Knossos Palace & Heraklion City Shore Excursion from Heraklion

This tour pairs Crete's most famous ancient site with the city that grew up around its own, very different, fortified harbor.

Your guide meets you at the pier and drives the roughly 3 miles (5km) south to Knossos, the Bronze Age palace complex that Greek mythology remembers as the court of King Minos, home to the Labyrinth and the Minotaur. Long dismissed as legend, the site was excavated starting in 1900 by British archaeologist Arthur Evans, whose partial reconstructions of the throne room, grand staircase, and royal apartments are still debated for their modern touches, but they do give visitors a genuine sense of how vast and complex the palace once was, with its storerooms of giant pithoi jars and colorful frescoes hinting at a sophisticated, art-loving culture. Your guide walks you through the ruins and separates the archaeology from the mythology along the way.

From Knossos you head back into Heraklion itself for free time to explore the old town around the harbor, at your own pace, for lunch or shopping. The centerpiece of the waterfront is the Koules Fortress, built by the Venetians between 1523 and 1540 to guard the harbor entrance, its outer walls still carrying carved reliefs of the Winged Lion of St. Mark, Venice's symbol. The fortress held out through the Ottoman siege of the city from 1648 to 1669, one of the longest sieges in history at 21 years, before Candia, as Heraklion was then called, finally fell. The old town's narrow streets, the Venetian walls, and Lion Square with its 17th century Morosini Fountain are all within easy walking distance if you would like to explore further before your guide brings you back 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.