Private Tour

Knossos Palace, Museum & Rethymno city Private Tour from Chania

Overview

10 hours

Mobile ticket

Step back in time on this unforgettable day trip as we explore the roots of European civilization.

Our first destination is the legendary Palace of Knossos, the heart of the ancient Minoan civilization. Walk through the ruins of this grand archaeological site and hear the fascinating myths that surround it — from the Labyrinth and the Minotaur to the tale of Daedalus and Icarus.

Next, we visit the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, one of the most significant museums in Europe. Here, you’ll marvel at over 15,000 artefacts that bring the vibrant Minoan world to life — from frescoes and jewelry to tools and ceremonial items.

To complete our day, we travel to the charming city of Rethymno, where you’ll have free time to wander through the narrow streets of the old town, discover its Venetian and Ottoman architecture, and enjoy the blend of history, culture, and Cretan hospitality that makes this city so unique.

Additional Info

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

Cancellation Policy

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

What‘s Included

Private transportation

WiFi on board

Public liability insurance

Sandwiches, Cretan pastries in a snack box

Guided tour in the palace (if option selected)

USB charging ports in van

Cold soft drinks, juice, beer, wine, bottled water

Air-conditioned vehicle

Audiovisual presentation of Cretan customs in van

Gratuities

Heraklion Archaeological Museum

The Palace of Knossos

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

What To Expect

The Palace of Knossos

Knossos, the heart of the Minoan civilization, lies 5 km southeast of Heraklion, in the valley of the river Kairatos. Crete’s most famous historical attraction, he site is considered to be the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on the island and is referred to as the oldest city in Europe. Knossos was first inhabited by a Neolithic settlement in the seventh century BC. It stayed inhabited for several thousands of years until it was finally abandoned in 1375 BC after its destruction, which marked the end of Minoan civilisation. In 1878, the first large-scale excavation was undertaken by the wealthy art-lover Minos Kalokairinos, while Crete was still under Turkish occupation. This was followed by the long-term excavations (1900-1913 and 1922-1930) of Sir Arthur Evans, who uncovered the whole surrounding area of Knossos.

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Not Included

Heraklion Archaeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion is one of the largest and most visited museums in Greece. It is also among the most important museums in Europe. It is home to artefacts from all the periods of Cretan prehistory and history. The exhibitions cover a chronological span of over 5,500 years from the Neolithic period to Roman times. The Minoan collection contains unique examples of Minoan art, many of them true masterpieces. The Archaeological Museum is located in the centre of Heraklion and was built between 1937 and 1940 by the architect Patroklos Karantinos. It was built on a site previously occupied by the Roman Catholic monastery of Saint-Francis which was destroyed by earthquake in 1856. The colors and construction materials used in the building, are similar to certain Minoan wall-paintings.

1 hour • Admission Not Included

Options

Group 1-6 people (Guided tour)

Guided tour in the Palace
Duration: 10 hours
Snacks & Beverages
9 seater minivan
Guide in Palace 90 minutes
Pickup included

Group 1-6 people (No Guide)

No guided tour in the Palace
Duration: 10 hours
Snacks & Beverages
9 seater minivan
Extra cost for guided tour : Extra cost for the Palace 120euro/group (90 minutes) Extra cost for the Palace & Museum 170euro/group (150 minutes)
Pickup included

Group 7-15 people (No Guide)

No guided tour in Palace
Duration: 10 hours
Snacks & Beverages
20 seater Minibus
Extra cost for Guided Tour : Extra cost for the Palace 120euro/group (90 minutes) Extra cost for the Palace & Museum 170euro/group (150 minutes)
Pickup included

