Craft Beer & City Tour – Rethymno Old Town

Rethymno’s Old Town is best enjoyed at a slow evening pace, and this tour pairs its Venetian lanes with five Greek craft beers. You begin with a beer at Bricks Beers & Tales, then move through lesser-known pedestrian streets before finishing with a full beer and finger food near the old harbour.

I like the small maximum of eight people, which should make it easier to ask questions and keep the walk personal. I also like the mix of beer tasting and town orientation: you are not simply seated in a pub, and you are not rushed from monument to monument.

The main consideration is price. At $102.41 per person, this is not a cheap bar crawl, so it makes the most sense if you value the local guide, the walking tour, the beer lesson, five tastings, snacks, and the small-group setting. The walk is also not a good fit if you have difficulty walking or are traveling with a baby.

Key points at a glance

• Five Greek craft beers: The tasting includes samples and full pours, with choices shaped by beer style, your preferences, and what is in season.
• A home brewer leads the way: You get a practical introduction to craft beer from someone who makes beer as well as guides the tour.
• Rethymno beyond the main sights: The route uses less familiar pedestrian streets while pointing out the town’s multicultural past and notable monuments.
• Three evening hours: The 6:00 pm start gives you a cooler, more social way to see the Old Town and harbour.
• Food is part of the final stop: Quality finger food arrives with your beer on tap, making the last hour feel like the start of an evening out.
• Small-group format: The maximum is eight people, a useful advantage in narrow old-town streets and compact beer bars.

Why this beer walk works in Rethymno

Rethymno has the right shape for a tour like this. The Old Town is compact enough to explore on foot, yet its lanes and layers of history are easy to skim past when you are simply looking for a restaurant or souvenir shop.

This experience gives you two things at once. You get a short introduction to Greek craft beer, and you get your bearings in the center of Rethymno. The guide connects the stops rather than treating them as unrelated bars.

That matters on a first evening. After three hours, you should have a clearer sense of the old harbour, the pedestrian streets, and the places where you may want to return for dinner or another drink. The route also includes photo stops, so the walk is not only about tasting.

The tone should suit you if you prefer conversation and explanation to a large organized group. The guide is a local beer guide and home brewer, which gives the experience a hands-on angle. You can expect discussion of beer in general, the local craft beer scene, and different beer styles, rather than only a list of labels.

Starting at Bricks Beers & Tales at 6:00 pm

Meet at Bricks Beers & Tales, at Eleftheríou Venizélou 41, Rethymno 741 31. The tour begins here at 6:00 pm, so arrive ready to start rather than expecting hotel pickup or private transport.

Your first beer is a welcome drink, and the opening talk serves as a short crash course in craft beer. This is a useful beginning because it gives you a way to think about the samples that follow. You may hear about beer styles, flavor differences, and the wider Greek craft beer scene.

The first hour also helps set the pace. You are not expected to race between bars. Instead, you begin with a drink, an introduction, and a relaxed walk toward the Old Venetian Harbour and nearby streets.

Bring a valid ID. Alcohol is included, and the activity makes clear that you should not drink and drive. If you are driving around Crete, plan another way back before the tour begins.

Walking the Old Venetian Harbour and quieter lanes

The first walking section uses the Old Venetian Harbour as a starting point and then heads through less familiar pedestrian streets in the Old Town. The focus is not just on famous facades. You will hear about Rethymno’s multicultural past and see notable monuments along the way.

This is one of the strongest parts of the experience for someone new to town. A guide can point out how the streets fit together, while you get a practical orientation for later walks. The route also gives the beer stops a sense of place, rather than leaving you with an evening spent entirely indoors.

The wording of the route suggests a gentle walking pace, but you still need comfortable shoes. Old-town streets can be uneven, and the tour is specifically not recommended for people with walking difficulties. Wear clothing suited to the weather, and consider a hat, sunglasses, and an extra layer.

The Cretan sun can be strong, even if the tour begins in the evening. Bring your own water bottle and arrive hydrated. The tour provider may change the route or stops if weather conditions require it, so keep some flexibility in mind.

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

The second hour takes you to a well-camouflaged craft beer hangout in the Old Town. The setting sounds intentionally less obvious than a pub on a main street, and that makes this stop more about discovery than quick sightseeing.

Here, you taste several beer styles. The selection depends on your preferences and what is seasonal, so the exact beers are not fixed. That is useful if you already know what you like, but it also gives you room to try something outside your usual order.

The included beer amount is described as five Greek craft beers, made up of samples and full servings across the tour. You should not read that as five large pints. Some are tasting pours, while the final stop includes a beer on tap of your choice. Still, the format gives you more range than ordering one beer at a single bar.

I like this structure because it keeps the tasting from becoming a simple popularity contest. A beer guide who also brews at home can explain why different styles taste different and help match the choices to your preferences. If you are new to craft beer, the small pours should let you compare without committing to a full glass of every style.

The limitation is that the exact brands and styles are not promised in advance. If you are hoping for one particular brewery or a specific beer, you should treat the menu as seasonal and flexible.

