Top Crete Archaeology Tours

Private & Personalized: Choose Your 6- or 4-Hour Itinerary Perfect for Cruise Stops & Island Stays Guaranteed on-time return to your ship More than just stops — a guided cultural journey. 6-Hour Option: Choose Three (3) Authentic Experiences: Knossos Palace | Olive Mill Tour & Tasting | Winery Tour & Tasting | Pottery Workshop & Monastery | Archaeological Museum & City Stroll | Arolithos Traditional Village | Or a place on your wish list 4-Hour Option: Choose Two (2) Authentic Experiences from the list above Enjoy narrated drives through Heraklion, charming villages, and scenic landscapes between experiences. Discover authentic Cretan traditions, from pottery, wine, and olive oil to history and local culture, shaping life on the island today. Exclusively for cruise guests arriving at Heraklion Port (there are 3 cruise ports on Crete) Crete · Private Tour · Shore Excursion · From Heraklion Port · Day Trip · Noon · Afternoon · Evening

Check out two different historical regions of Greece in this day tour that takes you to explore the Lassithi Plateau and the Knossos Palace in Heraklion, plus much more. This is a group tour, so you’ll be keeping costs down. Your guide and driver will take care of all the logistics for you, so you can enjoy your full day exploring the history and local culture of the area.

Crete rewards those willing to venture beyond the resorts, but navigating between palaces, mountain plateaus, and villages on your own takes planning. This small-group tour with a private option handles the logistics with an air-conditioned vehicle and a local guide. You'll cover Knossos Palace, the Lasithi Plateau's windmills, the Dikteon Cave, and an olive oil factory where you can taste the local product.

Discover the Bronze Age city of Knossos and take a sightseeing tour of Heraklion. Knossos was once the capital of the Minoan civilization and is known to be Europe’s oldest city. Enjoy a guided tour of the labyrinthine palace and learn about its history. Then, visit Heraklion, the current capital of Crete, to discover its landmarks including the Lion’s Fountain.

Spinalonga, an island once used to isolate people suffering from leprosy, has become more popular since Victoria Hislop's novel The Island reimagined it. Visit this historic island, plus the Agios Nikolaos resort town with Lake Voulismeni, and Elounda, known for luxury hotels and beaches, on this guided day trip. Admission to Spinalonga is not included.

Without a rental car, visiting Crete’s Palace of Knossos and capital of Heraklion in a day from Rethymnon means using cabs or local buses. This tour eliminates the hassles, with air-conditioned transport and an option to include a Knossos guide to ensure you cover the highlights and Minoan Crete’s history and legends. Plus, you get free time in Heraklion to visit its Archaeological Museum or shop and eat at leisure.

Unlock the mysteries of ancient Crete on this unforgettable full-day tour departing from Chania! Visit two of the island’s most iconic destinations — the historic city of Heraklion and the world-famous Palace of Knossos — and experience a journey through myth, history, and vibrant modern life. Why Choose This Tour? ✔️ Comprehensive and well-paced — balancing guided experiences with free time to explore ✔️ Expert storytelling by professional licensed guides ✔️ Travel in comfort with our air-conditioned luxury buses ✔️ Ideal for history enthusiasts, culture lovers, and curious travelers ✔️ Starting conveniently from Chania &Rethymnno — no need to worry about transport logistics! Follow the footsteps of ancient kings, explore one of the greatest civilizations in human history, and enjoy the lively atmosphere of Crete’s capital city — all in one exciting day! Reserve your Knossos Palace & Heraklion Day Tour today and make history part of your journey!

Knossos was once the capital of the Minoan civilization, and a must-see site in Crete. Explore the landmark in the company of a guide, who can provide more insights than visiting on your own. Afterwards, enjoy a guided walk around central Heraklion and free time to explore afterwards on your own.

Travelers with a range of interests will enjoy this private full-day tour of Crete, including Knossos, the Lasithi Plateau Windmills, and the Cave of Zeus. History enthusiasts will love learning about the island’s ancient history, while nature lovers will enjoy the beautiful views. As this private tour, you can relax knowing that everything is taken care of by your English-speaking driver-guide.

Visit three places in one day on this private tour which explores Knossos Palace, the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, and Rethymno city. This is a private tour for you and your group, so no need to stick to a rigid schedule. You’ll have lunch and drinks provided, so you don’t need to bring these yourself. Just enjoy your day out with return transfers to Chania.

Spend the day exploring southern Crete with this full-day guided tour of Gortys (Gortyn) and Matala. After pickup from designated locations around Crete, travel by air-conditioned bus to the Gortys archeological park, the former Roman capital of Crete. Afterwards, head to the coast and Matala, where you will have four hours of free time to spend how want.

Go beyond Heraklion to visit the island of Spinalonga on a day trip by coach and boat. Offering an easy way to get from the city to the scenic Elounda Gulf area, this excursion covers transport direct from your hotel, a boat ride, and a barbecue lunch, along with ample free time to explore the island, Kolokitha Bay, Elounda, and postcard-perfect Agios Nikolas.

