Knossos Construction, A.E., Athens, Greece Review

To be seen only because you are in Crete, a must with a guide otherwise, you don't understand much

If you are history / archeology students, if not, there are more interesting places.

Being in Crete and not visiting Knossos is impossible. I was not disappointed because I knew what to expect. However, someone who is not familiar with the topic can feel a disappointment.

Don't miss it but be prepared to face maddening crowds

To me a must see if you are a history buff. Get your tickets in advance from your hotel if possible. If not gather about 10 people who speak your language and find a guide at the guide station. Either option will allow you to bypass the long wait to get in. Bring a backpack with cold drinks, it is allowed. The Cretan sun is unforgiving.

15 is too much in my opinion. Would be good if there were some more interactive guidebooks / audio guides. Private guides available for ~ 10 per person

A guide would probably have been good. Unfortunately they do not have Danish guides

The archeological site of Knossos is located 5 km southeast of the city center of Heraklion, is the center of the famous Minoan Civilization and one of the most advanced cities in ancient Greece.

One of the most popular tourist destinations with thousands of visitors from all over the world, it is an ideal choice for exciting family excursions.

Many historians and writers such as Homer, Herodotus, Thucydides mention Knossos, the palace and King Minos. According to the archeological and historical data, the historical course of Knossos started in 7000 BC with the first settlement in this area, in 1900 BC a large palace of 22 acres was built which was destroyed 200 years later due to a strong earthquake. Later, one of the most majestic palaces in world history was built on this site. In 1600 BC another earthquake struck the area causing relatively little damage, which was quickly repaired. The eruption of the volcano of Santorini in 1450 BC was the generative cause of the earthquake or tsunami that caused huge destruction in the palace.

The Cretan archaeologist Minos Kalokairinos found the first finds from the palace of Knossos in 1878. The excavations started by the Englishman Arthur Evans in 1900 followed which lasted 31 years and expanded to the wider area of Knossos. Evans then proceeded with the restoration of the palace with cement, causing a variety of reactions as some argue that this intervention alters the characteristics of the Minoan building, while others believe that it would not have been maintained in good condition without the reinforcements of cement.

What is certain is that children will be thrilled with the magical myths associated with Knossos such as the story of Daedalus and Icarus, the Labyrinth of the terrible Minotaur and the love story of Theseus and Ariadne. But parents will also love the practical application of original architectural and construction ideas, murals, the variety of building materials and colored mortars.

They have a very sophisticated sewer system in the old times

Expensive tickets, few tables describing the place. There are no photos or visualizations showing this place in the past.

The atmosphere in this place is unique in the world, you can admire the architectural and engineering knowledge of the Minoan people in one of the most famous (rightly) archaeological complexes in the world!

If you use your imagination, you will really like it. Unfortunately, Itaka does not have microports, so the guide has to snatch, which significantly hinders the sightseeing. Other travel agencies also have virtual guides, which makes sightseeing a lot easier.

Really interesting, if you're in crete, you have to visit absolutely.

Very interesting site. Definitely worth getting a tour guide although they generally want 100 per group to take a tour. This is separate from the entrance fee. Get a combined ticket for this site and the archaeological museum in the town as it's quite good value.

Worth a look. Don't buy from your holiday rep get the bus and go so much cheaper 16 adult 12yrs and under free OAP and students 8 and that price will get you in here and the Heraklion Archaeological museum. We got our ticket at the museum, it was much faster then paid 10 for a guide that was very good.

Take a walk through one of the world's most ancient civilizations!!

Very interesting and contains impressive artefacts. The guide was slightly over-patriotic... which impaired the quality of her commentary

Worth a look but not the 7hr bus ride from Porto platanias.

Interesting recommended, after the visit of the building, a visit to the archaeological museum. Toilet only at the entrance, not inside the site.

Beautiful archaeological site that blends history and myth ... Absolutely to do with a guide

Obligatory visit when you're in the neighborhood .. Just prepare to be a bit underwhelmed.

