The Venetian harbour is the heart of old Rethimno — a small, protected basin with a 16th-century lighthouse at its entrance and the Fortezza rising above on the headland. The quayside is lined with restaurants and cafes that are undeniably touristy but positioned for some of the best views in the city. The combination of the lighthouse, the fortress wall above, the fishing boats, and the mountains visible on the horizon across the Aegean is one of those scenes that earns its postcard status.
The harbour is at its best in the early morning, when the fishing boats return and the cafes are setting out their chairs, or at sunset, when the fortress glows orange above the water. An evening walk along the quayside, ending with a meal at one of the better restaurants, is the standard Rethimno experience and it works.