Archaeological Museum Of Heraklion Tour

This is one of the best Greek Archeological museums that I’ve been to. It also includes the famous and must see ‘Minoan Bee’ pendant and the inscribed Phaistos discus. If you are driving there, is a car park literally a few minutes away, which only costs €5 for the whole day.

An Incredible Deep Dive into Minoan History! We absolutely loved this tour! Exploring the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion with Anna was such an incredible way to learn about the ancient Minoans and better understand the history behind so many of the artifacts we were seeing. I was a Classics major, so I came into the tour already having a fair amount of knowledge about the ancient world, and I was genuinely impressed by how much I still learned from Anna. She was extremely knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate about the history she was sharing with us. I asked a LOT of questions, including some pretty challenging ones, and she thoughtfully answered every one. I especially appreciated how willing she was to go deeper when I wanted to know more rather than just sticking to a standard tour. There is so much to see in the museum, and having Anna there to explain the history, meaning, and context behind the artifacts made the experience infinitely more interesting than I think it would have been exploring on our own. This ended up being one of the highlights of our entire trip to Crete. We walked away having learned so much and genuinely enjoyed every minute of the tour. If you’re interested in the Minoans, archaeology, or ancient history, I cannot recommend this tour enough!

Local team extremely helpful in assisting me in handling a health emergency. Their empathy and professionalism did not waiver. My family, who stayed for the tour, reported the guide was top notch.

We had a very informative tour with Caterina. She was a bit late meeting us as her prior tour had run late. We wound up having her all to ourselves which was lovely. She gave us a lot of background and good information about the history of Crete. I think going to the museum without a guide would be huge waste of time. My only complaint is that end of tour seemed a bit rushed and later we learned an entire room had been skipped. So we started late but ended tour on time. And in between learned a lot.

It's breathtaking to see what the Minoans could do and make almost 4,000 years ago. There are some fantastic artefacts in this museum.

We had a great tour with Akrivi at the museum yesterday. She was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot about the Minoan period. It was a small group tour, but my husband and I were the only people in the tour, so it was fabulous!

Katerina was fabulous! Such an amazing amount of knowledge that she shared. I really appreciated when she said this is what we think or we don’t know what this was used for. High recommend!

Tour was a little pricey, but for a history nerd like me, it's totally work it. My guide was extremely knowledgeable and knew the museum inside and out. It left me with so much more knowledge and appreciation for the Minoans than when I came in and I thought I knew a lot! Highly recommend it.

Katerina’s knowledge and passion for the Minoan civilization was evident from the start, which is why we continued with her to Knossos Palace. This was my first visit to the museum but it will not be my last. I strongly recommend her as a guide who will captivate you and enrich your experience greatly.

We first went to visit the Knosos palace where we had a great time and then went to the museum (different days) and to our surprise our guide was again Giorgos and since he remembered us from a couple of days ago from Knosos palace we had great visit to the museum as he filled in the gaps of information and things to see which could not be seen in the palace and we did not just receive repeat information… We had a really great time and I think I can say that we finished our visit not just as customers but as friends.

This visit had been part of a trip to visit Knossos. We had the afternoon to visit the museum to see the exhibits that our guide had mentioned in the previous tour. The Minoan collection shows pottery and luxury items. The collection is split between rooms and the guide leaflets are various languages including English. There is a lovely garden area to sit and rest

Museum of exceptional richness. Pottery, jewelry, roots, of exceptional quality. Many, many objects to see. Time flies. A place not to be missed.

Fabulous museum Very well presented Very rich You learn a lot about the Minoan civilization A bit expensive at 20€ No senior rate

