Knossos Palace Archaeological Site Tickets with Audio Guide

Discover Crete's ancient legends at your own pace

Explore the ancient Palace of Knossos, Europe's oldest city, at 3,700 years old, and tailor your visit with optional guided tours, museum access, and city audio tours.

Getting started

When you arrive at Knossos Palace, head toward the main entrance, where staff will guide you through a quick security check. Your digital or printed ticket will be validated here, so keep a valid ID handy. Expect a wait of about 30 to 60 minutes for security, especially during the busy summer months from June to August.

Knossos Palace

The Palace of Knossos is the heart of Minoan Crete, a sprawling, 3,700-year-old complex famous for inspiring the myth of the Minotaur’s labyrinth. Join a small-group guided tour to hear the real stories behind the labyrinth legend, learn how the Minoans designed light wells and drainage systems, and spot quirky details like dolphin frescoes inside royal chambers. Prefer to go at your own pace? Choose the multilingual audio guide and uncover the secrets of Knossos while exploring freely, stopping wherever a story catches your interest.

Heraklion Archaeological Museum

The museum is a treasure trove of Minoan art and artifacts, best known for its jewelry collection, the famous Snake Goddess statues, and the mysterious Phaistos Disc that still puzzles historians today. Add an audio guide to dive into sacred rituals, everyday life in Minoan Crete, and the ancient mysteries behind these remarkable finds.

Heraklion city

Walk along the massive Venetian Walls, admire the Koules Fortress by the sea, and cool off by the Morosini Fountain in the heart of the city. Choose the city audio guide upgrade to hear stories of pirate raids, merchants bargaining in lively markets, and how Venetian engineers built walls strong enough to withstand sieges for decades.

Knossos Palace Archaeological Site Tickets with Audio Guide

Discover the 3700-year-old Knossos Palace, Europe's oldest city, on this sightseeing tour that includes customizable upgrades like a guided tour and museum access. Explore the labyrinthine ruins of Knossos Palace where you can see frescoes such as the "Prince of the Lilies" and admire ancient artifacts including the Snake Goddess figurines at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. Enhance your visit with multilingual audio guides available in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and Greek for both Knossos Palace and the Heraklion Museum. Upgrade to include a 90-minute small-group guided tour of Knossos Palace or add full entry to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, giving you a deeper look into Crete’s Bronze Age wonders. The tour covers approximately 37 acres of palace ruins and includes detailed audio guides in multiple languages for self-guided exploration.

Explore Labyrinthine Ruins at Knossos Palace

Your tour stops at the sprawling Knossos Palace, a monumental archaeological site established around 2000 BC. Covering an expansive area of about 150,000 square meters (approximately 37 acres), this palace features intricate architecture and numerous rooms, including the Throne Room and the South Propylaeum. Visitors can see the famous "Prince of the Lilies" fresco and explore the West Wing where archaeological finds such as the Snake Goddess figurines are on display. Not everything you see at Knossos is ancient; British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans reconstructed parts of the Palace in the early 1900s, blending archaeological finds with his own vision of Minoan life. Guests spend about two to three hours walking through the ruins and learning about the history from their audio guides or guided tours. This site stands out for its rich historical significance and extensive preservation efforts, making it a crucial stop on any tour of Crete.

Admire Ancient Artifacts at Heraklion Archaeological Museum

At the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, guests can marvel at an impressive collection of ancient artifacts from various periods of Cretan history. The museum covers over 12,000 square meters and houses thousands of exhibits, including pottery, jewelry, sculptures, and frescoes. Key highlights include the Snake Goddess figurines, which date back to around 1600 BC, and the Phaistos Disc, an artifact from around 1700-1500 BC that remains a mystery to this day. Visitors typically spend about two hours exploring the museum's extensive collection and learning more about Crete’s Bronze Age through detailed audio guides or guided tours. This unique institution offers unparalleled insights into Cretan civilization, making it an essential destination for anyone interested in ancient history.

Tour Highlights

• Explore Knossos Palace ruins
• Customize visit with audio guide options
• Visit Heraklion Archaeological Museum
• See "Prince of the Lilies" fresco at Knossos
• Discover Snake Goddess figurines in museum
• Enhance experience with 90-minute guided tour
• Access full entry to Heraklion Archaeological Museum
• Enjoy multilingual audio guides for self-guided tours

Perfect for history buffs, archaeology enthusiasts, and curious travelers, this sightseeing tour provides unparalleled access through customizable upgrades. The format allows you to explore the labyrinthine ruins of Knossos Palace, admire ancient artifacts at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and learn about Crete’s Bronze Age wonders with detailed audio guides or guided tours.