The Palace of Knossos
The centre of Europe's oldest civilisation - the sprawling, partly reconstructed Bronze Age palace of the Minoans on Crete, home to the legend of the Minotaur.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
Knossos was the centre of the Minoan civilisation, the oldest in Europe, and its sprawling Bronze Age palace on Crete, over three and a half thousand years old, was the largest of its kind, a labyrinth of courtyards, storerooms and frescoed halls. Linked in legend to King Minos and the Minotaur, it was famously and controversially part-reconstructed by its excavator to bring the ruins to life.
What you actually see
- The palace complex - the sprawling labyrinth of courts, halls and storerooms.
- The reconstructed sections - the colourful rebuilt columns and rooms.
- The frescoes - the copies on site, the originals in Heraklion's museum.
- The throne room - the oldest throne room in Europe.
When to go
Spring and autumn for mild weather; summer is very hot and the site exposed. Combine it with the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, which holds the original frescoes and treasures. Go early to avoid crowds and heat.
Honest expectations
The early-twentieth-century reconstructions are vivid but controversial, more one archaeologist's imagination than proven fact, which colours the whole visit. It is busy and exposed, so go early. Pair it with the Heraklion museum, where the real frescoes and treasures are.
Nearby
Heraklion and its great museum are close; the beaches and mountains of Crete spread beyond.
What to pack for The Palace of Knossos
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