Heraklion Archaeological Museum⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ July 2026, we are going with 4 people in a rental car; it is worth it if you want to tour the city and also enjoy a visit to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum in Crete. I will tell you personally about my experience: an interesting trip for work, but a rigorous and fascinating visit into the heart of the Minoan civilization. Visiting the Heraklion Archaeological Museum is a high-profile cultural experience, an essential path for anyone who wants to understand the historical and artistic roots of the Mediterranean. For the intensity, importance, and richness of the artifacts, it is a journey that I include among the most significant of my life, second only to Egypt for art. Practical information for the traveler: Admission to the museum costs 40 euros per person, an investment fully justified by the exceptional nature of the heritage it houses. It is important to note that discounts and free admission are available for students, journalists, and military personnel. Ticket management and access are straightforward; the wait at the entrance is the ideal prelude to a journey that requires time, attention, and respect. Once inside, the environment is cool and welcoming, allowing for a comfortable and focused visit. The exhibition route and key artifacts: The museum is spread over two floors and offers an extraordinary overview that ranges from the Minoan civilization to the Greek and Roman eras. In the rooms, you can breathe in the rigor of ancient history: the display cases housing the first tablets with ancient scripts are deeply striking, a fundamental testimony to the cultural and administrative evolution of that world. Walking through the rooms, every artifact tells of the mastery of an advanced civilization: * Jewelry, gold, and amulets: Minoan goldsmithing is disarmingly refined. Among the pieces that leave you most breathless, the iconic bee and honey pendant stands out — a masterpiece of detail and symbolism — as does the extraordinary solid gold circular object, similar to a large amulet or royal seal, densely engraved with mysterious scripts and archaic signs that seem to hold millennial secrets. * Numismatics and monetary details: Also of great fascination are the ancient silver coins displayed in the cases: small metal masterpieces featuring engravings, head profiles, and precise symbols of the ancient poleis and of classical and Hellenistic coinage, a tangible testimony to the economy and visual identity of those civilizations. * Statuary and frescoes (The Bull-Leaping): The extraordinary originals from the Palace of Knossos come from the walls, including the unforgettable bull-leaping (taurokathapsia) fresco. This sacred ceremony, a true rite of initiation and courage, is immortalized in a perfect balance of slender bodies that defy the brute force of nature. In the corridors, you then encounter classical sculptures of great power, including the austere solemnity of a Roman-era loricate statue and, inevitably, the awaited and magnetic presence of the Snake Goddess. * Material culture: The finely painted vases with marine motifs—such as the famous Palaikastro flask with the depiction of octopuses and their wrapping tentacles—and the clay artifacts testify to an aesthetic sensibility inextricably linked to the sea and nature. The perspective and value of the experience: As an artist and as a professional accustomed to observing human and organizational dynamics with depth, I believe that art history is the foundation and the ABC of every creative vision. Traveling is not just discovery, but a way to enrich the mind, deepen knowledge, and restore value to our cultural heritage. Immersing yourself in this ancient time means understanding how people lived back then, breathing in history and archaeology up close. Leaving this museum makes you feel rich, with the awareness of having brought home something that is now part of you and your journey, fueling a very strong love for travel, for study, and for the desire to experience firsthand what humanity has been able to create and preserve over the centuries. A place that deserves the utmost respect and an in-depth visit.

This museum is a pure gem revealing treasures of the Minoan civilization and all those that followed. You absolutely cannot remain indifferent to so much beauty. What a joy to enrich oneself in this museum.

An exceptional museum for its collections and presentation! But a fare too high Unsuitable hours... close at 3:30pm on Friday 17 April! Barely kind staff Removal of the half-rate for over 65s Privatization has its limits! It does not replace a real public service of culture!

Beautiful collection, a must during a visit to Heraklion. You can feel the full weight and richness of history. The visit may seem a bit long for young children, but admission is free for them (up to 25 years old by the way) and costs 12 € for adults. The museum is conveniently located: you can easily continue exploring the city on foot, with many shopping streets and cafes nearby.

A very good addition to Knossos, unfortunately again no audio guides, all very vivid, signs in Greek and English

Museum must see after visiting the archaeological site. Extraordinary museum and a wealth of unsuspected objects. It is advisable to take this guided tour as access to certain showcases can be complicated. You will see that we do not shy away from objects made 4000 years BC!

Interesting and well organized museum, full of fascinating testimonies of Minoan civilization. Impossible, even for those who are not passionate, not to be curious about pieces and stories of a distant past and amazingly reproduced in elements and objects of surprising modernity. Worth the visit to Heraklion alone.

A marvel, even for beginners. Free entry for young people up to 25 years old €6 for seniors.

Had a nice tour. “Jorge” was on time and showed us around. Extensive and nicely told. We had never been to Crete before and this museum is definitely worth it

Superb museum, several rooms with many objects preserved! Amphore vases jewels necklace ring the famous disc the statuettes coin etc... it is a superb experience, explanatory of the signs relating to the ridge tel that the double axe, the disc, the bee... I highly recommend! Keep this place 🙂