Crete · Heraklion

Excursions to Knossos Palace

Step into the Minoan myth at the palace of Knossos just outside Heraklion, guided tours with an archaeologist, often paired with the city and its world-class museum.

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3Excursions
HeraklionCentral Crete
★ 4.8Guest rating
Knossos Palace, Crete ★ Loved by 50k+ travellers
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All excursions to Knossos Palace.

40 excursions
Luxury Catamaran Cruise from Chersonissos to Dia Island Crete

Luxury Catamaran Cruise from Chersonissos to Dia Island

6.5 hours · Sea tours

Our crew member will meet you in Hersonissos port.

from €145 View
Sunset Luxury Catamaran Cruise from Hersonissos Crete

Sunset Luxury Catamaran Cruise from Hersonissos

3.5 hours · Sea tours

Our crew member will meet you in Hersonissos port.

from €80 View
Afternoon Luxury Catamaran Cruise from Heraklion to Dia Island Crete

Afternoon Luxury Catamaran Cruise from Heraklion to Dia Island

5 hours · Sea tours

Our crew member will meet you in Heraklion port.

from €125 View
Morning Luxury Catamaran Cruise from Heraklion to Dia Island Crete

Morning Luxury Catamaran Cruise from Heraklion to Dia Island

5 hours · Sea tours

Our crew member will meet you in Heraklion port.

from €125 View
Premium Catamaran Cruise from Rethymno to Georgioupoli Bay Crete

Premium Catamaran Cruise from Rethymno to Georgioupoli Bay

6.5 hours · Sea tours

Our crew member will meet you in Rethymno port.

from €145 View
Sunset Luxury Catamaran Cruise to Skaleta from Rethymno Crete

Sunset Luxury Catamaran Cruise to Skaleta from Rethymno

3.5 hours · Sea tours

Our crew member will meet you in Rethymno port

from €85 View
Legends of Crete Crete

Legends of Crete

6+ hours

Pick-up and drop-off at hotel entrances or meeting points…

from €69 View
From Hersonissos: Half-Day Pirate Boat Trip with Lunch Crete

From Hersonissos: Half-Day Pirate Boat Trip with Lunch

6 hours · Outdoor

Please arrive at the port of Hersonissos 30 minutes…

from €59 View
Jeep Safari, Goat-Keeping & Cheese Making Crete

Jeep Safari, Goat-Keeping & Cheese Making

10+ hours · Outdoor

Pick-up and drop-off at hotel entrances or meeting points…

from €129 View
Balos Lagoon & Gramvousa Island Crete

Balos Lagoon & Gramvousa Island

10+ hours · Outdoor

Pick-up and drop-off will be at the hotel entrance…

from €67 View
Crete: WaterCity Waterpark Crete

Crete: WaterCity Waterpark

6 hours · Outdoor

Pick-up and drop-off will be at the hotel entrance…

from €42.5 View
Anopolis: Cretan Folklore Night Crete

Anopolis: Cretan Folklore Night

3+ hours · Historical

Pick-up and drop-off will be at the hotel entrance…

from €50 View
Book with the operator

Booking Knossos Palace direct.

Knossos is on every tour platform going. Booking it straight with us is a little different.

The local team, not a reseller

You book with the Heraklion team that runs the Knossos coaches and licensed guides itself, not a reseller.

Real people, quick to answer

A local team on the phone, WhatsApp and Viber daily from 08:00 to 22:00, before you travel and on the day itself.

Flexible hotel pick-up

Pick-up is arranged around your hotel across Heraklion, Hersonissos and the north-coast resorts.

Clear prices, no mark-up

The from-price you see is ours, with no third-party booking fee added over the top.

If a site closure or the weather disrupts the day, we move you to another date or refund you in full.

About the area

The Minoan palace & Heraklion.

Knossos, just south of Heraklion, is the largest Bronze Age site on Crete and the legendary seat of King Minos and the labyrinth. Its restored courts, frescoes and storerooms bring the Minoan civilisation to life, best understood with a guide who can fill in the myth and the history.

Many trips combine the palace with Heraklion’s Archaeological Museum, where the original frescoes and finds are kept, and time in the city itself. It’s an easy half-day from the central resorts and a highlight for anyone curious about ancient Greece. It sits within easy reach of Heraklion, Dia and Matala, with more to explore across the rest of Crete.

SettingMinoan palace & museum
Best timeYear-round
Getting there~10 min from Heraklion
Weather

When to visit Knossos Palace.

Knossos is a year-round site, but spring and autumn are the most comfortable, avoiding the summer midday heat.

