Barbara Studios is more than a place to stay — it’s a beautifully preserved part of Rethymno’s story. Nestled within the Old Town near the historic Porta Guora, this residence sits among cobbled alleys and timeless stone façades shaped by centuries of Venetian and Ottoman influence. The building itself is a lovingly maintained 17th-century Venetian home, where the heart of the house is an inward-facing courtyard — a hallmark of Renaissance-era architecture. These courtyards once brought light and calm to urban life, and they still do today. At Barbara Studios, the tranquil garden becomes a place for quiet breakfasts, slow mornings, and peaceful reflection. Spread across two to three levels, the studios are decorated with warmth and attention to detail. On the top floor, you'll find a space to hang your laundry, a café-style corner, and a serene rooftop area to relax under the Cretan sun. What truly makes this place special, though, is the family behind it. Barbara Studios has been owned and run by the same Cretan family since 1969, now in its fourth generation. Today, Panos and Iro continue the tradition of heartfelt Greek hospitality — greeting guests not as customers, but as welcomed visitors into their home. Their warmth, attentiveness, and quiet pride in the history of the house infuse every corner with soul. Barbara Studios is not just a studio — it’s a story. Of stone and silence, of history and care, of old roots and living traditions. A place where the past and the present come together beautifully.

My partner and I stayed a week at Barbara studios and we couldn't have made a better choice. The accommodation itself is beautiful, with a courtyard and private garden - there's many beautiful touches and design choices around the communal areas which add to the character. The location is perfect, nestled between Old Town, Fortress and the Old Port with just a short 10 minute walk to the beach, it's in the mix of everything while being nestled away on a quieter street. The standout however is the host Iro, she has gone above and beyond in supporting out trip with recommendations, arranging transfers, amazing communication and absolutely lovely if you get to meet in person! I left a very sentimental piece of Jewellery in the accommodation and Iro has gone above and beyond to keep it safe and help arrange return back to the UK showing immense honesty, integrity and kindness. I would recommend this place to anyone looking to stay in Crete, we will certainly be back.

The location is excellent--in the old town but on a quiet side street. The place itself is charming and built in a traditional style. The room was comfortable and attractive, particularly the bed, and the bathroom was very nice, with a roomy shower. Iro is a very kind and attentive hostess who is eager to help you with anything you might need.

It was not possible to use the toaster or the kettle in the kitchen area because there was no electric socket there, so you had to move these appliances to different locations in the room. Also, if you like to get a lot of natural light, ask for a room on the upper floor; the rooms on the lower floor are quite dark. There is no balcony or place to dry your clothes if you wash them.

Excellent location, charming place, nice big bathroom and good shower, good AC, comfy bed, and all of that in a place with a pretty little courtyard and cool stone walls. Really felt a lot of charm. Great spot to wander into the restaurants and maze-like streets of Rethymnos, which are utterly charming. Our favorite stay (both city and hotel) in all of Crete. Loved it and would definitely stay here again.

Because it's old stone walls, there's a bit of an old, musty smell at first before the AC kicks in (and even after, frankly). Didn't bother us at all -- was part of the charm. But it's not like a modern, sterile spot if that's important to you.

1)location is right in the heart of "old city" {couldn't be better ... note that I used public transportation throughout Crete and this apartment local was almost 20 min. walk = not difficult. Plus I used this local as home base with getting around the island; especially buses to the Southside of Crete = work out well 2) the facilities person Iro was extremely helpful and communicative {terrific person!} 3} this establishment will exceed your expectations = quite, accommodating, and, in my humble opinion = beautiful

Nothing, this place exceeded my expectations {seriously}

Location in the very center o the historical district and 200 meters from the Venetian port is a great asset. The room was large and I liked the traditional décor that although renovated does not look fake (pictures are faithful). The small courtyard where different rooms face is extremely nice. I appreciated having a kettle and a coffee machine in the room.

The lightning system in the room is difficult to handle and the curtain on the window is kind of transparent, so you do not have enough privacy and protection from the external light.

Fantastic location - right in old town but on a nice quiet street. Lovely well-kept courtyard area and the room was very clean. Very close to restaurants and sights in the old town and a short walk to the beach. Communication from the host was great - made sure we were enjoying our stay and was quick to respond to questions. Nice little balcony with table and chairs for an evening drink. The air con was effective! Useful additions to room such as the iron and ironing board.

Could occasionally hear other guests leaving early in the morning through the door but generally a quiet place to stay. No real issues though - would recommend and would stay again!

This studio was perfect for our stay in Rethymno – right in the heart of the old town, within walking distance to everything. The location couldn’t be better if you want to explore the charming streets, local shops, and restaurants. The studio itself was excellently decorated. We especially enjoyed sitting on the cute balcony in the evenings. The building is a beautiful, traditional house, adding to the overall charm of the place. The host was very helpful and quick to respond, making our stay easy and enjoyable.

There’s really nothing we didn’t like, though it could be nice to have a few more kitchen tools if you plan on cooking simple meals.

The family who own this are lovely. The owner gave detailed instructions for self check in and checked in with me via WhatsApp to make sure we are happy at various stages of our stay. This place is rustic and cosy, it has a lovely communal garden and roof top with a good view of the town. It's perfect for exploring the old town. The room itself was cosy but made good use of space.

There was no clothes storage in the room which meant we had to live out our suitcase.

Beautiful old building with internal gardens and very tastefully decorated rooms . Super comfortable bed and excellent Airconditioner for those hot days. Iro is very good with communication and a delightful woman, who wants to ensure your time in Rethymno is the best it can be . She has many helpful suggestions

Nothing we didn’t like however there were few missing utensils eg spoon and perhaps a chopping board would be extremely useful .