Teleporio™ — Greek Island Travel Intelligence

Rethymno Carnival, Crete

Plan your trip to the Rethymno Carnival. Dance through Venetian lanes and a 500-year-old harbour town — one of the Mediterranean's most beautiful winter…

Carnival in a Venetian Harbour Town

Rethymno's old town is one of the most completely preserved Venetian urban environments in the eastern Mediterranean. The 16th-century Venetian harbour, the Fortezza castle on the headland, the narrow lanes of the old town with their carved stone doorways and balconied Venetian mansions — the setting for the Rethymno Carnival is genuinely exceptional. The carnival uses the entire old town as its stage: masquerade balls in the main square, night parades through the lanes, and the Grand Parade along the waterfront.

The Rethymno Carnival follows the same Orthodox Easter calendar as Patras — ending on Clean Monday, 48 days before Easter. The date changes each year. Three weeks of events culminate in the Grand Parade, which draws tens of thousands of visitors to a town of approximately 30,000 permanent residents.

Western Crete Beyond the Carnival

Rethymno is ideally positioned for exploring western Crete. Chania, 60km to the west, is one of Greece's most beautiful port cities. The Samaria Gorge — the longest gorge walk in Greece, 16km through a national park — is accessible from Chania from May through October. The Cretan highlands south of Rethymno are among the least-visited landscapes in Greece: plateau villages, shepherd communities, and a cuisine that is distinct from the rest of the island. Ferry connections from Piraeus run overnight to Rethymno direct — book in advance via Ferryhopper for February/March crossings.

The Rethymno Old Town

Rethymno's old town — the Fortezza, the Venetian harbour, the lighthouse, and the network of Ottoman and Venetian lanes behind — is the most intact Venetian urban environment on Crete. The Fortezza, built between 1571 and 1580 after the Ottoman sack of the town, covers the headland above the harbour and contains a mosque, warehouses, and administrative buildings still largely intact. The Venetian harbour's 16th-century lighthouse is one of the most photographed structures in Crete. The mosque of Ibrahim Han inside the Fortezza was originally a Venetian Catholic church, converted after the 1645 Ottoman conquest of Rethymno and now operating as a concert venue.

The carnival takes place in the winter Carnival period, with dates and programme varying by year. Weather, opening hours, lodging prices and availability also vary; check current details for your travel dates.

Rethymno municipality publishes the annual parade route and programme. Viewing arrangements, street closures and attendance can change by edition. Check local notices and compare current accommodation availability if travelling for the carnival.