Excellence Luxury Villas · Rethymno
Luxury Villa Rentals in Rethymno
Villas with pools and sea views in the hills above a Venetian harbour town on Crete's north coast
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A Venetian town, a long beach and the hills behind
Rethymno is the third city of Crete, and it is the one people tend to love most. It sits on the north coast between Chania and Heraklion. Its old town is a warren of Venetian lanes and Ottoman wooden balconies, with minarets rising over the rooftops and the great Fortezza of 1573 above it all. A sandy beach of around 13 kilometres runs east from the harbour wall.
Our Rethymno collection runs to 110+ villas. Most are in the olive-covered hills behind the town, in villages such as Prines, Chromonastiri and Armeni, and out towards the Arkadi plateau. Others sit closer to the sea around Platanes, Skaleta and Gerani. Private pools are the rule, many with sea views, and some have infinity or rooftop pools and spas. The largest houses have room for big family gatherings.
Here is how to choose where to stay, and what to do once you arrive.
Rethymno at a glance
- Villas
- 110+ around Rethymno, with up to 14 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £2,700 to £5,400 a week, from around £2,200
- Best areas
- The hill villages of Prines, Chromonastiri and Armeni; Platanes and Skaleta by the sea
- Best time
- May, June, September and October; carnival in the weeks before Lent
- Getting there
- Chania and Heraklion airports, each around an hour to 75 minutes by road
Browse all 110+ villas in Rethymno
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Villa Xerokampos Rethymno: Luxury 12-Bedroom Apartment with Seaviews & Pool – Rethymno12 bedrooms
Villa Prinos Rethymnon: Elegant 8-Bedroom Apartment with Sea View & Pool – Rethymnon8 bedrooms
Villa Lysias Gerani Rethymnon: Luxury 9-Bedroom Villa with Seaview & Pool – Rethymnon9 bedrooms
Villa Lefkos Armeni Rethymno: Luxury 14-Bedroom Villa with Pools & Sauna – Rethymno14 bedroomsWhere to stay in Rethymno
The hill villages of Prines, Chromonastiri and Armeni for views and quiet, Platanes and Skaleta for the beach, the Arkadi plateau and Mylopotamos for history, and Plakias for the south coast.
Fortress walls, fountains and a harbour supper
The Fortezza is the place to begin. It is a Venetian citadel on Paleokastro hill, and inside its walls stands a domed Ottoman mosque. The ramparts are the best place in town to watch the sun go down. Below, the Great Gate leads into lanes of old mansions, bakeries and workshops, and the Rimondi Fountain of 1626 still runs from its lion heads.
The little Venetian harbour, with its lighthouse, is lined with fish tavernas. It is touristy, yes, but a plate of grilled red mullet there in the evening is hard to argue with. From the hill villages the old town is a short drive, so dinner in town never becomes an expedition.
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A monastery, an ancient city and a potters' village
The Monastery of Arkadi stands on a plateau around 23 kilometres southeast of town. On 8 November 1866, Cretans besieged there by Ottoman forces blew up the powder magazine rather than surrender. The story is still told with great feeling, and the anniversary is marked every year.
A few kilometres on, Ancient Eleftherna has an excavated city and a fine modern museum. Nearby Margarites has made pottery for centuries, and its workshops are still busy. Villas in this part of the countryside, out towards Skouloufia and the Mylopotamos villages, come with wide views and very quiet nights.
Psiloritis, gorges and palm trees by the sea
Inland rises Psiloritis, the ancient Mount Ida and the highest mountain on Crete. On its slopes is Anogeia, a village known for its lyra players and its fiercely independent spirit. The Amari valley, south of Rethymno, makes a lovely day of slow driving between village churches and kafeneia.
The south coast is only about an hour away, so a villa near Rethymno gives you two seas. The road runs through the Kourtaliotiko gorge to Preveli, where a river meets the Libyan Sea beneath a grove of palms. Plakias, a little to the west, has a long beach and an easygoing air.
Raki, carnival and a long, warm autumn
Cretan food is reason enough to come. Expect dakos, a barley rusk heaped with tomato and soft cheese, little kalitsounia pies, snails, slow-cooked lamb and gamopilafo, the rich wedding pilaf of the island. Meals usually end with a free glass of tsikoudia, the local raki.
The beach season runs from May to October. Spring brings wildflowers and green hills, and September and October bring warm seas without the August crowds. The Rethymno Carnival in the weeks before Clean Monday is one of the liveliest in Greece. Our concierge can arrange car hire, transfers, a private chef and tables in town.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in Rethymno
Villa Meltemi Rethymnon: Luxurious 6-Bedroom Villa with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Rethymnon6 bedrooms · sleeps 13From £9,072 a week
Villa Milos | 5-Bedroom Villa in Hersonissos Agkisaras5 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £8,840 a week
Villa Kaikias Kournas Rethymnon: 10-Bedroom Luxury Villa with Seaviews & Pools – Rethymnon10 bedrooms · sleeps 20From £8,162 a week
Villa Psiloritis Rethymnon: Spacious 4-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview & Pool – Rethymnon4 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £7,735 a week
Villa Lefki Skaleta Rethymnon: Spacious 8-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview & Pool – Rethymnon8 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £7,560 a week
Villa Gregos Perama Rethymnon: Luxury 9-Bedroom Villa with Private Pools – Rethymnon9 bedrooms · sleeps 18From £7,525 a week
Villa Alysos Rethymno: Elegant 4-Bedroom Villa with Seaview & Pool – Rethymno4 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £7,189 a week
Villa Boreas Spili Rethymnon: Luxury 7-Bedroom Villa with Seaview & Pool – Rethymnon7 bedrooms · sleeps 13From £6,713 a weekWhy book your Rethymno villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Rethymno's villas are spread across coast, hillside and plateau, and we know which have true sea views, which are an easy drive from the old town and which suit those who want complete quiet. With 110+ properties in Rethymno, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Car hire and transfers from Chania or Heraklion, a private chef, guided visits to Arkadi and Eleftherna, boat trips, carnival plans and old town restaurant tables. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay near Rethymno?
For views and quiet, choose the hill villages just behind the town, such as Prines, Chromonastiri and Armeni, all a short drive from the old town. Platanes and Skaleta, to the east, put you close to the long sandy beach. The Arkadi plateau and the Mylopotamos villages are more rural.
When is the best time to visit Rethymno?
May, June, September and October are the most comfortable months, warm enough for swimming without the peak heat and crowds of July and August. The carnival, held in the weeks before Clean Monday, is a good reason to come in late winter.
Is Rethymno a good base for exploring Crete?
Very much so. It sits in the middle of the north coast, so Chania, Heraklion and Knossos make easy day trips. The south coast at Preveli and Plakias is around an hour away.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in Rethymno?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in Rethymno cost?
Across our 110+ villas in Rethymno, weekly rates typically range from £2,700 to £5,400, with the most affordable from around £2,200 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
Which airport is closest to Rethymno?
Rethymno has no airport of its own. Chania and Heraklion airports are both used, and each is around an hour to 75 minutes away by road, so the choice usually comes down to flight times. Our concierge can arrange car hire or a private transfer.
Are there villas in Rethymno for large groups?
Yes. Our Rethymno collection includes properties with up to 14 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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110+ properties in Rethymno, booked direct with our concierge on hand