Ruins
Knossos Palace
Heraklion, Greece
The great Minoan palace, linked in legend to the Minotaur and the labyrinth.
Museum · Greece · Crete
Heraklion Archaeological Museum
The world's best collection of Minoan art, from frescoes to the Phaistos Disc.
Paid entry about 1.7 h
For storytellers
Why Heraklion Archaeological Museum matters
This museum holds the finds from Knossos and other Minoan sites. You will see colourful frescoes, delicate gold jewellery, snake goddess figurines and the mysterious clay Phaistos Disc, which is still not fully understood. Visit it before or after Knossos to give the ruins more meaning.
Talking points
- The Phaistos Disc has never been deciphered.
- Frescoes show Minoan life in bright colour.
- It pairs well with a visit to Knossos.
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Within about 40 km, closest first.