Knossos & Heraklion Tour: Minoan Palace & Venetian Sites

Walk the Palace of Knossos, then trace Venetian Heraklion from the harbor fortress to the city walls.

A private tour of Heraklion and Knossos pairs the Minoan Palace (the largest preserved palatial center with royal quarters, throne room and temple tomb) with five Venetian-era landmarks in the city center. Your English-speaking driver picks you up from your hotel or port, drives between sites, and provides context. You enter each attraction on your own schedule. The tour runs three to six hours depending on how long you spend at each stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Palace of Knossos1h 30m
2. Venetian Walls30m
3. Lions Square and Morosini Fountain10m
4. Loggia10m
5. Koules Fortress30m

Explore Knossos and Heraklion City

• Pickup from hotel or port
• Visit Palace of Knossos
• Walk around Venetian Walls
• See Tomb of Nikos Kazantzakis
• Visit Cathedral of St. Minas
• Explore former church of St. Ekaterini
• Stop at Morozini’s Fountain and Lions Square
• View Venetian Loggia
• Tour Koules Fortress

The experience

The Palace of Knossos anchors this tour. The site represents the center of Minoan civilization, and the Great Palace is the largest of the preserved Minoan palatial centers. It contains the royal quarters, workshops, shrines, storerooms, the throne room and banquet halls. You'll also see the Little Palace (where the famous Bull's Head sculpture was found), the Royal Villa, the House of the High Priest, the Caravan Serai that served as public baths, and the Royal Temple Tomb-Sanctuary believed to have belonged to one of the last Minoan kings. Your driver takes you there and waits. You explore at your own pace.

Back in Heraklion City, the tour covers five Venetian landmarks. The Koules Fortress dominates the harbor entrance and was built to protect the city. The Venetian Walls once enclosed the entire city, called Candia by the Venetians, and two gates survive. You can walk outside and around them and find the tomb of Nikos Kazantzakis, author of "Zorba the Greek," at the southwestern corner. The Loggia in the city center, built by Francesco Morosini during Venetian rule, now houses the Town Hall. Lions Square and Morosini Fountain was constructed to serve the city's water needs and is now a gathering point surrounded by cafés. Opposite it stands the Basilica of St. Mark, a major Venetian building that now hosts the Municipal Art Gallery. The Cathedral of St. Minas, dedicated to Heraklion's patron saint, took 30 years to rebuild after past battles. Nearby are a smaller older church and the former church of St. Ekaterini, which displays Byzantine icons and ecclesiastical treasures.

Your driver provides information about the places but cannot enter sites with you. If you want detailed commentary inside the attractions, you'll need to arrange a separate official guide. The vehicle is air-conditioned, WiFi is available on board, and bottled water is provided. Pickup is included from your hotel or port in Heraklion City. If your hotel is more than 5 kilometers from the city center, an extra charge applies.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• pickup from your hotel or port in Heraklion City.
• WiFi on board.
• bottled water.
• an English-speaking driver who provides information about the sites.

Options for this experience

2 options

Knossos and Heraklion City: Private TourGuide in English · 24 departure times: the first at 00:00, the last at 23:00Includes pickup

Pick up locationGuide in English · 24 departure times: the first at 00:00, the last at 23:00Chania pickup: If you are staying in Chania and want to book your trip, this is your opportunity. Pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Book up to12h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 9 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on site€ 20

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleInfant seats available

Operated by CreteCab

Is this one for you?The flexible schedule means you set how much time to spend at Knossos and at each Venetian landmark: ideal if you want to linger at the palace or move quickly through the city stops. Your driver handles all the driving and waits at each site, so you focus on what you want to see rather than navigation.

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Top questions

What exactly is inside the Palace of Knossos that I'll see?

The Palace of Knossos contains the Great Palace (the largest preserved Minoan palatial center with royal quarters, workshops, shrines, storerooms, the throne room and banquet halls) plus the Little Palace, Royal Villa, House of the High Priest, the Caravan Serai (which served as public baths), and the Royal Temple Tomb-Sanctuary believed to have belonged to one of the last Minoan kings.

Can I walk around the Venetian Walls, or do I just see them from the car?

You can walk outside and around the Venetian Walls at your own pace. The tour includes time to explore them. At the southwestern corner you'll find the tomb of Nikos Kazantzakis, the local author of "Zorba the Greek," and you can enjoy panoramic views of the city center and sea.

Will the driver go inside the attractions with me?

The driver cannot enter the sites with you. They provide information about the places but are not permitted inside. If you want detailed commentary and interpretation while you're inside the attractions, you'll need to arrange a separate official guide.

How long does this tour actually take?

The tour runs between three and six hours depending on how long you spend at each site. The schedule is flexible, so you control the pace at Knossos and each Heraklion landmark.