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Tickets

Heraklion Archaeological Museum Admission Tickets

Visit the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, home to one of the world’s finest collections of Minoan artifacts and ancient Greek treasures.

Everything you get: Entry to the museum with access to all permanent exhibitions and period rooms that trace the evolution of the Minoan civilization through the centuries. Explore priceless artifacts, ancient frescoes, ceremonial objects, and iconic exhibits such as the Phaistos Disk and the Snake Goddess at your own pace.
Why choose this: Discover the rich history, art, and daily life of the Minoan world through one of the most comprehensive collections of ancient Crete, all while enjoying the flexibility of a self-guided visit.
Upgrades: Get an audio guide to enrich your experience with commentary to educate you about the artifacts.

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Check availability

Book now, pay later

Flexible duration

Audio guide

Why choose an audio-guided tour?

Heraklion Archaeological Museum spans 20+ rooms and covers over 5,500 years of Cretan history, so the audio guide helps connect major Minoan artifacts to the myths, palaces, and rituals behind them. It adds useful context around highlights like the Phaistos Disc, Snake Goddess figurines, and Bull-Leaping Fresco, making the self-guided visit easier to follow without committing to a live tour.

Compare Heraklion Museum ticket options.

Tourists using audio guides in a museum setting.

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Tickets

Heraklion Archaeological Museum Admission Tickets with Multilingual Audio Guide

Experience the Heraklion Archaeological Museum–one of the most famous museums in Europe and home to the most priceless pieces of Minoan history and art.

Everything you get: Regular entry to all areas of the museum, plus a self-guided English tour on your smartphone with text and audio narration. Use offline maps and content to navigate major exhibits, from Minoan frescoes to the Phaistos Disk, with plenty of free time to explore. Admire the exhibits such as Golden Bee Pendant, Phaistos Disc, Snake Goddess, Stone Bull's Head Rhyton, and King Mino’s Ring.
Why choose this: Get in depth context without joining a group tour, saving time and cost while still understanding what you are seeing.

‌

Check availability

Flexible duration

Audio guide

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Tickets

Combo: Knossos Palace & Heraklion Archaeological Museum Tickets with Audio Guides

With timed entry at Knossos Palace, be sure to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to ensure you're on time. After visiting the Palace, you can explore the archaeological site and the museum at your own pace.
Maximize your visit by following the recommended schedule: Knossos at 8am, followed by the Heraklion Archaeological Museum at 1pm every day.
Your Heraklion Museum entry is scheduled 5 hours after your Knossos tour begins: 8am tour → 1pm entry, 9am tour → 2pm entry, 10am tour → 3pm entry, 11am tour → 4pm entry.
Carry a photo ID such as a passport, government ID, or driver’s license.
The audio tour is available to download only on iOS and Android. Ensure that your smartphone is fully charged, and be sure to carry your headphones/earphones.
Download your ticket and audio guide in advance while connected to Wi-Fi, as mobile signal strength at the site may be unreliable.
Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive an email with detailed instructions on how to access and download your audio tour. Don’t forget to check your spam folder if you don’t see it in your inbox.

Concession eligibility:

Children and young people (EU citizens): Individuals up to 25 years old from EU member states are entitled to free admission upon presenting a valid ID or passport.
Children and young people (Non-EU citizens): Those aged between 6 and 25 years are eligible for a reduced admission fee, while children up to 6 years old from non-EU countries can gain free admission upon presenting a valid ID.
Senior citizens: Individuals over 65 years old from Greece or other EU member states are eligible for a reduced admission fee upon presenting a valid ID or passport.
Persons with disabilities: Individuals with an 80% disability or more, regardless of nationality, and one escort (if applicable) can access free admission upon presenting a valid disability certificate along with their ID or passport.
Greek citizens (special categories): Greek families with many children (with children up to 25 years old, or any age if they have disabilities) are eligible for free admission upon presenting a valid large family certificate and disability certificate (if applicable). Greek unemployed citizens can also receive free admission with a valid unemployment card and ID.

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Check availability

Flexible duration

Audio guide

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What to expect at Heraklion Archaeological Museum

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Enter 5,500 years of Crete

Inside a 1930s modernist building, the museum reopened fully after renovation in 2014. Its 20+ rooms take you through a chronological journey spanning 5,500 years of Cretan history.

