Knossos Tickets: What They Cost, Where to Buy Them, and When to Go

Knossos runs on timed entry, so pick your day and slot and book online before you go. The official ministry e-ticketing service sells them directly, and resellers add audio guides, tours and museum combos. The palace sits just south of Heraklion, which makes it an easy half-day from the city, and a full day if you add the Heraklion Archaeological Museum.

How much do Knossos tickets cost?

2026 prices: full admission to the archaeological site is €20 and reduced admission is €10. The special ticket package for Knossos costs the same, €20 full and €10 reduced. Each ticket is good for a single entry on the date and time you select.

Children up to age 18 from non-EU countries are entitled to free admission when they show a passport that confirms their age and country, which is good news for American families with kids under 18. Young people up to 25 from EU member states also enter free with an ID card or passport. Pack those passports in your day bag. The hotel safe won't help you at the gate.

Where do you buy Knossos tickets?

The official e-ticketing service of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports is www.etickets.tap.gr. Tickets there are non-refundable, but you can change your booking up to 2 hours before your entry time, with a maximum of two changes per ticket.

Resellers such as Tiqets and Headout sell timed tickets too, and some let you cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours ahead. Others offer a book-now, pay-later option, which suits a trip that's still taking shape. Terms vary widely, and at least one agency keeps 100% of the cost if you cancel, so read the cancellation policy before you pay. Whichever route you take, your ticket works on your phone or printed.

Can you skip the line at Knossos, and does it matter?

Skipping the line matters. Booking ahead is a good idea, since Knossos is among the busiest sites on Crete.

What are the opening hours at Knossos?

The gates open at 8 a.m. from April through October and at 8:30 a.m. in winter. Closing time shifts with the season:

• November 1 to March 31: 5 p.m.
• From April through August, the site stays open until 8 p.m.
• In the first half of September, closing time is 7:30 p.m., and in the second half it is 7 p.m.
• In the first half of October, closing time is 6:30 p.m., and in the second half it is 6 p.m.

Don't aim for it, though. The site is big, and you'll want time to walk it.

Knossos is closed on January 1, March 25, Easter Sunday, May 1 (Labor Day), December 25 and December 26. It opens 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Good Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Holy Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on August 15. Bad weather can also close the site early, so it's worth checking before you go.

When is Knossos free?

Free admission is offered on March 6, April 18, May 18, the last weekend of September and October 28. The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is free on those days as well, and also on the first and third Sunday of each month from November 1 to March 31.

Is there a combined ticket with the Heraklion museum?

Yes. Resellers sell combos that pair the palace with the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, often with audio guides. The museum is one of the oldest in Greece, and its Minoan collection includes the Phaistos Disc, the Snake Goddess and the Ring of Minos.

If you book separately, museum admission is €20, available at the museum's ticket booth or online at https://hhticket.gr/. In summer the museum opens at 8 a.m., except on Wednesdays, when it doesn't open until 1 p.m., so plan Knossos for that morning. Allow about two hours at the site and about three at the museum. A bus from Knossos drops you right in front of the museum.

Are guided tours of Knossos worth it?

Guided tours help bring the ruins to life. One small-group tour runs 90 minutes with an English-speaking guide and entry included. Another combo pairs Knossos with a two-day bus pass for the city's hop-on hop-off route. From the west of the island, a full-day trip with hotel pickup in Chania covers Knossos, Heraklion and Rethymno, with an expert guide at the palace and round-trip air-conditioned coach transfers. Many tours don't include entry tickets or transport, so check the inclusions before you book.

How do you get to Knossos from Heraklion?

Knossos is about 3 miles (5 km) south of Heraklion. Bus No. 2 leaves from the Central Bus Station near the port, takes about 30 minutes and ends at Knossos. The hop-on hop-off bus stops near the site at Stop #9. If you have a rental car, there's free parking near the entrance, and drivers coming from Chania can stop at Knossos on the way into Heraklion.

What should you bring to Knossos?

Bring water, a hat, sunscreen and comfortable shoes for the ruins. There's a cafe, a gift shop and restrooms on site.