Day trip
A coach to Zaros, Phaistos and Matala.
Photo: Andre / Pexels
Quick facts
- Region
- Heraklion
- Start town
- Heraklion
- Planning time
- Depends on the selected itinerary
- Type
- Day trip
Zaros sits in the hills with a gorge behind it. Phaistos is the palace on the plain. Matala is the cove afterwards. A coach from Heraklion that lines those three up is a shared day, not the private car that starts at Gortyna. Cliffs and caves above the beach, which is the photograph, are only the last stop.
Check the city pickup, the minutes in Zaros, and whether both the palace ticket and the beach time are on the voucher. The gorge path and the palace ramp are separate walks.
Is it worth it
It suits travellers who want the inland village and the palace without driving. Skip it if the cliff path at Matala is enough to cancel the day, or if you needed Gortyna’s law code. That site is a different gate.
What to bring
- Water, suitable footwear and the items required by the selected itinerary.
Tips
- Check the selected listing for transport, admission, equipment and cancellation terms.
Related tours
Gorge hikeZaros and the Rouvas gorge
HeraklionDepends on the selected itinerary
Zaros is the village on the southern flank of Psiloritis, with a short gorge walk, springs, and a lake nearby. The Rouvas path climbs into woodland and is a different scale from Samaria. You can make it a serious hike or a village day with a short walk. Say which you are doing. The springs are why the place is green. The beach is not part of this day. It suits walkers based in Heraklion who want mountains without the Samaria coach. Skip the long version in July if you are not fit. The short village version is still a good lunch. Use the actual meeting address for the selected outing from Heraklion. Check the road journey and return separately. Confirm whether hotel collection, any transfer and admission are included; the town name alone does not establish those arrangements or a fixed journey time.
View detailsFind options on GetYourGuide
HistoryPhaistos and Matala
MatalaDepends on the selected itinerary
Phaistos is the Minoan palace on a hill above the Messara plain, quieter than Knossos and barely reconstructed. Matala’s beach is the swim afterwards. Together they are a coherent south day from Heraklion: stones in the morning, sand in the afternoon. Reversing that order means you tour a palace in the heat and swim in a windier evening. Gortyna, with its law code and basilica, can replace one of them. It should not join both unless you enjoy being late. It suits people who have seen Knossos or who prefer a site without the crowds. The palace has less shade and less signage. A guide earns the visit. Phaistos is inland of Matala, a short drive. Tours from Heraklion cross the plain. Start with the archaeology. The beach will still be there after lunch.
View detailsFind options on GetYourGuide- Day trip
A private day at Gortyna, Phaistos and Matala
MatalaDepends on the selected itinerary
Gortyna, Phaistos and Matala are three stops south of Heraklion: two archaeological sites and a cove. A private day is a driver and your group, not a shared coach from Rethymno and not a swim-only afternoon at the beach. The photograph is the cove at Matala. The sites are inland and are not in that frame. It suits people who want the archaeology and can still face a walk at the cove. Skip it if the cliff path at Matala is the problem, or if one site would have been enough. Confirm the pickup, the order of the three places, and which tickets are included. The palace at Phaistos and the law code at Gortyna are not the same gate. Ask the time you are back.
View detailsFind options on GetYourGuide
Options checked on GetYourGuide
Each link opens one product page. The operator named there is not a Discover Crete partner. Availability, the pickup and the inclusions are confirmed on that page for the date you choose.
Zaros, Phaistos and Matala from Heraklion
A day of about eight hours from Heraklion to Zaros and its lake, a guided visit at Phaistos and free time in Matala for a swim and lunch. The round trip is included. This route does not include Gortyna. The private day that adds Gortyna is a different product. Availability was not checked.
Check this activityZaros, Phaistos and Matala from Heraklion
FAQ
Questions.
- Planning time: Depends on the selected itinerary. Confirm the exact duration and whether travel from your accommodation is included in the selected option.
- Suggested season: Check current access and the selected date. Confirm the date, access conditions and operating schedule before making a booking.
- Check the city pickup, the minutes in Zaros, and whether both the palace ticket and the beach time are on the voucher. The gorge path and the palace ramp are separate walks.
- It suits travellers who want the inland village and the palace without driving. Skip it if the cliff path at Matala is enough to cancel the day, or if you needed Gortyna’s law code. That site is a different gate.