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. 

Settlements in Knossos date as far back as the Neolithic period. Neolithic remains from around 7000 BC are found throughout Crete. Explore the ruins of the ancient Minoan civilization and enjoy a skip-the-line tour of the Knossos Palace. The Knossos Palace was built from 1700 to 1400 BC. Advanced architectural techniques were used in its construction, and sections of the palace stood up to 5 stories high. It featured 1,300 rooms connected by corridors, and a theater and extensive storerooms, which held large clay containers of oil, grains, dried fish, beans and olives – often with gold hidden beneath.

"Kalos orisate" or "Welcome" in Greek. Visitors will have the chance to taste the unique flavor of Cretan Extra virgin olive oil and learn about the techniques Cretan use for thousand of years to produce it in the beautiful village of Skalani just outside of Heraklion. Visitors will be having a tour led by greek olive oil experts. They will visit a modern olive mill and witness how olive oil is produced, followed by a tour of our private olive grove and an olive oil tasting course accompanied by greek delicacies. Our guests will enjoy the beauty and tranquility of Cretan nature and countryside Kids and pets are more than welcome too.

Get an introduction to the best food that Heraklion has to offer by treating your palate to traditional Cretan dishes and exceptional local wines! Go on an unforgettable tasty journey through Heraklion’s local neighbourhoods. After meeting your local guide, start off with a traditional Greek coffee also known as ellinikós kafés. Learn why Greeks love coffee and see it brewed the traditional way in sand and be taught “cup reading”, a centuries-old tradition that reads your future. Enjoy Heraklion’s well-known bougatsa in a family-owned business that has mastered its bougatsa technique since 1922. Consisting of semolina custard, cheese, or minced meat filling between layers of phyllo, bougatsa is a must-taste pastry that you shouldn’t miss while being in the city. Continue to a local market where you’ll meet the local vendors and learn about their products. Sample some of the basic elements of Cretan cuisine such as olives, rusks, and cheese. Become a cheese-tasting expert by receiving local hints and learn how to spot the best local cheeses. Taste the island’s famous olive oil and find out why organic Cretan olive oil is one of the best oils in the world. Sit down for a local organic meat dish or if you want to show yourself how brave you are, sample a dish that is loved by most Cretans: fried snails. Move on to your last stop and taste some local Cretan wines in a family-run shop. Keep in mind that winemaking in Crete has a long history that dates back to the Bronze Age. Before you go, don’t forget to ask your local guide for more tips on what else to see, do and eat during your stay.

Explore the Labyrinth and Palace of Knossos. Skip the long ticket line upon arrival and you meet your own exclusive guide. This site is home to: the Minotaur, the oldest throne in Europe, elegant wall paintings that inspired art Nuevo works centuries later, huge clay earns, advanced draining systems, and quarters sunk into the earth. Together you will see the oldest civilization unfold before your eyes and you will be able to get the best out of your visit to this magnificent structure. Knossos, a complex of more than 1500 interlocking rooms, was an astonishing palace, built for a mighty king of the Bronze Age. As you wander through the labyrinthine ruins, you will have the chance to see the original throne of Minos, the mystifying sanctuaries, the luxurious domestic quarters of the royal family, that were, once upon a time, bursting with Crete’s treasures. Knossos is considered Europe’s oldest city. The first palace of Knossos was erected soon after 2000 BC. In 1700 BC, a catastrophic earthquake destroyed the Palace. A new palace was then immediately built and for more than 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 across four storeys, impressive storage areas, specialized workshops, and spacious courts hosting ceremonies and feasts.

Experience this unique flight of six estate-crafted wines at our cellar. Our wine selection ranges from Cretan indigenous grapes, like Vidiano and Liatiko, to a variety of luscious international reds and whites. Douloufakis winery produces and bottles quality wines made from indigenous and international grape varieties. The most representative ones are the Cretan Liatiko and Vidiano from which the winemaker produces many different labels, including barrel-fermented and amphora wines, following the tradition of years ago. During your visit here, you can be guided at the facilities of the winery and learn more about the way of wine production. In the tasting room, you can taste our wines, discover their features and find out more about the grape varieties and the Cretan vineyards.

My name is Maria and I am a professional dancer in Cretan and Greek Dances. I am also the leader of the dancing group of Arolithos Village and the dancing teacher for kids and adults of the local cultural association of the area where I live. I am a very good friend of Michalis who is the main host of this experience and one of the owners of Arolithos Village. I collaborate with him because he loves to dance and culture as I do. Very often Evi one of the best Cretan dancers in the area of Tilissos also helps me to realize the dancing lessons. As a professional teacher of dances, dressed in traditional uniform, I will show you the first steps of popular dances of Crete and Greece. Sousta, Zorba the Greek, and much more. We will have also the chance to do a tour of Arolithos Village and show you shortly the Museum, the old houses and the rest of the village. You will enjoy a welcome drink on the terrace with the panoramic view. In the end, I will offer you a copy of a CD with Greek and Cretan music and your dancing certificate. It is a big honor for me to be your host and I or Evi will do my best for you to have a memorable experience of Cretan amusement and culture. In your own free time Arolithos village you may have lunch and relax after such a creative experience in the tavern and the swimming pool.

Explore the historical city center of Heraklion. Visit, along with your expert tour guide, Heraklion’s major monuments; travel through time and its rich history. Discover the past and the present of a city that combines old with new. The 7th labor of Hercules was performed here, the birthplace of El Greco and Nikos Kazantzakis. On this tour hear stories about Heraklion's turbulent past and visit its legendary churches, fountains, and monuments. On this tour you will also get to enjoy local products finger food and wine amidst Venetian monumental buildings. Stroll through off-the-beaten-path areas in the city, learn about the Mediterranean diet. On this 2-hour tour feed your body and mind.

Don't miss out on the Archeological Museum of Heraklion, one of the most important museums in Europe in its field. This museum provides a unique opportunity for the visitor to marvel at the remnants of the first of civilization in Europe, the Minoans. This tour will guide you through a period of time that extends over a 5000 years, from the Neolithic to the Roman era. Find out how Cretan people used to live, their occupation, religion, architecture, travel, arts and more. This singularly important Minoan collection contains unique examples of Minoan art, many of them true masterpieces. The Heraklion Museum is rightly considered as the museum of Minoan culture par excellence worldwide. The museum, located in the town center, was built between 1937 and 1940 by architect Patroklos Karantinos on a site previously occupied by the Roman Catholic monastery of Saint Francis which was destroyed by earthquake in 1856. The museum’s antiseismic building is an important example of modernist architecture and was awarded a Bauhaus commendation. The colours and construction materials, such as the veined polychrome marbles, recall certain Minoan wall paintings which imitate marble revetment. The two-story building has 27 galleries, a gallery for audio-visual displays, extensive modern laboratories, a cloakroom, a cafeteria and a museum shop that sells museum copies, books, postcards and slides.

Discover the delicious offerings of Crete with this Heraklion for foodies tour. As you stroll the streets of Heraklion with your licensed guide, hear about the history and tradition behind some of the island's most beloved dishes. Enjoy a wealth of tastings such as 'bougatsa' (custard cream pie), 'kalitsounia' (sweet mizithra cheese and honey pies), 'dolmades' (rice wrapped in vine leaf with herbs), Cretan olives, 'dakos' (rusk bread with tomato and grated feta) cheeses, honey, seafood dishes and more. Visit artisanal delis and food shops that have been run by dedicated families for generations and taste the products they so lovingly create—a truly decadent discovery of Crete’s indulgent foodie scene. Be sure to come hungry.