Full-day tour of Crete’s historic Knossos Palace and Heraklion
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Excursions & day trips

Full-day tour of Crete’s historic Knossos Palace and Heraklion

4.3/5
2681 reviews
from
£68.00
Free cancellation
Language: English
Mobile voucher accepted
Duration: more than 8 hours
Entrance fees included
Fast track
Guided tour
Instant confirmation
Tour with Audioguide
E-Voucher
Why you’ll love this…
  • It'll take you right back to the beginnings of European civilisation on a tour of Knossos Palace
  • You'll get fast-track access to the labyrinth of corridors leading to King Minos' original throne
  • The history-steeped streets of Heraklion's city centre are yours to wander on a guided walking tour
  • Heraklion's street markets are the ideal place to haggle over local treats and hand-made crafts
  • Your guide's a proud, local expert when it comes to the history and legends of Crete
What to expect

'The Palace of Knossos is one of the most important archaeological sites in Crete because it's where Europe's first civilisation began,' says Veta, one of our guides. A born and bred local, she knows a thing or two about the legends and myths surrounding the island's most popular attraction. You'll spend the day watching history come to life as you tour the grounds of the palace, before crossing over to Heraklion for some free time in the capital.

Once the hub of Crete's Minoan civilisation, Knossos Palace sits in the heart of what's considered to be Europe's oldest settlement. You'll enjoy a guided tour around its treasures, stopping by the throne room, royal apartments, frescoes and more. And with fast-track access, there's no waiting around in queues.

It's then time to head to Heraklion, the island's capital. See the 17th-century Morozini Lions fountain and the 400-year-old Venetian Loggia – which is still the city hall – during a short guided walk around the city centre. We'll round the day off by taking you to the open markets for some free time. Poke around stalls laden with hand-made trinkets and fresh local produce or stop off for a coffee at a local café for some people watching. Other must-sees include the Koule Fortress and the Church of Agios Titos.

What is the itinerary for this experience?

The itinerary for this experience is...

- 7:00am to 9:30am – pick-up from your hotel (the exact time depends on your location)

- 10:00am – arrive at the Knossos Archaeological Site for a 120‑minute guided tour

- 12:00pm – depart from Knossos towards Heraklion

- 12:20pm – short walking tour in Heraklion city centre

- 12:45pm to 3:45pm – free time for shopping or lunch before departure

Please note, the times and schedule may vary on the day

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What's included
  • check Transport
  • check Guide
  • check Admission to Palace of Knossos
  • check Knossos App provided for a 360-degree virtual view of Knossos
  • check Audio headset guide
What to remember
  • Just so you know, Crete is a large island with many resorts and hotels dotted along the coast. Because of this, the transfer time on this tour could be up to 2.5 hours each way, depending on your hotel's location and traffic conditions on the day
  • Knossos App allows guests to see a 360º and 3D view of the archaeological site
  • There's a donation towards the preservation of Knossos Palace for every excursion sold
  • This is a very popular and in-demand activity. Expect higher levels of attendance during July and August
  • Bring your passport or official EU identification
  • Not suitable for guests with reduced mobility
Read more
Provider
TUI Hellas Travel, Tourism and Airlines SA
Booking fee
Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.
Cancellation policy
Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 1 day before the experience begins.

What people say about this experience

4.3/5

All reviews are verified

Based on 2681 reviews

Review categories

Value for money

4.2/5

Service

4.5/5

Safety

4.5/5

Staff

4.5/5

51%
37%
10%
1%
1%

Sort by:

  • P

    Paul S

    Travelled as a couple

    9 November 2025
    4.6

    United Kingdom

    The guide for Knossos was very knowledgeable and the pace was just right, given that it wasn't very busy on the day we selected. The time allowed for on our own exploring at Knossos was just right. Our guide gave us a good orientation of Heraklion so that we could easily navigate for our own selected place for lunch (not included) and the archaeological museum.

  • M

    Mark

    Travelled with family

    3 November 2025
    5

    United Kingdom

    Very good guide price could have been a bit less

  • M

    Michelle

    Travelled with family

    3 November 2025
    3.8

    United Kingdom

    Popi was amazing, so knowledgeable and very friendly. Not just at the palace but regarding the island as well. It was a very informative.

  • B

    BB

    Travelled with family

    1 November 2025
    5

    United Kingdom

    Our guide Popi and driver Yanis were very helpful, Popi was extremely knowledgeable and we really enjoyed the trip and also enjoyed having free time to spend in Heraklion.

  • A

    Allan

    Travelled as a couple

    31 October 2025
    4.2

    United Kingdom

    This was a really lovely day out. Obviously it's really busy and there's lots of pick ups and drop offs but still glad we did it and the time in the capital was great. The guide didn't pay attention and lost lots of us walking to the church. Luckily another person saw where she went and we eventually caught up. It was pointed out to her what happened but she was oblivious. Dispute this it was a good day and I'd recommend the trip to you.

  • J

    Jo from Solihull

    Solo traveller

    30 October 2025
    3.4

    United Kingdom

    Tour guide was knowledgeable however she walked very fast and became out of range with headset. She also lost about 10 of her party in Heraklion because she went up a side street and didn’t wait for us to catch up

1 / 447

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