Knossos Palace Skip-the-Line Ticket (Shared Tour Group)
Overview
Available languages
1 hour 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Join our small group tour and experience Knossos — now a UNESCO World Heritage Site — where history and myth intertwine. The palace’s labyrinth-like layout brings the legend of the Minotaur to life, while the reconstructed frescoes — like the Prince of the Lilies and the thrilling bull-leaping scenes — capture moments frozen in time.
With a licensed guide, the ruins transform from silent stones into a vivid story. You’ll understand the symbolism in the art, the purpose behind the palace’s design, and how the Minoans lived over 4,000 years ago. It’s like walking the very paths of Minoan royalty.
For the full Minoan experience, you can easily upgrade to include the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion walking tour — even at the last minute. Knossos shows you the ancient city; the museum reveals its treasures, from intricate artifacts to original frescoes found on-site. Together, they complete the story of Europe’s first civilization.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
During the summer months (June-July-August), Visit Knossos and avoid the crowds and the heat! Unravel the myth of the labyrinth and experience Knossos at its most serene, with the best time being at 17:00 (5:00 PM). Join us for a truly memorable experience!
Knossos Palace – Meeting Information Our check-in operator will be waiting for you by the ticket booth at Knossos, holding a sign with our “Meeting Point” logo. Check-in begins 20 minutes before the tour start time. This is a shared group tour with strict entry time slots. Late arrivals cannot be admitted. If you arrive after your scheduled time, your reserved entry tickets will have already expired and the tour will be considered a no-show. Subject to availability, we will do our very best to assist you in purchasing new entry tickets; however, once the guided tour has started, it may not be possible to join. Arriving by car? Please allow extra time to find parking. We strongly recommend arriving at least 30 minutes before the tour start time, especially for the 10:00–11:00 AM slots, when parking and site entry are busiest. Summer Tip (June–August): The most comfortable time to explore Knossos is 17:00 (5:00 PM), when the crowds and heat are at their lowest. Join us then for a more serene experience as you unravel the myths of the Labyrinth and the grandeur of Minoan Crete.
Please check your location before booking! Knossos Palace is just 5 km (20 min) from Heraklion port/airport — very convenient. It’s not convenient from Chania (Souda port or CHQ airport) — it's 140 km away (2.5 hrs by car). We are based in Heraklion
How to Redeem : Your Guide will redeem this ticket for your entry ticket.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Headset to hear the guide better, if group size is over 6 participants (7-15 pax).
Original reseller of service - Authorized travel agent.
VAT 24% etc.
Licensed tour guide for a guided tour in a group at Knossos palace.
Entry ticket for the Knossos Palace, general admission fee ( 20 EUR ).
Skip-the-ticket-line service, to avoid the queue at the ticket counter.
Gratuities
What To Expect
The Palace of Knossos
Knossos! What an enchanting place! This is simply a must visit site in Crete if history, culture, and myth are of any interest to you at all. Hire a guide to help bring the place to life. It is harder to get a true sense of the place without the guidance and knowledge of experienced guides. There is signage but it is simplistic and limited only sharing a fraction of what you're actually seeing and why. Knossos, a complex of more than 1500 interlocking rooms, was an astonishing palace, built for a mighty king of the Bronze Age. As you wander through the labyrinthine ruins, you will have the chance to see the original throne of "Minos", the mystifying sanctuaries, the luxurious domestic quarters of the royal family, the once upon a time bursting with Crete’s treasures pantries and the astonishing water-management systems! Skip-the-ticket-line service ! Licensed tour guide for a 90-minutes guided tour in a small group.
Options
Shared Group & City Pick-up
Group up to 22 pax & Pick-up: Group tour for up to 22 participants, including 2-way pick-up and drop-off from Heraklion city center (Astoria Capsis Hotel )
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes: Experience Knossos in comfort and style. You’ll enjoy a smoother pace, closer interaction with your guide, and more time.
Starting point:
Capsis Astoria Heraklion, Plateia Eleftherias, Iraklio 712 02, Greece
Semi Private (up to 8 pax)
Leisure & Insight: A calm, carefully curated experience for travelers who prefer peace and personal attention. Ideal for couples or friends..
