If you’re intent on discovering the best of ancient Greece, visiting Knossos Palace Crete should be near the top of your list. The Bronze Age site is one of the main sites of what has been called the Minoan civilisation, and it’s one of the most popular places to visit in Crete, easy to reach on the outskirts of the capital, Heraklion.
The Knossos site dates back to around 2000 BC, so is around 4,000 years old. It is believed to be the site of – or close to – the legendary Labyrinth created by King Minos, where the half-bull half-man Minotaur roamed and consumed fourteen sacrificial Athenians each year.
Much of Knossos’ story is obscured by legend, but it was one of the main centres of a remarkable civilisation, possibly the first in Europe. And that’s what makes it so special, and such a compelling place to visit.
In this guide to visiting Knossos, I’ll explain the site’s backstory, and its discovery and ‘restoration’ in the early 20thcentury. I’ll explain how to get to Knossos from the centre of Heraklion, either by public transport or as part of a guided tour. And I’ll show you the main sights to look for around the Knossos Palace site.
Knossos Tickets And Tours
You have the option of visiting Knossos by yourself with an audio guide, or on a guided tour.
There is also the option of a combination ticket with the excellent Heraklion Archaeological Museum, where original artefacts discovered at Knossos are held.
And some tour companies offer day tours combining Knossos with other destinations on Crete. Here are the best options:
Knossos Skip the line guided walking tour – includes pick-up and drop-off in central Heraklion, and a 90-minute guided tour of the site
Knossos Palace guided tour – includes a 2-hour guided tour of the Knossos site, plus transport there and back to central Heraklion
Knossos Palace, Archaeological Museum and Heraklion Tour – guided tour of Knossos and Museum, plus 2 ½ hours for you to explore Heraklion yourself
Knossos, Lassithi Plateau, Zeus Cave and Oil Mill Tour – full day tour including drive around the lovely Lassithi Plateau, a visit to Zeus Cave and Knossos
What Was Knossos?
Knossos is usually described as a palace.
It was certainly a large complex, with up to five storeys in places.
Some of the rooms may well have been used for ceremonial purposes.
We also know that some parts were used for ritual bathing, so these areas would have been of religious significance.
There are also areas that were used for storage of food and supplies.
Given some of the artworks found at the site, it’s possible that part of the complex did indeed serve as a palace, or residence for someone very important in Cretan society at the time.
Who Were The Minoans?
The ‘Minoans’ is the name that Arthur Evans gave to the people of Crete who built and lived in the Knossos complex. They also built other palaces or complexes elsewhere on the island during the same period, including at Zakros, Malia, Phaistos and Kydonia (modern Chania).
Their modern name was given to them by Arthur Evans, and it’s derived from Minos, a legendary King of Crete or King who ruled at least part of Crete.
Many artefacts from the Minoan period have been discovered – including many from Knossos, now on display in the nearby Heraklion Archaeological Museum.
However, we know surprisingly little about them. Their script – called Linear A by Arthur Evans – has never been deciphered, so we know very little about the language they spoke, or what they called themselves.
The Discovery – And Controversy – Of Knossos
The Knossos Palace site was initially discovered by Cretan archaeologist Minos Kalokairinos in 1878, but the occupying Ottoman Turkish authorities prevented him from continuing his excavations.
English archaeologist, journalist and antiquarian Arthur Evans was aware of Kalokairinos’ work, and at a time when Ottoman authority had all but been removed from the island, he began work at the site in 1900.
Before visiting Knossos, it’s worth understanding why some historians wince at what archaeologist Arthur Evans did during and after his excavations at Knossos.
The first thing to remember is that Evans and his team unearthed a great many extraordinary treasures at Knossos. Most of these – including some of the frescoes displayed around Knossos – are on display at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, one of the best museums of its kind in the world.
However some of his work on the Knossos site was not faithful to the Minoan original – particularly the use of reinforced concrete. Just typing these words I have my head in my left hand, grimacing in pain at the thought of it.
Evans also commissioned Swiss artists Emile Gillieron Senior and Junior to repaint what has become known as the Throne Room. We don’t know whether their work bore any resemblance to the original frescoes that adorned these walls. Some have suggested that they didn’t at all.
Evans also moved some items from their original positions, and then there is the question of the red pillars. They adorn several locations around Knossos, including the famous North Propylaeum with the Bull fresco, but there isn’t any evidence to suggest that the Minoans ever built red pillars. They may have just been Evans’ idea.
