Knossos Palace Tour from Heraklion with Skip-the-Line

Two Bronze Age landmarks in one afternoon: the palace ruins, then the masterpieces inside

A small-group tour of Heraklion combines Knossos Palace and the Archaeological Museum with a licensed English-speaking guide, hotel or port pickup, and skip-the-line entry at both sites. The itinerary runs from 11am at Knossos through 1:30pm at the museum, covering five hours total. Children from age one are welcome. The tour suits all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or during pregnancy.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Palace of Knossos1h 30m
2. Heraklion Archaeological Museum1h 30m

Visit Knossos Palace and Museum

• Start tour at Knossos Palace 11:00am
• Explore King Minos' labyrinth and throne
• See sanctuaries, royal quarters, and water systems
• Tour Heraklion Archaeological Museum 1:30pm
• View Minoan art and artifacts

The experience

You start at Knossos Palace at 11am, stepping straight past the ticket line into the Bronze Age complex of over 1,500 interlocking rooms. The licensed guide walks you through the throne room, royal quarters, sanctuaries, and water systems that made this Europe's oldest city function. The palace was built for King Minos and housed the legendary Labyrinth. What you see are the actual ruins where that mythology took root. Skip-the-line access means your time stays on the site itself, not waiting at the gate.

At 1:30pm you move to the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, located in the town center. The museum holds the world's finest Minoan collection: gold, frescoes, and rare artifacts spanning over 5,500 years from the Neolithic period through Roman times. The guide leads you through a curated selection of masterpieces that deepen what you saw at the palace, connecting the objects to the rooms and rituals you just walked through. The museum was built between 1937 and 1940 on the site of a Roman Catholic monastery.

Round-trip transfers run from your hotel in Heraklion city or from the port, so you don't arrange transport between stops. If the group is over six people, you get a headset to hear the guide clearly. The tour keeps to strict starting times with no exceptions, and all entry fees, taxes and the guide are included in the price.

What’s included

• Skip-the-line entry at Knossos Palace and the Archaeological Museum.
• round-trip hotel or port pickup in Heraklion.
• a licensed English-speaking guide for the full five hours.
• entry tickets for both sites (20 EUR each).
• a headset if your group is over six people.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 10:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (5 to 17 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years)

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Business Management Services L.P.

Is this one for you?This is a guided small-group tour with a set schedule (11am at Knossos, 1:30pm at the museum), so it suits travelers arriving in Heraklion with a free afternoon who want both sites explained by someone who knows the Minoan world, without arranging their own transport or timing between stops.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 17 years); Infant (1 to 4 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Palace of Knossos and why is it called Europe's oldest city?

Knossos was a Bronze Age palace complex built for King Minos, containing over 1,500 interconnected rooms that functioned as a royal residence, administrative center, and religious sanctuary. It is considered Europe's oldest city because of its scale, sophistication, and the advanced systems (water management, storage, domestic quarters) that made it work as a functioning urban center thousands of years before classical Greece.

Do I need to arrange my own transport between Knossos and the museum?

No. Round-trip transfers are included: the tour picks you up from your hotel in Heraklion city or from the port, takes you to Knossos at 11am, then to the Archaeological Museum at 1:30pm, and returns you to your starting point. You don't arrange anything between stops.

What makes the Archaeological Museum worth visiting if I've already seen the palace?

The museum houses the world's finest Minoan collection of gold, frescoes, and artifacts spanning over 5,500 years. The guide leads you through pieces that connect directly to the rooms and rituals you saw at Knossos, so the objects make sense in context rather than standing alone in cases.

Will I have to wait in line at either site?

No. Skip-the-line entry is included at both Knossos Palace and the Archaeological Museum, so you move straight to the guide and the sites themselves.