Best 33 Museums & exhibitions activities on Crete Island

Join a guided tour of Knossos, a complex of more than 1500 interlocking rooms, once an astonishing palace built for a mighty king of the Bronze Age. Knossos is considered Europe’s oldest city. As you wander through the labyrinthine ruins, get the chance to see the original throne of ‘’Minos”, the mystifying sanctuaries, the luxurious domestic quarters of the royal family, Crete’s treasures pantries, and the water-management systems. The first palace of Knossos was erected soon after 2000 BC. In 1700 BC, a catastrophic earthquake destroyed the Palace. A new palace was built immediately, the most monumental of all, and for over 300 years it represented the pre-eminent center of power in Bronze Age Crete. The new palace was an imposing complex with important architectural innovations, splendid frescoes adorning the walls, hundreds of rooms distributed in four storeys, impressive storage areas, specialized workshops, and spacious courts hosting ceremonies and feasts. Learn how during the last decades of the 14th century BC, a series of earthquakes led to the final destruction of the palace.

Take the hassle out of visiting Crete’s capital and the Palace of Knossos with transport arranged for you. Relax on a day tour including hotel pickup, a transfer to the palace, then Heraklion, and drop-off back at your hotel in Rethymno. Take your time exploring the attractions at your own pace. After hotel pickup, head straight to the first stop, the Palace of Knossos. Marvel at the ruins of the neolithic settlement and explore the ceremonial and political center of the Minoan civilization. Discover where thrilling legends, such as the myth of the Minotaur and labyrinth, were born. Next, stop at Heraklion, where you will have 3 hours of free time to spend as you wish. Explore the city and visit the archeological museum. Buy some souvenirs. Grab a coffee, or tuck into a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. Then, climb back on the bus to be returned to your hotel in Rethymno.

See the very best of Heraklion in just half a day on this small group tour with an expert guide. The tour begins with a visit to the mysterious Knossos Palace, where you can enjoy skip-the-line entry meaning more time to explore. Learn about the history of King Minos who lived at the palace, and the legend of the Minotaur that lived in the palace’s labyrinth. Next, take a stroll in the city center of Heraklion, the capital of Crete. Wander through the city’s ancient streets and marvel at the picturesque architecture from the Venetia, Byzantine and Ottoman eras. Learn about the city’s history and how it was the birthplace of El Greco and Nikos Kazantzakis. Walk along the busy streets and marvel at the local’s going about their daily life. Finally, visit Heraklion’s Archaeological Museum, one of the most popular Bronze Age museums in Europe. Enjoy an hour and a half guided tour of the museum and admire its vast collection of fine art and jewelry. At the end of the tour, you can continue exploring the museum and the city at your own leisure.

Experience the Archaeological Museum of Chania at your own pace with a skip-the-line e-ticket and a captivating self-guided audio tour on your smartphone. Walk through the museum and hear the many tales and historical facts from the past Receive your ticket by email, download the app and the audio tour on your phone, prior to your visit, and travel back in time to experience the glory of some of the most prominent items in the collections of the Archaeological Museum of Chania. Put on your headphones and discover The “Master Impression” clay sealing, the Larnax from Chania, and the Discs for the weighing of souls through the power of storytelling, while learning historical information and uncommon stories and anecdotes from the past. The content of the tour is the result of in-depth research, distilled into brief original stories that will make your visit both engaging and informative. The audio tour can be used repeatedly and at any time, before or after your visit. Gain valuable insights into Iberian history and beyond, and relate to the exhibits in the Archaeological Museum of Chania in an entirely original way.

Meet your guide for the day at Heraklion Liberty Square, also known by locals as Plateia Eleftherias, then begin your exploration of this ancient city as you travel through time to discover its rich history. Visit a number of Heraklion’s most iconic landmarks and discover the past and present of the city where old meets new. On this tour you enjoy local products finger food, Raki and wine amidst Venetian monumental buildings. During the tour, learn about the myths and legends that surround the city of Heraklion, as well as the lifestyles of the locals that live here today. Marvel at the city’s stunning Venetian walls, wander through the Central Market, and make a wish at Morosini Fountain. There’s also time to admire the religious foundations of the city at St. Menas Cathedral, St. Mark’s Basilica, and the Archiepiscopal Church of St. Titos. At the end of the tour, receive a skip-the-line entry ticket to the famous Knossos Palace and the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion to explore at your own leisure within 3 days. 

