Around the hotel
BIO BEACH Boutique Hotel is located on the beachfront of Rethymno. This excellent location is just a short walk from the heart of the city and the Old Town and offers our guests the chance to enjoy spectacular sunsets from their room balcony or from our hotel restaurant and bar.
BIO BEACH Boutique Hotel is located in close proximity to supermarkets, ATMs, a bakery, cafes and bars. Other facilities in the surrounding area include: car/motorcycle/bicycle rental, pharmacy, church, souvenir shops.
The beach in front of the hotel, located just a step away, is ideal not just for swimming, but also for water sports, which are offered by professional providers.
BIO BEACH Boutique Hotel is the ideal choice for travellers who give priority to location.
CRETE
Is it the sea that enchants the visitors, the traditional gastronomy, the Cretan music, the picturesque villages, the traditions or the warm hospitality? Most probably, it is the unique character of Crete, comprising all the above and even more.
No one could describe Crete better than Nikos Kazantzakis, the prominent Cretan writer: “He who sets foot on the island feels a strange strength penetrating through his veins and his soul widens.”
The largest Greek island combines rich history and culture, as it hosts some of the most remarkable landmarks of Greece, such as the Minoan Palaces of Knossos, Phaestos and Zakros, as well as important monasteries dating from the 15th century or earlier, such as Preveli monastery and the historic monastery of Arkadi, and many fascinating fortresses from the Venetian period.
Stunning beaches
It’s impossible not to be enchanted by the turquoise waters of Balos, the sand dunes of Agios Pavlos, the exotic Elafonisi, the mysterious Kedrodasos or the imposing Triopetra. Besides the well-known beaches, the island has a glut of less-discovered stunning beaches, to suit all tastes, waiting for visitors to explore them. We selected our favourite beaches with Rethymno as a starting point:
Agios Pavlos (Rethymno): 58km
Agia Fotini (Rethymno): 49km
Preveli (Rethymno): 35km
Ammoudi (Rethymno): 32km
Rodakino (Rethymno): 45km
Loutro (Rethymno): 93km
Sougia (Chania): 122km
Elafonisi (Chania): 135km
Falasarna (Chania): 114km
Balos (Chania): 115km
Tsoutsouras (Heraklion): 137km
Lentas (Heraklion): 104km
Matala (Heraklion): 82km
Cultural treasure
The rich cultural heritage of Crete attracts millions of visitors every year. If you are interested in getting to know this fascinating aspect of the island, here is a short list of the most interesting landmarks worth spending time at:
Archaeological Museum of Eleftherna (Rethymno) 24km
Archaeological Museum of Rethymno (Rethymno) 1.5km
Historical & Folk Art Museum of Rethymno (Rethymno) 2km
Fortezza fortress (Rethymno) 2km
Arkadi monastery (Rethymno) 21km
Preveli monastery (Rethymno) 34km
Archaeological Museum of Heraklion (Heraklion) 80km
Nikos Kazantzakis Museum (Heraklion) 93km
El Greco Museum (Heraklion) 52km
Koules fortress (Heraklion) 78km
Knossos Minoan Palace (Heraklion) 70km
Phaestos Minoan Palace (Heraklion) 80km
Archaeological Museum of Chania (Chania) 61.5km
Maritime Museum of Crete (Chania) 62km
Izzeddin fortress (Chania) 46km
Ancient Aptera (Chania) 50km
Agia Triada Tzagarolon monastery (Chania) 70km
*If you want to learn more about the history and culture of Crete, it is recommended to hire an official licensed guide.
Authentic hospitality
The traditional Greek hospitality can be experienced at its best in Crete, and is among the reasons why every year the island welcomes so many loyal friends from all over the world. Authentic people welcome all visitors with joy and generosity. Visit some traditional Cretan villages and get to know the authentic soulful Crete:
Axos (Rethymno) 63.5km
Anogia (Rethymno) 55km
Amari (Rethymno) 34km
Eleftherna (Rethymno) 23km
Meronas (Rethymno) 32km
Spili (Rethymno) 28km
Sfakia (Chania) 65km
Kissamos (Chania) 95km
Paleohora (Chania) 128km
Arhanes (Heraklion) 92km
Agia Pelagia (Heraklion) 60km
and many more.
