Knossos Palace: Skip-Line Small Group Minoan Secrets

This tour is about 2 hours in duration and includes skip the line entry as well as a guide. It is a small group tour so there were about 14 people on the tour with us. Our guide was very knowledgeable and passionate about the history around the ruins. The tour was educational and entertaining and not too difficult to do. We enjoyed learned about Minos and the Minotaur. No spoilers here! Some of the artifacts were moved to the Archaeological Museum so would recommend going there as well (we didn't, sadly). It is all outdoors so hats, sunscreen, water, comfortable clothing and good footwear are a must.

Well worth the time and money. We had a fairly small group and our guide was excellent. Very interesting to learn about the history

Tour guide was excellent- well-informed, brilliant communicator and interested in her job. Location was fascinating. Café very expensive.

Our guide was knowledgeable, informative and fun, really bringing the story of Knossos alive. Well worth it.

Great guide. Still very hot in Sept but she kept us in the shade whenever possible. Her passion for the subject really showed through. Audio earpieces were OK and clear enough (unlike those on our Parthenon tour ) A great experience.

Very informative tour of a place of such significant history. Knossos is a must do if you are in Crete

A great experience. Our guide taught us some very interesting history (won't spoil it for you). Wear comfortable shoes and wear sunscreen

Our guide was a wealth of knowledge of the history behind the Palace, the people and history of Crete and how to navigate thru the site to avoid the huge cruise ship crowds. Pay attention to the cruise ship schedule when planning to visit attractions near the port. Wish I remembered the guides name (group 12 at 9am on Sep 1, 2025). She was a talented story teller and educator and was truthful in telling what was "fact" vs. what were beliefs or biases as more facts were discovered. For example, despite the focus on calling this a "Palace" and referring to the "King" the current knowledge suggest it was more of an economic and spiritual center and the rulers were female who operated more in a cooperative community. No one had a residence here. As always in society, there was a minority ruling class and majority subservient population. Amazing how much people had to understand to survive 4,000 yrs ago. The cell phone drones of today would not survive, including me. The windows in the room with king's wooden chair were positioned to identify the timing of the 4 seasons to enable them to know when to plant and harvest various crops. Took me a couple of days to figure out which way was N/E/S or W to know when to lay out in the sun at our hotel room. The design of features we take for granted today like sewer systems, the organization of how to ship goods in and out and where and how to store food products is fascinating. Unlike a lot of other places in the world the focus was not on military weapons used to control populations but similar to today the ruling class had immense wealth and power based on their control of economic systems (trade, currency/bartering, etc.). The guide made you aware of the vast network of trading partners around the world that Crete derived its' wealth from by being the hub of activity. Definitely pair your visit hear with a visit to the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion where many of the artifacts from the Palace are preserved.

Very interesting and informative tour. Our guide was an archeologist that had actually worked on digs at the site. Travel out to the site can be done via bus, most people took the bus or a taxi. We paid for the transport which I don’t know if it was needed, but did make everything very easy and stress free if you are not an experienced traveler.

Great way to understand the history of the Minoans and how it all comes together. Good to combine this with the museum ideally.