Crete Shore Excursions & Crete Tours from Heraklion - Knossos Palace, Minoan Crete & Cretan Wine Villages
Heraklion is the capital of Crete and the island's primary cruise port - and the reason most passengers book a Crete shore excursion is the same reason that has drawn visitors to this island since the 19th century: the Palace of Knossos. Knossos is the largest and most significant Bronze Age archaeological site in the Aegean - a Minoan palace complex covering 150,000 square meters that was continuously occupied from approximately 7000 BC to 1375 BC, and whose legendary association with King Minos and the Minotaur of Greek mythology made it one of the most visited ruins in the ancient world. Crete shore excursions from Private Shore Trips begin at Knossos. Our Knossos Palace and Museum private shore excursion is a 4-hour half-day tour covering the palace site with a licensed guide - the restored throne room, the grand staircase, the storage magazines with their giant storage jars called pithoi, and the famous frescoes - followed by a visit to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, which houses the world's greatest collection of Minoan art including the original Knossos frescoes, the Phaistos Disc, and gold jewelry from Minoan burial sites. For guests who want a full day, our Knossos Palace, Wine Tasting and More private shore excursion adds a visit to the wine village of Archanes in the hills above Heraklion - one of the most beautifully preserved traditional villages on Crete - and a tasting at a local winery in the Peza valley, which produces some of the finest wines in Greece.
For guests who have visited Knossos before or prefer to skip the archaeological sites, our Peza and Archanes private shore excursion is a 4-hour alternative focused entirely on the Cretan countryside and wine culture - a tour of the Peza wine cooperative, the most important wine-producing region in Crete, and a walk through the village of Archanes with free time for lunch. All Crete shore excursions and Crete tours from Heraklion include a licensed English-speaking guide, a private vehicle, and our back-to-ship guarantee. Reserve with a $50 deposit.
