Guided tour

Heraklion: Knossos Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Walking Tour

Guided tour

Heraklion: Knossos Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Walking Tour

From US$ 64.11 per person

Cruise past long lines to the Palace of Knossos and immerse in Greek history. Use the same ticket to enter the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion later.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Covid-19 precautions
Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details.
Duration 1.5 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Skip the ticket line
Live tour guide
English, French
Private or small groups available

Experience

Highlights
  • Skip the ticket line to enter Knossos Palace and take a tour with a licensed guide
  • Explore the ancient palace, step into the royal residence and see the Minoan king's throne
  • Be amazed by the House of the Frescoes and its colorful wall paintings
  • Learn about the history of the Minoan Civilization, probably the oldest one on the European continent
  • Use the same ticket to enter the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion when you go to Heraklion city later
Full description

Join a guided tour of Knossos, a complex of more than 1500 interlocking rooms, once an astonishing palace built for a mighty king of the Bronze Age. Knossos is considered Europe’s oldest city.

As you wander through the labyrinthine ruins, get the chance to see the original throne of ‘’Minos”, the mystifying sanctuaries, the luxurious domestic quarters of the royal family, Crete’s treasures pantries, and the water-management systems.

The first palace of Knossos was erected soon after 2000 BC. In 1700 BC, a catastrophic earthquake destroyed the Palace. A new palace was built immediately, the most monumental of all, and for over 300 years it represented the pre-eminent center of power in Bronze Age Crete.

The new palace was an imposing complex with important architectural innovations, splendid frescoes adorning the walls, hundreds of rooms distributed in four storeys, impressive storage areas, specialized workshops, and spacious courts hosting ceremonies and feasts.

Learn how during the last decades of the 14th century BC, a series of earthquakes led to the final destruction of the palace. 

Includes
  • Skip-the-ticket-line service
  • Entry ticket for the Knossos Palace and for the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion City (if option selected)
  • Licensed tour guide
  • Headset to hear the guide better (if group size over 5)
  • Hotel transfers
  • Meals and drinks
  • Tips
Not suitable for
  • Wheelchair users

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

Meeting point may vary depending on the option booked.

Important information

What to bring

  • Passport or ID card
  • Comfortable shoes
  • Sunglasses
  • Sun hat

Not allowed

  • Pets

Know before you go

  • This tour has two options: you either pre-buy skip-the-line entry tickets or pay cash for them onsite
  • Please bring your passport, if you qualify for a reduced price
  • With the ticket you get, you can enter the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion City as well
  • During warm days, please wear walking shoes and bring sunscreen, a hat and water
  • The ticket you book is not your entry ticket (if you choose the option including entry); the voucher needs to be exchanged at the meeting point at Knossos Palace.
  •  If you wish to use the combined entry ticket before the tour at Knossos Palace, please contact the local partner within 24 hours of the start of the tour
  • Headset to hear the guide better, over 5 pax per group
Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.8 /5

based on 756 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.9/5
  • Value for money
    4.4/5
  • Service
    4.8/5
  • Organization
    4.8/5

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Star rating:

Absolutely brilliant tour around Knossos Palace. Would absolutely recommend this. Katerina the guide was incredibly knowledgeable and funny. Really brought the history to life. The group size was a total of 5 so we could always here and move about without getting separated. The instructions for meeting were spot on and informative with contact info if you ever needed help.

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October 27, 2022

Chatzigeogiou was our excellent English speaking guide at Knossos. She was knowledgeable and she answered all of our group’s questions clearly. The group size was small, but she took care ensure everyone in the group was keeping up and learning together. She was lovely with our children too. Highly recommended. And thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

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October 25, 2022

The booking process & communication before the trip were very smooth. Meeting our Guide was very straightforward too. The tour itself was excellent. Our Guide was an archaeologist who really knew her stuff and so the whole experience was very informative. She had pictures to show us what the palace would have looked like and explained what we could learn from the palace and what was most definitely myth! When we came out there was a massive queue of people waiting to get in so booking a Guide and a morning skip the line ticket would be my recommendation. Our tour started at 11 & it was fine but you could tell it was getting busier - so go early.

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October 18, 2022

Product ID: 138158