Heraklion Archaeological Museum Ticket & Audio Guide

Pay a visit to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, one of the most important museums in Greece and in Europe. At the center of Minoan art and historic preservation, this museum experience is sure to enthrall you with one-of-a-kind exhibits, artifacts, frescoes, and more. With an English audio guide – which you download onto your smartphone – start your self-guided visit on a smooth note. Your guide not only has history and facts about everything you’ll see but also includes more than 80 stories about the Minoan era.

The Heraklion Archaeological Museum was built between 1904 and 1907 over the remains of the St. Francis Monastery, which had fallen apart during an earthquake in 1856. It now houses the most valuable pieces of Cretan prehistory and history in the world, spanning 5,500 years. Some of the figurines that you’ll see include Seated Female Figurine, Snake Goddess figurines – a group of ancient sculptures excavated in 1903 in the Minoan palace at Knossos – The Poppy Goddess, and more.

Coming to other significant artifacts, you can’t miss the Golden Bee Pendant, Phaistos Disc, Minos Ring – supposed to have belonged to the legendary King Minos – and Stone Bull’s Head Rhyton, and much more. Each artifact tells a story of its own.

One of the most unmissable frescoes on view at the Museum is the famous Bull-Leaping Fresco, one of the most completely restored stucco panels. Archaeologists and anthropologists have studied this fresco for centuries to understand its meaning. Other priceless frescoes include the Blue Bird Fresco, The Cup Bearer, Prince of the Lillies, and more.

Heraklion Archaeological Museum Ticket & Audio Guide

Discover the Heraklion Archaeological Museum on this self-guided tour that includes an English audio guide, available for download onto your smartphone. This museum houses the most historic Minoan artifacts in Greece and around the world, with over 5,500 years of history spanning from the Neolithic period to Roman times. Key highlights include the Phaistos Disc, Snake Goddess, Stone Bull's Head Rhyton, and ancient frescoes such as the Bull-Leaping Fresco and Prince of the Lilies. The museum is open daily from 8 AM to 3 PM (closed on Mondays), with access for visitors with disabilities and free entry for children under six years old. This tour covers approximately 120,000 square feet and takes about two hours to explore thoroughly.

Explore the Heraklion Archaeological Museum's Minoan Artifacts

Your tour stops at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum where you will see some of the most significant Minoan artifacts in Greece, including the Phaistos Disc and Snake Goddess statue. Established in 1904, this museum covers an area of approximately 5,500 square meters and houses over 250,000 objects from various periods of Cretan history. Visitors can spend about two hours exploring exhibits that span from the Neolithic period to Roman times, with highlights such as the Bull-Leaping Fresco dating back to around 1600 BC. The museum stands out for its extensive collection of Minoan artifacts compared to other museums in Greece and is crucial for understanding ancient Cretan culture.

Tour Highlights

• Enjoy a self-guided tour at Heraklion Archaeological Museum
• Audio guide available in English with smartphone download
• Explore 5,000 years of history from Neolithic to Roman times
• See significant artifacts such as Phaistos Disc and Snake Goddess statue
• Discover ancient frescoes including Bull-Leaping Fresco and Prince of the Lilies
• Access for visitors with disabilities and free entry for children under six
• Download audio guide on smartphone before arrival at museum

Perfect for history enthusiasts, archaeology lovers, and tourists interested in Minoan civilization, this self-guided tour provides an informative and hassle-free way to explore the Heraklion Archaeological Museum's extensive collection. The two-hour format allows you to thoroughly examine artifacts like the Phaistos Disc, Snake Goddess statue, and Bull-Leaping Fresco, giving you a comprehensive understanding of ancient Cretan culture.