Car rental tour ‘Highlights of Crete’ & Beach time

About the destination: Heraklion is the capital of Crete and often serves as the starting point for holiday visitors eager to explore the island. With a population of about 130,000, it ranks as the fifth largest city in Greece. The city bears the marks of various influences from the Venetians, Saracens, and Greeks. History is very much alive in Heraklion, as it is in most Greek cities. Throughout the old part of the city, visitors can stroll along the ancient Venetian walls that converge at a bastion known as Koules Fortress, which dominates the city's old harbor. The Venetians began constructing the city walls in 1462, and it took them over a century to complete. The walls stretch about 4 km in length, forming a triangular shape with seven bastions, and they have become one of the city's iconic features. The central square, surrounded by shops, cafes, and restaurants, is highlighted by the Lions Fountain, built by a Venetian governor in the 17th century. The Archaeological Museum in Heraklion is impressive and is the pride and joy of the city. The exhibits are comprehensive and well-organized, covering all aspects of life in Crete from prehistory to the Roman period in a series of spacious galleries. The Palace at Knossos is the second most popular tourist site in all of Greece, second only to the Acropolis. The site is in remarkable condition and offers much to see. It is also set in a beautiful location with stunning views of the countryside. Heraklion offers a wide range of historic and archaeological attractions, including its world-famous museum and the nearby site of Knossos, the heart of the ancient Minoan civilization. The city's shoreline, Amoudara, features a three-kilometer stretch of sandy beach, numerous cafes, bars, and hotels, and is home to Technopolis, a modern multiplex cinema and open-air theater. The most beautiful beaches outside the city can be found in Kartero and Malia.

About the destination: Agios Nikolaos is a seaside town on the Greek island of Crete. Agios Nikolaos boasts some of the most breathtaking scenery in all of Greece. The traditional villages in the area embody the stunning Greek landscape, complete with charming ports and villages that offer comfortable accommodations, as well as a rich archaeological and mythological heritage.

About the destination: Rethymno is a city of approximately 40,000 people in Greece, the capital of the Rethymno regional unit on the island of Crete. It was formerly a Latin Catholic bishopric known as Retimo(–Ario) and a former Latin titular see. Rethymno was originally established during the Minoan civilization, known in ancient times as Rhithymna and Arsinoe. The city was significant enough to mint its own coins and sustain urban development. One of these coins is now featured as the town's emblem: two dolphins in a circle. The region is rich in ancient history, most notably through the Minoan civilization centered at Knossos, east of Rethymno. Rethymno itself began to grow when the Venetian conquerors of the island decided to establish an intermediate commercial station between Heraklion and Chania, gaining its own bishop and nobility in the process. Today's old town (palia poli) was almost entirely constructed by the Republic of Venice and is one of the best-preserved old towns in Crete. Around 1250, the city became the seat of the Latin Diocese of Retimo, which was renamed Retimo–Ario after the absorption of the Diocese of Ario in 1551, and was suppressed only after the Turkish conquest.