The Palace of Knossos with Skip-the-Line Ticket
Overview
Available languages
1 hour 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Skip the line and step into myth at Knossos Palace, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 90 minutes, your licensed guide will bring to life the legends of King Minos and the Minotaur as you explore the Throne Room, frescoes, and labyrinthine halls of Europe’s first advanced civilization.
Step into the heart of Minoan civilization with our small-group skip-the-line tour of the legendary Palace of Knossos—Crete’s most iconic archaeological treasure. In just 90 minutes, a licensed local guide will bring to life the myths, royal intrigue, and astonishing achievements of Europe’s first advanced civilization.
Avoid the queues and travel back 3,500 years as you explore the labyrinthine ruins of King Minos’ palace, birthplace of the Labyrinth and Minotaur legend. Admire the Throne Room, vivid frescoes, advanced drainage systems, and multi-level architecture that made Knossos a marvel of its time.
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
IMPORTANT NOTE : Starting times are strictly kept. There is no exceptions policy.
Important Reminder – Tour Participation Guidelines. -Please note that the tour you have booked is a shared experience with other travelers. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone, we kindly ask that you adhere to the scheduled starting time, as there is a strict no-exceptions policy for late arrivals. Check-in begins 20 minutes before the tour starts, at the main entrance of Knossos, directly in front of the ticket office. Here, you will meet your exclusive check-in operator and receive your entry tickets. Tickets are only valid for the selected time slot. Arriving outside this window may result in denied entry, and a new entry ticket (e.x. 20 EUR per Adult) would need to be purchased at your own expense.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Original reseller of service - Authorized travel agent.
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.
Pick-up and drop-off service
Food and beverages
Gratuities
What To Expect
The Palace of Knossos
Discover the legendary Labyrinth and Palace of Knossos with a Licensed Tourist Guide, choose the group size that suits you best. Skip the long ticket lines! Upon arrival, you’ll meet your dedicated guide and receive your pre-purchased entrance tickets—no need to wait at the cashier. We offer a Skip-the-Line service to all our guests by purchasing entrance tickets in advance, saving you valuable time and hassle. You can choose to prepay your entrance tickets when booking your tour online for a smooth, worry-free experience.
Options
Group Shared (up to 22 pax)
Value & Fun: Perfect for travelers who love a lively atmosphere and meeting new people. A budget-friendly way to enjoy Knossos.
Group Small (up to 15 pax)
Smart Comfort: With fewer participants, you’ll enjoy a smoother pace, closer interaction with your guide, and more time for photos.
Group Private
Exclusive Experience: Your private guide, your pace, your story. Enjoy the Palace of Knossos exactly as you wish, with complete flexibility.
Semi-Private (up to 8 pax)
Premium Touch: Step into a boutique-style experience designed for travelers who value exclusivity and space. Ideal for couples or families.
Reviews
40 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Good Overview of Minoan Culture and History
CanadaBruce,
Oct 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a great opportunity to tour the palace grounds and learn about the Minoin culture. Our tour guide was on point and got us through with her knowledge and humor. Highly recommend this tour if you have any interest in Greek culture and history.
A beautiful experience
O9804EKserenab,
Aug 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Today we took a guided tour of the palace of Knossos with Maria, a guide who speaks very good Italian, very nice and captivating. She even managed to involve our 8-year-old son. A TOP highly recommended guide!!!!
wonderful experience. the...
Manuel E,
Jul 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00wonderful experience. the place is a maze and there are many things you would very easily overlook if you didn't book a guide. our guide is a current archeologist working on the site and had plenty of stories about the process and findings. totally worth visiting such an impressive part of history
All around excellent. ...
Michelle R,
Jul 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00All around excellent. Very informative and our guide was very personable and really knew his stuff. We went at 5pm so there were less crowds and didn’t have contend with the mid day heat.
Knossos
786tomc,
Jun 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Really interesting and enjoyable visit our guide was brilliant. So much more information and enjoyment gained with the guide that you wouldn’t get from visiting alone highly recommended
Would choose this again!
Culture628771,
Jun 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide was very knowledgable, extremely helpful in navigating the crowds. and provided in-depth information that made our experience very memorable in the best ways
Great tour of Palace of Knossos
A2436SCannet,
May 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was a great tour. Our guide was very informative and told the history of the site with lots of knowledge to impart. I really didn’t know much about the site or the history of Crete before I came, so it was great to have a guide who knew so much.
Great tour. Knowledgeable guide
DayTrip319560,
Dec 1, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic tour. Tour guide was very knowledgeable. The small tour group (3 people) allowed the guide to tailor the tour
Best Guide Ever!
Dan K,
Oct 11, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00Katerina was amazing - as was the sight. She’s extremely knowledgeable and dramatic. I hope you get her as your guide!
Professorial quality presentation
Lazarus D,
Oct 10, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00We were fascinated by the narrative provided by our most informative and passionate guide. AKRIVI was our guide. Her level of knowledge and professorial presentation skill is exceptional and amazing. The description of information was presented as a narrative story with phenomenal detail. This tour provided the perspective of history and mythology of the Minoan Civilization capturing and exceeding my wildest expectations. I have had fascination with the Minoan Civilization as my Papou was born in Santorini. Thank you for spurring further fascination and desire to do my own further research and reading. Lazaros Darzentas
From €89.00
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