Visiting Knossos Palace, Crete’s Famous Archaeological Site
This article contains affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Read our Affiliate Disclosure for more. Thanks for your support!
The most famous archaeological site in Crete, the Minoan Palace of Knossos is also one of the island’s largest and this is why visiting Knossos might prove a bit overwhelming.
But fear not. In this thorough guide, you’ll find everything there is to know about the Knossos archaeological site and all the tips that make visiting Knossos a breeze.
Where Is Knossos?
Built atop Kephala Hill on the outskirts of Heraklion in Crete, the largest Greek Island, Knossos Palace is a 15-minute drive from the city center of Heraklion.
Timeline of Knossos Palace
Knossos Palace follows the same timeline as all other Minoan Palaces in Crete. The First Palace was built around 1900 BC before it was destroyed in 1750 BC.
The New Palace was then rebuilt and thrived until 1450 BC when all Minoan Palaces were ruined, probably because of a major earthquake.
After 1450 BC, only a few palace areas were still active and ruled by the Mycenaeans who came from mainland Greece. It was time for the Mycenaean Civilization to leave its mark. To learn more, read our guide about how to visit Mycenae.
Minos Kalokairinos, a Cretan native, was the first to excavate Knossos back in 1878. This first excavation took place when the island of Crete was still occupied by the Ottomans.
Soon the excavations were halted only to start again in 1900, this time by the renowned British Archaeologist Arthur Evans. His extensive excavations lasted until 1930.
All the findings from the Knossos archaeological site are exhibited at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
Why Is Knossos Important?
Knossos Palace is the grandest large-scale Minoan Palace that has seen the light of day.
Dominating the ancient city of Knossos, the palace complex wasn’t just a royal residence. It mainly served as the city’s administrative and religious center, while the Minoan King and Queen were also the community’s religious leaders.
The archaeological finds of Knossos Palace, such as pieces of colorful wall paintings, Cretan Hieroglyphics, and Linear A and Linear B clay tablets, alongside the controversial restorations, will give you a deep understanding of life and culture in Minoan Crete.
Don’t skip visiting the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion to gain full knowledge of Knossos and the Minoan culture.
Is Knossos Worth Visiting?
One of the main reasons to visit the Knossos archaeological site is that it’s one of the few partially restored ancient sites in Greece. The restored parts make it easier to imagine the structure and function of Knossos Palace.
I still keep the memories of my first time in Knossos as a child alive. The colors, scattered ruins, and the magnificent Throne Room fascinated me.
Visiting Knossos as a grown-up, after so many years, I wasn’t as excited, though. The realization that what I thought was original, such as the red-painted columns, was probably part of Evans’ restorations that were extensively based on Greek mythology rather than facts, hit me.
However, this doesn’t take away any of the value of Evans’ discoveries. Knossos is one of the most important ancient sites in Greece and a must-visit in Crete. But it’s useful to remember that much of what you see in Knossos today is the result of Evans’ studies – and imagination.
On the contrary, for a lesser-known Minoan palace in Crete, without any human interventions, read our guide to the Archaeological Site of Zakros in eastern Crete.
The Myth Behind Knossos
Before going into detail about how to visit Knossos, here’s a bit of background to set the mood. Knossos flourished between 1700 BC and 1450 BC. It was so powerful among the rest of the Minoan cities that great myths and stories were associated with it.
One of the most popular Greek myths connected to Knossos Palace is the Myth of the Labyrinth and the legend of the Minotaur, the bull-headed man who lived in the depths of the Palace.
Who Was The Minotaur?
To take revenge on King Minos of Knossos for disrespecting him, Poseidon made Pasiphae – daughter of Helios, wife of King Minos, and Queen of Knossos – fall in love with a beautiful bull he had sent to Knossos. From this union, a mythical creature, the legendary Minotaur, was born.
As the creature was growing up, it became savage and vicious. For this reason, King Minos ordered Daedalus, a genius engineer, to construct the famous Labyrinth to contain the Minotaur. But it wasn’t enough.
What Happened To The Minotaur?
After winning a war against the Athenians, King Minos took revenge for his son Androgeus’ death. He forced the Athenians to sacrifice seven men and seven women every year to feed the Minotaur.
Back in Athens, they had to come up with a way to stop this bloodshed. That was when Theseus, Prince of Athens at the time, took the place of one of the seven poor men sent to Crete.
In Crete, Theseus and Ariadne, King Minos’ daughter, fell in love. Ariadne gave Theseus a ball of thread that helped him find his way out of the Labyrinth after killing the Minotaur.
