Listen to the tour introductionA short audio preview of this tour
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Empires to Flower Power Self-Guided Driving Tour: Heraklion, Knossos, Gortyn, Phaistos & Matala
Kaliméra, and here we go! Our drive across Crete begins.
We start on the Venetian walls of Heraklion, on the island's north coast. Up on these walls lies Nikos Kazantzakis, the writer who gave the world Zorba the Greek. His grave reads: "I hope for nothing. I fear nothing. I am free."
Over the next 89 kilometers, about 55 miles, we'll cross the island to Matala, on the Libyan Sea. In the 1960s, hippies lived in Matala's ancient cliff caves, and Joni Mitchell wrote her song "Carey" there.
Between the two, we'll pass Knossos, the palace behind the legend of the Minotaur. It gave its name to a whole civilization, the Minoans.
Then the road drops into the Messara, Crete's great southern plain, where Romans ruled from Gortyn and Minoan kings built Phaistos.
Along the way, we'll meet kings and saints, rebels and poets. Crete's stories never stay in one century.
Narration plays by itself as you reach each place, and you'll hear a short direction before each turn. Village streets are narrow and winding, so take your time.
Kaló taxídi, which means have a good trip. Let's go!
Top landmarks and attractions included in this English self-guided 2h:07m driving tour in Heraklion
For the best experience, begin at the tour's recommended starting point and follow the stops in order.
Want to start somewhere else? Simply use Start At on the tour screen, before tapping Start Tour, to begin from any stop.
Need to detour or skip a stop along the way? Tap Tour Assistant () to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
Route Preview
Places (POIs) visited during this tour
Place 1
Kazantzakis and the Walls of Candia Recommended starting point
Distance: 0.00 mi
Nikolaou Plastira (eastbound), by Plastira Center parking and the Martinengo Bastion, Heraklion 712 01, Greece
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The great grassy rampart on your right is the Martinengo Bastion, the highest point of Heraklion's walls.
Up there lies Nikos Kazantzakis, author of Zorba the Greek. His epitaph still stops people: I hope for nothing. I fear nothing. I am free.
Place 2
Heraklion, May 1941: The Gates Hold
Distance: 0.33 mi
Knossou Avenue, Heraklion 713 06, Greece
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Stay on Knossou Avenue, straight on through the next four roundabouts.
On the afternoon of May 20, 1941, the sky over this city filled with German transport planes. Colonel Bruno Bräuer's paratroopers were jumping onto Heraklion, and a lot of them never reached the ground alive. Armed civilians ran out into the streets. British, Australian, and Greek troops were already waiting.
The next day, after heavy bombing, the Germans smashed in through the South and West Gates and fought their way toward the harbor. The Greek units, almost out of ammunition, began to talk about surrender. Before that could happen, Brigadier Brian Chappel's men hit the German flanks and threw them back out.
The Germans tried again. They gave the city 2 hours to give up. The Greek military governor, Major-General Michail Linardakis, said no. So they bombed Heraklion until, as one historian put it, it was rubble.
And still the city didn't fall in battle. Crete was lost far to the west, at Maleme. On the night of May 28 the Royal Navy took the brigade off, and on the way to Alexandria two destroyers were sunk and more than 440 men were killed.
These walls had already learned that trick. From May 1648 until September 27, 1669, the Ottomans tried to starve Venetian Candia into surrender. It took 21 years. When Captain General Francesco Morosini finally handed the city over, he had only 3,600 men still able to fight.
Bräuer later came back as Crete's German commander. A Greek court sentenced him to death, and he was hanged on May 20, 1947, 6 years to the day after his men dropped from the sky.
Heraklion has a habit of holding. The people who take it usually have to wait, and they don't always get to keep it.
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour
Place 1 Kazantzakis and the Walls of Candia
Place 2 Heraklion, May 1941: The Gates Hold
Place 3 Knossos: Minos Kalokairinos and Arthur Evans
Place 4 Villa Ariadne: Pendlebury and the German Surrender
Place 5 Point A: Stopping General Kreipe
Place 6 Juktas: The Tomb of Zeus
Place 7 Kofinas and the Mountains of Asterion
Place 8 Erotokritos, the Poem of Crete
Place 9 Dikti: The Cradle of Zeus
Place 10 Ligortynos: The Tombs in the Louvre
Place 11 El Greco, the Cretan in Toledo
Place 12 Dakos, the Peasant's Feast
Place 13 Gortyn: Saint Titus, Europa and the Law Code
Place 14 The Messara, Mount Ida and the Kamares Cave
Place 15 Phaistos and the Disc Nobody Can Read
Place 16 Joni Mitchell and Carey
Place 17 Matala: Caves, Hippies and Europa's Beach
Taking a UCPlaces tour is fun and easy.
Download the app (Android or iOS), purchase the tour (either here on the website, or from within the app).
That's it, you're ready to go!
When you want to start the tour, find the tour in the app (via a quick in-app search or by clicking the tour link received in your confirmation email) and click "Start Tour" (headphones recommended for best experience.)
* After purchasing a tour you will receive a purchase confirmation email including the tour link and instructions on how to take the tour, so you don't have to remember anything now.
