The Cretan South Scenic Drive
Heraklion south across the Messara Plain to Gortyna, Phaistos, Agia Triada and the hippie beach caves of Matala. A full-day scenic drive in southern Crete from getcarhire.com

1. Heraklion
Start point. Head south on the EO97 towards Agia Varvara.

2. Gortyna
The Roman capital of Crete, home to the Gortyn Code, Europe's oldest written law.

3. Phaistos
The great Minoan palace where the mysterious Phaistos Disc was found, above the Messara Plain.

4. Agia Triada
A small Minoan royal villa, just west of Phaistos, quieter and beautifully sited.

5. Matala
The hippie beach village on the Libyan Sea, famous for its cave-riddled cliffs.

The Cretan South Scenic Drive Route