FAQs About Visiting Knossos
How long does it take to visit Knossos?
It takes about two hours to explore the entire Knossos archaeological site.
Is Knossos accessible?
The archaeological site of Knossos is easy to explore as there aren’t many steps or steep inclines. For wheelchair users, there is ramp access from the entrance to the Central Court and the main sights of the Palace.
Is there a parking space in Knossos?
Yes, there is a big parking lot next to the archaeological site’s entrance.
Are there toilets or other facilities in Knossos?
Yes, there are toilets, a café with drinks and snacks, and a gift shop.
Are there any restaurants near the Knossos archaeological site?
Yes, there are a couple of restaurants across the street from the entrance. However, we recommend dining in the city of Heraklion instead. It’s very close to Knossos Palace and you can find numerous quality and authentic restaurants there.
What is the best time to visit Knossos?
The Minoan Palace of Knossos is open all year round. That said, summer is the peak season for Knossos Palace. Besides the unbearable heat, Knossos gets packed in the summer and that’s why we recommend visiting Knossos any other time of the year except for the high season.
However, if you can only visit Knossos during the summer months, visit as early in the morning as possible or before closing time, to avoid the crowds and, preferably, do so on a guided tour.
Keep in mind that there are no covered areas for protection from the rain or scorching sun.
What To See in Knossos – Walking Route
We love archaeological sites in Greece but, sadly, not all of them are easy to navigate. First of all, there isn’t always a clear route to follow. Moreover, not all areas have informative signs and, when they do, sometimes these signs use difficult terminology.
Also, on-site maps often include monuments or points of interest that are no longer visible – because they’re either destroyed or covered by the modern city.
This section is meant to help you navigate any ancient site in Greece by providing a tested-by-us walking route of the most important monuments that you can actually see – rather than just imagine.
Furthermore, we replace the original scientific terms (here in brackets) with simple translations in English when necessary and provide context in cases where informative signs are scarce or non-existent.
Knossos Archaeological Site Map
Grain Silos (Kouloures)
After validating your ticket at the entrance of Knossos Palace, the first thing you see is a set of circular stone pits. These were used during the First Palace period. Their use remains a mystery with experts wavering between grain silos or disposal areas.
Nevertheless, when the Palace was reconstructed, these pits were filled in and formed part of the West Court. Before you move on, look at their bottom to see the remains of a settlement from 3000 BC, way before the First Palace was built.
West Court & West Facade
The West Court and the Palace’s West Facade are in the same area as the grain silos. Religious ceremonies probably took place in front of the West Facade bench, while processions used the straight and diagonal causeways that crisscrossed the West Court.
West Porch
Next to the West Court, the West Porch was the main entrance to the New Palace. This was the starting point of a Processional Road decorated with vivid frescoes that led visitors to the Central Court. There were two more entrances to Knossos Palace, the North and the South.
Piano Nobile – West Wing
After entering the West Porch, the path leads you to Piano Nobile, a name coined by Italian architecture terms. Evans named this space after the Italian Renaissance Palazzi because a shrine, scattered pieces of colorful frescoes, and a treasury with precious objects were found there.
This was probably the Palace’s reception rooms on the upper floors. From there, the nobility enjoyed the ceremonies that took place in the Central and West Courts.
On your way to Piano Nobile, have a look on your right at the reconstructed structure that forms part of the South Porch. At least, that’s what Evans thought.
West Storerooms (Magazines) – West Wing
From Piano Nobile, you can observe the West Storerooms on the ground floor, how they were structured in long narrow corridors, and how big their capacity in tons of agricultural products was.
The Storerooms were dark and had access only via a long corridor dividing the West Wing’s ground floor into storage and religious areas.
The rectangular containers on the floor were probably used to store liquid products, like oil and wine. All products were stored in large clay vessels called Pithoi and used for in-house consumption, export trade, and religious purposes.
The wealth of Knossos Palace is evidenced by the Linear A, Linear B, and Cretan Hieroglyphic clay tablets found here.
Three-Part Shrine (Tripartite Shrine) – West Wing
A grand staircase that has been rebuilt leads from Piano Nobile to the Central Court. Facing the Central Court, on the left side of the staircase, you can see the so-called Tripartite Shrine. It took this name because its facade consists of three parts, among which the middle one is raised.
All the West Wing rooms situated east of the long storeroom corridor were part of this sanctuary. In the dark rooms at the back, called Pillar Crypt, there were basins on the floor for offerings.
