Rethymno old town walking tour review
My verdict: two hours on foot with a certified guide who grew up in this town, starting at Four Martyrs Square and finishing on the ring road below the Fortezza. It is the slowest and most detailed of the town tours, which is the point. The important thing to understand before you book is what it does not include: admission to the Fortezza. You walk up to the hill, not into the fortress. The operator states the tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or hearing impairments.
The route, in order
You start in Plateia Tessaron Martiron, outside the Church of the Four Martyrs, and go through the Guora Gate into the old town. From there the walk takes in the Rimondi Fountain, the 16th-century Venetian Loggia, the Neratze Mosque with the tallest minaret in the city, the ornate Venetian doorways along the lanes, and the Venetian harbour with the Egyptian lighthouse. It finishes at the Fortezza, with guided time and then free time on the ring road below, which is a good place to be at sunset in season.
The old town is small. You can walk its full extent in under an hour without stopping, so two hours with a guide means stopping often, which is exactly what you are paying for. If you would rather do the same ground alone, the old town page lists the same landmarks in walking order.
What eight reviewers say
Eight ratings is a small sample, and four of them name the same guide, Elli. The positive reviews are consistent about two things: she knows the history, and she adapts to the people in front of her.
“Elli took us through the city of Rethymno. She was very sweet and walked us through the different areas showing us the history and how the city has transformed over time.”
Chris, United States — July 2026
“We had a lovely time with Elli, despite the heat. She was so accommodating and helpful with questions and altering the tour a bit for my father who needed a rest halfway through.”
Hannah, United States — June 2026
“We had a very nice and informative tour of Rethymno old town with our guide, Elli. She was communicative before the tour and really knew her history.”
Erika, United States — April 2026
“A very friendly guide; everything went well despite the intense heat.”
Maria Dulce, Germany — July 2026
The complaint worth reading
One review is more useful than the other seven put together, because it describes a real risk rather than the weather:
“Whilst our guide was obviously very knowledgeable about the city, the explanation of doorways became repetitive.”
Gordon, United Kingdom — July 2026
He is right, and I will defend the guides anyway. Rethymno old town is a Venetian street plan with Ottoman work built on top of it, and the doorways are where you can see both layers on one building. A guide who loves that material can spend twenty minutes on lintels. If carved stone is not your subject, say so in the first ten minutes and ask for more of the harbour and the Guora Gate. These are small groups with a live guide, and the reviews show the guides adjust when asked. Nobody can read your mind.
The other recurring theme is heat. Four of the eight reviews mention it, in June and July. That is not a fault of the tour, it is Crete in summer, and it is the reason April to June and September to October are the months I recommend.
What works
- Two hours is enough to actually stop and look at things
- A certified guide who grew up in Rethymno
- Transport from and back to the meeting point is included
- Finishes below the Fortezza, which is well placed for sunset in season
Worth knowing
- Fortezza admission is not included — that is about €5 extra at the gate
- One reviewer found the doorway commentary repetitive
- Not suitable for people with mobility impairments or hearing impairments
- Eight reviews is a thin sample for a €50 tour
Usually included
- Certified local guide
- Two-hour guided walk
- Time for photographs and questions
- Transport from and to the meeting point
Not included
- Fortezza admission
- Food and drink
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities
Take the ticket money with you. The tour ends beside the Fortezza, so you can pay the gate fee and walk in on your own while you are already up the hill.
Who should book it
People who like walking slowly and being told what they are looking at, and people who want the Venetian and Ottoman layers separated for them. If you want to cover more ground in the same two hours, the e-bike tour costs less and adds the coastal road. If the fortress interior is the reason you came, this is the wrong booking and the guided fortress tour is the right one.
Other tours to consider
Inside the wallsFortezza ticket includedFortezza: Explore the Fortress of Rethymno with a Certified Guide
Best valueRethymno: e-Bike Tour on the Old City
Highest ratedRethymno: Old Town Segway Tour
Frequently asked questions
Does the old town walking tour include Fortezza entry?
No. The walk goes up to the Fortezza and ends on the ring road below it, but admission is not part of the price. Adult entry is about €5 at the gate, paid on the day — see the entrance fee page.
What is the criticism of this tour?
One reviewer, Gordon from the United Kingdom, wrote that the explanation of doorways became repetitive. It is a fair warning. Tell the guide early if architectural detail is not what you came for, and ask for more time at the harbour instead.
Where does the tour start?
Outside the Church of the Four Martyrs in Four Martyrs Square, at the edge of the old town near the Guora Gate, a few minutes on foot from the main shopping street.
Is two hours long enough for Rethymno old town?
Yes for the landmarks. You can walk the whole old town in under an hour without stopping, so two hours allows real stops. The Fortezza itself needs a separate 1.5 to 2 hours, which the timing page explains.