Rethymno Old Town Guided Segway Tour

Review · CHANIA OLD TOWN

Rethymno Old Town Guided Segway Tour

5.0 · 69 reviews 3 hours (approx.) From $78 Operated by Segway Tour by Best Ride · Bookable on Viator
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Rethymno clicks into place fast on a Segway. In just about 3 hours, you get a guided loop through the Old Town’s key viewpoints and photo stops, including the Venetian Fortezza area and the harbor. I particularly like the private guide feel, with hosts such as Yannos, Theo, and Nick praised for safety and clear instruction.

Two other things I love: the pace is short-stop efficient (so you’re not stuck waiting or stuck behind slow walkers), and the route is built around sights you can actually see from the street—fountains, mosques-turned-conservatories, Venetian buildings, and sea-front views. One consideration: you’ll be riding and moving most of the time, and it’s weather-dependent, so it may not be ideal if you want long museum hangs or lots of off-ride wandering.

Key highlights worth your time

Rethymno Old Town Guided Segway Tour - Key highlights worth your time

  • 3-hour loop: enough Old Town coverage when your schedule is tight
  • Practice-to-ride flow: helmets and guidance help first-timers feel confident
  • Photo-friendly stops: Fortezza hill views, harbor angles, and mini streets
  • Venetian + Cretan mix: Fortezza, Loggia Veneziana, and Ottoman-era Neratze Mosque
  • Drink stop included: soda/pop and coffee at a break point during the tour
  • Mostly free entries: many stops don’t require tickets (Fortress area is the exception)

Keep wandering the Chania old town and harbour

Why a 3-hour Segway tour fits Rethymno’s Old Town

Rethymno Old Town Guided Segway Tour - Why a 3-hour Segway tour fits Rethymno’s Old Town
Rethymno Old Town is charming, but it’s easy to get turned around—especially if you’re also trying to find lunch, coffee, and a sunset spot. This tour is designed for speed without feeling rushed, because you’re moving between clustered sights rather than doing long back-and-forth walks.

At about 3 hours, it’s also a great “first day” activity. You come out with a sense of where Arkadiou Street runs, where the old port sits, and how the Old Town connects to the newer parts of the city.

If you prefer “see it, learn a little, get back to exploring” rather than a deep museum day, this fits your style.

Meeting at Sofokli Venizelou and getting rolling safely

You meet at Sofokli Venizelou 4, Rethymno, and the tour ends back at the same place. It’s a convenient setup when you’re using public transport, since the meeting point is described as near transit and easy to reach.

Before you head out, you’re equipped with a Segway, a helmet, and a reflective orange vest. That vest matters more than you’d think in Old Town areas—drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians all have a clearer view of you.

I like that you get instruction as part of the experience. Guides such as Ioanna, Ninette, and Nanetta are specifically noted for patience while people learn the basics. Even if you’re a first-timer, the tour is short enough that you don’t waste your whole day stuck at the training stage.

Venetian Fortezza viewpoint: the best early photo and history angle

Rethymno Old Town Guided Segway Tour - Venetian Fortezza viewpoint: the best early photo and history angle
Your first stop is the Venetian Fortezza area (about 10 minutes). You’ll have time for photos and chatting, with a special view toward the hill where the castle sits. Admission to the Fortezza area isn’t included, so this is more about the viewpoint and orientation than an in-depth ticketed visit.

This is a smart first stop. You’re high enough to get the big-picture shape of Rethymno, and you can connect what you’ll see next—fountains, churches, and the harbor—to where they sit relative to the fortress hill.

If you do want to go inside later, that’s easy to plan after the tour, since you’ll know exactly which direction and entrance you’re aiming for.

Into Rethymno and the hill villages behind it

Rimondi Fountain and Neratze Mosque: quick stops with strong atmosphere

Rethymno Old Town Guided Segway Tour - Rimondi Fountain and Neratze Mosque: quick stops with strong atmosphere
Next comes Rimondi Fountain (about 5 minutes). It’s a classic photo stop, and the stop description leans into the idea that the fountain’s water has a sort of mystique—enough to make it feel like a story moment rather than just a landmark.

