Excursion The palace of knossos & museum tour at Heraklion

Explore the storied past of the Palace of Knossos during this scenic and informative, half-day sightseeing excursion.

Palace of Knossos

Depart the pier for the brief drive to Knossos, the ancient capital of the great King Minos. Constructed around 1900 B.C., the original Palace of Knossos was destroyed by an earthquake about 200 years later, then rebuilt on a grander scale. Knossos was devastated again with the eruption of the volcano in Santorini around 1500-1450 B.C. Despite this blow, people continued to live here for another fifty years until a fire swept throughout the city circa 1400 B.C. Upon arrival, take a guided tour through the fantastic ruins of the ancient palace complex, which served as the administrative and religious centres for the whole region. Along the way, see the living quarters of the king, queen and members of the royal court, rooms for state occasions, the theatre area, store rooms, and potters' workshops.

Heraklion Archaeological Museum

Following your tour, re-board your coach and proceed to the Heraklion Archaeological museum to further discover the ancient civilization. It houses representative artefacts from all the periods of Cretan prehistory and history, covering a chronological span of over 5,500 years from the Neolithic period to Roman times. The singularly important Minoan collection contains unique examples of Minoan art, many of them true masterpieces. The Heraklion Museum is rightly considered as the best in the world for Minoan art, as it contains the most notable and complete collection of artefacts of the Minoan civilization of Crete. After approximately 60 minutes, the tour will conclude with a brief transfer back to the pier.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion may include: Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Knossos

Note

Please note: This tour involves approximately a half-mile (800 metres / 0.5 miles) of extensive walking on uneven surfaces, and steps to climb while exploring the palace grounds. Comfortable walking shoes, preferably with rubber or non-slip soles, are recommended. This tour is not suitable for guests with limited mobility or those who utilise a wheelchair. Wear light-weight clothing and bring sun protection. The tour sequence may vary to avoid overcrowding.