Activities
- Not to miss Avli's cooking lessons. Choose your own Cretan dish and learn how to cook typical food under the guidance of Avli's chef. You will enter Avli's kitchen and prepare the dishes together with Avli's chef and cooking team. Finally, you are going to eat your own creations! The course price includes Reading and Writing/Notetaking Material, Cost of the ingredients, Chef’s time, a glass of wine, tsikoudia, and a bottle of mineral water. The guests, of course, eat the creation - a five-course lunch or dinner includes an appetizer, a salad, a first course, the main course, and a dessert. The duration of the lesson and the dining is approximately 2 – 4 hrs (combining cooking and eating time).
- Wine tasting can be fun as well, educational, and very rewarding. If you love wine as Avli do, you could join one of the presentations of the Cretan and Greek wine-varieties and producers. They usually present 5 wines of which 2 white, 2 red, 1 rose, or 5 white or 5 red wines may be proposed. Wine tasting is accompanied by rusks, cheese, olives, potato, and sparkling water. In addition, you are going to notes regarding the wine-activity in Greece, the wines and the wineries. If you wish so, Avli can present a horizontal wine tasting (the presentation of variety per region) or present a vertical wine-tasting (the development of wine in time).
- Explore Rethymno's old town and especially the waterfront and streets just behind. Walk along the harbor wall to the Venetian lighthouse. The Fortezza (fortress) was built by the Venetians (1573) to protect the city. Not only are walls, church, and the remains of its buildings of interest, the views from it to the town are a great way to start planning your tour of the town. There are also sweeping sea views. Open daily.
- Shop. Buy silver jewelry, ceramics, lace, and other specialties in Rethymno’s shop-lined streets surrounding your hotel.
- Don't miss visiting Rethimnon's Archaeological Museum which occupies a building almost directly opposite the entrance to the fortress. It's worth a look especially if you are going to the bigger museums in other towns. Here you could enjoy Minoan pottery and sarcophagi and lots of Roman coins, jewelry, pots, and statues, all from Rethimno province. Take a look at an unusual unfinished Roman statue of Aphrodite.
- Two of the major monasteries of Crete and amongst its most sought and visited, Arkadi and Preveli monastery are medium distance outings. Within easy striking distance of the city, in the hills of the southeast, is the Monastery of Arkadhi a potent symbol of the Cretan struggle for independence and an atmospheric detour on a journey into the beautiful Cretan mountainous hinterland of Rethymno'sperfecture.
- Visit the 17th-century Monastery of Preveli which perched high above the sea on the south Crete. In its cloistered closed courtyard, there is a fountain with the Greek inscription "Wash your sins, not only your face". There are also breathtaking views out to sea towards the distant and chunky-looking Paximadhia islands which have lent their name to the tooth-cracking lumps of twice-baked bread served up with mezedes in the island's kafenia.
- Very close there is the sandy Palm Beach of Preveli, a sand-filled cove right at the end of the Kourtaliotiko gorge, where a freshwater estuary feeds a little oasis complete with palm grove and a cluster of oleanders ( at the beginning and the end of the season it is lovely).
- Other valuable visits: Armeni Minoan site, Argyroupoli (ancient Lappa) where the sound of water from springs cascades through this refreshing, taverna-laden village. Eleftherna, Axos, Zominthos archaeological sites. Amongst the significantly enjoyable, old, and historic villages: Episkopi, Spili, Amari (valley), Monastiraki, Anogia.
- Visit. Forty-nine miles west of Rethymno lies Heraklion. From there it’s just five miles to Knossos, the remains of a splendid Minoan palace built more than 4,000 years ago. Back in town, the Archaeological Museum displays ancient finds from Knossos (at present there is just a two-room temporary exhibition, as the building is undergoing renovation). Also worth a look is the Historical Museum of Crete, which traces the island’s history from Roman times up to the Second World War.
- Head west along the coast (60km) to explore the small, picturesque, and maybe the most enjoyable of Crete's larger towns, Chania. With its Venetian-era fishing harbor, crumbling masonry, and web of alleys, it is an extraordinarily attractive town, especially if you are there in spring when the Lefka Ori's snowcapped peaks seem to hover above the roofs. Don't forget to visit the Archaeological Museum, housed in a former church, plus the romantic cobbled alleys lined with arty boutiques and a market selling local handicrafts.
More uplifting activities in Rethimno Area.
House Rules
- Check-in: 14.00 pm
- Check out: 12.00 pm
- Minimum Stay: 2-3 nights, depending on the season
- Payment Policy: Please check here
- Cancellation Policy: Please check here
MHTE: 1041K054A0016201
How To Get There
The interesting, gorgeous, and atmospheric Avli is located in the heart of the old town of Rethymno on the north coast of Crete, midway between Chania and Heraklion.
- By Air
From May through mid-October there are direct charter flights to Chania (70km ) and, more frequently, to the capital Heraklion (81km). Tickets can be bought in advance for almost all flights via our partner website.
- By Sea
"The journey is the thing". A superb way of enjoying the journey to Crete is to fly to Athens and take the ferry from Piraeus (Pireas) - the port serving Athens. A still-romantic way to travel by the overnight ferry from Piraeus to Chania-Souda port (80km from the village)or Heraklion Port (85km). Tickets can be bought in advance for all ferries via our partner website.
- By Car
If you want to explore the region while you're here, we recommend that you rent a car, other means of transport are limited and/or infrequent. We suggest our sister website Crete-Car-Rental.com, which offers competitive prices and you can collect your car at either airport.
- By Taxi
Book your transfer online easily and safely from the airport or port to any location via our partner website
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through CreteTravel.com
Facilities
- Dining: Enjoy Avli's delicious breakfast which is served at Avli's restaurant colorful garden. Taste at Avli Restaurant the most creative Cretan Cuisine (open in Winter as well). Avli also own the adjoining Avli Fusion Enoteca (wine bar, serving light meals) and Raki Baraki ( with a few nights with live music)
- Internet Access: Free WiFi throughout
- Swimming Pool: No, there is a 10-person open-air rooftop jacuzzi (unheated) with a view to the Venetian Fortress and Old Town
- Spa Treatments: In-room massage and spa treatments available on request
- Weddings and Celebrations: Avli is the perfect venue for an elegant wedding reception and a luxurious honeymoon.
- Avli's Suites could accommodate up to 21 people. And Avli's award-winning restaurant can cater to the most elegant wedding reception up to 120 seated guests. Avli can accommodate all requests and accommodate requests for vegetarian or gluten-free meals and can prepare children’s meals. Avli's services include a wedding reception planning to a fully planned event following the wishes of the couple from flower arrangements to photographer to live or piped music, wedding favors. Contact CreteTravel to discuss your plans, and make your wedding dreams come true at Avli.
- Meetings/Functions: Avli can arrange small conferences for up to 45 people (there are 2 meeting rooms) and can also cover the catering
- Disabled Access: Not suitable
- Pets: Not allowed
- Languages Spoken: Greek, English, German, French
- Parking: You could use the Public car park just 120m from Avli; Cost is 7 Euros per day; open 24 hours
