
Knossos palace & the Archaeological museum of Heraklion (with Transfer)
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 10 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Knossos palace & the Archaeological museum of Heraklion (with Transfer) worth booking?
Knossos palace & the Archaeological museum of Heraklion (with Transfer) is a 5-hour experience in Heraklion, Greece, from $314 per person. It scores 60 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 10 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 60 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (10)
- Duration
- 5 hours
- From
- $314 per person
Indulge in an exclusive, small-group journey (up to 15 guests), thoughtfully curated for travelers who seek depth, comfort, and refined storytelling. Led by a Licensed Expert Guide, you will explore the legendary Palace of Knossos, unveiling the world of King Minos, the Labyrinth, and Europe’s first great civilization, through a narrative that blends history with mythology in an elegant, immersive way. Your experience continues at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, where a carefully curated selection of Minoan masterpieces, gold, frescoes, and rare artifacts, offers a deeper, more meaningful connection to Crete’s Bronze Age legacy. With priority access at Knossos, your time is spent where it matters most: within the site, not waiting in line. A seamless, culturally rich experience designed for discerning travelers.
What you get
About this experience
Indulge in an exclusive, small-group journey (up to 15 guests), thoughtfully curated for travelers who seek depth, comfort, and refined storytelling. Led by a Licensed Expert Guide, you will explore the legendary Palace of Knossos, unveiling the world of King Minos, the Labyrinth, and Europe’s first great civilization, through a narrative that blends history with mythology in an elegant, immersive way. Your experience continues at the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, where a carefully curated selection of Minoan masterpieces, gold, frescoes, and rare artifacts, offers a deeper, more meaningful connection to Crete’s Bronze Age legacy. With priority access at Knossos, your time is spent where it matters most: within the site, not waiting in line. A seamless, culturally rich experience designed for discerning travelers.
What's included
Included
- Skip-the-ticket-line service, to avoid the queue at the ticket counter
- Tour with transfer from/to hotel of Heraklion city or Heraklion port.
- Headset to hear the guide better, if the group size is over 6 participants (7-12 pax)
- Entry ticket for the Knossos Palace, general admission fee (20 EUR)
- Entry ticket for the Archaeological Museum, general admission fee (20 EUR)
- Licensed tour guide for a guided tour in a small group
- Original reseller of service - authorized travel agent
- All fees and taxes (VAT 24% etc.)
Not included
- Gratuities
What you'll see and do
The Palace of Knossos
Tour start 11:00am at the Knossos. Visit the Mythical Palace of Knossos of King Minos and Labyrinth home to the Minotaur. Knossos is considered Europe’s oldest city. Knossos, a complex of more than 1500 interlocking rooms, was an astonishing palace, built for a mighty king of the Bronze Age. As you wander through the labyrinthine ruins, you will have the chance to see the original throne of "Minos", the mystifying sanctuaries, the luxurious domestic quarters of the royal family, the once upon a time bursting with Crete’s treasures pantries and the astonishing water-management systems!
90 minutes here
Heraklion Archaeological Museum
Tour start at 01:30pm (13:30 o'clock) The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is one of the largest and most important museums in Greece, and among the most important museums in Europe. It houses representative artefacts from all the periods of Cretan prehistory and history, covering a chronological span of over 5,500 years from the Neolithic period to Roman times. The singularly important Minoan collection contains unique examples of Minoan art, many of them true masterpieces. The Heraklion Museum is rightly considered as the museum of Minoan culture par excellence worldwide. The museum, located in the town center, was built between 1937 and 1940 by architect Patroklos Karantinos on a site previously occupied by the Roman Catholic monastery of Saint-Francis which was destroyed by earthquake in 1856.
90 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
The Palace of Knossos
Knosos, 714 09, Greece
Hotel pickup
Pickup is available for selected locations. Pickup begins about 10 minutes before departure.
Ends at
The Palace of Knossos · Knosos, 714 09, Greece
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
- Group size
- Up to 10 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Business Management Services L.P.
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- IMPORTANT NOTE : Starting times are strictly kept. There is no exceptions policy.
- Enjoy a hassle-free experience with our tour, including round-trip transfers from your hotel in Heraklion city or the Heraklion port. We’ll take care of all transportation—Hotel/Port → Knossos Palace → Archaeological Museum → Hotel/Port—so you can relax and fully enjoy the journey through history.
Photos






What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 10 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
7 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
6 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Value for money
3 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Traveler reviews
10 verified traveler reviews for Knossos palace & the Archaeological museum of Heraklion (with Transfer). Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Excellent!
One of the best tours I’ve ever been on! Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, personable & friendly. Don’t hesitate to book this experience, you won’t regret it!
Response from the operator: Dear Lynne, Thank you so much for your wonderful words — we truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. We are especially happy to hear that your visit to Knossos Palace and the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion was one of the best tours you’ve ever been on. That is exactly the experience we aim to create for every guest. Akrivi will be absolutely delighted to read your kind comments, she is one of our most passionate and knowledgeable guides, and your feedback means a great deal to her. It was a real pleasure having you with us, and we sincerely hope to welcome you back to Crete for more unforgettable moments.
via Viator
Very knowlegeable guide...
