Tour reviews · HERAKLION TOURS

Heraklion: 15 Trips Worth Leaving the Port For

98 tours  ·  from $9

Most people pass through Heraklion on the way to Knossos and miss what is behind it. These 15 cover the palace, the Lasithi plateau, the wine villages and the boats east, with prices and pickup points.

Heraklion: Dia Island Sailboat Cruise with Swimming and Meal - Why the 14-person limit matters
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Heraklion: Dia Island Sailboat Cruise with Swimming and Meal

1.Dia Island Sailboat Cruise with Swimming and Meal

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2,579 reviews · 5.5 hours · from $95Our pick

Sail from Heraklion’s Venetian Harbour to Dia Island aboard a small yacht with up to 14 people. Captain Petros and crew members such as Sofia, Giannis, Mariana, and Manos have been praised for friendly service. Swim, snorkel, paddleboard, and enjoy shrimp linguini, Greek salad, Cretan appetizers, and unlimited drinks.

“This was a top notch experience: I strongly recommend this sunset boat trip!”

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Crete: Knossos Palace Entry Ticket with Optional Audio Guide - Entering with the prebooked phone ticket
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Crete: Knossos Palace Entry Ticket with Optional Audio Guide

2.Knossos Palace Entry Ticket with Optional Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 2,251 reviews · 1 day · from $30

Enter Knossos Palace at your chosen time and walk through the former Minoan political center at your own pace. See ancient living quarters, workrooms, storerooms, murals, and the throne room. Add a self-guided audio tour in English, Italian, French, or Spanish, but bring headphones and expect to navigate without a detailed map.

“Very nice experience, we enjoyed walking on the path of more than 1500BC history. Audio guide or a guide is a must!”

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Heraklion Area: CRETAquarium Admission Ticket - Jellyfish, turtles, and the best viewing angles
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Heraklion Area: CRETAquarium Admission Ticket

3.Heraklion Area: CRETAquarium Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2,055 reviews · 1 day · from $9Best value

Spend a flexible day at CRETAquarium, part of the THALASSOKOSMOS marine research complex near Heraklion. Follow a clear route through Mediterranean habitats, open-topped jellyfish and clownfish tanks, shark exhibits, stingrays, scorpionfish, and tropical species. Plan about one hour, or longer if you use the €3 audio guide.

“It was great - we were worried it might be like Barcelona’s aquarium (which if you ever get the chance to go - don’t it’s a waste of money and so rubbish). But the staff were friendly and the route was well signposted - some interactive parts and very informative. It’s on the smaller side but it’s good because you can get it all done fairly good time (and I imagine that’s good for people with kids too) the cafe at the end was great too - we had carbonara and it was really nice. We kept the car in the free car park and spent the rest of the…”

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Crete: Palace of Knossos E-Ticket and Audio Guide - Entering Knossos without the long ticket line
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Crete: Palace of Knossos E-Ticket and Audio Guide

4.Palace of Knossos E-Ticket and Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 1,540 reviews · 1 - 5 hours · from $34

Walk through Knossos Palace at your own pace with a pre-booked e-ticket, site map, and downloadable audio guide in English, German, French, Spanish, or Italian. Hear about Minoan daily life, fashion, trade, frescoes, and palace rooms. Optional add-ons cover Heraklion City and the Archaeological Museum.

“The Palace is a must-visit and the experience with the audio tour should not be lost by anyone. The tour shares unknown information with a more curated content which you cannot even learn by a tour guide. Plus, you can read it/listen it in advance and after the visit and you can better digest the information and enjoy your tour. Highly suggested!!!”

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Agia Pelagia Crete Quad Bike authentic backland Tour - Starting at Peninsula Resort and Spa
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Agia Pelagia Crete Quad Bike authentic backland Tour

5.Agia Pelagia Crete Quad Bike authentic backland Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,430 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $50

Join Stan and the Safari Tours Peninsula team for a 3.5-hour quad ride through Crete’s back roads. Practice before driving, visit Achlada’s abandoned village, taste local olive oil and honey, and stop in Fodele, the village linked with El Greco. The $50 price includes fuel, helmets, guides, and tax.