There are a huge amount of 1.5 h.Odli no organizovano. Parts greatly preserved. A bit of overstretched concrete, in order to preserve authentic parts.

Beautiful building! To visit with the guide.
It deserves a lot!
Minoan civilization is fascinating and, therefore, I recommend visiting it

Nice place, free parking .. we visited the building without the help of tour operators, arrived on site there are local guides, immediately they made us tickets skipping the line .. the guide was ready and nice cost 10 per person ..

Due to COVID-19 and restructuring of different parts of the place many important routes are blocked off not giving access to some key monuments. Despite of this, the price of the ticket remains unchanged.

PS: Still no audio equipment available whatsoever, it's a conducted tour or the highway.

Need to go with a guide. Otherwise, it is not clear what this or that pile of stones means, the basement base, a well in concrete or that round hole, why there is concrete somewhere and alabaster somewhere. Who are busts at the entrance and where ancient flush toilets are preserved. The words of a skillful guide revive the former grandeur of the palace, myths that are intertwined, then shared with reality, and you begin to understand this place, understand the name, understand what the word combination of the Minotaur labyrinth is ...

Well worth a visit the history of this place is astonishing. Would go with a guided tour too the information about the history is well worth the explanation and the time it takes to go around it. If you like your history it's a must and the way the fables and stories are inter woven with the actual history is outstanding.

The place is really amazing it has descriptions of the different leftovers and explains how the team recreated everything. Great trip for history fans.

Impressive, better in the morning because of the heat

Best with a guide, that's the only way to learn the history of Knossos. Beware ... the cafe in Knossos is expensive. Eat something away from Knossos or drink coffee.

I just love the archaeological site! Vivid colours, lots of green and a quiet area! There are explanatory signs everywhere but if you can, get a guide.

If you're interested in history then its a great place to see.

Essential to have a first class guide to make sense of it all and to put it into context

Biggest and oldest palace I ever seen. Worth visit.

Beautiful piece of culture. It can be very busy and hot.

Crowded and expensive. Left with the feeling that most of the ruins have been constructed afterwards by archeologists.

Better see before Archeology museum of Heraklion not after

Very interesting attraction however can be very hot in the heat of summer would suggest an early morning or late afternoon visit

Great trip, it takes around 45 minutes to go through all the important stuff.

I can not help! ! !
There are no words about this gem of Crete !!!

Beyond expectation. Didn't think so much would be so well preserved. A special feeling to go there and feel the wing of history.

What an amazing piece of history! If you go to Crete and not to Knossos you re doing it wrong.

Very nice places to visit with a guide to learn more about the palace

A very interesting place, but without the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion it is not worth visiting. Almost immediately, in addition to excavations, the palace began to be slowly restored, it does not look very good (the remake is immediately visible and the guide pays attention to it), however, without such renovation, there would be nothing special to see here (all the artifacts found are in the Archaeological Museum now). There are a lot of tourists, very hot. However, the excursion is dynamic, there is no such thing to stand under the scorching sun all the time, which is good.

Even at 8.30 am full of Japanese and not such a good excavation

Amazing! We went as part of a tour group. You can tell guides here, compared to other places, have practiced how to keep people comfortably spread. The site is huge so there is plenty to see. There's not too many steps so most travelers should be able to make the trip around it. You can then go to the museum in the city to see the original frescos in Herklion.

Awesome place for history buffs. Make sure to catch one of the guided tours available at the site entrance

Mostly copies but a nice place to visit. During summer the afternoon is better for a stop here as the sun is not burning that much and you can enjoy the walk.

A delightful place. The very awareness that you are walking through the rooms used by the inhabitants of this palace several thousand years ago creates emotions. Inside, apart from the possibility of walking alone in most of the rooms, there are also reconstructions of bas-reliefs and various decorative elements, such as vases. A must-see place in Crete. Departure tickets cost 15 Euro. In combination with visiting the museum in Heraklion 16 Euro, so it's worth paying extra. Free entrance for students.

One of the most prominent monuments of the island's and our country's cultural heritage, which everyone has to visit.

