CAR ROUTE 53

Hersonissos – Peza – Archanes – Knossos

What makes Routaki route 53 – ‘Knossos’ so special:

In the beginning of this route you can visit the immense CretAquarium.
You’ll pass by the WaterCity water park, which can be an absolute hit for children.
Driving through picturesque Cretan villages and beautiful vineyards; the ‘Tuscany of Crete‘.
You can visit the museum about Nikos Kazantzakis in the small village of Myrtia.
Enjoy a free wine tasting and explanation at the wine museum of the union.
Explore the Labyrinth Musical Workshop in Houdetsi.
Have a look at the oldest wine press of Europe at the estate of Vathipetro
Delight in a terrace experience in the Venetian-style Archanes.
Admire the huge aquaduct that the Romans build to give Heraklion drinking water
Visit the most important Minoan excavation in Crete: Knossos Palace
See up close airplanes landing on Heraklion airport.
As a conclusion, enjoy the clean beaches of Karteros and Amnissos.

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visit the Cretaquarium with the amazing amount of animals

local grapes for sale on every street corner in Crete

What makes Routaki route 53 - 'Knossos' so special:

In the beginning of this route you can visit the immense CretAquarium.
You'll pass by the WaterCity water park, which can be an absolute hit for children.
Driving through picturesque Cretan villages and beautiful vineyards; the 'Tuscany of Crete'.
You can visit the museum about Nikos Kazantzakis in the small village of Myrtia.
Enjoy a free wine tasting and explanation at the wine museum of the union.
Explore the Labyrinth Musical Workshop in Houdetsi.
Have a look at the oldest wine press of Europe at the estate of Vathipetro
Delight in a terrace experience in the Venetian-style Archanes.
Admire the huge aquaduct that the Romans build to give Heraklion drinking water
Visit the most important Minoan excavation in Crete: Knossos Palace
See up close airplanes landing on Heraklion airport.
As a conclusion, enjoy the clean beaches of Karteros and Amnissos.

[Buy on VoiceMap] or

Acquire this audio guided route

a skaftiko in the town of Archanes touring around showing the fresh grapes

This route starts at the parking lot of Lidl in the western part of Hersonissos and is 63 km long (see the starting point on the Google Maps map). The idea behind this Routaki route is that it takes up an entire day, due to the items you are able to visit.

You drive in a southwest direction with the excavation site of Knossos as your main destination. The route passes through Myrtia, where the museum about Nikos Kazantzakis is located. Driving through olive fields and vineyards, you'll come across the Union's Wine Museum in Peza. Using beautiful small roads, you'll pass through Houdetsi, the town of Archanes, and along an huge aquaduct you reach the Knossos excavations.

From there, the route brings you to the beaches of Karteros and Amnisos. But you can also deviade and explore the city of Heraklion or return to your accommodation via the highway.

Before the CretAquarium, various RAGiF's [Routaki Audio Guide Info Files] have already explained what you encountered or saw along the way. This is the special aspect of a Routaki route; you receive the right information at the right moment. For example, you receive information about the city of Hersonissos when you depart. If you drive past trees whose bark is painted white, you will be explained why this has been done. Your own smartphone 'talks' and 'plays' as a guide about things you encounter along the way or that are generally important for Crete.

Invest in the RAGiF's with the route

why are the trees painted white in Crete

free wine tasting in the union wine museum in Peza

information about the music festival in Houdetsi

You continue driving, following the route instructions narrated and displayed by your own smartphone or tablet. Routaki routes utilize the VoiceMap app. Through this GPS interactive software, you always know where you are, and the software knows what it should play or display.

And all of this offline. You download the app for free, create an account, and purchase the route. The route is downloaded and remains available to you forever. You can even listen to it in advance in the audio-book version as a prelude.

The spoken texts, as well as the images, ensure that you drive around with a secure feeling, and you realize that it's nearly impossible to get lost. Even sharp turns or road hazards are mentioned. If you deviate from the route, the app will notify you so you can return to the route.

However, you can also interrupt or stop the route whenever you want. You can take a break, go for a swim, take a forest walk, or continue the route on another day—whatever you prefer. If you want to resume the route, simply press the 'Resume' button, and the route will be displayed again.

[Buy on VoiceMap] or

Obtain this self-guiding route

visit the Minoan excavation site of palace Knossos

In the village of Myrtia is the museum about the famous Cretan writer, journalist, politician, poet and philosopher Nikos Kazantzakis. Widely considered a giant of modern Greek literature. The RAGiF has provided you already with a detailed history about him, before you enter the village with its lovely square and amazing street art.

The Union wine museum in Peza is free to visit. It contains a nice exhibition on how wine was and still is created. Using the old road you will pass the village of Houdetsi, which is renowned for hosting one of Crete's most famous and beloved music festivals. The 'Labyrinth Musical Workshop' is located there, which is worth a visit.

Driving along the oldest wine press of Crete, you can decide to take a look on the estate of Vathypetro. It dates back to 1600 BC. The excavation site contains a former villa that played a prominent role in during Minoan times.

You pass Mount Jouchtas and have the option to drive to the top to enjoy the astonishing view over Heraklion. A few kilometers further, you enter the Venetian-style town of Archanes, where you can stroll around or visit one of the cozy terraces.

the most amazing views over the vineyards of Crete

The highlight of the route description is, of course, the excavation site of the Palace of Knossos. Be astonished by the artifacts that have been found there. Take as much time as you like to stroll over the terrain and capture the images you desire. After your visit, the tour is still not finished. Instead of driving into the fully built-up parts of the capital of Crete, we have found an astonishing route through the fields that ends up at the beaches of Karteros and Amnissos. These beaches offer a close-up view of the landing procedure of the international planes arriving at Kazantzakis International Airport.

The final route instructions guide you through the easiest way to get 'back home' via the New National Road.

amazing wall graffiti in Myrtia about Nikos Kazantzakis

This route features audio files about Hersonissos, Knossos, Cretan wine production, Nikos Kazantzakis, Vathypetro and the workshop in Houdetsi. At the beginning of the route, information about the former American air base and the Cretaquarium is mentioned, as well as the island of Dia, which can be seen when driving upward during the route.

In total, there are 25 different RaGiF audio files in route 53, in addition to all the audio explaining the route. The route is up-to-date and extensively narrated, with images for reference or clarification.

Get this route

Install the free of charge VoiceMap app and find this route among the more than 1.400 available routes.

Some useful tips:

Bring your smartphone battery charger.
Maintain an average speed of 55-60 km.
Wear appropriate clothing for churches and monasteries.
Purchase the correct language version of the route (Dutch or English).
Ensure that the route is NOT set to the audio-book setting.
If you have one, bring a smartphone holder
Disable automatic screen turn-off (don’t forget to put it back on afterwards)

the wine region on Crete where this route is to be driven

Other Routaki routes:

Route 42 - 'Margarites'
Discover Authentic Crete: Heraklion to Margarites via Anogeia and Axos

the lassithi plateau - the main destination in route 56

Route 56 - 'Lassithi'
A Drive along the Lassithi Plateau: From Stalida to Zeus’s Birthplace

City walk Heraklion
A Stroll through the layers of Heraklion's Historical Treasures

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