Reviews

5.00

66 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Wonderful experience!
Barbara N,
Nov 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
The entire experience was wonderful from the communication prior to the trip through droping off back at our accommodations. Our guides were very kind and knowledgeable, telling us all about local customs, traditions and history. The refreshments and lunch were very good and much appreciated! Knossos palace and the museums were fantastic on their own but I am so glad we had a guide to give us inside information we would otherwise have missed. I highly recommend this tour! Thank you for the experience!
Great tour
Angela C,
Oct 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great comfort, knowledgeable guide, informative and well designed tour . Thank you for amazing historical adventure!
Konossos palace, museum and Rethymo tour
Jim S,
Sep 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Christine and Thanos made this a pleasant and informative experience for the group (6 of us). Their timing to the palace and museum was perfect. They could not have been nicer to spend the day exploring the island and learning about Greek life in Crete. I would recommend the trip most highly!!
Knossos in comfort
Linda J,
Sep 18, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
A wonderful trip with door to door service which made for a very relaxing experience. Thanos was a great driver and Christina a lovely and personable guide. The trip is well organised and everything ran like clockwork. The vehicle was very comfortable and spacious and the onboard videos were informative. We loved the packed lunch and drinks. A great trip and would thoroughly recommend it.
Brilliant Day Trip
V8841EAchrisf,
Sep 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Highly recommended day trip to see one of the most fantastic places in Crete. For the proce paid we had a fantastic air conditioned vehicle to take us there and back, great guide Christine in the vehicle and a brilliant lunch (which covered Vegan and GF as well as we could have hoped, they had lots of useful advice on finding options for the rest of our trip too). We chose the guided tour of Knossos as well which we would highly recommended as well, it was great to have that additional expertise while going round. The trip to the museum as well was great, all in all a brilliant day. Felt bad when we hit Rethymno because we were all really overwhelmed by the day we'd had. If you're looking to take your family to Knossos, this is the best way to do it.
Great Day in Crete
milswgc,
Aug 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was a terrific experience- we were a group of nine and arrived via cruise ship. Christine was prompt and provided outstanding education for our group about Crete. We then had an equally fantastic experience touring the Palace of Knossos and the museum with Thalia. Our entire group agreed that this was one of the best excursions we have ever done through Viator.
BEST excursion you'll book on Crete!
Lauren H,
Aug 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
This is the best excursion you'll take! Three generations in my family loved this tour, from grandmom down to my teens. Christine and Thanos picked us up at our Chania hotel in an air-conditioned van filled with drinks and snacks. We departed for Knossos Palace and stopped at beautiful vistas like the White Mountains for photos. During the ride, Christine shared details about the island's history, food, customs, music, and people. In between, we saw quick videos to bring the details to life. At Knossos, we had an expert, Thalia, take us around and she was passionate about the archeological site. Knossos existed way before the Acropolis was even imagined! Upon pickup, Christine and Thanos shared a lovely boxed lunch with more cold beverages. We visited the museum next and enjoyed seeing thousands of artifical from the Minoan civilization. We then took a walking tour of the quaint town of Rethymno where Christine navigated us through the maze of streets and showed us some of the village artisans, who carved wooden art in front of our eyes and made phyllo dough in a multi-generation business. We departed for Chania after a long day of exploring and sight seeing. When Thanos learned that my teenage son wanted to go fishing, he went ABOVE AND BEYOND by loaning us his fishing rods and even went so far as to help us get bait and brought it to our hotel the next morning. When I share that Christine and Thanos embody Cretan culture, I highly recommend this excursion for your group. You don't just get to see Crete, you'll get to feel Crete. A+
Treat your family to this experience! Christine & Thanos embody Crete in the best way!
Lauren Paige H,
Aug 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This is the best excursion you'll take! Three generations in my family loved this tour, from grandmom down to my teens. Christine and Thanos picked us up at our Chania hotel in an air-conditioned van filled with drinks and snacks. We departed for Knossos Palace and stopped at beautiful vistas like the White Mountains for photos. During the ride, Christine shared details about the island's history, food, customs, music, and people. In between, we saw quick videos to bring the details to life. At Knossos, we had an expert, Thalia, take us around and she was passionate about the archeological site. Knossos existed way before the Acropolis was even imagined! Upon pickup, Christine and Thanos shared a lovely boxed lunch with more cold beverages. We visited the museum next and enjoyed seeing thousands of artifical from the Minoan civilization. We then took a walking tour of the quaint town of Rethymno where Christine navigated us through the quaint maze of streets and showed us some of the village artisans, who carved wooden art in front of our eyes and made phyllo dough in a multi-generation business. We departed for Chania after a long day of exploring and sight seeing. When Thanos learned that my teenage son wanted to go fishing, he went ABOVE AND BEYOND by loaning us his fishing rods and even went so far as to help us get bait and brought it to our hotel thecnext morning. When I share that Christine and Thanos embody Cretan culture, I highly recommend this excursion for your group. You don't just get to see Crete, you'll get to feel Crete. A+
Fantastic tour of Knossos and more!
Owen M,
Jul 9, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
What a wonderful day! I can’t recommend this tour highly enough - amazing tour guides - Christine, Thanos, and Helene - who were friendly, extremely knowledgeable, and fun to be with. Everything was perfect: from the very comfortable mini bus, the depth and quality of the information, the lunch and refreshments, the company. Knossos and the Heraklion Museum are a must for any visit to Crete, and this tour has it all. We also visited the lovely Rethymnon on the same day!
Incredible Day in Crete with Knowledgeable Guides and Breathtaking Views
Marc H,
Jul 7, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
From the moment Christine and Sotiris met us at the port gate holding a sign with our name, we knew we were in good hands. The vehicle was clean, comfortable, and even had a video screen playing helpful clips about Crete and Knossos as we drove—such a thoughtful touch that added context to the day. What really made this tour outstanding was the depth of knowledge shared by both Christine, our guide for the day, and Thalia, our licensed guide at Knossos Palace. Thalia’s vivid and detailed explanations brought the ruins to life—she helped us see what the palace might have looked like, how it was used, and why it was so important. It was so engaging! The Heraklion Archaeological Museum was equally impressive. We got to see iconic pieces like the Gold Bee Pendant, the Phaistos Disc, the Ring of Minos, and the famous Snake Goddesses and Dolphin fresco. Christine’s commentary helped us understand the significance of these artifacts and how they fit into the broader Minoan story. At my wife’s request, we also stopped at a local olive oil factory, which turned out to be fascinating and so enjoyable—another sign of how flexible and accommodating this tour was. We especially loved the drive itself—winding between olive groves, mountains, and glimpses of the sea. The views were spectacular, and Christine made the time between stops fly by with great conversation and insight into Cretan life and history. The entire day was flexible and relaxed, tailored to our interests. We never felt rushed, yet we covered so much. If you’re visiting Crete and want a truly enriching and comfortable experience, this tour is absolutely worth it!