Palace of Knossos - Early Morning Ticket and avoid crowds
Overview
Available languages
1 hour 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Explore Crete and Visit the Legendary Palace of Knossos
Step into the heart of Minoan civilization by visiting the Palace of Knossos, the ancient capital of Minoan Crete. Uncover the mysteries of one of the world’s earliest and most fascinating civilizations. Though Knossos and other Minoan sites were excavated in the late 19th century, this Bronze Age culture still keeps many secrets hidden—like a real-life labyrinth of myth and history.
Reserve your skip-the-line ticket and enjoy a 90-minute guided walking tour of Knossos Palace with a licensed expert guide. Avoid the crowds and head straight to the entrance—no waiting in line.
Please arrive 20 minutes before the scheduled start time.
This is a shared group tour. The tour will begin promptly at the designated time and cannot be delayed for any reason.
Important: Starting times are strictly observed. No exceptions can be made.
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
Guided Walking Tour with Skip-the-Line Entry, you join a small group for a guided walking tour through the palace of Knossos.
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. Please note that this is a shared group tour, and to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone, we kindly wish to inform you that entry tickets are reserved for specific time slots. If you arrive after your scheduled time, the tickets unfortunately expire. In that case, we will do our best to assist you with purchasing a new ticket, subject to availability. For those arriving by car: Please allow extra time to find parking. We recommend arriving at least 30 minutes before the tour start time.
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 city center
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Skip-the-ticket-line service, to avoid the queue at the ticket counter
Headset to hear the guide better, if the group size is over 6 participants (7-16 pax)
Licensed tour guide for a guided tour in a small group at the Knossos Palace
Entry ticket for the Knossos Palace, general admission fee (20 EUR)
Original reseller of service - authorized travel agent
All fees and taxes (VAT 24% etc.)
Food and drinks
Lunch
Transportation to/from attractions
Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting points
End points
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
What To Expect
Knossos Archaeological Site
Book your skip-the-line ticket for Knossos and join a mini group for a guided walking tour (90 minutes) in Knossos palace with a licensed guide. Book this option to enter the Palace of Knossos and avoid the crowds. • You do not have to wait in line. Head straight for the entrance. • Please do not ask for your tickets from the ticket desks. Search for our operator holding a sign with a "WeGuide" logo. Knossos, a bewildering complex of more than 1500 interlocking rooms, a true labyrinth, was more than a cage of the gruesome Minotaur..It was an astonishing palace, built for a mighty king of the Bronze Age. As we wander through the labyrinthine ruins you will have the chance to see the original throne of ‘’Minos”, still in place after 3,500 years; 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, just to name a few of the minoan wonders!
Options
Avoid the crowds
Reviews
10 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Fascinating Tour
Fiona G,
Nov 9, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent Tour with Henry (? Apologies - not sure of his name) who took our group. Only 3 of is in the group so we were able to take our time and look at everything. He was very informative, well paced and happy to answer questions. A fascinating place and highly recommended Guide.
Great 90 minutes at the Knossos Palace
Randall R,
Oct 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great tour. Not too long, short- just right. Our wonderful guide, Georges, gave us a great commentary on the palace history and culture. He knew the best places to stand for great photos. The group was a great size. Not big. Relaxing walk through ancient history. We recommend you go the Heraklion Archaeological Museum afterwards to see all the frescos and artifacts from the palace.
Fantastic tour and guide
Matthew L,
Oct 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We really enjoyed this tour. I strongly recommend it, having a guide added so much to the experience. Our guide was so very knowledgeable and added perspective to our visit. I am a student of history but I learned quite a lot here today. Thank you so much for making this a such a memorable time.
Let an expert show you around Knossos
John B,
Sep 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Very well organized tour with an exceptional guide. The communication from the company was great. Tour leader arranged for me to go back into the grounds after our tour was over. So glad I booked early morning and small group. By 10 am the grounds were packed with people and it was getting hot. I entertained the idea of a self tour but very glad I opted for a guide. I think you obtain more insight and background story. I highly recommend this tour.
Knossos knowledge
Maureen H,
Jun 28, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It gets you in when the venue is not crowded. The guide is very knowledgeable and friendly. The Palace of Knossos is not to be missed.
Great tour
PAE 12,
May 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The guide was great, gave us so much interesting information about acropolis and agora and tied it all together with the mythology. It would have been even better if company scheduled it to start 30 minutes earlier to beat some of crowds and heat.
Knossos Palace tour
Alison J,
May 7, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The only way to see Knossos Palace! Akrivi was an excellent guide mixing the ancient stories and the known facts while keeping us away from the crowds and in the shade. Brilliant!
Wonderful
Departure18273277034,
Aug 29, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic tour guide and wonderful experience. She was so knowledgeable and told very interesting stories about the history. Definitely a must see for me!
Best time to experience Knossos
Jonas W,
Jul 15, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Great guide, very knowledgeable and easy going. The site and history are fascinating. And highly recommend going early like we did. The place fills up big time later in the day and you have to move around and queue a lot. I'm the morning, we had more time to stop and view and talk and take pictures.
Living knossos
Tony C,
May 17, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guide was excellent, she knew all about knossos and the Greek mythology connected to knossos. She also explained about the rediscovery of the site, about 100 years ago.
From €89.00
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