Exciting given the antiquity of the place. Great work of historical reconstruction by the archaeologist Evans

Very beautiful site. Nice to visit with a guide to understand the history of the site

Site which can be more interesting. There is not too much information on what represents the ruins that can be observed, nor on the life of its occupants. Suddenly the visit is made very quickly about 1 hour

Let's call this place "Sir Arthur Evans Town". Why? Well, because, a lot of what you see at this site is his reconstruction of what he "thought" the palace looked like -- a very biased view, and not to the satisfaction or agreement of all historians. A lot of what you see here is what he built on top of the ruins, using concrete, to give you a sense of what the palace "might" have looked like -- this type of behaviour would probably not be tolerated in modern-day archaeology. I'm giving this place 4-stars because I came to see the ruins of Knossos, not some reconstruction of some archeologist from a long time ago who had a big ego.

I aspetravo something more than the original reproductions moved in Heraklion Museum (which is rich and not to be missed)

Huge site with a reasonable amount of information. Unfortunately there are few if any original artefacts or frescoes as most have gone to the museum in Heraklion.

Archaeological site with a history of the beginnings of civilization.

Very interesting trip to Knossos Palace
Our guide was very informative and we learned at lot about the history of the Palace
Definitely work a look. It is very busy but ques go down pretty quickly and there are places to shade as it is very hot

Very interesting and nice place, but a guided tour is a must to get everything out of it. Otherwise you will see just the ruins. Also, try to find time frame when it won't be so hot, as the place is open with not a many shades.

The score is low, because it's totally unprotected, and you can handle almost everything ...

One of the visits that you cannot skip when you go to Crete you will not regret it

This exceptional site will allow you to discover the palace and life in the time of King Minnos

Must visit place in Create. I really enjoyed the atmosphere inside the palace. This place a lit bit overpriced - 15 EUR per adult person and has a limited information inside of the palace, but it still worth to visit this place.

Would be nice if they would make a night tours inside of the palace with some attractions, special lights and etc.

Doubtful pleasure in the heat in August, a lot of tourists, everywhere in line. Better go to the museum, But if you decide to come early

Biggest palace complex of the Minoan Culture (3000 to 1500 BCE), and thus worth a visit if you're staying at or near Heraklion. Unfortunately the site has little information or any installations apart from the "restaurations" made by British archeologists, which are of questionable accuracy. Would benefit from more modern exhibitions or information, especially given the high price ( 15/adult)

Amazing place to experience the history of Crete all those centuries ago.Very disappointed that the person who discovered the site, Minos Kalokerinos is not recognised more in his contribution to the site.
Only one sentence is mentioned.
Evans is given more recognition in his achievment of reconstructing the site to what he thinks it would have looked like.
All I could see was a whole lot of concrete beams supporting walls and ceilings. This took away the true outlook of the site.

Once you've been here you next to go to the archeological museum in Heraklion to see what was recovered from the palace. It's all open air here and does very busy so make show you have your sun protection on. Pay a bit extra to get a guided tour.

After the earthquake, there is not much left for history lovers.

14EUR admission. 15EUR if for a combined ticket with the museum in Heraklion. Although many murals are "fakes" (originals are scattered across museums), the site is nicely reconstructed, and it's definitely a must see when you are on Crete. Don't miss it!

If you love about history you will love this place. You need a sturdy pair of shoes to walk round here.

Liked the Palace- and very pleased to see some reconstruction to bring it to life. No maps or guides are offered on the purchase of the 15 ticket... so take your own book. It s busy but fascinating. Lovely cafe at the entrance for a coffee or fresh juice.

The fact that the monuments unprofessional finished so it went

At 15 euros it is a bit expensive. Three-quarters is closed.

Great place to experience and learn about Creta's ancient civilization.

A piece of Greek history that you absolutely must have seen. Especially when you consider that parts of it were created 6000-7000 BC. Really great and impressive. Little tip, camera, sunglasses and sunscreen not forget

It's a good vertical slice of minoan history, get a guide book or a guide to get the most from it