Craft Beer & City Tour – Rethymno Old Town

Rethymno’s old town is best explored at a slow evening pace, with a cold Greek craft beer in hand and a guide who knows both the city and the brewing process. This three-hour walk links the Venetian harbour, quiet pedestrian lanes, beer bars, photo stops, and local snacks without turning the evening into a rushed pub crawl.

I like two things right away: the small group, limited to eight, and the guide’s personal angle as a local beer expert and home brewer. I also like that you get more than samples, with five Greek craft beers, food, a short beer lesson, and a souvenir included.

The main drawback is practical rather than serious: this is a walking tour with alcohol, so it is not a good fit if you have walking difficulties, are bringing a baby, or want a substantial dinner rather than finger food. Wear proper shoes, bring water, and remember that you should not drive afterward.

Key points to know

• Three beer stops in about three hours: The route begins and ends near the Old Venetian Harbour.
• Five Greek craft beers included: You receive samples and fuller pours, with styles matched to your preferences and what is in season.
• A guide who also brews at home: The beer lesson has a personal, practical focus rather than a formal lecture.
• Old-town orientation built into the walk: You use lesser-known pedestrian streets to get a feel for Rethymno’s layout and past.
• Small-group setting: The maximum is eight people, which leaves room for questions and conversation.
• Evening timing: The tour starts at 6:00 pm, a useful time for cooler walking and a relaxed start to the night.

Why this Rethymno beer walk works

At $102.41 per person, this is not simply a few drinks at a bar. You are paying for a guided city walk, five Greek craft beers, snacks, beer instruction, photo stops, taxes, and a small souvenir. The value depends on how you like to spend an evening.

If you would otherwise pay separately for a walking tour and several beers, the package makes reasonable sense. You also avoid the work of finding Rethymno’s best beer spots on your own. The guide handles the route and chooses pours that fit your taste and the seasonal selection.

I would not book this as a budget way to have one drink. I would book it as a compact introduction to Rethymno and the local craft beer scene, especially early in your stay. The old-town orientation can help you find your way around for the rest of your visit, while the beer stops point you toward places you might return to later.

The start time matters, too. A 6:00 pm departure gives you a break from the heat of the day and places the photo stop and final drink into the evening. Since the activity lasts about three hours, it can also lead naturally into dinner or the rest of your night.

Starting with beer at the Venetian Harbour

You meet at Bricks Beers & Tales on Eleftheríou Venizélou 41, close to the Old Venetian Harbour. The tour opens with a refreshing beer and an introduction to Greek craft brewing, as well as basic information about beer in general.

That first drink does useful work. It gives the group a chance to settle in, meet the guide, and understand how the evening will run before the walking begins. If you are not sure what beer styles you prefer, this is also a good point to explain your taste.

The guide is described as both a local beer specialist and a home brewer. That combination should make the introduction more hands-on. You can expect practical conversation about styles, brewing, and the beers you are tasting, rather than a long history lesson delivered from a script.

The harbour is a sensible place to begin. It gives you a clear reference point in Rethymno, and the route later returns here for the final stop. Because the walk starts and finishes in the same general area, you do not need to arrange a taxi between the beginning and end of the activity.

The first section lasts about an hour, including the beer introduction and the walk into the old town. The ticket for the stop is included, and no separate admission payment is needed.

Finding Rethymno through its quieter lanes

After the opening drink, the group moves through less familiar pedestrian streets in the old town. The purpose is not only to reach the next beer stop. The walk gives you a basic sense of how Rethymno fits together and points out monuments linked to its multicultural past.

That orientation is one of the stronger parts of the experience. Rethymno’s old town is easy to enjoy at street level, but it can be confusing when you first arrive. A local guide can show you how the harbour relates to the lanes and monuments farther inland, helping you build a mental map.

You should expect a slow-paced walk rather than a strenuous hike. Still, the route is on foot, and the tour is specifically not recommended for people with walking difficulties. Comfortable shoes are important. The advice to carry your own water bottle is also worth following, since the Cretan sun can be strong even when the evening has begun.

The cultural material adds balance to the beer. You are not spending three hours moving from one glass to another with no sense of place. Instead, the drinks are tied to Rethymno’s streets, buildings, and past. The result should suit you if you like learning a little local context while doing something social.

The route can change with weather conditions. That may affect the streets or stops, but it also means the guide can adjust the outing when outdoor conditions are poor.

A multi-style tasting in a tucked-away beer stop

The second hour brings you to a less obvious craft beer hangout in Rethymno’s old town. Here, the focus shifts from walking to a tasting session with several beer styles.

The useful detail is that the tasting is not fixed entirely in advance. The beers are matched to your preferences and to what is seasonal. If you already know you like a certain style, tell the guide. If you are still working that out, this is a chance to compare different options and notice what suits you.

Five Greek craft beers are included across the evening, with both samples and full servings. The exact distribution is not specified, so you should think of the package as a mixture of tasting pours and more complete drinks rather than five large beers. That is enough variety for a real introduction without making the outing feel like a drinking contest.

