You do enjoy the journey of a lifetime and cruise along emerald waters through a series of enchanting destinations and then... your cruise ship docks at Heraklion, the capital of Crete for a few hours.

I do assume the first thing you would like to do is to visit and follow in the footsteps of long-ago Minoan kings on the Minoan Palace of Knossos & Archaeological Museum of Heraklion Tour.

Then here we are to help you ...

Explore the Minoan Palace of Knossos & Archeological Museum of Heraklion with our expert local guide (professional and licensed).

Learn more about the royal quarters, storerooms, and central court of the palace, the power base of Europe’s first civilization; and hear about the mythical Minotaur that roamed a labyrinth here as your guide explains the site’s history.

During this tour, you will discover all the secrets of the Minoan civilization.

After meeting your taxi driver at the port of Heraklion you will drive to the renowned archaeological site of Knossos where you will meet your guide. Taxi transfer is included.

You will enjoy a private guided tour through the fantastic ruins of the ancient palace complex, which served as the administrative and religious centers for the whole region. It has been restored by Sir Arthur Evans and these restorations, though criticized by some for their modernity, help the visitor to both visualize the palace as it was and understand its labyrinthine complexity. The living quarters of the king, queen, and members of the royal court, rooms for state occasions, theater area, storerooms, and potters' workshops are all within the palace complex.

The Palace of Knossos is the most important archeological site on the island. It is the oldest palace in Europe and one of the four Minoan palaces. It acted as the administrative and religious center of Minoan (Bronze Age) Crete. The legendary king of Knossos was Minos, son of Zeus and Europa. The palace is the labyrinth of Greek Mythology.

Your guide will be glad to reply to all your questions and hopes to pass to you a big part of his love and knowledge for the first European civilization, the Minoan Civilization of Crete.

Your tour continues (if you wish so) with the Heraklion Archeological Museum, the best in the world regarding Minoan art as it contains the most notable and complete collection of artifacts of the Minoan civilization of Crete, like the Bullhead Python, the goddesses of the snakes and the disc of Phaistos. The displays of idols made of terra cotta, marble, and alabaster, collections of gold, jewelry, ivory, figurines, sarcophagi, and frescoes will give you an insight into this artistic-minded civilization and complement your visit to Knossos.

The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is one of the oldest and most important museums in Greece, and among the most famous museums in Europe. 

Prices per tour

 250.00 Euros (Knossos & Archaelogical Museum of Heraklion Tour/max 3 people) & 210.00 Euros (Knossos Minoan Palace Tour/max 4 people)

Included 

- Professional and licensed English speaking guide
- Taxi transport from/to Heraklion Port

Not Included

 Tickets of Knossos and Archaeological Museum of Heraklion (16.00 Euros per person combined ticket - 15.00 Euros Knossos and 10.00 Museum).

Duration

+/- 1-1.5 hrs for Knossos &+/- 3.5 hrs for Knossos and Museum  (The duration is purely indicative. Tour may be shorter or longer, according to your interests/weather conditions/traffic.)

Suggested Start Time

 Will be arranged according to the timetable of the cruise ship.

Meeting Point 

You will meet your taxi driver at Heraklion Port and your guide at the entrance of Knossos.

Kid-Friendly

 Yes. This tour is suitable for mature children as long as they are interested in archeology and history. They should be supervised by a parent.

Practicalities 

Because of the walking at Knossos Palace, comfortable shoes and a hat are recommended.

Cancellation policy 

- 08 days or more prior to tour: no penalty
- 07-02 days: 50%
- 01 day or less: full charge

Please Note 

- In case the specific tour chosen can not materialize because of weather or other conditions beyond our control, clients will be able to reschedule for another day or will be offered a replacement tour. If the options offered are not accepted by clients, the tour is canceled and is fully refundable.