“all very good. a great mix of terrain and views. might have been nice to go to a beach on way back for a seim??”

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Hersonissos: Jet Boat Tour with Snorkeling - From Hersonissos Port to 90-kilometer-per-hour turns
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Hersonissos: Jet Boat Tour with Snorkeling

6.Hersonissos: Jet Boat Tour with Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,385 reviews · 1 hour · from $53

Set out from Hersonissos Port with an experienced captain such as Kostas or Lucas for 30 minutes of fast coastal riding, optional 360-degree turns, and views toward Stalis, Malia, and Analipsi. Then spend 30 minutes swimming and snorkeling at Saint George’s Bay, with equipment and hotel pickup included.

“It was a very fun experience together with my wife, very exiting and interesting.”

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Knossos: Knossos Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Walking Tour - Walking through 4,000 years at the palace
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Knossos: Knossos Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Walking Tour

7.Knossos: Knossos Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,380 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $104

Visit Knossos Palace in 90 minutes with a licensed English-speaking guide, priority entry, and a small-group option. Guides such as Akrivi, Katerina, and Georgios bring Minoan archaeology, mythology, engineering, and recent discoveries together. Choose an early or late slot for lighter crowds, or add Heraklion Archaeological Museum entry and optional city pickup.

“Very kind, funny, and knowledgeable tour guide. Tour was great and had plenty of shady spots to hear about the history”

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Full-Day Land Rover Safari from Heraklion with Lunch - Lunch at a local tavern
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Full-Day Land Rover Safari from Heraklion with Lunch

8.Full-Day Land Rover Safari from Heraklion with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,351 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $113Top rated

Spend eight hours riding from Heraklion into Crete’s mountains with guides such as Kostas, Chris, Yiannis, or Darryl. Visit Sfendili, a shepherd’s mitato, the Lassithi Plateau, Dikteon Cave area, and Krassi’s ancient plane tree. Expect bumpy roads, generous food, local wine, and a small-group feel.

“A great day out. Beautiful views in the mountains, visited an olive factory, a shepherd and had a fabulous lunch at a tavern. Sadly the cave of zeus is closed so we were unable to visit. Tony was an informative, fun guide.”

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Heraklion: Sailboat Cruise to Dia Island with Drinks & Lunch - Dia Island and Saint George Bay
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Heraklion: Sailboat Cruise to Dia Island with Drinks & Lunch

9.Sailboat Cruise to Dia Island with Drinks & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,287 reviews · from $90

Set sail from Heraklion with an English- or Greek-speaking crew for Dia Island, about an hour offshore. Swim and snorkel in Saint George Bay, try fishing, enjoy lunch and unlimited drinks, then relax on deck. Shared cruises include the meal, while private trips let you select meal add-ons.

“Pick up from cruise ship was on time, comfortable and a friendly driver. This was a great shore excursion-loved the journey to Dia which is a beautiful bay, gorgeous sea to swim and snorkel in!”

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Heraklion: Finikia Horse Riding Tour with Lunch or Dinner - Starting at the Finikia farm
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Heraklion: Finikia Horse Riding Tour with Lunch or Dinner

10.Finikia Horse Riding Tour with Lunch or Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,231 reviews · 4.5 hours · from $94

Join Gregory, Irene, George, and their family for a two-hour horseback ride through the Finikia mountains. Beginners get a basic lesson and carefully matched horses, while experienced riders may canter when conditions allow. Finish with a generous homemade Cretan lunch or dinner, wine, fruit, and time with the farm animals.

“Amazing experience! Definitely a must do if visiting Crete. The owners were so friendly and made you feel very comfortable! The food was incredible. Thank you so much to everyone at Finikia Horseriding. ❤️”

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Crete: Knossos Palace & Heraklion Guided Tour - The two-hour guided walk through Knossos Palace
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Crete: Knossos Palace & Heraklion Guided Tour

11.Knossos Palace & Heraklion Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,127 reviews · 6 - 9 hours · from $35

Travel by air-conditioned bus from selected Crete resorts to Knossos Palace and Heraklion. A licensed guide, including guides such as Vangelis, leads the two-hour palace visit, then you get about three hours for the Archaeological Museum, market, Venetian sights, shopping, and lunch. Entrance fees are extra.