Discover the Plateau of Lassithi and several area highlights on this full-day guided tour. Enjoy pickup from many areas of north Crete and travel by air-conditioned vehicle. Visit the Kera Kardiotissa Monastery, the explore Dictean Cave, said to be the birthplace of Zeus. Afterwards, visit Termiado, the capital of the Lassithi Plateau, with a stop at a pottery workshop.

Familiarize yourself with the traditional lifestyle and history that makes up the real Crete. Your tour will start at the Melidoni Cave. Dating back to the Neolithic Period, this area is full of clues into ancient lifestyles. Finally, visit the village of Apostoli. Home to a functioning olive oil factory, you'll learn about the production of olive oil before enjoying lunch at a tavern.

Visit the island of Spinalonga on this guided tour from Agios Nikolaos. Board your vessel and take in the sights as you make your way to the old Venetian fortress. Then, enjoy a guided tour of the premises, learning about the island’s historical and archaeological significance.

We begin our journey at Knossos Palace, the ancient kingdom of the mighty King Minos, where legends of the Minotaur and the labyrinth come to life! As you walk among ruins full of stories waiting to be discovered, you'll sense the spirit of an extraordinary civilization. After Knossos, we adjust the tour based on your mood. • Hungry for more history? Let's visit the Archaeological Museum! • Want to explore Crete’s vibrant capital, Heraklion? We'll take a pleasant walk through its lively city center. • Curious to explore a traditional village? Let's head to Archanes, known for its picturesque streets and charming architecture. It's also famous for its vineyards, making it the perfect spot for a local winery tour. Want to do something different? Just let us know in advance or on the spot, and we'll offer you all the options to match your desires so you can decide where to go next. One thing's for sure – we'll do our best to ensure you're satisfied throughout the entire itinerary!

See a side of Crete that many tourists miss, on this private full-day tour to the places off the tourist map. Head away from the island’s busy beaches to discover the real Crete, visiting an olive oil producer, traditional wind mills, and sleepy inland villages. You also have the options to enjoy a local lunch and go wine tasting (fees not included).

Knossos palace is Crete’s most visited archaeological site. Discover the most well know myths about the Minotaur and the Labyrinth while walking through the history of the Minoan civilization. The first excavation of the site was conducted in 1878 by Minos Kalokerinos of Heraklion. This was followed by the long-term excavations 1900-1913 and 1922-1930) of the Englishman Sir Arthur Evans, who uncovered virtually the entire palace. While walking through the palace one can admire the Frescoes, pottery and the Throne room. This great civilization was destroyed at the explosion of the volcano of Santorini island. Come with us and our professional guide-archaelogist to learn about the history and the myths that surround this great palace.

The epicenter of Minoan civilization, the Palace of Knossos is Crete’s most important archaeological site—but at around a 3-hour drive from Chania, it’s a real schlep to self-drive. Skip the hassles of parking and Cretan traffic and relax on this convenient guided bus trip, with pickup and drop-off at many Chania area hotels. You’ll also visit Rethymno and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, though all entrance fees are at your expense.

Cover more of western Crete’s top natural attractions in less time on a private sightseeing tour that covers Chania Old Town. Kournas Lake, and the historic town of Rethymnon. While your driver takes care of navigating, you’ll be able to soak up scenes of the Cretan countryside, while enjoying the freedom to tailor and tweak your private itinerary.

Hit Heraklion’s highlights in just half a day direct from your accommodation (or cruise ship) when you book this private tour, with skip-the-line tickets to the iconic Palace of Knossos. Your licensed guide will showcase details from lighting to drainage that bring this lost civilization to life. Next, discover the Heraklion Archaeological Museum (own expense) and its Minoan collection; finally, explore Heraklion, including the fortress, cathedral, market and Venetian Walls.

Crete is an island full of treasures you need a lifetime to discover. It is also one of the safest places of the world. With this tour you get in touch with the rich Cretan History, the famous Cretan Hospitality, the local Culture, the Cretan Cuisine, which is the base of the Mediterranean Diet. With the help of our Experienced Professional Licensed Tourist Guide, who will be with you during the whole tour, you will travel back in time, as far as the 7th Millennium BC, visiting the Palace of Knossos and the Archaeological Museum. Then you will explore the Old Town of Heraklion and admire the signs of all the different civilizations that stopped by the island through the ages. This tour has many alternatives like wine tasting, or olive oil tasting, or a traditional meal at the traditional village of Archanes. Look at the "Private guided tour to Knossos Palace Olive Mill Pottery Winery" With this tour you take home nice feelings, beautiful impressions and you look forward to come back.

Explore Crete beyond Heraklion with a full-day sightseeing tour. Skip the hassle of driving and board an air-conditioned coach for a scenic tour. Visit several attractions including Knossos Palace and the Lassithi Plateau. Learn about Cretan traditions at Kera Kardiotissa Monastery or Panagia Vidiani Monastery, and complete the day with dining in an authentic Cretan tavern.