Then you move to Moschea Neratze, which is today known as a conservatory (also about 5 minutes). This stop is built around the building’s character, especially the tall minaret. Even if you’re not going in, you get a useful visual anchor for the layers of Rethymno’s past.

The practical benefit here: these are short enough that you don’t lose momentum. You’re collecting key sights like checkpoints, so the whole ride feels like one connected walk—just on wheels.

Rethymnon Old Town lanes, shops, and the feeling of getting lost on purpose

Rethymno Old Town Guided Segway Tour - Rethymnon Old Town lanes, shops, and the feeling of getting lost on purpose
Your route continues with Rethymnon Old Town (about 7 minutes). This is where the experience shifts from landmarks to texture: mini streets, a market-like feel, and plenty of storefront energy. The stop description calls out shops of all kinds, which is helpful because it gives you ideas for what to browse later.

This portion is also a good chance to slow down and look around, even from the Segway. Old Town lanes can look similar at first glance, but once your guide points out small differences, your next self-guided walk gets much easier.

A drawback to note: since the whole tour is designed to cover many points, individual stops stay relatively brief. If you love shopping or slow wandering, use this stop to gather directions and then plan a longer return yourself.

Old Venetian Harbour and Four Martyrs Church: the sea-front reset

Rethymno Old Town Guided Segway Tour - Old Venetian Harbour and Four Martyrs Church: the sea-front reset
The Old Venetian Harbour of Rethymno is next (about 5 minutes). This is a classic “fresh air” pause—Venetian air in the old port area, plus a setting built for photos. From a rider’s perspective, it also breaks up the dense streets and gives your legs a different kind of movement after the earlier tight turns.

Then you reach Four Martyrs Church (about 5 minutes). The stop is positioned as a cultural moment—religion as part of the local identity—paired with a view of the church setting. It’s quick, but it adds variety so the tour doesn’t feel like only architecture and shopping streets.

After that, you head to Paralia (about 10 minutes), Rethymno’s waterfront area. This is your sea-front reset before you move back toward the older core.

Guora Gate, prefecture hall, and Loggia Veneziana on Arkadiou Street

Rethymno Old Town Guided Segway Tour - Guora Gate, prefecture hall, and Loggia Veneziana on Arkadiou Street
Guora Gate is next (about 4 minutes). It’s described as the central point separating the old city from the new, which is exactly what you need when you’re trying to understand Rethymno’s geography. Even a few minutes here can help you mentally draw a line between neighborhoods.

Then comes the Prefectural Directorate Unit of Rethymno (about 5 minutes). The stop description highlights photo angles around the square and the building’s presence. This kind of stop is useful for two reasons: it gives you a strong “town center” landmark, and it’s a way to position yourself before you hit the commerce-heavy lanes.

After that is Loggia Veneziana (about 3 minutes). This is linked to the Venetian occupation period and connects you directly to Arkadiou Street, described as one of the city’s most commercial streets from the Venetian era to today. In other words, you’re not just seeing a building—you’re also getting a sense of where everyday life lives.

If you time it well, these short segments are perfect for building your route for later meals and shopping without feeling like you need a guide to survive.

Port Rethymno, then the museum-area alley and memorial square

Rethymno Old Town Guided Segway Tour - Port Rethymno, then the museum-area alley and memorial square
Port Rethymno is your next stop (about 6 minutes). This is framed as a place to feel comfortable and ready to enjoy the ride through town, with views that are meant for fun and photos. I like this kind of pacing marker in a tour—after so many historical checkpoints, you get a lighter moment with the sea and the harbor mood.

Then you head to the Archaeological Museum of Rethymno area (about 3 minutes). The stop description mentions a small alley near the square of Asia Minor, plus the old Catholic church of St. Francis. Even if you don’t enter anywhere, being directed to this pocket helps you spot it later when you’re wandering.

Finally, you reach Πλατεία Αγνώστου Στρατιώτη (Square of the Unknown Soldier), about 5 minutes. It’s described as a picturesque square with a monument, and it also leads toward Arkadiou Street—the shopping street vibe you’ll want to find again once you’re done riding.