MonthAir (day)SeaHow busy
May24°C20°CQuiet
June28°C22°CBuilding
July31°C24°CBusy
August31°C26°CBusy
September28°C25°CEasing
October24°C24°CQuiet
Best monthsApril to June and September to October, cooler for the ruins.
Go earlyOpen early, before the tour groups and the heat.
Pair it upCombine with the museum on a cooler afternoon.
Getting here

Getting to Knossos Palace.

Knossos lies just outside Heraklion, an easy trip by bus, car or on a guided tour.

On a guided tour

Tours pair Knossos with the Heraklion museum and a guide who brings the Minoan world to life.

By bus or car

The palace is about 6km from Heraklion, twenty minutes by city bus or taxi, with parking on site.

Where to stay

Where to stay for Knossos Palace.

Knossos sits just outside Heraklion, so the city and its resorts are the natural base.

Browse hotels nearby
Heraklion town

Steps from the museum and the harbour fort, with Knossos on the doorstep.

Ammoudara

Heraklion’s beach suburb, a few minutes west for a sandy base.

Hersonissos & Malia

Lively resorts to the east with big beaches and nightlife.

Archanes

A pretty wine village just south, close to the palace and the vineyards.

Nearby sights

What’s near Knossos Palace.

Heraklion holds the greatest Minoan sites and a Venetian old town, all near the palace.

Heraklion Archaeological Museum

The world’s finest Minoan collection, the perfect pairing with Knossos.

Koules Fortress

The Venetian sea fort at the old harbour, the largest on Crete.

Morosini Fountain

The 1628 lion fountain at Lions Square, the heart of the old town.

Archanes & Peza

Wine villages just south of the palace, at the heart of Crete’s wine country.

Food & drink

Taste of Knossos Palace.

Heraklion cooking is city and country, built on olive oil, greens, cheese and honey, with a strong wine tradition.

Try dakos and graviera on the market street, the cheese pies called kalitsounia, and the wines of Archanes and Peza, with raki to finish.

Local specialties to try
Dakos Kalitsounia Bougatsa Graviera cheese Cretan wine Raki
One trusted partner

Plan your whole Knossos Palace trip.

Book every part of your trip with one local team: flights, ferries, transfers, a car and your hotel.

FlightsFind flights to Crete FerriesFerry tickets to Crete TransfersAirport & port pick-up Car rentalRent a car in Crete HotelsStays across Crete
Before you go

Good to know for Knossos Palace.

Time neededAround ninety minutes to two hours
What to bringWater, hat and comfortable shoes
Best hoursEarly morning, before the heat and crowds
A guideHighly recommended to read the ruins
Combine withThe Heraklion Archaeological Museum
AccessUneven ground and some steps
Across Crete

More of Crete near Knossos Palace.

Other stand-out spots worth adding to your Crete trip.

Plan your visit

How long for Knossos Palace?

Knossos itself is about half a day. Here is how to fill the rest.

½Half a day
  • The palace with a guide takes roughly two hours; combined trips add Heraklion or the museum.
+Add more
Before you book

Your Knossos Palace questions

Is a guide worth it at Knossos?

Very much, the site is large and partly reconstructed, and a good archaeologist guide brings the myth and history to life. Most of our Knossos excursions are guided.

Does the ticket skip the queue?

Several options include skip-the-line entry, which is a real time-saver in peak season. It’s noted on each excursion.

Should I also see the museum?

If you enjoy the site, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum is the perfect pairing, the original frescoes and finds from Knossos are kept there.

How much walking is involved?

A moderate amount on uneven ancient paths and some steps, mostly in the open, bring water, a hat and sun protection.

Is Knossos open all year?

Yes, though hours vary by season. If an excursion can’t run, you’re offered another date or a full refund.

How long do you need at Knossos?

Around two hours covers the palace comfortably with a guide. Combined trips pair it with Heraklion, the museum or the Lasithi plateau to fill the day.

Can I take photos at Knossos?

Yes, photography is allowed across the open-air site; only tripods and professional gear need special permission.

A Time 4 Vacation guide with travellers in Greece
Simple & secure

Booking Knossos Palace, step by step.

1

Search & compare

Compare Knossos excursions by type, date and budget, and pick the day that suits you.

2

Book securely

Reserve your Knossos day out online in minutes, with instant confirmation and a voucher by email.

3

Meet your guide

On the day a licensed local guide meets you and takes care of the rest, so you can just enjoy Knossos.

Ready to explore Knossos?

Tell us your dates and what you have in mind. A local expert will put together the excursions, transfers and stays that fit, usually within a day.