Photo stops and the final beer near the harbour

After the tasting, the group continues at an easy pace toward a photo stop and the final bar. The route returns toward the Old Venetian Harbour, giving you another chance to see the area as the evening changes.

The last stop is where the tour becomes more like a night out. You choose a beer on tap, then receive quality finger food. This is not presented as a full dinner, so plan another meal if you want something substantial afterward. Still, snacks are a welcome part of a tasting tour, especially when the evening includes several alcoholic drinks.

The final hour also gives you time to settle in. The activity ends at the meeting point, but the location lets you continue your evening in Rethymno if you wish. You can treat the tour as a stand-alone activity or use it to decide where to eat and drink next.

The combination of a chosen beer and food is a smart finish. Earlier stops are about sampling and learning. The final stop lets you simply enjoy a drink without moving on right away.

What the $102.41 price includes

At $102.41 per person, the cost is high for three hours if you measure the experience only by the amount of beer. It becomes more reasonable when you count the full package: five Greek craft beers, a guided walking tour, photo stops, a craft beer lesson, visits to several beer spots, snacks, a souvenir, and taxes and fees.

You are also paying for a group capped at eight. That matters in Rethymno’s narrow streets and smaller drinking spots. A guide can keep the group together without the rigid feel of a large coach excursion, and you have a better chance to ask about beer, food, or the town.

The unique souvenir adds a small extra value, though no details are provided about what it is. I would not book the tour for the souvenir alone. Think of it as a memento of the evening rather than the main reason to pay the price.

The best value comes if you would otherwise spend an evening buying several beers, paying for snacks, and trying to find the town’s better craft beer places on your own. If you already know Rethymno well and have a favorite bar, the price may feel less attractive.

Who should book this experience

This tour suits you best if you:

• Want a compact introduction to Rethymno on your first evening
• Enjoy tasting different beer styles rather than drinking only one familiar lager
• Prefer a small group to a large guided walk
• Like local food and drink experiences with some historical context
• Want a social activity that ends early enough to continue your evening
• Can comfortably walk for about three hours

It is especially useful for couples, friends, and solo visitors who want an easy way to meet a few people while learning the town. The 6:00 pm start also leaves the rest of the night open.

It may not suit you if you do not drink alcohol, need a seated activity, or want a formal history tour with extensive monument interiors. The route is a walking and tasting experience, not a deep architectural survey.

Families with babies should choose another activity, since the tour is not recommended for them. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation, but private transportation is not included.

Practical advice before you go

Wear comfortable walking shoes. You will be moving through old-town streets for roughly three hours, and the tour provider advises against joining if you have walking difficulties.

Bring a water bottle, valid ID, a hat, sunglasses, and an extra layer. The late-day start does not remove the need to prepare for warm Cretan weather.

Eat something light beforehand if you tend to feel alcohol quickly. Snacks are included at the final stop, but they are finger food rather than a stated full meal. Since the tour includes five beers in sample and full-pour form, pace yourself.

The tour is offered in English. It uses a mobile ticket, and confirmation is provided when you book. The activity requires good weather and a minimum number of participants. If poor weather cancels it, you are offered another date or a full refund. If the minimum is not met, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the 6:00 pm start. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

What the strongest praise tells you

The most repeated positive points are the friendly guide, the Old Town walk, and the social feel of the group. One five-star account specifically praised the Old Town portion and the friendly guide, along with the pleasant mix of people in the group.

That tells me where the tour’s real strength lies. This is not only a way to sample Greek beer. It is a guided evening with a human pace, a local host, and enough time to notice Rethymno rather than simply pass through it.

The friendly approach matters because beer tours can easily become technical or overly focused on drinking. Here, the guide’s role includes helping you understand the town and matching beer choices to your tastes. That should make the experience accessible even if you cannot tell a pilsner from a porter before you arrive.

The small group supports that style. With no more than eight people, the guide can keep the conversation moving and respond to individual preferences. Group chemistry always varies, but the format gives the evening a better chance of feeling personal.

Should you book the Rethymno craft beer tour?

Book it if you want a relaxed introduction to Rethymno built around local beer, old-town streets, and conversation. The best reasons are the small group, the local guide and home brewer, the five-beer format, and the useful orientation for your first night in town.

Skip it if $102.41 feels too high for three hours, if you want a full dinner, or if your priority is a traditional sightseeing tour rather than beer bars and walking commentary. Also skip it if you cannot comfortably walk or prefer not to drink.

For the right audience, this is a well-shaped evening: start with a welcome beer, learn the basics, walk through Rethymno’s older quarters, compare Greek craft beers, and finish with food and a pour you choose. The tour is recommended by 100 percent of its 25 recorded ratings, and the praise centers on the parts that matter most here, the friendly guide and the Old Town experience.

FAQ

Where does the 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?

The walking and beer experience lasts approximately three hours.

How many people can join the tour?

The group has a maximum of eight participants.

How many beers are included?

Five Greek craft beers are included, using a mix of samples and full servings. At the final stop, you can choose a beer on tap.

Are food and transportation included?

Quality finger food, a souvenir, and all fees and taxes are included. Private transportation and tips are not included.