Full-Day Knossos and Heraklion Tour from Chania and Rethymno
Description
Unlock the mysteries of ancient Crete on this unforgettable full-day tour departing from Chania! Visit two of the island’s most iconic destinations — the historic city of Heraklion and the world-famous Palace of Knossos — and experience a journey through myth, history, and vibrant modern life. Why Choose This Tour? ✔️ Comprehensive and well-paced — balancing guided experiences with free time to explore ✔️ Expert storytelling by professional licensed guides ✔️ Travel in comfort with our air-conditioned luxury buses ✔️ Ideal for history enthusiasts, culture lovers, and curious travelers ✔️ Starting conveniently from Chania &Rethymnno — no need to worry about transport logistics! Follow the footsteps of ancient kings, explore one of the greatest civilizations in human history, and enjoy the lively atmosphere of Crete’s capital city — all in one exciting day! Reserve your Knossos Palace & Heraklion Day Tour today and make history part of your journey!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Knossos is the site of the most important and better-known palace of Minoan civilization. According to tradition, it was the seat of the legendary king Minos. The Palace is also connected with thrilling legends, such as the myth of the Labyrinth with the Minotaur and the story of Daedalus and Icarus. The site was continuously inhabited from the Neolithic period (7000- 3000 B.C.) until Roman times. After its partial destruction in 1450 B.C., Knossos was settled by Mycenaeans from the Greek Mainland. The city flourished again during the Hellenistic period in 67 B.C. It was captured by the Roman Quintus Caecilius Metelus Creticus. Knossos was discovered in 1878 by Minos Kalokairinos. Arthur Evans conducted systematic excavations at the site between 1900 and 1931, bringing to light the palace, a large section of the Minoan city, and the cemeteries. The restoration of the palace to its present form was carried out by Arthur Evans.
History is very much alive in the old town of Heraklion, just like in most Greek cities.From the old Venetian Harbour, the August 25th Str., leads to the old town's centre. The central square while surrounded by cafes, stores and restaurants, is dominated by the fountain of the Lions, built by Morozini the venetian governor in 1628. You will also see "Eleftherias sq." , Heraklion's main square where the Archaeological museum stands and to the right 'Kyrillou Loukareos Str" leads to Agios Minas cathedral and Agia Aikaterini Museum.The archaeological museum is considered to be one of the most famous museums all over Europe and definately worths a visit. If you wish you can visit by yourselves the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion as it is not included due to covid19 protocols
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Kindly advise the exact accommodation in order to send you the pick-up details.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Pick up/Drop off is conducted only is select spots in Chania. Depending on your location, you will be advised on the time and place after booking.
Reviews(39)
The trip was optimally organized. The tour guide explained everything perfectly; a big compliment to her and the bus driver. I would recommend the trip to the past to everyone, and I was amazed at how many young people were interested.
The visit to Knossos was excellent. The guide was an archeologist, so she provided a lot of information and context to what we were seeing making the visit a lot more interesting.
Knossos is a very complex site. Our guide did a good job of explaining the site but we would suggest going to the Heraklion archeological museum before going to the Knossos site. It is an excellent museum.
Our enthusiastic guide made this visit incredible. While it is possible to rent a car, hassle with park and find this place on you own, I think you can have an enjoyable day. Let someone else drive and park. Most importantly, you'll miss the incredible story of this place. The guide explained the story in an manner that was engaging, fun and informative.
A fantastic place to visit. A lot to see and do if you like your history. Tour guides were amazing and very knowledgeable about all the history and ruins. Does get very busy but not to overcrowded that you don't see everything. Does get very hot and not too much shade so would advise taking a parasol and lots of water. A good souvenir shop and toilets are very well managed and very clean. Staff are very friendly and helpful. A must for anyone who loves history , even if you're not into history still an excellent place to visit. Would definitely recommend.
An UNESCO site that I have always wanted to visit. Coach and transfer was excellent. The coach was full but the seats were suitable for tall adults like myself. Excellent air conditioning made the journey comfortable. Our guide Joanne was excellent and well orgainsied. The palace and museum are busy if you go at the height of the season. Expect queues but it is well worth it. Learnt alot about the Minoans. I would recommend this trip.
This trip was disappointing. We were picked up before 7 am and the pickups of other people were not completed till about 9.30. After a brief pit stop we reached Heraklion at 11 and were told we had 2 hours to view the museum or town. It seemed quite a short time given the length of the tour. The museum was amazing but it was very rushed. We then arrived at Knossos at about 2 after further pit stop. Guide was very wordy and repeated the same things a lot although she was clearly knowledgeable. It was not a great experience. It was hard to deal with the site when you were constantly bombarded with information, not all related to the site….We left about 4 pm and it was almost 8 when we arrived back at our hotel. So we had 13 hours but only 4 in the places we wanted to see. I couldn’t recommend it.
A very well organised trip overall. I didn’t enjoy Heraklion and I regret not visiting the archeological museum. On the other hand Knossos palace was an incredible experience, our guide was so full of knowledge and friendly. It was really interesting and I loved Knossos.
Our tour guide was very professional and very knowledgeable. Unfortunately, the time allowed was limited, and it was difficult for her and us to fully explore/appreciate the sites we were taken to. Nonetheless, a great taster of what Knossos and Heraklion have to offer. We hope to return.
Tour guide at the palace was great. More time on bus 7 hrs than on land 3.5-4 hrs Too many pickup stops and coordinating transfers. Bring your patience
