσάρων Μαρτύρων — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Παλαιοντολογικό Μουσείο Ρεθύμνου — 689 m · ~9 min walk
Ερωφίλη — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 148 m · ~2 min walk
Pharmakeio — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Δίκτυο — 276 m · ~3 min walk
ΚΤΕΛ - Σταθμός Λεωφορείων Ρεθύμνου — 1.7 km · ~21 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs for best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at the airport and tourist spots in the old town.
Cards widely accepted in supermarkets, restaurants, and hotels; smaller shops and taxis prefer cash.
Not mandatory but appreciated; round up taxi fares or leave 5-10% at restaurants for good service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A freddo cappuccino at a local kafeneio on a side street costs around €3–€3.50.
A souvlaki pita from a grill shop near the fort or along the main strip runs about €4–€5.
A Greek salad or a dish of moussaka at a taverna in the old town costs €9–€12 for a main.
Grab cheap gyros or souvlaki from takeaway spots along the main shopping street (Arkadiou) and near the Venetian harbour.
Supermarkets like Lidl, Masoutis, and Sklavenitis are common for affordable essentials.
H&M, C&A, and Zara are on the main shopping streets; for cheaper items, try the market stalls at the Municipal Market on Moatsou Street.
Walk or rent a bike (€10–€15/day); local bus from Chania airport costs around €2.50, and a day ticket for the city bus is €2.
Eat where locals queue for lunch, not near the harbour tourist traps. Buy water and snacks at supermarkets, not kiosks. Visit the Archaeological Museum on the weekend when the €6 entry fee often applies.
Good to know — Rethymno
Type C/F · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.87 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
RethymnoWhere to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Rethymno, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Civitas
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 148 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmakeio — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Rethymno Centre (Platania stop) → Amazing Villas (Adele-Missiria area)
💡 Bus to Missiria stops right by the villas. Validate your ticket at the machine on board. For return trips, flag the bus by waving from the roadside—drivers will stop if you look like a waiting passenger.
Heraklion Airport (HER) → Amazing Villas, Rethymno (local stop)
💡 Take bus 1 from the airport to Chania bus station (€1.50), then the direct KTEL coach to Rethymno. Coaches have AC and luggage racks. Buy tickets at the station kiosk.
Chania Airport (CHQ) → Amazing Villas, Rethymno
💡 Chania Airport is closer (20 km vs 70 km from Heraklion). Use pre-booked transfer companies like Go Crete for €55 fixed price. Metered taxis run €60-70 but charge extra after 22:00.
Heraklion Airport (HER) → Amazing Villas, Rethymno
💡 Book through Rethymno Taxi app or ask your hotel to arrange one. Avoid unmetered drivers who quote €90+ at the airport rank.
About Rethymno
Wikipedia ↗
Rethymno (Greek: Ρέθυμνο [ˈreθimno], formerly also Rettimo or Retimno, Latin: Civitas Rethymnæ) is a city in Greece on the island of Crete. It is the capital of Rethymno regional unit, and has a population of more than 35,000 inhabitants (nearly 40,000 for the municipal unit). It is believed to have...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Civitas?
Request a room on the upper floors (3rd or 4th) facing the rear courtyard. These are farthest from the street and lift noise, and the higher position minimises foot traffic outside your door.
Which rooms should I avoid at Civitas?
Avoid ground floor and 1st floor rooms because they back onto or face the street directly, picking up late-night bar noise and morning delivery trucks. Also steer clear of rooms near the lift shaft — the motor whine is audible at night.
Is Civitas noisy?
Rethymno's old town is pedestrianised but the street side of Civitas is a main road, so expect motorbikes, scooters and delivery vans until midnight, plus early morning rubbish collection. The lift is a standard two-person hotel lift — use the stairs (they're marble and echo badly).
Which rooms have the best views at Civitas?
Rooms facing the rear courtyard give a tolerable view of rooftops and the occasional garden; front-facing rooms look onto a busy Rethymno street with parked cars and people. If you must have a sea glimpse, a high-floor corner room (3rd or 4th, side-facing) might catch a sliver, but don't bank on it.
What are insider tips for staying at Civitas?
1) Free parking is a myth in Rethymno's old zone — park at the municipal lot a 5-min walk north, or ask the hotel for their partner garage (book ahead in summer). 2) Request a room with a fan rather than relying on the a/c; the a/c units are old and noisy, and on a 3-star budget they cycle on and off loudly all night.
What time is check-in at Civitas?
Check-in at Civitas is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Civitas have Wi-Fi?
Free basic (15 Mbps) for all guests; premium tier (50 Mbps) €5/day; no login constraints
Is there a city or tourist tax at Civitas?
€1.50 per room per night (climate resilience tax, charged by hotel)
Where can I eat cheaply near Civitas?
A souvlaki pita from a grill shop near the fort or along the main strip runs about €4–€5.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Civitas?
Walk or rent a bike (€10–€15/day); local bus from Chania airport costs around €2.50, and a day ticket for the city bus is €2.
When is the best time to visit Rethymno?
June and September: settled sun, daytime highs around 28-30°C, sea warm enough for swimming, streets busy but not overwhelming. July also works if you can handle 32°C+.
Top Attractions in Rethymno
💡 Walk to the lighthouse at the end of the pier for a quieter view — most tourists stop halfway. The water is clean for a dip if you don’t mind concrete edges.
💡 Bring nuts or bread for the peacocks that roam freely — they’re friendly but watch your bag. Best in spring when the flowers are out.
💡 Go early morning (before 9am) to see it without crowds or shopkeepers setting up — the light is golden and quiet.
💡 It’s quiet on weekday mornings — you’ll often have the rooms to yourself. The audio guide is worth the €2 extra.
💡 Buy your ticket at the small booth by the main gate, not online. Visit late afternoon when the heat drops and the sunset lights up the harbour.