Shopping in Rethymno: streets, markets and what to buy
The old town's shopping streets, weekly market days and the souvenirs worth bringing back from Rethymno.
- Most shopping is in the old town: Souliou for souvenirs, Arkadiou for fashion.
- There's a farmers' market on Wednesday and a laiki on Thursday and Saturday.
- Good souvenirs: olive oil, honey, Cretan knives and handmade crafts.
Plan a market morning on Thursday or Saturday and an evening in the old-town lanes. Packaged food is the easiest souvenir to bring home.
Where to shop in Rethymno
Most shopping in Rethymno is in the old town, the Venetian-Ottoman quarter by the harbour. Its paved lanes are full of shops, which Greeka says stay open late in season. Outside the town the choice is limited: Plakias, Bali and Agia Galini have a few small shopping centres, and villages usually have only a mini-market.
Rethymno's shopping streets
According to the municipal tourism site (rethymno.guide):
| Street | What you'll find |
|---|---|
| Ethnikis Antistaseos, Souliou, Petichaki | jewellery, local products, cosmetics and souvenirs |
| Paleologou, Arabadzoglou, Koroneou | souvenirs, local products and cosmetics |
| Arkadiou, Kallergi | clothes, shoes, accessories and jewellery from Greek designers and brands |
| Koundouriotou, Gerakari | the new town: department stores and boutiques |
Narrow, picturesque Souliou Street is the most popular for browsing and souvenirs. Arkadiou, parallel to the seafront, is better for fashion.
Rethymno's markets: when and where
- Organic farmers' market: Wednesdays from 11:00 on Koumoundourou Street, behind the Municipal Garden.
- Laiki (open-air market): Thursdays in the car park next to the Municipal Garden, and Saturdays near the central bus station, until about 14:00. It sells fruit and vegetables, honey, cheese, olives and herbs, plus clothes and kitchenware.
Times can change, so check locally.
What to buy in Rethymno
- Food: Cretan olive oil, honey, graviera cheese, olives, herbs, local wine and tsikoudia (a local grape spirit). If you keep kosher, local cheeses and wines are not kosher. Packaged olive oil, honey and spices are simpler choices; check with your rabbi.
- Crafts: embroidery, weaving, pottery, leather goods and woodwork.
- Traditional items: the Cretan lyra, decorated Cretan knives, komboloi (worry beads) and painted icons. Knives must go in checked luggage, not your hand luggage.
- Museum replicas: the shop at the Loggia, on the corner of Arkadiou and Paleologou, sells official replicas of exhibits.
- Natural cosmetics: soaps and olive-oil products.
Shopping tips for Rethymno
- Compare prices between shops on Souliou. Some souvenirs aren't made in Crete.
- Most shops take cards, but bring cash for markets.
- Non-EU residents spending above a set amount in one shop can claim a VAT refund. Details in our Greece VAT refund guide.
More in Crete: Rethymno guide, Rethymno weather, shopping in Chania and shopping in Heraklion.
FAQ
What is the main shopping street in Rethymno? In the old town, Souliou and Ethnikis Antistaseos for souvenirs and local products, and Arkadiou for fashion.
Which day is market day in Rethymno? An organic farmers' market on Wednesday, and the laiki on Thursday by the Municipal Garden and on Saturday near the bus station.
What is the best souvenir from Rethymno? Cretan olive oil and honey, a decorated Cretan knife, or a local handmade craft.
Are Rethymno's shops open in the evening? Yes, in the tourist season most old-town shops stay open late.