What To See At Knossos Palace
North Propylaeum and Bull Fresco
This is the most famous feature of Knossos, a reconstructed section of the north entrance of the complex. It’s located at the end of the road from the sea 3 miles (5 km) to the north, so this area of Knossos may have been used as a customs area for checking imported goods.
The North Propylaeum is one of the most popular images of Crete. It’s eye-catching, with red pillars supporting the structure and a bull fresco decorating the wall behind the pillars. We can only guess how much of this would have been at Knossos in Minoan times – it’s all the work of Arthur Evans.
If you’re hoping to get a good photograph of the North Propylaeum, you need to visit Knossos in the morning. And the earlier the better. If you’re there when it first opens, the bull fresco is well lit by the low sunlight. By the time I was there – 9.30 am – the fresco is half in shadow as the sun rises. By the time afternoon comes around the whole structure is in shadow.
Bull Leaping Fresco
The Bull Leaping fresco is one of the best-known Knossos frescoes. As is the case with the others retrieved from the site, the originals are held in the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion, and what you see in Knossos is a copy.
The remains of the original fresco at the Museum are far more fragmentary than the copy on display in the northern part of the Central Court of Knossos.
But it’s useful to see the copy because it gives you a slightly better view of the action depicted. An adult figure seems to be leaping over a running bull – not the safest of activities! This may have been some kind of dare game or rite of passage where young men had to accomplish this dangerous feat.
Ultimately it’s all conjecture, but there is a modern parallel – the course landaise in southwest France is very similar, with teams jumping over the bull in a small arena.
Throne Room
The Throne Room is one of the most atmospheric spaces in Knossos. There is a small stone seat against one of the walls, hardly a sizeable throne as you might expect for a ruler. The rest of the chamber is bordered by stone bench seating.
So it’s possible that it may not have been a Throne Room – it may have been a small temple, or perhaps a room where a royal court may have met. We don’t know for sure.
The one thing that we can be certain of is that the painted walls are the work of father and son team Emile Gillieron Senior and Junior. We don’t know whether they had any original material to work on, or whether it’s a work of their imagination. Either way, their decoration actually works well, and the fading of century-old paint adds to the effect.
Prince of the Lilies Fresco
Also known as the Priest King Fresco, this is another of the most renowned Knossos frescoes. Again, a copy is on display at Knossos while the original is held in the Archaeological Museum in nearby Heraklion.
Although it’s commonly called a fresco, the original is actually made up of fragments of painted stucco or plaster. Parts of the original plaster were never recovered from Knossos, so again the final composition may vary from the original.
It has even been questioned whether the figure represents a man or woman. A good analogy would be that the pieces of the original ‘fresco’ in the Museum may have been put together from more than one jigsaw puzzle. Ultimately it’s very difficult to know
South Propylaeum and Cup Bearers Fresco
This is one of the first main sights visitors see at Knossos, as it’s on the route from the ticket office to the Central Court area of the complex. It’s on the left as you enter this area, another reconstructed section of the Palace with a fresco – in this case what has become known as the Cup Bearers Fresco, though some refer to it as the Procession fresco.
It consists of two figures, both male, each carrying some kind of drinking or storage vessel. One of them is an amphora-like jug, the other some sort of rhyton, a drinking vessel. This fresco differs significantly from the original in the Archaeological Museum, which is in a much more fragmentary state.
Queen’s Megaron and Dolphin Fresco
The Grand Staircase leads down to what is believed to be the Queen’s Suite, which is substantially different from what was originally discovered.
The most prominent feature is the stunning Dolphin Fresco, the original of which is now in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. It now adorns the top of one of the suite’s walls, but was originally located on the floor of the courtyard. The intention was to look down on it, so that it appeared as if dolphins were swimming in a pool of water.
This gives you an idea of how sophisticated the Minoans were, creating a trompe l’oeil effect. It’s such a pity that Evans moved such a beautiful piece from its original setting.
North Lustral Basin
Bathing was often performed as part of a religious ritual, a means of cleansing the body (and presumably the soul) before beginning a ritual. And it’s feasible that this structure, between the North Propylaeum and was built for this purpose.