The overall arc here makes sense: you start with the fortress view, move through old religious and civic landmarks, and end near commerce and a key pedestrian corridor.

Soda/coffee break and included essentials: small perks with real value

The tour includes use of the Segway and basic rider gear: helmet and reflective orange vest. That’s not just safety theater—it makes the whole experience smoother, especially with a guide managing a short route.

You also get soda/pop during the tour, with a station for a soft drink or coffee. For a ~3-hour activity in Crete, this kind of included refreshment is a quality-of-life win. It also breaks the ride rhythm so you can reset without hunting for a café while you’re already in the middle of a sightseeing loop.

Price and value: is $78.44 worth it?

At $78.44 per person for about 3 hours, the value depends on what you want most: coverage speed, or deep, unhurried sightseeing.

Here’s where it looks like good value:

  • You’re getting a guided route through a lot of key Rethymno points in a compact time window.
  • Many stops don’t require admissions, which helps keep the day predictable (the Fortezza admission ticket is the exception).
  • You’re not paying extra for rider essentials like helmets, and you do get a drink stop.

It’s also a smart purchase if you’re juggling a short stay. Reviews give a clear signal that this tour is especially loved for people who have limited time and want to see the Old Town without exhausting themselves on steep lanes and long walks.

The main “cost” isn’t money—it’s your time staying on the Segway and keeping to the tour pace. If your ideal day is slow, sit-down, and museum-heavy, you might find the short stop durations a limitation.

What it’s like with different guides (and why patience matters)

The guide experience is repeatedly described as a highlight. Named guides include Yannos, Theo, Nick, Ioanna, Ninette, and Nanetta, and the common thread is safety, clarity, and patience—especially when people are learning the Segway for the first time.

That matters because a Segway tour lives or dies on confidence. The faster you feel comfortable, the more you enjoy the sights instead of focusing on balance.

There’s also a social side. Some groups describe laughing and getting along well, which is what you want from a short, shared activity where everyone is learning together.

Practical tips for getting the most out of the ride

  • Wear shoes that handle tight turns and uneven paving. Old Town surfaces can be a mix of smooth stone and patches that feel different underfoot.
  • Plan to use the short stop times for photos and orientation, not for long wandering. Treat each stop as a “find it again later” marker.
  • If you’re traveling on a tight schedule, think of this as your orientation tour. Then do your longer meals and browsing afterward around what the guide points out.

One more note: the experience requires good weather. If Crete is being moody, you’ll need flexibility.

Who should book this Segway tour in Rethymno

This is a great fit if you:

  • Want Old Town coverage without losing half a day to walking loops
  • Are curious about Venetian-era and Ottoman-era influences in the same area
  • Like guided direction but still want time left for your own wandering after

It may be less ideal if you:

  • Want to spend long periods inside ticketed attractions (Fortezza admission isn’t included anyway)
  • Prefer slow street-life watching with minimal movement
  • Don’t feel comfortable with a ride-based activity, even with instruction

Most travelers can participate, and private-group structure helps keep the experience manageable.

Should you book the Rethymno Old Town Guided Segway Tour?

If you’re in Rethymno for a short window and you want a fast, guided way to understand where everything sits, I’d book this. The route is built around exactly the kind of stops that help you orient: fortress views, fountains, church and mosque area sights, the harbor, and the commerce corridor around Arkadiou Street.

Choose it especially if you value guidance and want to leave with practical “where-to-go-next” knowledge. Just go in expecting a 3-hour sightseeing loop rather than a slow, ticketed deep-dive.

FAQ

How long is the Rethymno Old Town guided Segway tour?

It lasts about 3 hours.

What is included in the price?

You get a Segway, a helmet, a reflective orange vest, and a drink stop with soda/pop (soft drink or coffee).

Is admission to the Venetian Fortezza included?

No. Tickets to enter onto the arcailogical place of fortezza Castel are not included.

Where do I meet, and does the tour end nearby?

You meet at Sofokli Venizelou 4, Rethymno, and the tour ends back at the meeting point.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Does the tour run in any weather?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

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