Should you solely e-book in the future journey when you’re in Crete, it needs to be a day trip exploring the traditional palace of Knossos with children.
The legendary house of the fabled Minotaur in its labyrinth, and the jail of Daedalus and Icarus, it was the center of the Minoan civilisation which dominated right here for round 2,000 years, from across the time of the primary pharaohs in Historical Egypt.
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Rediscovered within the late nineteenth century, there’s extra to see than many historical websites after it was (controversially) restored however that does imply that visiting Knossos with children is commonly extra entertaining than others too.
And in case your children are followers of the Percy Jackson books, it’s unmissable – the Minotaur and King Minos’s ghost play vital roles within the sequence, and it’s properly price studying The Battle of the Labyrinth particularly earlier than they go to.
Whether or not they’re or not, listed below are my suggestions for planning a day trip at Knossos with children and what that you must know.
For extra issues to do in Crete with children, try my high picks
The Palace of Knossos: the important information
The Palace of Knossos is certainly one of Crete’s most well-known vital archaeological websites, simply exterior the capital Heraklion.
Dwelling to the ruins of a Bronze Age palace that was the ceremonial and political centre of Minoan civilisation, Knossos is taken into account to be Europe’s oldest metropolis. The primary settlement on the location dates even additional again, to round 7,000BCE.
And its palace is steeped in historical historical past and Greek mythology, most famously the legend of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur but in addition the story of Daedalus and Icarus, who flew too near the solar.
Found in 1878, the excavations unearthed a sequence of buildings, roadways and palace advanced, together with spectacular wall frescoes and artefacts suggesting a cult of bull worship.
The legendary labyrinth was mentioned to be hidden below the palace itself however no hint has been discovered: some historians imagine the sprawling website of Knossos, with its paths and lifeless ends was the inspiration for the story.
Leaving apart the parable, the Palace of Knossos is the biggest preserved Minoan website on Crete, though not the one one you possibly can discover. Some elements, together with the Little Palace, date again so far as 2000BCE and there are 4 wings organized across the central courtyard.
As you discover, you possibly can see the royal quarters and throne room, but in addition every part from shrines to retailer rooms.
After native archaeologist Minos Kalokairinos recognized the location, the primary excavations have been carried out by British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, between 1900 and 1931. The work made his status, however included some very controversial restorations, together with utilizing trendy supplies like concrete for repairs and repainting frescoes.
Whereas it’s not the best way present excavations could be carried out, it does imply that it seems much more intact, so extra attention-grabbing to discover with children than a heap of stones.
Suggestions for visiting Knossos with children
Arrive early
I can’t stress this sufficient! Not solely does it get highly regarded with little shade, particularly should you’re visiting in summer season, the queues and crowds shortly get very large.
At 8am, we walked straight in to select up our tickets & had just one cruise ship tour to dodge. By the point we left two hours later, the location was heaving and the road for entry snaked properly past the ticket sales space.
Should you can’t come early, it’s price coming later within the afternoon when loads of the tour teams have moved on to different websites in Heraklion (or again to their cruise ships) and when the temperatures are beginning to drop.
Do convey loads of water and a hat as properly.
Easy methods to prebook tickets for Knossos
Whereas a lot of the main ticket web sites, like Get Your Information, Tiqets and Viator, do promote tickets, they don’t normally supply the decreased youngster price until you’re additionally reserving a tour.
If in case you have kids who’re EU residents or children aged below 5, they get in free (although you could be requested to indicate a passport or ID card to confirm this).
These aged 6-25 from non-EU nations (together with the UK and US) get a 50% low cost however the one option to get the decreased possibility is to e-book direct or pay whenever you arrive (which could be very dangerous at busy occasions).
When you obtain e-mail affirmation after shopping for instantly, you continue to want to select your tickets up whenever you arrive on the website earlier than utilizing them to cross by way of the turnstiles.
Should you get there early, you possibly can count on to stroll straight as much as the home windows and simply present the affirmation. In any other case, there are roped off traces to queue, which begin within the open house between the automobile park and ticket desk.
Should you do have prebooked skip-the-line tickets, it’s best to have the ability to stroll previous these on to the turnstiles however employees are readily available to reply questions and to organise the traces.
Purchase joint tickets for the Museum
When you’re reserving, adults can get joint tickets with the Heraklion Archaeological Museum for adults (children want 2 separate ones).
It’s properly price combining the 2 because the spectacular museum holds loads of the artefacts discovered at Knossos in addition to different reveals which assist convey the location to life so that they work properly collectively.
Look out for the originals of the frescoes reproduced at Knossos in addition to the mysterious Linear A Minoan language tablets – and do permit loads of time, the museum is large!
Should you go to Knossos first, choose up tickets for each whenever you arrive to keep away from queueing once more on the museum later – as an alternative you possibly can go straight to the ticket boundaries. Should you go to the museum first, you also needs to have the ability to accumulate your tickets for Knossos there.
