Knossos Palace Skip-the-Line Ticket (Shared Tour - Small 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
Original reseller of service - Authorized travel agent.
VAT 24% etc.
Headset to hear the guide better, if group size is over 6 participants (7-16 pax).
Entry ticket for the Knossos Palace, general admission fee ( 20 EUR ).
Licensed tour guide for a guided tour in a small group at Knossos palace.
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
iii. Small Group & Transfer
Transfer from/to Heraklion: Knossos Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Tour with Round-Trip Transfer from Heraklion City Center. Meet at Astoria Capsis Hotel.
Starting point:
Capsis Astoria Heraklion, Plateia Eleftherias, Iraklio 712 02, Greece
ii. Semi Private up to 8 pax
(up to 8 pax): Visit the Palace more intimately with this semi-private walking tour that’s capped at just 8 people. Meeting point : Knossos
Starting point:
WeGuide.gr - Meeting point for guided tours, Knossos 714 09, Greece
i. Small Group up to 16 pax
(up to 16 pax): Explore the palace without the rush and bustle of the larger sightseeing tours. Meeting point : Knossos palace Entrance.
Starting point:
WeGuide.gr - Meeting point for guided tours, Knossos 714 09, Greece
Reviews
276 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Worth it to get a great history of Greece and Crete
Shalini N,
Aug 12, 2025
- Viator
5.00Great way to understand the history of the Minoans and how it all comes together. Good to combine this with the museum ideally.
Guided tour > solo
Alexey F,
Jul 29, 2025
- Viator
5.00I feel that without a guide the labyrinth of Knossos would be a boring walk around dead stones. In this tour the guide was awesome and made the place feel alive with her stories. Also I learned a few interesting historical facts. Can only recommend this vs going solo.
Great tour! Amazing guide! Profound!
Adam G,
Jul 8, 2025
- Viator
5.00We had a great tour of the Knossos palace - our guide was a very knowledgable lady who told us an updated history of what archaeologists now know about it - and gave a profound interpretation of the site and about what it means that we will never forget.
Best tour to learn the history behind the myth
Petrina L,
Jun 27, 2025
- Viator
5.00The site came to life as Katherine explained what went on during ancient Minoan times and what is being done to learn more and preserve the site. Katherine was extremely knowledgeable since she and her husband have actively worked to excavate the site as archeologists. She shared theories that have been proven and disproved. This wasn’t your average tour with videos to watch. She told the history in exciting tidbits that kept everyone interested.
Our guide was very...
Katie F,
Jun 16, 2025
- Viator
5.00Our guide was very knowledgeable and her stories were interesting, recommended a tour around Knossos as there is not a lot of signage to tell you what you are looking at.
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Operated by Experience Travel Crete Tours and Activities