Knossos Palace, Heraklion Museum and Old Harbour
Meet your Heraklion tour guide at the agreed-upon location and begin the tour with a visit to the Palace of Knossos.
Explore the excavation sites of the Palace of Knossos, built in 2000 BC. Knossos was the prosperous Minoan capital and the residence of King Minos. Some believe that this intricate palace, with its many rooms, was the mythical labyrinth. Since the site was discovered not too long ago, archaeologists have uncovered remains of one of the first advanced civilisations in Europe.
Transfer to the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, where you will see essential finds from Minoan life. This state-of-the-art museum is one of the largest and most important in Greece. The two-storey, revamped 1930s Bauhaus building provides a gleaming showcase for artefacts spanning 5500 years, from Neolithic to Roman times, including a Minoan collection of unparalleled richness.
Proceed to the old harbour of Heraklion, dominated by the Venetian castle with its beautiful high walls. In the Venetian harbour of Heraklion stands the fortress of Koules, where the long mole of the new harbour begins. The mole is a famous spot for a stroll, especially on warm summer evenings, when the sea breeze offers some relief from the heat.