“A very good day trip. The tour guide's enthusiasm for Crete's history was infectious”

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5Hour Safari Tour in Crete(Heraklion)with Quad,Jeep,Buggy & Lunch - The cave and stream near Skalani
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5Hour Safari Tour in Crete(Heraklion)with Quad,Jeep,Buggy & Lunch

12.5Hour Safari Tour in Crete(Heraklion)with Quad,Jeep,Buggy & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 941 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $107

Spend about five hours driving a quad, 1000cc buggy, Monster 800cc, or Jeep through Crete near Heraklion. Creta Quad Safari provides instruction, helmets, guides, lunch, water, and hotel or port pickup within its service area. Expect dusty tracks, olive groves, a historic cave, mountain views, Karteros Gorge, and a beach stop.

“What an amazing day. Great quality quads, amazing staff, Yummy lunch, so much fun. These guys really catered to our every need”

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Heraklion: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour - The 12-stop Heraklion city circuit
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Heraklion: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour

13.Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 912 reviews · 2 days · from $23

Use one 48-hour ticket on two Heraklion bus routes: a 12-stop city circuit reaching Knossos and a six-stop line to Ammoudara Beach. You get maps, earphones, and commentary in several languages. Staff such as Jackie have been especially helpful with route advice, ticket questions, and even lost phones.

“the two ladies are very kind and explained everything so well and crete is a beautiful island and Heraklion a beautiful city”

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Agia Pelagia Quad Safari to Discover the Authentic Crete - What the Riding Is Really Like
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Agia Pelagia Quad Safari to Discover the Authentic Crete

14.Agia Pelagia Quad Safari to Discover the Authentic Crete

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 877 reviews

Set out from Agia Pelagia on a guided quad safari through quiet tracks, coastal viewpoints, and the hills above Crete. After a safety briefing and practice session, visit the near-abandoned village of Achlada, then continue to Fodele, birthplace of El Greco. Guides such as Stan and Elyes add local stories, humor, and practical help along the way.

“Awesome sunset, raki at the end. It’s a must do experience in Agia Pelagia/ Heraklion zone. The off road trail is very easy to do, no previous experience in trail bikes is required.”

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Crete: Knossos Palace and Museum E-Tickets with Audio Guides - Choosing between the 8:00 and 10:00 start
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Crete: Knossos Palace and Museum E-Tickets with Audio Guides

15.Knossos Palace and Museum E-Tickets with Audio Guides

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 828 reviews · 4 - 6 hours · from $69

Visit Knossos Palace and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum with one time-slotted ticket and optional audio tours in English, German, French, Spanish, or Italian. Explore Minoan treasures at your own pace, from the Throne Room and Queen’s Megaron to the Minos Ring and Roman-era artifacts. You arrange your own transport between sites.

“It was good, but with one or two small problems. First, I found the audio tour of Knossos cut off a bit before the end - I think it hadn't downloaded fully. It would be good to provide some visual aid to see that the download has completed. Also, the audio narration was clear and well-read, but frankly almost all foreign and foreign-derived words and names were hopelessly mispronounced. The effect was ridiculous - given the price of the tour, you would think they would check pronunciation before publishing! It's a matter of quality control. Also the map is not easy to read. The best thing is having a pre-booking…”

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New in Heraklion Tours

★ 4.5Knossos Palace and Pottery experience (Luxury Adventure)From $11832 reviews
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★ 4.7Hersonissos: Alar Spectacular Dinner ShowFrom $3145 reviews
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Somewhere to begin the week

A port, a ruin or a mountain road.

Ancient

Acropolis EntryKnossosDelphiAncient SitesMuseums

Afloat

Boat DaysSailing DaysSunset SailingsSea CavesSnorkelling

At the table

Food WalksCooking ClassesCellar VisitsOlive MillsDinner Tables

Inland

MeteoraGorge WalksOff-Road DaysVillage RunsWalking Tours