Knossos

Background

Knossos lies on the southern outskirts of Heraklion on Crete, Greece, about 5 km from the historic centre. The site centres on the Minoan palace, where you can see the Throne Room, the central court, the giant pottery jars that held olive oil, grain and wine in the storerooms of the west wing, and replicas of frescoes such as the bull-leaping scene; the double axe is a signature symbol of Minoan Crete. Knossos is often regarded as Europe's oldest city, with Neolithic settlement on Kephala hill from around 7000 BC. The first palace was built around 1900 BC; after it was destroyed around 1700 BC (probably by an earthquake), it was rebuilt on a larger scale and became the centre of Minoan civilisation. The palace served administrative, economic, religious and ceremonial functions, and whether it was a royal residence is still debated. In 2025 Knossos, together with Phaistos, Malia and other sites, was inscribed on the World Heritage List as the "Minoan Palatial Centres".

Local customs

• Walk the palace corridors and courts to see the Throne Room and storage areas
• combine the visit with the excavated frescoes and pottery at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum
• come early in the morning or towards evening to avoid tour groups.

Travel tips

• Summer sun is intense, so bring a sun hat and drinking water
• the ground is uneven, so wear flat shoes. A bus from Heraklion city takes just over ten minutes, or you can take a taxi
• drivers can use the site car park, and the site and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum can be combined in one day.
• April to October is the best time to visit, and in the summer heat mornings are best
• in winter there are fewer visitors, but opening hours are shorter at some times of year. Check tickets and opening hours with the official sources.