A Local’s Guide to the Best Organized Tours of Knossos
There are many amazing places to visit in Crete during your vacation, and choosing where to start can be challenging. This can be especially challenging when time is limited. But when it comes to Knossos Palace, visiting this unique archaeological site cannot be skipped.
If you want to understand the history of the island better or if you believe that discovering the palace on your own is misguided or incomplete, check out these organized tours of Knossos for every budget, time frame, and travel style!
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In this article, I bring you some of the most interesting tours and organized trips to Knossos Palace, Crete’s most important archaeological site.
One thing is true: I’ve always advocated for an independent visit to the island; I always encourage you to drive your car and move around, trying to explore with as much autonomy as possible.
However, with so much to see and understand in such a colossal structure, Knossos can appear as nothing but a bunch of old stones if you are caught unprepared. So don’t waste time or moments; go for a guided visit to learn and take advantage of the experience.
In no particular order, these are the best tours you can book online. They are tours for all budgets, travel styles, interests, and the time you want to spend on the tour. Take a look!
>> Please note that tour prices are subject to variations that do not depend upon this website. Thank you.
KNOSSOS FOR COUPLES
Knossos Palace Skip-the-Line Ticket & Private Guided Tour
From €180 per group up to 2 participants
Rating on Get Your Guide: 4.9/5
Details
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
- Mobile ticketing (instant confirmation).
- 1.5-hour tour, skip the ticket line.
- English, German, Italian, Russian.
- Private small group.
Highlights
- Fast entry into the Knossos Palace with a pre-booked ticket.
- Licensed guide.
- Optional private transfer (Heraklion area).
Meeting point: Front entrance of Knossos Palace.
✅ Bring ID or passport, comfortable shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, and water.
Know before you go: If you book the option with transfer, you will be emailed about pickup details.
AFFORDABLE GROUP TOUR
Knossos Palace and Heraklion Town: Private Guided Tour
From €560 per group, up to 6 participants
Rating on Get Your Guide: 5/5
Details
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
- Digital or printed vouchers.
- 4-hour tour, starting at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4 p.m.
- English, German, Italian, Russian.
- Private group.
Highlights
- Detailed guided tour.
- Includes sightseeing trip to Heraklion.
- Lunch at the Heraklion Open Market.
Meeting point: Front entrance of Knossos Palace by the ticket kiosk.
✅ Bring ID or passport, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, and water.
Know before you go: If you book the option with transfer, you will be emailed about pickup details.
KNOSSOS ON A BUDGET
Knossos Palace: Pre-Booked E-Ticket & Smartphone Audio Tour
From €18 per person
Rating on Get Your Guide: 3.3/5
Details
- Non-refundable.
- Digital or printed vouchers (valid for 1 day).
- Optional audio guide (English) with offline content, including text, audio, and maps.
Highlights
- Skip the line with a pre-booked entry e-ticket.
- Before your visit, download a digital audio tour on your smartphone (Android & iOS).
- Visit at your own pace.
✅ Bring ID or passport, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, and water.
Know before you go: You must bring your headphones and charge your phone.
KNOSSOS PALACE + ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF HERAKLION
Knossos and Archeological Museum
(E-Tickets + City Audios)
From €42 per person
Rating on Get Your Guide: 5/5
Details
- Non-refundable (valid 1 day).
- Time-slotted entrance for each venue.
- Audio guide in English, French, German, Spanish, and Italian with offline content, including text, audio, and maps.
Highlights
- Hassle-free visit.
- Free time in the attractions to explore further.
- Your self-guided audio tour can start at Knossos Palace or the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
✅ Bring ID or passport, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, and water.
Know before you go: You must bring your headphones and charge your phone.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY TOUR OF KNOSSOS
Knossos Palace: Family-Friendly Mythology Tour
From €110 per person
Rating on Get Your Guide: 4.5/5
Details
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
- Digital or printed vouchers.
- 2-hour tour.
- Skip the ticket line and instant confirmation.
- Live tour guide in English.
Highlights
- Kid-friendly shared tour.
- Explore with an iPad tablet to see a representation of the site in the past.
- Live tour guide in English.
- Up to 10 participants.
Meeting point: Hotel pickup and drop-off or site entrance point if otherwise agreed.
✅ Bring your ID to purchase your ticket, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, and water.
Know before you go: Entrance tickets for Knossos Palace are not included. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
KNOSSOS PALACE + LASITHI PLATEAU
From Heraklion: Day Trip to Knossos and the Lasithi Plateau
From €40 per person
Rating on Get Your Guide: 4/5
Details
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
- Digital or printed vouchers.
- 12-hour tour (from 7.45 a.m.).
- Hotel pick-up.
- Live guide in English, French, and German.
Highlights
- Visit the Lasithi Plateau, the Zeus Cave, Tzermiado Village, and Keras Kardiotissas Monastery.
- Lunch stop at the Plateau.
- Visit the Minoan Palace of Knossos and explore with an iPad tablet.
Meeting point: Hotel pickup and drop-off or site entrance point if otherwise agreed.
✅ Bring ID or passport, money for lunch and entrance tickets, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, and water.
Know before you go: This tour involves a 300-meter uphill walk to access the cave.
KNOSSOS WALKING TOUR
Knossos Palace Skip-the-Line Entry with Guided Walking Tour
From €80 per person
Rating on Get Your Guide: 4.8/5
🌟BEST SELLING TOUR🌟
Details
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
- Digital vouchers.
- 1.5-hour tour, starting at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
- Live tour guide in English and French.
- Small group limited to 10 participants.
Highlights
- Visit Knossos Palace with a licensed guide.
