8 City Tours in Heraklion, In Order of What They Give Back

1.Historical Center City Tour & Knossos Palace

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 340 reviews · 7 hours - 510 minutes · from $47Our pick

Spend the day at Knossos Palace and in central Heraklion with a multilingual guide. Hear the Minoan story through headsets, walk the old town and Venetian harbor, then choose between lunch, shopping, or the Archaeological Museum. Guides including Soula, Christina, and Eleni have earned praise for clear explanations and thoughtful pacing.

“Excellent way to spend half a day in Knossos learning and seeing the minimal capital city and get to see city center at Heraklion to get your bearings when you arrive in Crete.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Knossos Palace, Heraklion City, Market Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 164 reviews · 6 - 8 hours · from $41

Travel by coach from Crete's resort towns to Knossos, where a live guide explains the Minoan ruins. Visit a farm in Patsides for Cretan samples, then spend about 2.5 hours in Heraklion with time for the market, harbor, shops, lunch, or the archaeological museum. Guides speak English, German, French, or Polish.

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Chania/Rethymno: Knossos Palace & Heraklion City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 152 reviews · 8 hours · from $29

Travel by coach from Chania or Rethymno to Knossos and Heraklion. You get about two hours at the palace, time at the Archaeological Museum, and free time downtown. Hotel-area pickup, English service, and return transport are included. Entrance tickets cost an extra €20, and guided commentary at the sites is not guaranteed.

“Great day - Caterina the tour guide was so kind and helpful and spoke great English! We did this tour with our 11 month old baby (if you’re taking a baby I advise that it’s not pram/stroller friendly so bring a carrier or prepare to pick the baby up lots of steps). Other than that it was a really great day, thankyou to Caterina the tour guide and Nicos the driver of our coach!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Chersonissos: Mini-Train City Highlights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 148 reviews · from $19Best value

You ride a mini-train from the Copa Cabana café bus stop through Chersonissos, passing the old town, port, and beaches at Analipsi and Anisaras. Choose the longer route to visit Avdou, Gonies, and Potamies, with Greek music, multilingual audio, raki, and local sweets included on the village option.

“Waste of money. No guarantee you can get on the trains and is purely a tour of hotel stops”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Knossos Palace, Museum & Rethymno city Private Tour from Chania

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 69 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) Top rated

Spend about 10 hours traveling from Chania to Knossos, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and Rethymno in a private van for up to six people. Christine and Thanos share Cretan customs, history, food, and Greek words along the way. A guided Knossos visit with an archaeologist can be added, while snacks, drinks, lunch, WiFi, and hotel pickup keep the long day comfortable.

“Amazing tour. Cristina picked us up at our cruise ship. Drove us to Knossos and we learned so much. Along the route she and her husband taught us about Crete, the history, and Knossos. They had internet in their van and showed us a number of videos on a screen in the backseat that allowed the history to come to life. They also arranged for a private tour of Knossos with a private tour guide who is one of the best tour guides I’ve ever had. Along the ride back, we learned about their lives in Crete and they even taught us a bit of Greek. Now we know that…”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Knossos Palace, Museum & Heraklion City Tour From Chania

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 61 reviews · 1 day · from $58

Travel by coach from Chania to Knossos and Heraklion with an English-speaking guide. Hear the stories of Minos, Ariadne, and the Minotaur, see original Minoan art, and enjoy free time in Heraklion. Guides such as Stella, Caterina, and Elisaveta have led recent departures, though the guide is not clearly included in the listed price.

“The bus was very comfortable and on time at all the locations. The tour guide was enthusiastic and friendly. It did not work being in two languages. It meant information was rushed. We did not have long enough at the Palace of Knossos and there was an unnecessary stop at Rethymno.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Knossos Palace guided tour – Heraklion City tour + market

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 51 reviews · 6 - 8 hours · from $37

Spend 6 to 8 hours traveling from Crete’s resort areas to Knossos, a local farm near Patsides, and Heraklion. A guide leads you through the palace, then you get time for the Archaeological Museum, lunch, shopping, and the Venetian harbor. Expect a busy day, extra entrance fees, and plenty of walking in the sun.

“de Engelstalige gids was goed onderlegd!wat ik persoonlijk jammer vond is dat ze maar door ratelde...De wetenswaardigheden kon je niet eens verwerken...iets rustiger is ook goed en iets minder ook! ik persoonlijk voelde het als een" haastige" dag, maar toch genoten. voor iemand die minder goed ter been is , is het bezoek aan het paleis van Knossos erg zwaar.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Knossos Palace: E-ticket with Audio and Heraklion City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 26 reviews · 1 day · from $43

You get a pre-booked adult ticket to Knossos Palace plus offline audio tours for Knossos and Heraklion. Use your own phone and headphones to follow stories about the Throne Room, Koules Fortress, Morosini Fountain, Loggia, and more in English, German, French, Spanish, or Italian. No guide or transport is included.

“La audio guia funciona muy bien pero es un poco lio seguir la dirección correcta en un laberinto de indicaciones.”

Check availability →Read our full review