Knossos Palace & Archaeological Museum Shore Excursion from Heraklion

This half-day tour pairs the ruins with the museum that explains them, giving you the fullest possible picture of Minoan Crete in a single morning or afternoon.

Your guide meets you at the port and drives the roughly 3 miles (5km) south to Knossos. British archaeologist Arthur Evans began excavating here on 23 March 1900, working with Scottish archaeologist Duncan Mackenzie and a large team of local laborers, and over the following decades he uncovered and partially reconstructed a sprawling Bronze Age palace complex in use from around 1900 to 1350 BC. Evans's concrete reconstructions of the throne room and other areas are debated among archaeologists for taking some creative liberties, but they also make it far easier for a visitor to picture the palace as a functioning royal and religious center, with its state rooms, storage magazines full of giant ceramic pithoi, and the workshops of Minoan potters. Your guide walks you through the layout and explains how the site was rediscovered after the Minoan civilization had faded into Greek legend as the realm of King Minos.

Many of the palace's most important finds, including the original frescoes, are not left on site but preserved at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, a short drive away in the city center. Reproductions stand at Knossos where the originals once were; the real Bull-Leaping Fresco, the Lily Prince, and the Ladies in Blue hang inside the museum, along with the Phaistos Disc, a small clay disc covered in 45 mysterious symbols that scholars still have not fully deciphered, and collections of Minoan gold jewelry and carved ivory figurines. Seeing the museum right after the site lets you connect what you just walked through with the objects that were actually found there. Afterward you have a short amount of free time in Heraklion before returning to the pier.

• Mobility: Due to uneven surfaces, steps, and walking distances, this itinerary is not suitable for guests using wheelchairs. Please contact us for alternative sightseeing options, including private driving tours that may better accommodate your needs.
• Prices shown are not valid on Sundays or local national holidays. If your only day in this city is Sunday, please contact us for pricing and availability.