Knossos Palace
Discover Ancient Greek civilization and its architecture starting at Knossos Palace, vital during Classical and Roman eras. Built 3700 years ago, it remains significant today. Explore the Throne of King Minos, Minoan Civilization murals, and more in this historic site.
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Visitor's guide
Must-see highlights & key info
- Explore the 3700-year-old Palace of Knossos, Europe's oldest city, and customize your visit with optional upgrades like a guided tour, museum access, or a Heraklion city audio guide.
- Walk through the labyrinthine ruins of Knossos Palace, see frescoes like the "Prince of the Lilies," and admire ancient artifacts like the Snake Goddess figurines at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
- Enhance your visit with multilingual audio guides for Knossos Palace and Heraklion Museum, or stroll through Heraklion’s Old Town at your own pace with a detailed city audio tour.
- Upgrade to include a 90-minute small-group guided tour of Knossos Palace or add full entry to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, giving you a deeper look into Crete’s Bronze Age wonders.
- Fun fact: Not everything you see at Knossos is ancient. British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans reconstructed parts of the Palace in the early 1900s, blending archaeological finds with his own vision of how Minoan life might have looked.
More details
- Explore the 3700-year-old Palace of Knossos, Europe's oldest city, and customize your visit with optional upgrades like a guided tour, museum access, or a Heraklion city audio guide.
- Walk through the labyrinthine ruins of Knossos Palace, see frescoes like the "Prince of the Lilies," and admire ancient artifacts like the Snake Goddess figurines at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
- Enhance your visit with multilingual audio guides for Knossos Palace and Heraklion Museum, or stroll through Heraklion’s Old Town at your own pace with a detailed city audio tour.
- Upgrade to include a 90-minute small-group guided tour of Knossos Palace or add full entry to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, giving you a deeper look into Crete’s Bronze Age wonders.
- Fun fact: Not everything you see at Knossos is ancient. British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans reconstructed parts of the Palace in the early 1900s, blending archaeological finds with his own vision of how Minoan life might have looked.
- Discover the wonderous history of two of the top historical attractions in Crete – the Heraklion Archaeological Museum and the Knossos Palace.
- With an in-depth English audio guide – downloadable onto your smartphone – this is definitely a hassle-free and informative way to visit two outstanding locations.
- At the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, you'll see exquisite pieces of Cretan art, prehistory, and history, over 5,500 years old from the Neolithic period to Roman times.
- Some significant exhibits include Phaistos Disc, Snake Goddess, Stone Bull's Head Rhyton, and much more.
- Move through the corridors of the once-luxurious Knossos Palace, explore the South Propylaeum – showcasing everyday life in ancient times – and learn about the Minoan economy and trade networks at the West Magazines.
More details
- Discover the wonderous history of two of the top historical attractions in Crete – the Heraklion Archaeological Museum and the Knossos Palace.
- With an in-depth English audio guide – downloadable onto your smartphone – this is definitely a hassle-free and informative way to visit two outstanding locations.
- At the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, you'll see exquisite pieces of Cretan art, prehistory, and history, over 5,500 years old from the Neolithic period to Roman times.
- Some significant exhibits include Phaistos Disc, Snake Goddess, Stone Bull's Head Rhyton, and much more.
- Move through the corridors of the once-luxurious Knossos Palace, explore the South Propylaeum – showcasing everyday life in ancient times – and learn about the Minoan economy and trade networks at the West Magazines.
-
Journey back in time with fast-track tickets to Knossos Palace, a 3,700-year-old archaeological site, boasting the grandeur of the Minoan civilization.
-
Marvel at the untouched Throne of King Minos and the enigmatic murals of 'Linear A' language, which remains undeciphered to date.
-
Explore Heraklion with a 1-day hop-on hop-off open-top bus tour with 1-day free and see top sights like Knossos Palace and Venetian Castle Koules.
-
Sightseeing is now a breeze as buses equipped with multilingual audio guides take you across two different routes every 30 to 75 mins.
-
Fun fact: The Minoans at Knossos had advanced water and sanitation systems for their time. They even had hot and cold water.
