Find yourselves learning about the history and culture of Crete by joining us on the tour to Knossos, Museum, and Heraklion. Starting from the Minoan palace of Knossos, discover with a guided tour the history of the 4000-year-old Minoan civilization, maybe the first European civilization. Then proceed to the Archeological Museum of Heraklion, with findings covering a span of 5,500 years of Cretan history. In the museum, there is also a guided tour. Finally, visit the center of Heraklion, where you will have free time to stroll in the streets with shops, cafes, and monuments of the island’s more recent history.

	Discover Knossos Follow a guided tour in the place where Cretan history began.
	Visit the museum Follow the continuous path of history of the Archeological Museum through its exceptional findings.
	Explore Heraklion Walk through the reflections of modern and old Heraklion, as they appear to you in the center of the city.

The palace of Knossos is located 5 km south of the city of Heraklion. The man who excavated and restored the palace was Sir Arthur Evans, a British archeologist, at the beginning of the 20th century. Knossos was one of the 4 Minoan palaces of Crete and also the largest one. The palace was a complex structure consisted of corridors connecting many rooms to each other. It functioned as the royal residence and as an administrative, economic and religious center. It is admirable to imagine that a civilization that old was capable of constructing such a big and well-organized palace. The throne room, the frescoes, the storerooms, the royal apartments and many more sites in the area will take you back in time, as you imagine how this civilization lived 4000 years ago.

The next stop of your tour is the Archeological Museum of Heraklion, located at the center of the city. It is one of the most well-organized museums of Greece and Europe, with findings covering 5.500 years of Cretan prehistory and history. The narrative of the Museum starts from the Neolithic period until Roman times. The visit to the Museum, which is also with a guided tour, will offer you the chance to see findings representing many aspects of the Cretan life during a large period of time. Weapons, agricultural tools, statues, original Minoan frescoes, all of these pieces of the island’s big history are presented in a simple and fascinating way as you wander in the museum.

After learning about the ancient history of Crete, enjoy a stroll at the center of the Heraklion, the largest city of Crete. The city of Heraklion is the capital of the region of Heraklion, located at the center of the island of Crete. The modern city life is merged with the traces of Crete’s recent history. From the Lion-square, where the Morosini fountain is located, you will have free time to discover the monuments representing the Venetian and Ottoman era. A few examples are the St Titus church, the Loggia, the fortress of Koules and many more. At the same time, there are many shops, restaurants, and cafes for you to explore and attract your interest.

At the end of your day, you will realize that the tour to Knossos Museum and Heraklion is actually a continuous narrative through the monuments of Crete’s long history. You start from the Neolithic time in the museum, continue to the Minoan time in the palace and end up at the “city-museum” of Heraklion, representing the Venetian and Ottoman time.

Bring with you

• Hat or parasole for Knossos
• Sun protection lotion
• Camera

Food and drink availability

• In Knossos
• In Heraklion town

WC facilities

• Not on board of the bus
• At Knossos Palace
• In the Museum
• In Heraklion town