DISCOVER PHAISTOS PALACE IN SOUTHERN HERAKLION

Renting a car in Heraklion is the best way to explore Greece’s largest island, with comfort and reliability. One of the top local tips from the RentCar.gr team always gives to its customers i is to drive south towards the Palace of Phaistos - a must-visit stop on your itinerary. This is one of the four Minoan palaces discovered on the island and is the most famous one after the Palace of Knossos. If you choose to pick-up your rental car from Heraklion Airport, you need about 45 minutes to reach Phaistos, following a well-maintained highway road.

The palace of Phaistos is located on the top of a hill in the fertile valley of Messara. It was in one of the palace’s lavish rooms that the famous Phaistos Disc was discovered. A religious message is engraved on the disk of fired clay 37 centuries ago and continues to puzzle archaeologists and linguists to this day.

Very close to Phaistos is the archeological site of Gortyna as well as the famous Matala, a beach full of rock caves that became a symbol of hippies in the 60's. The archeological sites of Phaistos and Gortyna areopen daily from 8 AM to 8 PM, with affordable entrance tickets.

Planning your itinerary? Rent your car with RentCar.gr for a hassle-free experience exploring Crete!