Knossos Palace Experience, Heraklion

4.3 (16 reviews)
Discover Minoan mythology on this guided trip to the UNESCO-listed Knossos Palace.
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C
Caroline F.
Oct 12, 2026
Our guide was very good and very sweet. She knew a lot of detail about the palace and history.
S
Sylvia U.
May 10, 2026
Very informative tour of Minoan settlement, great guide again
Leslie
Leslie D.
Oct 24, 2025
Irina was a terrific guide. Very knowledgeable and easily understood
Brandye
Brandye P.
Oct 17, 2025
The site itself was very interesting and our guide was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot. Again the guide spoke perfect English and was entertaining... Read more
M
Melissa K.
Jul 10, 2025
Our tour at Knossos Palace was great and was with a very knowledgeable guide. She was able to provide us with all the details of the... Read more
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Overview

Discover the rich history and mythology of Knossos with this two-hour excursion led by an expert guide. Start your explorations at the vast complex believed to be the mythological Minotaur's labyrinth. Visit the highlights of the 1,300-room reconstructed palace, including the Throne Room with Europe's oldest throne, the Royal Apartments filled with frescoes, and the colorful, colonnaded West Bastion with its iconic charging bull painting. Perfect for history buffs, the trip includes roundtrip transfers and skip-the-line tickets to beat the crowds.

Highlights

  • Learn about Knossos and Minoan Crete from a knowledgeable guide
  • Marvel at the stone throne of mythical Minos and a historic high priestess
  • Discover the ingenuity of the Minoan architecture and technology
  • Admire nature-themed frescoes of bulls, dolphins, and griffins

Know before you go

Duration
2h 30m
Recommended for
All ages
Group
Small group, 16 people or less

What you'll do

Travel back to the second millennium BCE on this short but in-depth exploration of Knossos. You'll be picked up at your accommodation in Heraklion and taken 15 minutes south to Knossos, the center of the Minoan civilization and Greece's second most-visited archaeological site after the Acropolis. The Minoans were Europe's first advanced civilization, which flourished from 3,000 BCE to 1,100 BCE, and you'll discover their achievements during today's excursion.

Made up of over 1,300 interconnected rooms, Knossos is vast; in fact, it's believed to be the famous Minotaur's labyrinth in Greek mythology. As you explore, listen to the various myths tied to the palace, including stories of the Minotaur, Daedalus and Icarus, and King Minos, whom you can imagine sitting on the carved gypsum throne. Admire the Throne Room's ritual bath and painted griffins, and hear how this was most likely the seat of a high priestess instead of a king.

Your guide will highlight significant sites like the Grand Staircase leading to the Royal Apartments, where you'll find replicas of dolphin frescoes showcasing the Minoan's respect for nature. As you take in the bright colors of a charging bull painting on the west bastion and the surrounding red and black columns, you'll learn how Scottish archaeologist Arthur Evans excavated the site in the early 1900s and rebuilt these features based on his idea of what Knossos once looked like. The guided visit ends with a transfer back to your hotel in Heraklion. 

Start times

  • Daily
    11:00 am

What's included

  • Expert guide
  • Admission to Knossos 
  • Round-trip transportation from your accommodation

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Traveler photos
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Traveler reviews

16 total ratings, 15 with reviews
4.3
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.6
Guides, Drivers and Staff
5.0
Transport
4.9
Sydney
Sydney H.
kimkim HQ | Reviewed on Oct 14, 2026
I am a kimkim staff member, and I recently had the chance to experience this activity during a work trip. Considered Europe's oldest Bronze Age civilization and the setting for the famous myth of the Labyrinth and Minotaur, Knossos is a must-see for anyone interested in Greek history/mythology. Our guide, Akrivi, was a seasoned storyteller who brought the site's history and mythology to life as we explored the grounds. Visiting in the summer heat, I especially appreciated how mindful she... Read more

I am a kimkim staff member, and I recently had the chance to experience this activity during a work trip.

Considered Europe's oldest Bronze Age civilization and the setting for the famous myth of the Labyrinth and Minotaur, Knossos is a must-see for anyone interested in Greek history/mythology.

