Skip-the-Line Palace of Knossos & Heraklion City Highlights
Crete, Greece
From USD 192.85
Office phone number: +30 698 678 0970
Skip-the-Line Palace of Knossos & Heraklion City Highlights
Crete, Greece
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
You can’t leave Heraklion, the capital of Crete, without visiting the world-famous Palace of Knossos, home of the minotaur! But this time, we’ll do it with a twist! Instead of visiting the famous archaeological site during its peak hours with throngs of tourists wandering around, we would like to invite you on a more eclectic journey! Together, we’ll explore a hidden side of the city, taste local treats and then walk through the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete, which has been called Europe's oldest city — all with skip-the-line access!
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Highlights
- Dive into Heraklion’s history, listen to stories about its turbulent past and visit its legendary churches, fountains and monuments
- Explore the unique Palace of Knossos with a licensed local guide
- Learn the secrets of the world-renowned Cretan diet by sampling its best products at the local market
- Discover the local side of Heraklion through its lesser-known streets, forgotten laneways, and old city walls
- Indulge in local flavours like a meze platter and raki or wine
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
- On this tour you will visit 100% local, family-owned businesses and meet vendors at a local market who sell their own and Cretan-only products.
- All of the food you sample during your tour is sourced from local villages, farmers, and stock-breeders of Crete.
- As part of your tour you will have lunch in a locally-run tavern that serves traditional Cretan dishes
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Schedule details
- Duration: 6 hours
- Meeting point:
Meeting point: Eleftherias Square, in the city centre. Our guide will be standing next to the statue, in the middle of the square.
- Starting time: 9.00 AM
- Ending point:
City centre.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, local licensed guide during Knossos Palace visit, transportation, food and beverage samples as indicated in the itinerary (local sweets, olives and cheese, coffee or soft drink, a meze platter, which are local tapas). The food provided should be more than enough to allow you to skip lunch!
Exclusions: Knossos Entrance Fee (approx. €15); note that entrance tickets are not included in the tour fee. We save you time by buying entrance tickets in advance so you can skip the lines. Also not included are additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, plus tips/gratuities for your guide.
Bypass the concrete and head straight for the heart of Heraklion. Hit the backstreets and hidden pathways, checking out the highlights, sampling local treats, and discovering all the forces that have combined to make Heraklion the city it is today.
You’ll start off with a freshly brewed traditional coffee paired with a wander through the local market where you can sample local products such as olive oil, local olives and cheese. In between bites, you’ll have a chance to chat with local shop owners.
Moving on, we’ll walk along 25 August Street, admiring some of Heraklion’s major highlights, including St. Titus Cathedral and the Morosini Fountain in the heart of the city. As we continue along the hidden backstreets of Heraklion, your local guide will discuss the city’s history and point out further evidence of how the city has been shaped into the lively place it is today.
Lunch time is fast approaching but don’t worry, we have you covered. We’ll delve into mouth-watering recipes called mezedes (local tapas) at a locally loved tavern and if you feel brave enough, why not try our local delicacy of fried snails?
After filling up on tapas, your licensed guide will lead you to one of the world’s most famous monuments, the Palace of Knossos, without having to wait in the endless lines thanks to our skip-the-line access.
The palace of King Minos in Knossos is one of the most important ancient monuments not only in Crete, but in all of Greece. The impressive palace came to light in March 1900, discovered by archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, despite the first, fruitless excavation which was carried out in 1878 by wealthy local Mino Kalokerinos, while Crete was still under Ottoman occupation. The ruins of the palace are awe-inspiring, raising questions about a civilisation lost in time but still visible today. You could visit the site numerous times, always finding something new to be amazed by.
At the end of the tour, we will drop you off in the city centre or back at your cruise ship. Your local guide will give you tips and suggestions for local joints and current festivals to check out.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, local licensed guide during Knossos Palace visit, transportation, food and beverage samples as indicated in the itinerary (local sweets, olives and cheese, coffee or soft drink, a meze platter, which are local tapas). The food provided should be more than enough to allow you to skip lunch!
Exclusions: Knossos Entrance Fee (approx. €15); note that entrance tickets are not included in the tour fee. We save you time by buying entrance tickets in advance so you can skip the lines. Also not included are additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, plus tips/gratuities for your guide.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Dietary Notes
We can accommodate vegetarians and other dietary restrictions. Please notify us in advance if you have any dietary requests. You can do so in the ‘Additional information’ box at checkout, or by emailing us at info@creteurbanadventures.com.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +30 698 678 0970
Email address: info@creteurbanadventures.com
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