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Private Guided Tour to Knossos Palace, Arch. Museum & Heraklion

Heraklion, Greece 8h 5.0 · 24 reviews DE, EL, EN, IT, FR 253780P1
Private tour Free cancellation (24h) Mobile ticket Hotel pickup
Photos 12
Private Guided Tour to Knossos Palace, Arch. Museum & Heraklion - photo 1 253780P1
Private Guided Tour to Knossos Palace, Arch. Museum & Heraklion - photo 2 253780P1
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Private Guided Tour to Knossos Palace, Arch. Museum & Heraklion - photo 7 253780P1
Private Guided Tour to Knossos Palace, Arch. Museum & Heraklion - photo 8 253780P1
Private Guided Tour to Knossos Palace, Arch. Museum & Heraklion - photo 9 253780P1
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Private Guided Tour to Knossos Palace, Arch. Museum & Heraklion - photo 12 253780P1
Tour route
2 stops ~5 km
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Route drawn automatically from the supplier's itinerary; lines are straight-line estimates, the actual road may differ.

Overview

Crete is an island full of treasures you need a lifetime to discover.
It is also one of the safest places in the world.
With this tour you get in touch with the rich Cretan History, the famous Cretan Hospitality, the local Culture, the Cretan Cuisine, which is the base of the Mediterranean Diet.
This tour is suitable for visitors with the cruise ships also. It is a private tour and you can decide, where to stop and how much time to spend on each place.
With the help of our Experienced Professional Licensed Tourist Guide, who will be with you during the whole tour, you will travel back in time, as far as the 7th Millennium BC, visiting the Palace of Knossos and the Archaeological Museum. Then you will explore the Old Town of Heraklion and admire the signs of all the different civilizations that stopped by the island through the ages.
With this tour you take home nice feelings, beautiful impressions and you look forward to come back.

Tour at a glance

Duration
8h
01
Tour type
Private tour
up to 7 travellers per booking
02
Languages
DE, EL, EN, IT, FR
live guide
03
Pickup
Hotel pickup
04
Operates
Every day
05
Confirmation
Within 48 hours
supplier confirms availability
06
Cancellation
Free up to 24h before
07
Rating
5.0 / 5
24 verified reviews
08
Ticket
Mobile ticket
show it on your phone
09

What's included

  • Experienced Professional Licensed Tourist Guide
  • Bottled water
  • Booster seat
  • Liability Insurance
  • Private transportation with Mini Van for up to 7 persons

Not included

  • Entrance fees
  • Entrance fees
  • Meals
  • Transportation with a luxury mini bus for more than 7 person can be arranged at an extra cost
  • Professional Licensed Tourist Guide on other language can be arranged on request

Itinerary

  1. 1
    The Palace of Knossos

    THE MAGNIFICENT PALACE OF COLOURS Wander in the footsteps of the Minoans, visiting the oldest and most important monument of Europe. The construction of Knossos Palace sets the pattern of organization in Crete and Greece too. It implies a peaceful period of great wealth, prosperity and concentration of authorities both political and religious. It was the center of administration of the entire island during Minoan times. Its position is such that allowed unprecedented growth and prosperity as witnessed by the plethora of storage magazines, workshops, and wall paintings. The elegant wall frescoes, which decorated the halls, speak of people who approached the subtleties of life and the splendor of nature with a joyous disposition. The Palace radiates a joyous exuberance through the elaborate architectural planes and volumes that were clustered around the central courtyard. Our Professional Licensed Tourist Guide will make this visit an unforgettable experience. Admission 20 euros

    2h Admission not included
  2. 2
    Heraklion Archaeological Museum

    TRAVEL BACK IN TIME Let history unfold before your eyes visiting the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion with more than 15.000 exhibits. It is one of the oldest and the largest museums in Greece. Telling the story of Crete brings to life, a chronological span from the Neolithic period (7000 BC) to the Roman Empire (320 AD). It houses findings from all over Crete. It is among the most important museums in Europe and the whole world. It is also the best in the world for the Minoan Culture. It contains by far the richest and complete collection of Minoan masterpieces. The Minoan findings are unique. Wander through the 27 halls, with our Guide and learn about the evolution of local pottery from the Neolithic period to Minoan period elaborate forms, the every day life and their favorite sports. Admire the Kamares ware, the famous "LA PARISIENNE" and "LILLY PRINCE" frescoes. Discover the secrets of the King Minos ring, the Golden Bee etc. Meet the famous SNAKE GODDESSES and many more.