In another room, some of the most important sacred objects were found, including the valuable Snake Goddess statues, which are exhibited in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
Throne Room – West Wing
On the right side of the staircase, one of Knossos’ highlights awaits: the Throne Room. There’s usually a queue to walk into the Throne Room’s antechamber.
At the antechamber, you’ll see a wooden seat among stone benches. This is a copy placed there by Evans who was inspired by the wooden remains that were found during the excavations.
From the antechamber, you’ll only have a few minutes to admire the Throne Room as the staff will ask you to keep walking so that the queue doesn’t get longer.
Decorated with copies of frescoes depicting mythical creatures, the Throne Room was a religious space rather than an administrative area.
Here you will see a preserved stone seat flanked by stone benches and a small cistern, called a Lustral Basin. The latter was used for purification ceremonies.
Central Court
Situated in the heart of the Palace, Knossos’ Central Court was the largest of all known Minoan Palaces in Crete.
The Court had direct access from outside, but also from the wings built on each side. You can see a part of the Court’s original pavement near the Throne Room.
An interesting fact is that the Court was built atop ruins dating back to Neolithic times, verifying that the hill where the Palace was built was artificial.
Grand Staircase – East Wing
From the Central Courtyard, head to the shed at the East Wing to admire the engineering genius of Minoan architects. The East Wing was built on the slope with vertical walls to support the two floors below the Court’s level.
Although the two overground floors collapsed when Knossos was destroyed, these two floors remained intact. Sir Arthur Evans believed that the Royal Quarters were there even though a maze of small rooms with different functions was found.
The East Wing’s four floors were connected through a grand comfortable staircase with two flights of stairs on each floor. Decorated with frescoes, the staircase was surrounded by columns. You can still see circular holes on the ground where the columns once stood.
A colonnaded lightwell enabled the sunlight to reach the East Wing’s lowest floor.
South Entrance – Prince of The Lilies
Constructed on the slope, the South Wing was severely damaged. The restored section you see today is part of the South Entrance, the spot where the beautiful yet controversial Prince of The Lilies fresco was found.
Why controversial? Because it’s believed that Evans may have gone a bit overboard with this one. Only scarce fragments of the original fresco depicting the king-priest were found. The rest is thought to be a rework of Evans. You can see it at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
A few steps from there, the restored sculpture of the Horns of Consecration – one of the emblems of Minoan Civilization – welcomed guests coming from the south.
Hall of The Double Axes & Queen’s Quarters (Queen’s Megaron) – East Wing
Descent the southern ramp and pass the Shrine of the Double Axes at the southeastern corner. The Shrine of the Double Axes dates to a period following the obliteration of Knossos.
Next to the shrine, on the ground floor of the East Wing, lie the halls identified by Evans as the Royal Apartments. The King’s Room, called the Hall of The Double Axes, is the one with the colonnades and openings.
Next to that is the Queen’s Megaron. From the window, you can admire the iconic frescoes with the blue dolphins. A clay bathtub was found in the small rooms and that’s why these are considered part of the Queen’s bathroom.
School Room & Lapidary’s Workshop – East Wing
Keep walking along the path where the East Wing’s workshops were located. First, you’ll reach the School Room where writing on clay tablets was taught. However, the stone benches and everyday-use objects discovered here are evidence of a functioning pottery.
Behind the School Room, the Lapidary’s Workshop was found. The latter was identified by the semi-worked Spartan basalt and its distinct green hue.
East Storerooms (Magazines) & East Bastion
The East Storerooms, known as Magazines of The Giant Pithoi, were places where large clay vessels with oil, wine, grain, or other products were stored. The gigantic clay vessels stand out for their ornate decoration.
The bastion-like rebuilt staircase leads to the nearby Royal Villa. A drainage channel along the stairs secured the removal of rainwater from the Palace.
Corridor of The Draughtboard
A short walk from the Storerooms is where a Draughtboard, a complex board game, was found. Made of ivory, rock crystal, and blue glass paste, the lavish board game indicates the high cultural level of the Minoan Palace.
You can admire the Draughtboard at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
North Entrance – Customs House
Your next stop is a large hall with pillars in the North Wing. The pillar hall is believed to be the Customs House from where trade products were transferred to the nearby Poros Port through the North Entrance.
A narrow open-air passageway with two imposing bastions on each side starts from the North Entrance and leads to the Central Court. Evans reconstructed only the West Bastion with the iconic fresco of a bull.