More details
-
Journey back in time with fast-track tickets to Knossos Palace, a 3,700-year-old archaeological site, boasting the grandeur of the Minoan civilization.
-
Marvel at the untouched Throne of King Minos and the enigmatic murals of 'Linear A' language, which remains undeciphered to date.
-
Explore Heraklion with a 1-day hop-on hop-off open-top bus tour with 1-day free and see top sights like Knossos Palace and Venetian Castle Koules.
-
Sightseeing is now a breeze as buses equipped with multilingual audio guides take you across two different routes every 30 to 75 mins.
-
Fun fact: The Minoans at Knossos had advanced water and sanitation systems for their time. They even had hot and cold water.
5% off
- Take a 90-minute small-group guided tour through Knossos Palace and hear how Minoan myths, rituals, and royal secrets shaped Europe's earliest civilization.
- Enjoy a relaxed, small-group experience with no more than 16 guests, where you can ask questions, explore hidden corners, and get personalized insights from your guide.
- See the grand Throne Room where King Minos is believed to have ruled, the Grand Staircase connecting multiple levels, and frescoes depicting lively processions and bull-leaping.
- Hear fascinating stories of sacred bull-leaping ceremonies, the Palace’s underground storerooms filled with giant pithoi jars, and the dramatic collapse of the Minoans that sparked legends across the Greek world.
- Fun fact: At Knossos, archaeologists discovered ancient plumbing systems, including flushing toilets, dating back nearly 3,700 years, centuries ahead of their time!
More details
- Take a 90-minute small-group guided tour through Knossos Palace and hear how Minoan myths, rituals, and royal secrets shaped Europe's earliest civilization.
- Enjoy a relaxed, small-group experience with no more than 16 guests, where you can ask questions, explore hidden corners, and get personalized insights from your guide.
- See the grand Throne Room where King Minos is believed to have ruled, the Grand Staircase connecting multiple levels, and frescoes depicting lively processions and bull-leaping.
- Hear fascinating stories of sacred bull-leaping ceremonies, the Palace’s underground storerooms filled with giant pithoi jars, and the dramatic collapse of the Minoans that sparked legends across the Greek world.
- Fun fact: At Knossos, archaeologists discovered ancient plumbing systems, including flushing toilets, dating back nearly 3,700 years, centuries ahead of their time!
-
Enjoy a self-guided tour of the Heraklion Archaeological Museum – home to the most historic Minoan artifacts in Greece and in the world.
-
With an English audio guide – which you can download onto your smartphone – this is definitely a hassle-free and informative way to visit the Museum.
-
You'll see exquisite pieces of Cretan art, prehistory, and history – over 5,500 years old from the Neolithic period to Roman times.
-
Some significant exhibits include Phaistos Disc, Snake Goddess, and Stone Bull's Head Rhyton while the most ancient frescoes include the Bull-Leaping Fresco, Prince of the Lilies, and much more.
-
Listen to your informative guide for both a history tour and 80+ interesting stories. You can even repeat this audio guide after your Museum visit.
More details
-
Enjoy a self-guided tour of the Heraklion Archaeological Museum – home to the most historic Minoan artifacts in Greece and in the world.
-
With an English audio guide – which you can download onto your smartphone – this is definitely a hassle-free and informative way to visit the Museum.
-
You'll see exquisite pieces of Cretan art, prehistory, and history – over 5,500 years old from the Neolithic period to Roman times.
-
Some significant exhibits include Phaistos Disc, Snake Goddess, and Stone Bull's Head Rhyton while the most ancient frescoes include the Bull-Leaping Fresco, Prince of the Lilies, and much more.
-
Listen to your informative guide for both a history tour and 80+ interesting stories. You can even repeat this audio guide after your Museum visit.
-
Explore Knossos Palace, the largest Bronze Age site on Crete and the ceremonial hub of the Minoan civilization, an absolute feast for history enthusiasts.
-
With the pre-booked e-ticket, dive straight into your journey into the past, find a copy of “Prince of the Lilies” at the South Entrance Corridor and more.
-
The self-guided audio tour, available in 5 languages, lets you discover the beauty and trade secrets of Minoan times.
-
The cupbearers and procession frescoes at the South Propylaeum offer valuable insights into daily life and ceremonies in Minoan Crete.
