Knossos Palace, Winery & Archanes Tour from Heraklion

Wine, Minoan history and a four-course meal in one morning through central Crete

A chauffeured tour from Heraklion that visits a winery in the Peza valley, includes a tasting of five indigenous Cretan varieties and a four-course lunch in Archanes, a former Minoan settlement 30 kilometers inland. The tour passes Knossos Palace but does not include entry tickets or a guide at the site itself. You arrange those separately. Pickup and drop-off are included from your Heraklion, Elounda or Rethymno accommodation.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Palace of Knossos2h
2. Archanes2h

Explore Knossos, winery, and Archanes village

• Visit Knossos archaeological site
• Tour winery in Kounavoi Village
• Taste five indigenous wines
• Enjoy lunch at Archanes village tavern
• Walk around Archanes village

The experience

The day starts with a pickup from your hotel and a drive into central Crete's Peza valley, where olive groves and red soil frame one of the region's oldest wineries. A host at the vineyard arranges a tour through the vineyard and cellar, then seats you at a private table for a tasting of five indigenous varieties: the wines the Minoan civilization itself would have known. The winery sits on a hillside with views across the valley, and there is time to linger over the tasting before moving on.

From there, the route passes Knossos Palace, the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and the ceremonial center of Minoan civilization. The palace complex was partially restored in the early 1900s under Arthur Evans. You'll see it as you travel, but entry and a guide at the site are not included in this tour. If you want to walk the palace itself, you buy tickets separately at the entrance or online through the Hellenic Ministry of Culture's e-ticketing service. A certified guide is also available for hire at the site if you want one.

The final stop is Archanes, a village built over the same ground as an ancient Minoan settlement. Archaeological evidence shows Archanes was an important hub during Minoan times, with ancient roads connecting it to surrounding sites. You'll have time to walk the charming streets and visit small shops before sitting down to a four-course traditional meal at a family tavern established in the 1960s. The meal is cooked to order, and you can linger as long as you like before the drive back to your hotel.

What’s included

• Chauffeured premium air-conditioned vehicle with personal pickup and drop-off from your hotel.
• winery visit with vineyard and cellar tour.
• wine tasting of five indigenous Cretan varieties.
• four-course traditional lunch at a family tavern in Archanes.

Options for this experience

3 options

Guide in English08:30, 09:00 and 09:30

Guide in English09:00

Guide in English09:00

Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30

Book up to1h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Paid on site€ 20

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Heraklion Wine Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you're starting from Heraklion, Elounda, or Rethymno and want wine tasting and a village meal in one morning: the set schedule and pickup locations work as a single outing. If you plan to enter Knossos Palace, you'll need to buy a ticket and arrange a guide separately. This tour passes the site but doesn't include access.

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Top questions

What exactly happens at the winery in Peza?

The winery arranges a tour through both the vineyard and the cellar, then seats you at a private table for a tasting of five indigenous Cretan wine varieties. You'll have time to enjoy the views and the wines before moving on to the next stop.

Do I need to buy a ticket to Knossos Palace separately?

Yes. Knossos Palace entry is not included in this tour. You can buy tickets online through the Hellenic Ministry of Culture's e-ticketing service at www.etickets.tap.gr, or purchase them at the entrance when you pass by. A certified guide at the site is also available for an extra charge if you want one.

What is Archanes and what do we do there?

Archanes is a village built over an ancient Minoan settlement that was an important hub in central Crete during Bronze Age times. You'll walk the charming streets, visit local shops, and eat a four-course traditional meal at a family tavern. There is plenty of time to explore before and after lunch.

How long is the whole tour and what's included in the price?

The tour runs seven to eight hours from pickup to drop-off. Included are the chauffeured premium vehicle with air conditioning, personal pickup and drop-off from your hotel, the winery visit and vineyard tour, the wine tasting of five varieties, and the four-course traditional lunch in Archanes.

Where can I be picked up?

Pickup is available from the Heraklion area, Elounda, or Rethymno, depending on which option you choose at checkout. The driver will collect you from your hotel and return you there at the end of the day.