Very knowlegeable guide and informative tour. Bring water with you when you tour Knossos - its very hot even early in the day and there is little shade.
Response from the operator: Thank you!
via Viator
Highly Recommend Akrivi Chatzigeorgiou as a Private Guide for Knossos and Heraklion Archeological Museum
Akrivi Chatzigeorgiou’s expert guiding services provided us with a well organized and highly informative tour of Knossos and the Herakion Archeological Museum. She is well spoken and provides interesting commentary. She can speak to those with a deep interest in Minoan & Greek history or those looking for an introduction. She knows Knossos and the museum very well, and avoids the crowds, when possible, making the experience much more enjoyable. She provided door to door service for us from our hotel, making the experience seamless. Thank you Akrivi! It was a highlight of our Greek tour. We normally would not spend the extra for a private guide, but this experience was well worth it.
Response from the operator: Thank you !!!
via Tripadvisor
Superb Tour with a Knowledgeable Guide
The owner of the tour business, Yannis, picked us up at the hotel and drove us to Knossos. Yannis impressed us with his friendliness and professionalism. He promised a good tour with a trained archaeological guide, and we were not at all disappointed. At Knossos, Eleni guided us through the ruins of the Minoan Palace at Knossos, making sense of the layout of the building complex. She provided the political, social, and economic context behind the Minoans. This was especially helpful in understanding their civilization. Following the tour of the Palace at Knossos, we were driven to the archaeological museum, where Eleni walked us through the museum, explaining and discussing the museum’s most significant exhibits. After a fascinating two hours with Ellen at the museum, we were free to continue looking through the rest of the museum, which is excellent. Everyone, from Yannis (the owner) to Eleni (the archaeological guide) to Demetria (who checked us in at the Palace), was exceptionally friendly and professional. One could not possibly hope for a better crew! Well done to all! In all, this tour should be mandatory for anyone interested in the history of the Minoans.
Response from the operator: Thank you so much !!!!
via Viator
Good day out and worth a visit
Fantastic site, bigger than I expected and lots of information available. It was very busy so be prepared to queue . Shops close by too for souvenirs or drinks etc We went by open top tour bus, the open top bus was nice but not worth the extra..could have just used a bus directly to Knossos
Response from the operator: Thank you !!
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
- Hotel pickup
- Available for selected locations
- Booked in 30 days
- 4
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Business Management Services L.P., who run 10 experiences we rank across 2 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 55.5.
See everything Business Management Services L.P. runsWhy this scores 60
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Knossos palace & the Archaeological museum of Heraklion (with Transfer): questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Heraklion.
How much does Knossos palace & the Archaeological museum of Heraklion (with Transfer) cost?
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Prices start at $314 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Heraklion usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Knossos palace & the Archaeological museum of Heraklion (with Transfer) take?
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Plan for about 5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Heraklion is not rushed.
Is Knossos palace & the Archaeological museum of Heraklion (with Transfer) worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 60 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 10 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Heraklion, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Knossos palace & the Archaeological museum of Heraklion (with Transfer)?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Knossos palace & the Archaeological museum of Heraklion (with Transfer) suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Knossos palace & the Archaeological museum of Heraklion (with Transfer)?
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Around 4 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Heraklion can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Heraklion and add a light layer if any part of the 5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Knossos palace & the Archaeological museum of Heraklion (with Transfer) start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Heraklion within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Heraklion?
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On Outty we rank every Heraklion experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Knossos - Zeus Cave - Old Traditional Villages-Olive Oil Factory, Knossos & Lasithi Plateau: Zeus Cave, Villages, Olive Oil Tour, Quad Safari: Off-Road Day Tour with Dinner & Transfers. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Heraklion?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Heraklion?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Knossos palace & the Archaeological museum of Heraklion (with Transfer)?
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Included: Skip-the-ticket-line service, to avoid the queue at the ticket counter; Tour with transfer from/to hotel of Heraklion city or Heraklion port; Headset to hear the guide better, if the group size is over 6 participants (7-12 pax); Entry ticket for the Knossos Palace, general admission fee (20 EUR); and Entry ticket for the Archaeological Museum, general admission fee (20 EUR). Not included: Gratuities. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Knossos palace & the Archaeological museum of Heraklion (with Transfer) include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered, or you can meet at the start point instead from 77 listed pickup locations in and around Heraklion. Be ready about 10 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Knossos palace & the Archaeological museum of Heraklion (with Transfer) offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Knossos palace & the Archaeological museum of Heraklion (with Transfer)?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Knossos palace & the Archaeological museum of Heraklion (with Transfer) wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap; and Not recommended for pregnant travelers. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Knossos palace & the Archaeological museum of Heraklion (with Transfer) if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Knossos palace & the Archaeological museum of Heraklion (with Transfer)?
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Across 10 reviews averaging 4.9 out of 5, recurring themes include knowledge and storytelling, the guide, value for money. Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
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