The small group helps here. With a maximum of eight people, the guide has a better chance to hear individual preferences and answer questions. A larger pub tour can easily turn into a line of people waiting for a sample. This format sounds more personal and better suited to conversation.

The second stop is also where the local beer scene becomes more concrete. Instead of hearing only general facts about brewing, you get to compare actual Greek beers and consider how their styles differ. If you are curious about regional craft beer but do not know where to begin, that is a practical benefit.

There is one limitation. The tasting takes place in a beer venue, not a full restaurant setting, so you should not count on this section as dinner. Snacks are part of the overall experience, but the evening is built around beer and small bites.

The final beer, views, and finger food

The group then takes another unhurried walk toward the final stop. This portion includes one of the best photo points on the route, giving you time to pause rather than simply pass through the town.

Photo stops can be easy to underrate on a food and drink tour. Here, they break up the tasting and give you a chance to look at Rethymno without a glass in front of you. The exact view can depend on the route and weather, since the guide reserves the right to change stops, but the Old Venetian Harbour remains the key setting.

At the last stop, you choose a beer on tap and receive quality finger food. This is the point where the tour finishes, although the timing makes it easy to continue your evening in the old town afterward.

I like this ending because it gives the tour a proper pause. You are not pushed out after a final sample. You have a full beer of your choice, something to eat, and a useful place from which to continue exploring. It also helps take the edge off the alcohol, although you should still plan to drink responsibly.

The food is described as tasty, quality finger food, not a full meal. If you are hungry, arrange dinner afterward. The tour ends back at the meeting point, so returning to Bricks Beers & Tales is straightforward.

What the five beers and snacks are really worth

The drink package is the heart of the price. You receive five Greek craft beers in a mix of samples and full pours, with the selection shaped by your preferences and what is available in season. That gives the guide some freedom to keep the tasting fresh, but it also means the exact beers may vary from one date to another.

For a beer enthusiast, variety is likely to be the main value. You can taste several styles, learn a little about brewing, and compare Greek craft beer with the beers you already know. For a casual drinker, the value comes from having the choices explained rather than ordering at random.

The snacks make the three-hour format more comfortable, but they should not replace a meal. I would eat something light before meeting the group if you tend to get hungry, then treat the final finger food as part of the evening rather than the main course.

The souvenir is a small but distinctive extra. The available information does not specify what it is, so do not book the tour expecting a particular item. Think of it as a keepsake from the beer walk, not a major part of the cost.

Group size, walking demands, and timing

A maximum of eight people is a strong feature for this type of outing. It keeps the group easier to manage in narrow old-town streets and gives you a better chance to speak with the guide. It also suits solo visitors and couples who want a social evening without joining a large crowd.

The tour is offered in English. Confirmation arrives when you book, and mobile tickets are accepted, which keeps the meeting process simple. Public transport is nearby, though no private transportation is included and none is needed for the walking route.

Wear weather-appropriate clothes, including a hat, sunglasses, and an extra layer. Comfortable walking shoes matter more than dressing up. Bring water, carry valid identification, and plan not to drive after the tour.

The outing is not recommended for families with babies or people with walking difficulties. Service animals are allowed, and most people who can manage a three-hour walking and tasting experience can participate.

The tour requires suitable weather and a minimum number of participants. If poor weather cancels the activity, you are offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum group size is not met. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the 6:00 pm start time, but later cancellations and changes are not refunded or accepted.

Who should book this Rethymno experience

I would recommend this to you if you want an easy first evening in Rethymno, enjoy trying local beer, and prefer a small group to a large organized tour. It is especially useful if you like having a local person connect food, drink, and city streets in one experience.

It also works well for repeat visitors who have already seen the main monuments and want a more relaxed way to spend the evening. The old-town walk adds cultural context, while the beer stops give the outing a clear purpose.

I would skip it if you do not drink alcohol, need extensive seated time, or want a serious dinner. The tour includes snacks, but it is not a restaurant crawl or a full meal. I would also avoid it if you plan to drive afterward or if a three-hour walk sounds uncomfortable.

Should you book the $102.41 beer tour?

Book it if you want five Greek craft beers, a local home brewer’s perspective, a gentle old-town orientation, and a small group capped at eight people. The combination is more useful than a standard bar visit because you get context, tasting guidance, snacks, and photo stops along with the drinks.

At $102.41, the price is fair for an all-in evening if you value the guide and would otherwise pay for several beers and a city walk separately. It is less appealing if your main goal is simply the cheapest drink in town.

For the best experience, arrive ready to walk, bring water and identification, eat lightly beforehand, and leave your driving plans for another night. If that sounds like your kind of evening, this is a well-shaped way to get oriented in Rethymno while discovering its Greek craft beer scene.

FAQ

Where does the craft beer tour start?

It starts at Bricks Beers & Tales, Eleftheríou Venizélou 41, Rethymno 741 31, Greece.

What time does the tour begin?

The tour starts at 6:00 pm.

How long does the experience last?

It lasts approximately three hours.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is eight people.

How many Greek craft beers are included?

Five Greek craft beers are included, with a mix of samples and full servings.

Is food included?

Yes. Quality finger food and snacks are included, along with the beer tastings.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The activity is offered in English.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded or accepted.