How does the tour work?
UCPlaces acts as your personal tour guide, providing self-guided audio tours fully navigated within our app using GPS-based navigation. You won't need to switch between external navigation apps.
Whenever you approach a point of interest (POI) on the tour, our app will automatically play the relevant audio story at the right time and place.
If you start the tour before reaching the first POI, the app will navigate you to the starting point and then begin the tour.
How is this more convenient than a traditional tour?
UCPlaces offers an innovative and flexible way to explore exciting destinations on your terms. Here are some key advantages over traditional tours:
No need to commit upfront or purchase in advance; buy a tour only when you're ready to go.
Walk at your own pace.
No waiting for groups; go on your schedule.
Take the tour in your preferred language.
Start, stop and continue the tour whenever you want.
Returning to the same destination? Take the tour again, and again, and again... And bring a friend!
Enjoy preferred prices.
What's included?
A self-guided audio tour taken via the UCPlaces app [iOS (iPhone) / Apple CarPlay / Android / Android Auto].
Tour route map and in-app GPS navigation (via the UCPlaces app).
Audio stories for places visited during the tour.
Apple CarPlay connection (iOS users) and Android Auto connection (Android users); for a seamless driving tour experience.
What's NOT included?
Earphones (highly recommended).
Smartphone.
Any kind of transportation (including tickets and passes).
Tickets to the attractions on your tour.
Food and drinks
Physical tour guide.
Have any questions about this tour? Or a general travel / self-guided tours question? That's completely natural
How long does this tour take?
Most travelers complete this tour in approximately 2 to 2.5 hours, depending on pace, time spent at each stop, and optional detours. Having said that, please remember that self-guided tours are extremly flexible (you can start, pause, continue anytime) and everyone has their own pace.
What does this tour include?
This self-guided driving tour includes 17 stops, covering top attractions such as Kazantzakis and the Walls of Candia, Heraklion, May 1941: The Gates Hold, Knossos: Minos Kalokairinos and Arthur Evans, Villa Ariadne: Pendlebury and the German Surrender, Point A: Stopping General Kreipe.
Where does the tour start?
The tour starts at Kazantzakis and the Walls of Candia (Address: Nikolaou Plastira (eastbound), by Plastira Center parking and the Martinengo Bastion, Heraklion 712 01, Greece). You can begin the tour there or join from any stop along the route.
What type of tour is this?
This is a self-guided driving tour designed to be completed by car, covering scenic routes, city highlights and optional key stops.
Can I do this tour at my own pace?
Yes, this is a self-guided driving tour, so you can start anytime and explore at your own pace. You can pause, skip stops, or spend more time at places that interest you. You can even split it into multiple days. Explore however feels right for you. The only vaiables that might affect your pace are speed limits and traffic congestion.
Do I need a car for this tour?
Yes, this is a driving tour, designed to be completed by car, with stops spread across different locations connected by a driving route.
Do I need anything in order to take the tour?
There are two things that you need - 1. A mobile phone (with the UCPlaces app installed and active location services, and a cellular data plan with a decent signal for downloading the tour). 2. A car. Here are some recommendations for a great experience: 1. Make sure your phone is fully charged and bring a charging cable for your car. 2. Connect your phone to the car speaker system via bluetooth or use our CarPlay/Android Auto option for the best experience.
How will I navigate from point to point during the tour?
The tour uses GPS-based navigation through the UCPlaces app, with automatic audio playback and step-by-step directions between stops. This works great either directly from your phone, or while connected to your car's multimedia system and using our CarPlay or Android Auto options. Just follow the route and listen to the audio guide. Use the resume feature to continue from where you recently stopped (or closed the app). Easily skip or go back to stops.
What known landmarks and main sites does this tour have?
The top landmarks and main sites on this tour include Gortyn, Kazantzakis and the Walls of Candia, Knossos, Phaistos and the Disc Nobody Can Read, Matala and Villa Ariadne. In total, the tour has 17 points of interest along the route.
Is this tour suitable for families or groups?
Yes, self-guided tours are ideal for families and small groups, allowing everyone to explore comfortably without being tied to a fixed schedule.
What makes a self-guided tour better than a guided tour?
Self-guided tours are more flexible, affordable, and personalized. You can avoid crowds, choose your pace, and focus on the stops that interest you most.
I installed the app and it's now asking for GPS and media access permissions, why?
The app is your tour-guide, it needs to know where you are located on the map to be able to trigger the points of interest. It also needs access to audio and media files to provide you with this experience.
What happens if there are unexpected roadblocks or navigation issues?
We have been working hard to deliver a great experience. Though you may run into unexpected obstacles (the world is constantly changing), our app has multiple features and mechanisms in place to help you overcome them, including: AI assistance, force play an audio if you can't reach the stop, skip or return to stops, automatic rerouting and more.
Can I take the tour in my language?
Though all of our tours are primarily in English, many tours are multilingual (including: Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Japanese, Hebrew, French, Arabic and more...). The tour language options depend on the specific tour - You can easily check which languages are available in the tour screen!
Driving tour
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