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Starting point:
WeGuide.gr - Meeting point for guided tours, Knossos 714 09, Greece
Shared Group (up to 22 pax)
Easy & Enjoyable: Enjoy the company of fellow travelers, gentle pacing, and a lively guide who brings the ancient world to life.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Starting point:
WeGuide.gr - Meeting point for guided tours, Knossos 714 09, Greece
Small Group (up to 15 pax)
Comfort & Connection: Travel in comfort with a smaller group and attentive guide. With fewer people, there’s more space to move, time to listen..
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Starting point:
WeGuide.gr - Meeting point for guided tours, Knossos 714 09, Greece
Private Tour
VIP & Unfiltered: Your guide, your pace, your vibe. Go deeper, ask and explore Knossos your way, a tailor-made adventure.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Starting point:
WeGuide.gr - Meeting point for guided tours, Knossos 714 09, Greece
Reviews
283 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Knossos Palace Tour Review
kimberlycY8284OZ,
Oct 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour is about 2 hours in duration and includes skip the line entry as well as a guide. It is a small group tour so there were about 14 people on the tour with us. Our guide was very knowledgeable and passionate about the history around the ruins. The tour was educational and entertaining and not too difficult to do. We enjoyed learned about Minos and the Minotaur. No spoilers here! Some of the artifacts were moved to the Archaeological Museum so would recommend going there as well (we didn't, sadly). It is all outdoors so hats, sunscreen, water, comfortable clothing and good footwear are a must.
Great Experience
Charles M,
Sep 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Well worth the time and money. We had a fairly small group and our guide was excellent. Very interesting to learn about the history
Excellent
littledog2,
Sep 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Tour guide was excellent- well-informed, brilliant communicator and interested in her job. Location was fascinating. Café very expensive.
Top marks!
Keith R,
Sep 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guide was knowledgeable, informative and fun, really bringing the story of Knossos alive. Well worth it.
Great tour
kimwS8479JJ,
Sep 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great guide. Still very hot in Sept but she kept us in the shade whenever possible. Her passion for the subject really showed through. Audio earpieces were OK and clear enough (unlike those on our Parthenon tour ) A great experience.
Enjoyable and Informative tour of Knossos
Matthew M,
Sep 9, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Very informative tour of a place of such significant history. Knossos is a must do if you are in Crete
A highlight on Crete.
whasthislife4,
Sep 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00A great experience. Our guide taught us some very interesting history (won't spoil it for you). Wear comfortable shoes and wear sunscreen
Knowledgeable and well organized guide. The Palace was crowded due to cruise ship crowds but our guide knew how to avoid
180JohnM,
Sep 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide was a wealth of knowledge of the history behind the Palace, the people and history of Crete and how to navigate thru the site to avoid the huge cruise ship crowds. Pay attention to the cruise ship schedule when planning to visit attractions near the port. Wish I remembered the guides name (group 12 at 9am on Sep 1, 2025). She was a talented story teller and educator and was truthful in telling what was "fact" vs. what were beliefs or biases as more facts were discovered. For example, despite the focus on calling this a "Palace" and referring to the "King" the current knowledge suggest it was more of an economic and spiritual center and the rulers were female who operated more in a cooperative community. No one had a residence here. As always in society, there was a minority ruling class and majority subservient population. Amazing how much people had to understand to survive 4,000 yrs ago. The cell phone drones of today would not survive, including me. The windows in the room with king's wooden chair were positioned to identify the timing of the 4 seasons to enable them to know when to plant and harvest various crops. Took me a couple of days to figure out which way was N/E/S or W to know when to lay out in the sun at our hotel room. The design of features we take for granted today like sewer systems, the organization of how to ship goods in and out and where and how to store food products is fascinating. Unlike a lot of other places in the world the focus was not on military weapons used to control populations but similar to today the ruling class had immense wealth and power based on their control of economic systems (trade, currency/bartering, etc.). The guide made you aware of the vast network of trading partners around the world that Crete derived its' wealth from by being the hub of activity. Definitely pair your visit hear with a visit to the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion where many of the artifacts from the Palace are preserved.
Very interesting site, the guided tour was great.
Darren M,
Aug 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very interesting and informative tour. Our guide was an archeologist that had actually worked on digs at the site. Travel out to the site can be done via bus, most people took the bus or a taxi. We paid for the transport which I don’t know if it was needed, but did make everything very easy and stress free if you are not an experienced traveler.
Magnificent
Maria B,
Aug 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Good communication with the responsible Enterprise. It was easy to locate the meeting point. Punctuality to start the tour. Guia ótima. He explained everything. He talked about mythology and reality.
From €89.00
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