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Knossos Crete – Tips for Visitors
There is a local bus that will drop off and pick up at Knossos, it is
easy to catch from Plateia Eleftherias Square bus stop at the Astoria Hotel in downtown
Heraklion. Take Bus No. 2. marked
'Knossos'.The buses come every 20 minutes or so and the trip takes about 20 minutes, as the journey is only 5 km, but it depends on the traffic.
You may want to hire a car and simply drive to Knossos from Heraklion, which is only 5 km. You could then continue to Phaistos which is another 60 km, and perhaps stay overnight in Matala Beach on the southern coast.
Day tours to the site can be taken from most capitals on the
island, with a pick up from your hotel. Some tours combine the visit to
Knossos with lunch and a visit to another part of the island, or to the
museum. One advantage of these tours is the local guide with endless
historic knowledge.Consider a 'Skip the Line' ticket during July and August.
Half-Day Knossos Palace Tour - 5.5 hour tour includes Koules Fortress and Agios Titos church in Heraklion as well as a guided tour of the archaeological site. See the controversial reconstructions completed by the archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, and hear the stories of the labyrinth from your experienced history guide.
Take a Knossos Palace Tour - there are a variety of guided experiences available, from a Skip The Line entry ticket with a guide for 90 minutes, to a 12 hour day tour which includes Knossos and Lasithi Plateau.
The Hotel Lato is a good central hotel in Heraklion, from here you can be picked up or take bus or taxi to Knossos Crete.
Here is a good tip for those with a tight itinerary in Crete. If you are landing at Heraklion airport, take a taxi to the lovely rural village of Archanes, which is only 14 km.
Stay overnight in the delightful studios Arhontiko Studios Archanes then take a taxi early in the morning to Knossos Crete, which is 7 km down country roads.
This will ensure you miss busy Heraklion, and see one of the wonders of this island without any stress or hassle. Now that is the way to start your holiday in Crete!
Minoans at Knossos - the 'Birthplace of Europe'