North Lustral Basin
A few steps from the West Bastion, yet another structure that was rebuilt by Evans awaits.
A colonnaded staircase leads to an underground cistern, which was probably used for purification purposes. As there was no trace of drainage or collecting water, Evans called this place Lustral Basin.
A Lustral Basin is a typical structure found in every Minoan Palace. Evans believed this one was reserved for the guests coming from the North Entrance.
Theater (Theatral Area)
The final stop before you leave the archaeological site of Knossos Palace is the so-called Theatral Area. Resembling what was later known as a theatre, this area was probably used for ceremonies, sports games, and religious activities.
The attending audience stood on the steps while the small rectangular square was reserved for the prominent citizens. From the Theatral Area started a raised road, known as the Royal Road, that led to the Minoan town.
Knossos Archaeological Site Opening Hours
During the winter period:
November 1st to March 31st: 8.30 AM to 5 PM
During the summer period:
April 1st to August 31st: 8 AM to 8 PM
September 1st to September 15th: 8 AM to 7.30 PM
September 16th to September 30th: 8 AM to 7 PM
October 1st to October 15th: 8 AM to 6.30 PM
October 16th to October 31st: 8 AM to 6 PM (on October 28th: 8.30 AM to 3 PM)
During Greek Easter:
Good Friday: Noon to 5 PM
Holy Saturday: 8.30 AM to 4 PM
On January 1st, March 25th, May 1st, Greek Easter Sunday, December 25th, and December 26th, the archaeological site of Knossos is closed.
Knossos Archaeological Site Entrance Fees
The full ticket price is 15 EUR. From November 1st to March 31st, the entrance ticket costs 8 EUR instead. You must buy your ticket online and book a time slot to enter the archaeological site of Knossos.
We recommend buying a skip-the-line ticket with an audio guide to navigate this important archaeological site at your own pace. Instead of a self-guided audio tour, you can also hire a local guide on the spot.
However, it’s better to book a top-rated guided tour of Knossos Palace that also includes other perks such as hotel pick-up and a tour of the city of Heraklion.
Entrance is free on the following days, but expect long lines and crowds: March 6th, April 18th, May 18th, the last weekend of September, October 28th, and the first Sunday of each month from November to March.
How To Get From Heraklion To Knossos
By Car
If you’re exploring Crete on a road trip, the best way to visit Knossos is by your rental car. Knossos is only a 15-minute drive from Heraklion city center, Heraklion Port, and Heraklion International Airport.
By Bus
The public bus is convenient if you’re staying in Heraklion and prefer not to drive. Local bus number 02 runs frequently from Heraklion Port and the city center to the Knossos archaeological site.
On a Guided Tour
As Knossos Palace is one of the largest and most popular archaeological sites in Greece, a guided tour is the perfect way to admire its numerous structures and delve into its fascinating history but also save yourself valuable time and the trouble of navigating this vast site on your own.
This Knossos Palace guided tour with an expert guide also includes a pick-up and drop-off service from selected areas around Heraklion. After visiting Knossos, the tour takes you to Heraklion for lunch, shopping, and the must-visit Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
Where To Stay Near Knossos
With so many things to do in and around the city, the best place to stay near Knossos is Heraklion. We stayed in this family-run hotel and we can’t recommend it enough for its excellent location, cleanliness, and high standards of service.
The only drawback was the struggle to find an available parking space nearby. However, that’s true for any accommodation in the city center so keep that in mind if you’re on a road trip. That said, there are paid parking spaces, a 10-minute walk from the hotel.
Things To Do Near Knossos
After visiting Knossos, you should visit the Heraklion Archaeological Museum in the city center. Buy a ticket online with an audio guide that helps you focus on the most important exhibits in this massive museum.
Another great place to visit in Heraklion is the iconic Koules Fortress at the Old Port. Built in the 16th century, the well-preserved Venetian Fortress offers stunning panoramic views from its terrace.
Speaking of landmarks, the Venetian Morozini Fountain with its emblematic lions is the most popular spot among locals. Near Morozini Fountain, you can find some of Heraklion’s best restaurants to try the world-renowned Cretan cuisine.
If you’d be interested in visiting more Minoan Palaces near Heraklion, here’s our guide to visiting Phaistos Minoan Palace and our article about exploring Malia Palace.
You’re now ready to explore the magic of the Knossos archaeological site in the best possible way. If you have any questions or comments about visiting Knossos, join our Facebook group to share your thoughts and knowledge with fellow Ancient Greece lovers.