    1h 30m Admission not included
  3. 3

    THE CITY THROUGH THE AGES It is not a coincidence that for centuries was the metropolitan city of the island and still holds the scepter. It has kept the tradition of one of the most attractive cities in Mediterranean. Due to its strategic location a lot of different civilizations have left their signs. The magnificent wall of the Venetian period was over 3 miles long. Its construction began in 1426 and it's the largest fortification project in the Mediterranean. The construction of the strong medieval fortifications that have survived to this day took over 150 years. The fortification had four gates. Loggia, Piazza Dei Signori, Morozini fountain, St Marcus Basilica, Ruga Maistra, Palazzo del Capitan Generale, Armeria, the Huge Walls of the Great Venetian Fortification, Efkafi, Behi Sekeria Mansion, Bon Marche, St Titus Church, St Minas Cathedral and many other beautiful monuments, standing until today, are waiting for you to admire while wandering around the old town with the guide.

    45 min Admission free
  4. 4
    Heraklion Central Market

    Finally you will have free time to enjoy your visit in Heraklion city. The city is alive all year round, day and night. Offers many interesting activities and a pleasant every day life to all ages and interests. You can have Greek coffee at the nice coffee shops, taste the traditional bougatsa in the city center, have lunch at the nice fish tavernas by the old Venetian Harbor or at traditional restaurants, go for shopping in the rich market with plenty of shops around the city center. The market has almost everything. All local Cretan products are delivering outstanding results in health of the people all over the world. The Cretan cuisine holds one of the secrets of good health and longevity.

    2h Admission free

Meeting & pickup

Hotel pickup is included for all travellers.

We pick up all travelers from their location at the arranged time. Pick up travelers living outside the range of 10 miles from Heraklion city can be arranged at an extra cost.

Schedule

Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun

Good to know

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Specialized infant seats are available
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • The tour is available for travelers on wheelchair except Knossos Palace where only part of the Palace is accessible to wheelchairs. The vehicles aren't configured for wheelchairs and any disability should be discused before booking the tour.
  • The Professional Licensed Tourist Guide takes care of the tickets for you, so you don't have to wait on the line for Knossos Palace and for the Archaelogical Museum.
  • The tour can be arranged with an English or German or Italian or French or Greek speaking Professional Licensed Guide. Any other language upon request.
  • The transportation is with a minivan up to 7 persons but can be arranged with a minibus for up to 11 persons at an extra cost
  • This is a strictly private tour
  • Any health problems or any disabilities should be discussed before booking the tour

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveller reviews

5.024 reviews
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Megan_W Sep 2026 · Viator
Palace of Knossos, Village and museum tour

The tour was incredible. We highly recommend. We just loved our tour guides Katarina and Nicholaus! Fantastic

Gregory_M Aug 2026 · Viator
All you need to know

Niko was very friendly as he drove us around in comfort, and our guide Katerina, was absolutely amazing in how much information she brought to our visit to Knossos and the Heraklion museum.

Daria_O Aug 2026 · Viator
We had a great time with...

We had a great time with Nikos and Katerina on this tour. Katerina shared so much fascinating information about Crete, along with wonderful stories and historical facts that made the island come alive for us. We highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Crete who would like to learn more about its history and culture. A special thank you to Nikos for being such a wonderful host. He even brought local baked goods for us to try, which was a thoughtful touch and made the experience even more memorable.

Borko_K Jul 2026 · Viator
Amazing family experience

Amazing guide Katerina. So much patience for our two kids (9 and 12) who are not used to walk around archeological sights and museums… she was so engaging and took good care of the family. Nikos was also great. Cold water waiting for us, very nice guy and helped move us around between locations. Thank you!

Charmaine_E Jun 2026 · Viator
Fantastic experience

The tour guide was excellent, very knowledgeable. The driver was very accommodating. It was a fantastic experience.

Kristina_K Jun 2026 · Viator
Excellent tour

Excellent tour guide-Katarina was very knowledgeable, fluent in English, and brought the history of Knossos to life. She also made the Herkalion museum interesting by ushering us through the important exhibits. Nickolas was an excellent driver, expertly maneuvering his pristine car through many tight spaces. So glad I booked this private tour instead of the crowded, expensive bus tours the ships put together.

Jeffrey_S May 2026 · Viator
A Tour that felt like family

The most important part of our tour was our fantastic tour guides Nikos and Katarina. We felt like family with their hospitality, kindness, and warmth. Katarina’s knowledge was amazing and her excitement and passion for her Cretan culture was contagious. Our experience was a private tour of Knossos and the Heraklion Archeological museum; we were touring with scholars. For those looking for a deeper experience of Cretan history, in particular the Minoan civilization, we would highly recommend asking for Nikos and Katarina.

billy_s May 2026 · Viator
Private Tour of Knossos and Heraklion Museum

We had a fantastic experience today with Katerina touring the Knossos Palace and then the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion. Katerina was so very knowledgeable and really brought the history and importance of what we were seeing to life for us. Our driver, Nikos, was very kind and shuttled us between our places and even shared Kalitsounia treats as we will taking our break. Fantastic private tour and highly recommend!

Reviews are collected by Viator and Tripadvisor from verified travellers.

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