Villa Style boasts a serene hillside spot in Rethymno, a beautiful town between Chania and Heraklion on the north coast of Crete. There you’ll find the renowned Venetian Harbour filled with coloured fishing boats and lined with tavernas, bars and restaurants. Look out for places serving freshly-caught seafood or classic Greek dishes like souvlaki (tender cuts of meat) and moussaka.
Perfect for culture lovers, there’s also Rethymno Lighthouse (built in 1830) and a star-shaped, 16th-century fortress to the west. Get an insight into traditional life at the Historical and Folklore Museum with local crafts like textiles and ceramics or explore the old quarter with narrow streets and alleyways, as well as a church a mosque here and there. Visit the beautiful Venetian mansions at Arkadiou Street or relax with a coffee at one of the cafés around the pretty Rimondi Fountain.
You won’t have to walk far to get to the beach here either – it’s right in the middle of town. Rethymno beach boasts a long 12km stretch of soft sand and shallow swimming waters. Bordering it is a promenade, and it’s just across the road from shops, cafés and restaurants for when you get peckish during the day. There’s also brilliant turquoise waters at the nearby beaches of Skinaria, Ammoudi and Damnoni, all located near Plakias village (about 30km south of Rethymno).
For adventuring further afield, the Sacred Monastery of Arkadi is about a 30-minute drive from Rethymno. The holy spot is a peaceful oasis of golden stone buildings and flower-filled courtyards. From here, you can walk through fields and meadows to the village of Pikris and stop for lunch.