Must-see shopping in Rethymno Province

Just up from Maroulas' charming main square you’ll find tiny Marianna’s Workshop. Marianna Founti-Vassi collects aromatic medicinal herbs from the…

At this small store-workshop you can watch the owner make quality handmade leather belts in all sorts of colours and designs. There’s also a good…

Local artist Frosso Bora makes beautiful pots, vases, candlesticks, bowls and other vessels from local clay using the wheel or slabs. Prices are very…

John Spantidakis works with raw leather – not pre-dyed or pre-cut – to create handmade bags, belts and wallets that will make you crave leatherware like…

Many of the wooden ware you find in Greece has been imported from Tunisia. But Niko Siragas creates his own here using woodturning techniques dating back…

Much of George and Marinki’s pottery is created using Minoan techniques and designs and is fired in wood, resulting in a brown finish. (The red finish is…

Along the main tourist drag is this store selling organic beauty products made using ingredients grown in its nearby garden. There's an interesting…

In the main square just down from the Orthodox church is this small cheesemaker that whips up daily batches of homemade halloumi and graviera; all are…

This gallery is an explosion of colour. Brightly glazed bowls, plates, light fixtures, raki cups and other small (and not so small) keepsakes line the…

Across the street from the remains of Ancient Lappa and under the stone archway, you’ll find the Lappa Avocado Shop. It sells organic cold-pressed avocado…

Foodies will love the store at Avli restaurant, packed with a huge range of gourmet delights from around Greece, including great wines, olive oil,…

This pint-sized music store is run by a knowledgeable owner with good taste in Greek rock, punk, psychedelica and jazz, along with traditional Cretan…

Down a side road at the top of the village (look for the sign 'Ceramic Art'), Konstantinos Gallios makes some beautiful pieces, displayed in his inviting…

This tiny store filled with musical instruments is the place to get that bouzouki or Cretan lyra. You can also pick up CDs of local Cretan music.

Tiny bookstore tucked down a souk-like alley has novels in English, books on Crete, maps, CDs of Greek music and a small secondhand section.

This place sells foreign press, plus books on Crete and maps.

Hidden away in Rethymno's labyrinth of alleys is this bakery that's been at it since 1958. As well as freshly baked spanakopita and pastries, it's most…

Covering most tourist needs, the waterfront Forum has two floors of beach apparel, travel accessories, postcards, souvenirs and books on Crete.

English-language books, travel guides, international periodicals and maps.