-
Fun fact: The palace was so large that it could have housed up to 100,000 scrolls, making it potentially one of the largest libraries of the ancient world.
More details
-
Explore Knossos Palace, the largest Bronze Age site on Crete and the ceremonial hub of the Minoan civilization, an absolute feast for history enthusiasts.
-
With the pre-booked e-ticket, dive straight into your journey into the past, find a copy of “Prince of the Lilies” at the South Entrance Corridor and more.
-
The self-guided audio tour, available in 5 languages, lets you discover the beauty and trade secrets of Minoan times.
-
The cupbearers and procession frescoes at the South Propylaeum offer valuable insights into daily life and ceremonies in Minoan Crete.
-
Fun fact: The palace was so large that it could have housed up to 100,000 scrolls, making it potentially one of the largest libraries of the ancient world.
9% off
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About Knossos Palace
Knossos Palace stands as a testament to the grandeur of ancient Minoan civilization. It is the largest Bronze Age archeological site in Crete and features labyrinthine passageways adorned with vibrant frescoes that depict scenes from everyday life in Minoan times.
Knossos Palace is renowned as the place where Linear A writing originated. It is an ancient script that, intriguingly, remains only partially deciphered to this day.
Remarkably advanced for its time, Knossos Palace had an intricate plumbing system featuring clay pipes and drainage channels.
Minoan society held a deep appreciation for artistic expression, and Knossos was its grand canvas. Artisans showcased their exceptional craftsmanship and creativity through exquisite pottery, intricate jewelry, and stunning metalwork found within the palace grounds.
Evidence suggests that Knossos, along with other settlements, faced destruction due to a massive volcanic eruption on the nearby island of Santorini. This natural disaster reshaped the landscape and spelled the decline of the Minoan civilization.
Why visit Knossos Palace?
Highlights
The Royal Villa
Explore the intricately designed Royal Quarters, where you can envision the opulent lifestyle of the Minoan elite. Wander through the residential chambers, adorned with colorful frescoes and intricate carvings, offering insights into ancient Minoan beliefs, customs, and rituals.
The South Propylaeum
The South Propylaeum is a monumental gateway into the Knossos Palace. It is a testament to Minoan engineering prowess, boasting columns and decorative motifs that underline the site's cultural and administrative significance.
The Minoan Caravanserai
Discover the bustling hub of trade and commerce at the Minoan Caravanserai. Here, ancient market stalls, storage rooms, and remnants of trade connections unveil Knossos's role as a pivotal player in the ancient Mediterranean trade network.
North Lustral Basin
This sunken area, believed to be used for purification ceremonies, offers insights into the spiritual realm of the Minoans. Its layout and symbolism hint at the intricate interplay between architecture and Minoan belief systems.
The East Wing
The East Wing of the palace has interconnected rooms adorned with captivating frescoes. These frescoes narrate the daily customs, spiritual practices, and cultural expressions of the Minoans.
The West Facade
The West Facade is the exterior face of Knossos Palace. Stand before its monumental entrance, adorned with intricate decorative elements and feel intrigued by the aesthetic prowess of the Minoans.
The Little Palace
Adjacent to Knossos Palace, the Little Palace unveils the affluent lives of Minoan elites beyond the main structure. Immerse yourself in the opulence displayed through intricate frescoes, multilevel architecture, and private quarters. This glimpse into Minoan domestic life adds layers to your understanding of this ancient society, making the visit to the Little Palace an essential part of your Knossos experience.
Plan your visit
- The last admission to the Knossos archaeological site is 15 minutes before the closing hours.
- The closing time may vary according to special occasions and public holidays. On Good Friday the site opens at 12pm and closes at 5pm. On Holy Saturday, the palace is open from 8am to 4pm.
- The Knossos Palace remains closed to visitors on 1 January, 25 March, 1 May, Easter Sunday, 25, and 26 December.
The shop sells souvenirs inspired from the Greek heritage.
Toilets are located at the entrance of Knossos Palace.
There is a coffee bar at the entrance of Knossos Palace.
Knossos Palace is accessible to wheelchair users.
Service animals are allowed.
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