The Heraklion hop-on hop-off bus stops at each Palace of Knossos and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum in addition to exploring the town
Knossos with a information
Whereas there are many choices to prebook guides, you can even rent them on the gate if you’d like – as you arrive, you’ll see them ready to the precise of the ticket cubicles.
As ever, if you undoubtedly desire a information, it’s price prebooking throughout peak season particularly should you’re not arriving early – as soon as the guides are off displaying folks across the website, you gained’t have likelihood.
You’ll find skip-the-line entry together with a guided tour though these excursions should not completely geared toward households so higher with older children
Should you want to go at your personal tempo, there are indicators dotted throughout the location with extra background although (and with so many guides round, you’re sure to overhear snippets too). You can even purchase tickets together with smartphone audio guides.
There’s no query that the guides are nice for serving to convey the location to life, declaring the important thing particulars in addition to giving the background: you possibly can count on excursions to final round 60-90 minutes, though you can additionally then head again to wander round extra should you needed.
You might have to attend for a bunch of round 6-8 earlier than the information leaves, should you don’t desire a non-public tour. Costs will fluctuate relying on what number of are within the group (extra if you’d like a non-public tour) and the time of 12 months, however round 80-100 Euros for 4 folks is widespread.
You can even discover specialist Percy Jackson excursions of Knossos – try Knossos Guides.
Most information books on Crete even have a piece on Knossos, together with the Lonely Planet Information to Crete however you’ll find devoted information books together with Knossos: A Full Information to the Palace of Minos
Easy methods to to get to Knossos
If in case you have your personal rent automobile, there’s free parking at Knossos subsequent to the doorway – as you may count on, there’s loads of room very first thing (together with a coveted spot within the shade of the bushes) nevertheless it does replenish all through the day.
If you’re staying in Heraklion with children, there are buses which run out to the Palace of Knossos as properly, or taxis aren’t too costly (round 7-10 Euros) because the journey is simply round 3 miles from the town centre.
Alternatively, you should utilize tickets for the Heraklion hop-on hop-off bus which stops at Knossos and the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, in addition to supplying you with a tour of the town.
There are additionally loads of excursions to Knossos should you’re staying elsewhere on the island, together with a day journey from Chania, in addition to from Rethymno and Malia.
Don’t count on to see a labyrinth!
In case your children predict to reach and see a maze specified by entrance of them, it’s price setting a number of expectations upfront.
Though you’ll discover the palace website itself, which some historians imagine impressed the labyrinth fable (and in keeping with legend, sat on high of the labyrinth), you gained’t get to wander by way of an infinite maze of passages.
There are a number of locations the place you’ll see bull’s horns dotted round, however there are additionally no minotaurs – which comes as one thing of a reduction!
Work is continually ongoing on the website as properly, together with for restoration functions, so not all areas could also be open throughout your go to.
Greek myths for teenagers – what to learn
Though you don’t should know a lot about Greek mythology earlier than you go to Knossos with children, it makes an enormous distinction if they’ve some background data to maintain them engaged.
There are numerous books of Greek myths for teenagers with choices for various age teams. We’ve this stunning Usborne Guide of Greek Myths or the writer additionally has this Illustrated Tales from the Greek Myths which is right for youthful children.
Greek Myths for Younger Kids is designed for studying out loud should you’re travelling to Crete with youthful children and this Sticker Greek Myths is one other enjoyable child pleasant choice to pack.
Or for books focusing extra on the myths of Knossos, The legend of Theseus: Theseus and the Minotauris a child-friendly model, whereas Monsters of the Greek Myths contains the Minotaur, together with Medusa and the Chimera.
And Amaze-ing Minotaur is a enjoyable illustrated model of the legend for teenagers aged 5+.
Should you want one thing which isn’t only a retelling of the myths, the Percy Jackson sequence is nice for teenagers – particularly aged round 8-12 – and options Knossos within the tales as properly.
For these visiting with teenagers, there’s a unbelievable different have a look at the story in Ariadne, informed from her perspective as half-sister to the Minotaur and the girl who helps Theseus discover his approach by way of the labyrinth.
Visiting Knossos with children: must know
Tickets at present value 15 Euros for adults, 8 Euros for kids aged 5-25 (non-EU residents), free for below fives and EU residents aged 5-25.
Mixed entry tickets together with the Heraklion Archaeological Museum value 20 Euros for adults. Little one tickets for the museum value 6 Euros and that you must purchase each individually. In any other case entry to the museum alone prices 12 Euros.
There are some free admission days on the Palace of Knossos, together with each first Sunday from November 1 to March 31, should you’re visiting Crete out of peak season, in addition to Worldwide Monuments Day on April 18 and Worldwide Museums Day on Might 18. For the complete particulars, go to the official website.
Opening hours in the course of the summer season months are between 8am and 8pm each day besides Tuesdays when the location opens at 10am. There are extra restricted opening hours in the course of the winter months, when the location closes at 5pm (and generally earlier)
There are bathrooms and a small cafe, though it’s typically busy, in addition to a recent juice stall by the doorway – when you’re inside, there aren’t any amenities. Meals is just not allowed however you possibly can take your personal water in. There may be additionally free parking on website.