For nature-lovers
If you love nature and action and dream of hiking mountains and gorges, Crete will definitely exceed your expectations. Here’s a list of the most famous areas for hiking:
Mountains
Idi Mountain or Psiloritis (Rethymno) 66km
Krioneritis (Rethymno) 45km
Lefka Ori (Chania) 98km
Youchtas Mountain (Heraklion) 93km
Dikti Mountain (Lassithi) 140km
Gorges
Kotsyfou Gorge (Rethymno) 33km
Kourtalioti Gorge (Rethymno) 25km
Agiou Antoniou Gorge (Rethymno) 21.5km
Mili Gorge (Rethymno) 7km
Therissou Gorge (Chania) 66km
National Park of Samaria – Samaria Gorge (Chania) 97km
Aradainas Gorge (Chania) 83km
For more information, please visit the website of the Region of Crete: https://www.incrediblecrete.gr/
Our reception desk will be delighted to inform you about distances, organised tours or car rentals. Moreover, mountaineering clubs operate in all prefectures of Crete and you can participate in their excursions.
RETHYMNO
Built on the site of ancient city Rithymna, Rethymno is nowadays the third largest city of the island of Crete. Every year thousands of visitors choose Rethymno for their holidays, motivated, among others, by the privileged location in the heart of the island and the well-preserved Renaissance character of the Old Town.
In the Old Town of Rethymno, Renaissance elements from the Venetian period coexist in harmony with Ottoman architecture. A stroll in the narrow streets of the Old Town will bring you in front of many architectural gems. Starting from Megali Porta (the Great Gate), you can stroll by the Neratze Mosque, admire the Rimondi Fountain, meander through the narrow streets around Kiria ton Aggelon (Church of Our Lady of the Angels) and reach Fortezza fortress.
Centrally located on the island, Rethymno features easy access to South Crete, where the endless blue of the Libyan Sea will definitely enchant you. Mountainous traditional villages are also easily accessible from Rethymno, such as picturesque Amari, famous Anogia, Meronas, Spili, historic Arkadi, Ancient Eleftherna and many others. In just 60 minutes, you can reach Heraklion, the capital of the island, while stunning Chania is just 50 minutes away.
Rethymno is a lively and vibrant city all year around, as numerous events take place throughout the year. Remarkable events during the summer months include: the Renaissance Festival, with cultural events including theatrical and music performances by distinguished Greek and local artists, as the city hosts some notable theatrical workshops; the Cretan Diet Festival, where visitors can get to know the traditional gastronomy; traditional village festivals, where guests are captivated by the melodies of the Cretan lyra.
During the winter months, the vibrant cultural events continue. The Carnival of Rethymno is a celebration of joy, music, dance and fun, attracting thousands of visitors from Greece and abroad. The city hosts numerous events during the period of the Carnival, culminating in the Great Carnival Parade of the king of the Carnival and more than 15,000 participants. This tradition started in 1914 and remains among the highlights of winter in Rethymno.
Perhaps the most impressive winter event is the one which combines knowledge and fun, the Treasure Hunt of Rethymno. More than 1300 participants seek avidly a treasure hidden in the city. In 2017, the Treasure Hunt of Rethymno earned its place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest treasure hunt game, with a record number of 1384 participants. This tradition began in 1990 and grows bigger every year, bringing fun to people of all ages through quizzes of endless knowledge.
For more information visit the website of the Municipality of Rethymno:
https://www.rethymno.guide/
(photos of Rethymno & Crete by Stefanos Manoleas)
THE CRETAN CLIMATE
The climate of Crete is generally considered to be one of the most pleasant, healthy and mildest in Europe. A key climatic factor is the sea surrounding the island, which softens the scathing intensity of the sun during the summer.
Crete enjoys perhaps one of the best subtropical Mediterranean climates with over 300 days and more than 3,000 hours of sunshine annually.
The light rainy season is usually limited to the period between November and March. Mild temperatures prevail on the island throughout the year. The atmosphere can be quite humid depending on the distance from the sea, but winters are quite mild.
During the summer, average temperatures start at 20 to 30 degrees Celsius, reaching 30-40 degrees maximum. In coastal areas, especially in the South, the climate is so mild that tropical plants like bananas are cultivated.
* photos of Rethymno & Crete by Stefanos Manoleas