A staircase descends from ground level to a lower chamber, and it’s possible that there was a water source there during Minoan times. A rare discovery was made there – an alabaster bowl with the inscription of an Egyptian king, Khyan – which indicates with this part of the world, over a hundred miles to the southeast of Crete.
Magazine of the Pithoi
This was one of the main storage areas of the Knossos complex. The pithoi are large storage jars – similar in appearance but larger than amphorae, a common sight at many ancient Greek sites.
They would have been used to store olive oil or wine, and used by the Minoans in trade with other cultures across the eastern Mediterranean. They would also have been used to store foodstuffs including grain.
How To Get To Knossos From Heraklion
It’s easy to get from the centre of Heraklion to Knossos on the blue number 2 bus. It begins at the roundabout next to the port exit, then stops outside the main Heraklion bus station (about 10 metres to the right after you exit) on Leof. Ikarou) and at Plateia Eleftherias (Liberty Square, close to the Archaeological Museum) at the top of the hill.
From there it’s a 15-minute ride south to Knossos. The final stop is around 150 metres away from the Knossos entrance, a short walk down the hill past several souvenir shops. The fare at the time of writing is €2 each way. I caught the bus from outside the bus station, and a lady was selling tickets at the stop.
Alternatively you can get a taxi to Knossos, but this will set you back close to €20.
Best Time For Visiting Knossos Palace Crete
If you have any control over the timing of your visit, I would urge you to plan to see Knossos early in the day. In doing so, you avoid the tour bus crowds, but more importantly the brutal midday and afternoon heat, when the temperature often reaches 40° Centigrade (104° Fahrenheit). There is very little shade around Knossos, and as you’ll see from some of the images in this article, you often to have to queue in the heat to enter some of the rooms around the site.
I also recommend bringing plenty of water, wearing a good wide sunhat and plenty of factor 50 sun protection.
If you’re visiting during the shoulder or low season (November through to April) the heat shouldn’t be as much of a factor, but between May and October it almost certainly will be.
Hotels In Heraklion
Here are some of the best places to stay in Heraklion:
***** – GDM Megaron Historical Monument Hotel – superb luxury hotel close to the historic centre, Archaeological Museum and port
**** – Centro Vero Suites by Omilos Hotels – apartment hotel in wonderful location next to the stunning Agios Titos Church
*** – Hotel Kastro – great mid-range option close to the Historical Museum, Venetian Harbour and seafront
** – Athinaiko Hotel – good budget to mid-range option a 5-minute walk south of Heraklion bus station
Visiting Knossos Palace Crete – Final Thoughts
If you’re visiting Crete’s capital, I suggest you take a look at my guide to the best things to do in Heraklion. At first glance, the city isn’t the most attractive on the island, but the more time I‘ve spent there, the more I’ve been drawn to it.
As well as Knossos, the city is home to some of the most famous landmarks in Crete, including the impressive Venetian Koules fortress in the Harbour. Take time to explore the narrow backstreets of the fairly small old town area, where you’ll find the remarkable Agios Titos church and some beautiful Venetian and Ottoman-era fountains. Even if you only have one day in Heraklion, you have enough time to see these as well as Knossos and the Museum.
Whether you’re travelling by air or boat, Heraklion is one of two main arrival points on Crete, along with Chania to the west. It’s a great gateway to the island, located on the centre of the northern coast, and within easy reach of most of the island’s other main cities and towns.
To the east, it’s only an hour’s bus ride to the famous Hersonissos Beaches and, a few miles beyond, Malia Beaches. If you have an interest in more recent Cretan history, I recommend an hour or so visiting Lychnostatis Open Air Museum, which explores rural life in Crete in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The gorgeous villages of Sissi Crete and Kritsa are a little further on, as are the likes of Voulisma Beach, the exclusive resort of Elounda, and Spinalonga Island, the famous former leper colony.
To the west, it’s less than an hour to the gorgeous Bali Crete beaches, but don’t expect to find a lot of space on them except for the shoulder season! Beyond there, Panormos is a lovely fishing village, within easy reach of Crete’s busy third city. There are plenty of things to do in Rethymno, with a gorgeous Old Town and some superb beaches.
Further west, the most beautiful city in Crete, and some of its outstanding beaches, await. Take a look at my guide to the best things to do in Chania, and my guides to Balos Beach, Falassarna Beach and the pink sands of Elafonissi Beach in the remote southwest corner of the island. If you’re curious how the two cities compare, check out my Chania or Heraklion article too.