Should you’re questioning whether or not Knossos is stroller pleasant, there are ramps alongside the steps that can assist you get round should you’re bringing a buggy, however you can even count on sections with unpaved paths and uneven surfaces.
A child provider is healthier in case you are visiting with little ones. Realistically, it’s not a simple place to go to with toddlers although.
For extra tips about visiting Greece with children, try my information to the nation together with Athens and the Greek Islands
Issues to do close to Knossos with children
Should you’re planning to go to Knossos with children, you’re unlikely to spend the entire day exploring (even with devoted followers of Greek myths) nevertheless it’s straightforward to mix a number of the close by sights at Heraklion.
Heraklion Archaeological Museum
Even when your children aren’t usually followers of museums, that is undoubtedly one to placed on the checklist, and an important possibility to mix with a go to to Knossos, which is round quarter-hour away.
With 27 galleries throughout two flooring, its assortment covers 5,500 years, from the Neolithic age to Greco-Roman occasions, together with the world’s greatest assortment of Minoan treasures – simply the very best museum to go to in Crete with children.
You’ll be able to wander by way of recreated interval rooms, frescoes and sculptures, in addition to different artefacts alongside the best way, together with every part from artworks to home items.
It’s additionally blissfully air conditioned. You should buy joint tickets with the Knossos palace entry.
Heraklion hop-on hop-off bus
The Heraklion hop-on hop-off bus stops at each the museum and the Palace of Knossos in addition to the town’s different highlights, so it’s a sensible and enjoyable option to discover Heraklion with children.
There are eight stops alongside the route together with the Outdated Port Sq., the Historic Museum of Crete and the Venetian Partitions (in addition to the Archaeological museum and Knossos itself).
Tickets are legitimate for 48 hours and a full loop takes one hour. Buses run round each 45 minutes in summer season.
Labyrinth Park
If you wish to discover a labyrinth to your children to discover, add Labyrinth Park to your checklist of household sights in Crete.
This distinctive Minoan-themed amusement park near Heraklion has an enormous 1,300sqm labyrinth for the entire household to get misplaced in, and it’s an entertaining place to show children about Greek mythology – undoubtedly some of the uncommon issues to do in Crete with children!
Ideally suited for youthful kids, there are an enormous vary of actions, together with mini golf, quad bikes, archery, horse rides and a stay escape sport as properly.
You can even pop by the projector room, the place movies on the traditional Minoan Civilization of Crete are proven all through the day, and luxuriate in lunch within the historical Knossos-themed cafe.
Go to the seashore
If you would like a while stress-free after a morning exploring Knossos, it’s straightforward to move to the seashore when you’ve discover the palace.
A number of the closest are the Hersonissos Seashores – a group of small native seashores simply to the east of Heraklion, with calm, clear waters and loads of family-friendly amenities.
Take a ship tour
For one more relaxed afternoon different, attempt a crusing journey from Heraklion to Dia island, simply to the north of Crete.
Whereas it means guaranteeing you’re completed at Knossos in time to make the afternoon crusing at 2.30pm, the 4 and a half hour boat tour makes for a relaxing out finish to the day – the realm was a favorite vacation spot of well-known underwater explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau as properly.
There’s time to swim and snorkel, in addition to stress-free on the shores of Dia Island or taking a stroll below the cedar bushes. There’s some historical past to be discovered alongside the best way too, as you uncover an historical Minoan port.
The journey features a scrumptious Mediterranean meal – in addition to having the odd glass of native wine – earlier than arriving again to Heraklion at 7pm. The boat tour is appropriate for teenagers aged 4+.
Cretaquarium
Enterprise beneath the waves at Cretaquarium, a Mediterranean-themed aquarium near Heraklion. Dwelling to over 2,000 sea creatures throughout 60 tanks, there’s loads to see and it’s straightforward to whereas away and hour or two right here.
From big sharks to microscopic plankton, children can be taught all about marine life within the area and there’s an audio information as you discover (or you possibly can pay further for a brief guided tour too).
Guide tickets with free cancellation right here.
Dinosauria Park
Journey even additional again in historical past than Knossos at this interactive theme park dedicated to dinosaurs.
At Dinosauria you possibly can journey again in time to the Mesozoic period as you wander across the park discovering full-sized animatronic creatures, whereas interactive screens train you in regards to the life and habitats of every dinosaur you encounter.Â
Youngsters may get hands-on with enjoyable actions together with fossil excavations, hatching a dinosaur egg, and caring for injured creatures on the Common Hospital of Dinosaurs. The park has a restaurant, reward store, and huge kids’s play space too.
Acqua Plus Water Park
Acqua Plus is the largest and hottest water park in Crete, simply 25 minutes from Heraklion with over ​​50 thrilling water slides, rides, and video games for teenagers and adults of all ages.Â
For teenagers and older kids, you’ll discover excessive slides just like the Kamikaze and Giants of Terror, whereas little ones can benefit from the children’ waterslides, exercise playgrounds, a fantasy inflatable fort, and much extra.
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