Heraklion Archaeological Museum Ticket & Audio Guide
Heraklion Archaeological Museum Ticket & Audio Guide
Duration: 2 hours (approx.)
2 hours (approx.)
Access to multilingual audio guide
Access to multilingual audio guide
Get your booking confirmed instantly
Get your booking confirmed instantly
Explore Heraklion Archaeological Museum, one of Europe's most significant museums located in Heraklion, Greece. This museum is renowned for its remarkable exhibits and artifacts that explore Minoan art and history. With an English audio guide available on your smartphone, you can enjoy a self-guided tour enriched with over 80 stories about the Minoan era.
Explore Heraklion Archaeological Museum, one of Europe's most significant museums located in Heraklion, Greece. This museum is renowned for its remarkable exhibits and artifacts that explore Minoan art and history. With an English audio guide available on your smartphone, you can enjoy a self-guided tour enriched with over 80 stories about the Minoan era.
The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is renowned as the home of some of the most historic Minoan artifacts in Greece and globally.
An English language audio guide available for download on smartphones ensures a hassle-free visit to this museum.
Visitors will discover exquisite pieces of Cretan art, prehistory, and history ranging from over 5,500 years old during the Neolithic period through Roman times.
Noteworthy exhibits include the Phaistos Disc, Snake Goddess, Stone Bull's Head Rhyton, alongside ancient frescoes such as the Bull-Leaping Fresco and Prince of the Lilies among others.
The audio guide not only provides a history tour but also shares over 80 interesting stories that can be replayed after your visit to the museum.
Entry into every section of The Heraklion Archaeological Museum
Self-guided tour in English or German on your Android or iOS smartphone
Offline material including text, audio narration, and maps
Live commentary
Mobile device with earphones
Shuttles and travel
Heraklion Archaeological Museum entrance with banners displaying ancient artifacts.
Your Experience
The Heraklion Archaeological Museum stands as one of Greece's most significant cultural institutions, offering a deep dive into Minoan art and history. Situated in Heraklion, this museum is renowned for its unique exhibits, artifacts, frescoes, and more that capture the essence of ancient Cretan civilization.
Begin your visit with an English audio guide available on your smartphone to facilitate a smooth self-guided tour. This complete guide not only provides historical context and facts about each exhibit but also narrates over 80 stories from the Minoan era, enriching your experience further.
Museum History
Built between 1904 and 1907 on the ruins of the St. Francis Monastery—destroyed in an earthquake in 1856—the Heraklion Archaeological Museum now showcases invaluable Cretan artifacts spanning over 5,500 years of prehistory and history.
Exhibits
The museum's collection includes remarkable figurines like the Seated Female Figurine and multiple Snake Goddess sculptures. Discovered in 1903 at Knossos' Minoan palace, these artifacts offer a glimpse into ancient spirituality. The Poppy Goddess is another highlight among many.
Significant Artifacts
The museum also houses the Golden Bee Pendant, Phaistos Disc, Minos Ring—believed to have belonged to King Minos—and Stone Bull’s Head Rhyton, each with its own fascinating backstory. These artifacts are integral parts of the rich narrative presented within.
Frescoes
Amongst the museum's prized frescoes is the renowned Bull-Leaping Fresco, an exquisitely restored stucco panel that has intrigued archaeologists and anthropologists for centuries due to its mysterious significance. Other notable works include the Blue Bird Fresco, The Cup Bearer, and Prince of the Lillies.
Ancient artifacts displayed at Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete.
Heraklion Archaeological Museum entrance with banners displaying ancient artifacts.
Heraklion Archaeological Museum entrance with banners displaying ancient artifacts.
Ancient artifacts displayed at Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete.
Heraklion Archaeological Museum entrance with banners displaying ancient artifacts.
Phaistos Disc exhibit at Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete.
Audio guide information
- Your audio tour is accessible in both English and German languages.
- To ensure a smooth experience, download your ticket and the accompanying audio content while connected to Wi-Fi; mobile signals within the museum premises might be weak or unavailable.
- Adequate storage space on your device (approximately 100-150 MB) will be necessary for downloading the audio guide.
- Devices incompatible with this tour include Windows Phones, iPhone models prior to 5S/6, iPod Touch versions before the 6th generation, iPad iterations older than the fifth generation, and the first-generation iPad Mini.
- An email containing step-by-step instructions on how to access and download your audio guide will be sent post-booking. Remember to check your spam or junk mail folders if you don't see it in your inbox immediately.
- Ensure that your smartphone is fully charged, and remember to bring headphones for an uninterrupted experience with the tour.
- Note that there may be long queues at the entrance; plan accordingly before entering the museum.
Important information
- The Heraklion Archaeological Museum offers accessibility features suitable for visitors using wheelchairs.
- This renowned site in Crete attracts numerous visitors, making early mornings or late afternoons ideal times to visit. Expect larger crowds during holidays and weekends.
- Wear comfortable footwear as exploring the museum involves a significant amount of walking.
- You are permitted to take photographs (without flash or tripods) within the premises.
Operating Hours
Schedule from 1 Apr - 31 Oct:
- Monday: 8am - 8pm
- Tuesday: 10am - 8pm
- Wednesday to Sunday: 8am - 8pm
Schedule from 1 Nov - 30 Nov:
- Monday: 8am - 6pm
- Tuesday: 10am - 6pm
- Wednesday to Friday: 8am - 6pm
Schedule from 1 Dec - 31 Mar:
- Monday: 9am - 4pm
- Tuesday: 10am - 5pm
- Wednesday to Sunday: 9am - 4pm
We recommend visiting between 10 am and 12 pm for the best experience.
Fresco of a Minoan figure at Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
Phaistos Disc exhibit at Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Crete.
Fresco of a Minoan figure at Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
Download and activate the audio guide on your smartphone while connected to Wi-Fi before visiting, as mobile signals at the site may be unreliable.
Ensure you have enough storage space on your phone (100-150 MB) for downloading the English or German audio tour available only for Android & iOS devices.
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Operating hours
Knossos Palace
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