Our guide, Akrivi, was a seasoned storyteller who brought the site's history and mythology to life as we explored the grounds. Visiting in the summer heat, I especially appreciated how mindful she was about stopping in shaded areas while explaining different parts of the site. She was also happy to answer my additional questions on Greek history/mythology, which made the experience even more engaging.

Tips for future travelers

One important thing to know before visiting Knossos is that much of the site has been reconstructed, including any of the frescoes you'll see throughout the grounds. While this helps bring the palace to life, it's worth noting that most structures, aside from the foundations, are modern reconstructions rather than original Bronze Age remains. For that reason, I'd 100% recommend pairing this tour with a visit to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. Seeing the original fresco fragments, enormous storage jars, and other artifacts gives you a much better understanding of the civilization and helps put what you've seen at Knossos into historical context!

Quality of Experience
I'd recommend pairing the tour with an independent visit to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum to get a fuller picture of the site's history.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Akrivi was extremely knowledgeable and personable, leaving room for questions and further learning about Greek mythology/history.
Transport
While transport is included in this experience, I had my own rental car, so I did not utilize it. Communicating this to the supplier was easy.
C
Caroline F.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Oct 12, 2026
Our guide was very good and very sweet. She knew a lot of detail about the palace and history. Read more

Our guide was very good and very sweet. She knew a lot of detail about the palace and history.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
C
Campbell W.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Jul 21, 2026

This one didn't keep our 10 year old particularly engaged unfortunately.

L
Linda
Miami, FL | Reviewed on Jun 07, 2026

Out guide was very interesting and informative

Gustavo
Gustavo C.
Kimkim HQ | Reviewed on Jun 05, 2026
I am an expert on Greece for KimKim, and I participated in this activity during a fam trip. This is a highly sought-after archaeological site, one of the most important in Greece due to the impact of the Minoan civilization on the ancient world. The guide was highly knowledgeable, but due to the number of people visiting the site, even when we were in a small group, we had to use an earpiece in order to listen clearly to what the guide was saying. I will say that my rating on this activity... Read more

I am an expert on Greece for KimKim, and I participated in this activity during a fam trip.

This is a highly sought-after archaeological site, one of the most important in Greece due to the impact of the Minoan civilization on the ancient world. The guide was highly knowledgeable, but due to the number of people visiting the site, even when we were in a small group, we had to use an earpiece in order to listen clearly to what the guide was saying. I will say that my rating on this activity is not about the quality of the service but of the archaeological site in general. I will say that 2 hours is the perfect amount of time to see the site.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
S
Sylvia U.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on May 10, 2026
Very informative tour of Minoan settlement, great guide again Read more

Very informative tour of Minoan settlement, great guide again

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Rob
Rob C.
Canada | Reviewed on Apr 12, 2026

Interesting site, but it was really the museum (which wasn't on our itinerary ) that had the most interesting artifacts to see

Tips for future travelers

Go to the museum as well

Leslie
Leslie D.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Oct 24, 2025
Irina was a terrific guide. Very knowledgeable and easily understood Read more

Irina was a terrific guide. Very knowledgeable and easily understood

Tips for future travelers

Planning on going to the historical museum before or after the visit to site. I went after the visit and was thrilled to see the actual artifacts

Quality of Experience
The ruins were spectacular
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Irina was excellent
Eugene
Eugene G.
Arvada, CO | Reviewed on Oct 21, 2025

The Knossos Palace Experience was enjoyable, especially with the cultural and historical significance. However, it was a bit disappointing to learn that many of the best art treasures were moved to a museum. A visit to the museum would have complemented the experience nicely.

Brandye
Brandye P.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Oct 17, 2025
The site itself was very interesting and our guide was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot. Again the guide spoke perfect English and was entertaining as well as knowledgeable Read more

The site itself was very interesting and our guide was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot. Again the guide spoke perfect English and was entertaining as well as knowledgeable

Tips for future travelers

Make sure you bring sun protection and good shoes

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport

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