- Learn about the Minoan Civilization.
- Use the same ticket to enter the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion later.
Meeting point: Next to the entrance of the archaeological site, right next to the “Little Garden” restaurant.
✅ Bring ID or passport, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, and water.
Know before you go: Skip-the-ticket-line service. Entry ticket for the Knossos Palace and the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion City (if option selected).
FULL-DAY TOUR FROM CHANIA TO KNOSSOS
Knossos Palace & Heraklion Full-Day Tour from Chania Area
From €50 per person
Rating on Get Your Guide: 4.2/5
Details
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
- Digital or printed vouchers.
- 12-hour tour (from 6.40 a.m.).
- Skip the ticket line and instant confirmation.
- Live tour guide in English or German.
- Pick-up from the Chania area.
Highlights
- Bus excursion from Chania to Knossos.
- Visit Knossos with a licensed guide and the Archaeological Museum
- Enjoy 2 free hours in Heraklion City.
Meeting point: Pickup begins earlier than the tour starting time and is done from specific meeting points. A local partner will email you the pickup details.
✅ Bring ID or passport, money for lunch and entrance tickets, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, and water.
Know before you go: Entry tickets to Knossos and the Archaeological Museum are not included. You must pay cash on-site.
FULL-DAY TOUR FROM RETHYMNON TO KNOSSOS
From Rethymno: Knossos & Heraklion Archaeological Museum
From €30 per person
Rating on Get Your Guide: 4.1/5
Details
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
- Digital or printed vouchers.
- 8-hour tour.
- Live tour guide in English.
- Pickup included.
Highlights
- Visit Knossos Palace and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
- Get some free time to shop and eat in Heraklion city center.
Meeting point: Hotel pick-up and drop-off, transportation by bus, and guide included.
✅ Bring ID or passport, money for lunch and entrance tickets, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, and water.
KNOSSOS + LOCAL CRAFTS
Knossos Palace and Village Pottery Tour & Lunch
From €100 per person
Rating on Get Your Guide: 4.8/5
Details
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
- Digital vouchers.
- 7-hour tour (from 8.30 a.m.).
- Skip the ticket line.
- Live tour guide in English, French, German, Russian, and Dutch.
Highlights
- Explore Knossos Palace.
- Try to make pottery and visit an old pottery village in the mountains.
- Lunch at a local restaurant.
Meeting point: Hotel pick-up and drop-off, transportation included.
✅ Bring ID, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, and water.
Know before you go: Lunch with wine or water included.
KNOSSOS + MINOAN CULTURE ACTIVITIES
Heraklion, Knossos & Minoan Culture Show
From €80 per person
Rating on Get Your Guide: 4.4/5
Details
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
- Digital or printed vouchers.
- 10-hour tour
- Skip the ticket line
- Live tour guide in German.
- Bus transfer, guided tour, show, and snacks included,
Highlights
- Visit Knossos, and after, enjoy a special performance.
- Experience Minoan culture through 3D videos and traditional dancers wearing original costumes.
- Eat small appetizers prepared according to ancient Minoan recipes.
Meeting point: Hotel pick-up and transportation included.
✅ Bring ID, sunglasses, comfy shoes, a camera, a sun hat, sunscreen, and water.
Know before you go: The entry tickets for the Knossos Palace, the archaeological museum, and the Minoan culture show are included so that you skip the long ticket lines.
KNOSSOS + HERAKLION CITY HIGHLIGHTS
City Highlights with a Private Driver and Visit to Knossos
From €250 per group up to 3 persons
Rating on Get Your Guide: 4.9/5
Details
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
- Digital vouchers.
- 6-hour tour (from 9 a.m.).
- Driver, tour in English and Greek.
Highlights
- Visit Knossos Palace.
- with a private guide and lots of time to explore the historic city.
- Taste Greek cuisine.
Meeting point: Meet the driver at the reception of your hotel (airport and port pick-up available).
✅ Passport or ID, comfortable shoes, sunglasses, sun hat, and sunscreen.
Know before you go: Bottled water and a snack are offered. Air-conditioned vehicle and Wi-Fi onboard.
PRIVATE KNOSSOS TOUR
Knossos Palace: Private Guided Tour with Skip-The-Line Entry
From €185 per person
Rating on Get Your Guide: 4.9/5
Details
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.
- Digital vouchers.
- 1.5-hour tour.
- Skip the ticket line.
- Live tour guide in English, French, Russian, and Greek.
- Private group.
Highlights
- Listen to a private guide explain Knossos’ history.
- Unravel the myths and legends surrounding the site.
Meeting point: Meet at the main entrance to the Palace of Knossos, in front of the Ticket Office (Skip-the-Line Entry).
✅ A Passport or ID, comfortable shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, water, and a passport or ID card for children.
DO YOU WANT TO STAY NEAR KNOSSOS?
- The Project Suite is a very affordable place to stay, only 2.5 km from the site.
- Knossos Palace Secluded Villa is perfect for a family stay.
So, as you can see, there are endless options for visiting the archaeological site for whatever budget you have. Check the one that best suits you and discover Crete’s wonderful past! Have you ever been to Knossos Palace on an organized tour?
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Guide to Book a Knossos Tour
Gabi, the Crete Insider
Hi, I’m Gabi — your go-to local expert in Crete! I’ve been living in Chania, Crete since 2016, and I’ve turned my love for the island into a full-time passion — guiding travelers, writing for travel media, and curating local experiences.
I co-authored DK Eyewitness Top 10 Crete and other guides. I run the blogs The Tiny Book, Greece Planner, and My Cretan Recipe. Through this platform I help travelers design unforgettable trips to Crete.