Get in touch with the history and the art of the Cretan pottery on this tour from Rethymno. Learn about local honey and bees at the Honey Museum. See natural stalactites at Melidoni cave. Explore the villages and feel the cretan hospitality. Enjoy the convenience of being picked up from your accommodation in Rethymno. Sit back and relax on a scenic drive through the countryside. Arrive in Margarites and take a tour of a ceramic shop. Immerse yourself in local crafts during pottery.  Take a guided tour of the Honey Museum to discover the secrets of one of Crete’s most popular foods. Travel to Melidoni to visit the subterranean chambers and stalactites in Melidoni cave. Hear about the fascinating history of this cave. Finally return to your accommodation in Rethymno at the end of your tour. 

You will begin your day by visiting the most important archaeological site on Crete and the second most visited archaeological site of the country, the Minoan palace of Knossos and the mythical Labyrinth of Homer. You will be visiting an amazing area which consists of 22,000 square meters. A prehistoric “city”, this is the place where the oldest European civilization started and flourished some 5,000 years ago. Following this, in the center of Heraklion Town, you will visit the biggest Archaeological collection of artifacts on Crete. You will explore these pre-hellenic artifacts, focusing on the Minoan period and going deeper into its significance and development throughout time.

Visit of the Heraklion archeological museum,the second biggest in Greece after the musum of Athens.The tour starts with the oldest findings of Crete from 6000bc,then of the highlight minoan palaces of Knossos,Festos,Mallia,Zakros. The tour continues with objects from cemeteries,shrines, houses and ends with the minoan frescoes of Knossos

Take a day trip from Heraklion to Crete’s important mythological sites. Travel to the palace of Knossos, home to the legendary labyrinth that contained the Minotaur. Climb to the Psychro Cave, a sacred Minoan site associated with the birth of Zeus, and visit traditional Cretan villages as you go. Start in Heraklion, where you will meet your driver and, optionally, your guide. Drive into the hills to Knossos, the large Bronze Age site of ancient Crete’s major city and the political center for the Minoan civilization. Wander through the remains of large palace buildings and past the intricate foundations of what is believed to be the labyrinth built by Deadelus to hide the Minotaur. Next, head into the center of the island to the traditional village of Krasi, home to the enormous 2,400 year-old Platanus tree. Drive further into the hills toward Psychro. After a short climb, admire panoramic views of Crete from the top of the hill before descending into the cave. The cave was an important site for cult worship during the Minoan period and is associated with the legend of the birth of Zeus. Your final stop will be at the CretAquarium to admire the variety of sea creatures that inhabit the Mediterranean sea bed, including sharks and ghost jellyfish. Finish the tour back in Heraklion, where your driver will drop you off.

Succumb to a bespoke service of our top local guides with expert knowledge by the comfort of a luxury chauffeured vehicle at your disposal. Luxuriate along the stellar ruins & lavish frescoes of Knossos Palace appreciating it in a way few will ever get the chance to. Immerse into the labyrinthian marvel as we draw you back to a time when myth & history were indistinguishable. Where there’s culture, there’s wine. Let us chauffeur you to the heart of Central Crete, a rich Minoan land backed by olive groves & wine-red earth. Here you will discover boutique award-winning domains to sample Cretan vintages with divine flavors. With personal touch impressions soak up the entire collection of unique artworks & history of the archaeological museum of Heraklion by savoring each hall at your own pace. In the evening, stroll the aesthetically fortified city of Heraklion. Dazzle your senses with delicious aromas of garlic & basil pouring from superb restaurants with local-exclusive cuisine.