Activities
- 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 to Rethymno's prefecture.
- 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.
- Eleftherna is also worth visiting. It is one of the most ancient cities in Crete and the most important archeological site in Rethymno Prefecture. The city was founded in the 9th century B.C. and remained inhabited until the byzantine years. It was built in a strategic location, where the road from the city of Knossos, the road from the ancient city of Kydonia (on the other side of Crete - Chania) and the road from the holy Idi Mountain (Psiloritis) met. Precious findings have seen the light of day from the excavations in this area. Eleftherna changed hands but never stopped growing. During the Roman years, city baths, cisterns, palaces, public buildings, and a tower were built. The landmark was a church called Grand Vassiliki, which is saved until today. In 2010, a grave of a young couple was discovered in Eleftherna. The couple was covered with a cerecloth consisting of 3.000 gold leaves! The grave is aged 2.700 years. Since 2016, The Museum of ancient Eleutherna - Homer in Crete, is ready to welcome its visitors, the first archaeological site museum in Crete, although smaller in size, is similar to those of Olympia, Delphi, and Vergina. The museum was created to house the results of the excavations carried out for thirty years in the ancient city of Eleutherna.
- 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 Archeological 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 region.
House Rules
- Check-in: 15.00 - 22.00 pm
- Check out: 08.00 - 11.00 am
- Minimum Stay: 2-3 nights, depending on the season
- Payment Policy: Please check here
- Cancellation Policy: Please check here
MHTE: 1041Κ122Κ2582101
How To Get There
The romantic and atmospheric Pepi Boutique Hotel 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 (65km ) and, more frequently, to the capital Heraklion (80km). 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 taxi 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: Gastronomy at Pepi Boutique Hotel is very important. Breakfast is available
- Internet Access: Free WiFi throughout
- Swimming Pool: In the central courtyard there is a small pool, great to cool down in, after a walk through the old town
- Disabled Access: Not suitable
- Family Friendly: To maintain a quiet atmosphere, the hotel books families with children above 15 years of age.
- Pets: Not allowed
- Languages Spoken: Greek, English, German
- Parking: You could use the Public car park just a 5min walk from the hotel. The cost is 7 Euros per day; open 24 hours. Kindly note that during the Summer Period no vehicle is allowed in the Historical Centre of Rethymno, and thus hotel is not accessible by car.