Start in prehistoric Crete

Most visits begin on the ground floor, where prehistoric tools and pottery lead into the Old Palace Period.

Move into Minoan masterworks

As the route reaches the New Palace Period, the museum becomes more vivid with pottery, jewelry, and carved stone vessels.

The museum’s star pieces

The highlight is the iconic gallery featuring artifacts like the Phaistos Disc and the Bull-Leaping Fresco, which bring ancient Minoan art to life.

End with the full timeline

Upstairs, diverse galleries complete the historical narrative with sculptures, mosaics, and inscriptions.

Things to know before booking your Heraklion Archaeological Museum tickets

The current Headout option for Heraklion Archaeological Museum is straightforward: single-entry admission with a smartphone audio guide.
This works best for travelers who want flexibility and context without committing to a guided group or fixed schedule.

Best value lever: The current Headout option includes single-entry admission with a smartphone audio guide for a fully self-paced visit.
Queue reality: Pre-booking helps you skip the ticket-purchase line, but security and bag checks still apply, especially during busy summer late mornings.
Best fit: Choose this ticket if you want a flexible self-paced museum visit with audio guidance, without committing to a guided tour or Knossos combo.

Booking window

Heraklion Archaeological Museum is less restrictive than major timed-entry landmarks, so same-day bookings are often still possible.
The busiest period is usually July and August, especially from late morning through early afternoon when cruise passengers and tour groups arrive.
Booking 1–2 days ahead is usually enough to avoid ticket-counter queues and secure your preferred visit timing during peak season. Outside summer, queues are generally shorter and entry remains relatively flexible.

What’s included

This ticket includes single-entry admission to Heraklion Archaeological Museum plus a smartphone audio guide for a self-paced visit through the permanent galleries. Base admission covers the museum only.
The audio guide helps add context across the museum’s 20+ rooms, especially in the main Minoan galleries featuring artifacts like the Phaistos Disc, Snake Goddess figurines, and Bull-Leaping Fresco.
If you want to experience two of Crete’s most iconic archaeological sites together, choose the combo ticket that includes entry to both Heraklion Archaeological Museum and Knossos Palace, along with an audio guide for added historical context.

Entrances & flow

Visitors enter through the museum’s main entrance on Xanthoudidou Street near Eleftherias Square. Pre-booked tickets typically bypass the onsite ticket-purchase line, but all visitors still go through ticket scanning and security screening before entering the galleries.
During quieter periods, entry checks may take only 5–15 minutes. In peak summer late mornings, waits can stretch to 20-40 minutes.

Ways to explore

Most visitors explore the museum independently using the audio guide and spend around 1.5–3 hours inside. A highlights-focused visit covering the best-known Minoan artifacts can take about an hour.
The self-guided format works well because the museum follows a mostly chronological layout, moving from prehistoric and early Minoan rooms into the major palace-period galleries and later Greek and Roman collections.

Policies & rules

Tickets are generally valid for a single continuous entry, so re-entry may not be possible once you leave the galleries.
Non-flash photography for personal use is usually allowed.
Large backpacks and luggage are generally not allowed inside exhibition spaces and may need to be stored separately if lockers or cloakroom facilities are available.
The museum is largely step-free, with lifts connecting upper-floor galleries, making most areas accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

Galleries at Heraklion Archaeological Museum

Prehistoric and Early Minoan Gallery

Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Crete

Ground-floor opening rooms cover Neolithic and Early Minoan Crete through tools, figurines, and early pottery. This is the museum’s chronological starting point, just after the entrance, and sets up later palace galleries deeper along the main route.

Old Palace Period (Protopalatial) Gallery

First Palace Period Collections

Central ground-floor rooms focus on the first palace era, with Kamares Ware, seals, and ritual vessels from Knossos and Phaistos. Follow this section after prehistory to trace how court life and administration took shape.

New Palace Period (Neopalatial) Gallery

Peak Minoan Palace Culture

The main ground-floor spine covers peak Minoan culture through fine pottery, ceremonial objects, and palace finds. Crowds build here around the Bull’s Head Rhyton and Snake Goddess figurines, so this central run is best seen early.

Minoan Fresco Gallery

Wall Paintings from Knossos

Interlinked ground-floor rooms gather wall paintings from Knossos and related sites, including the Bull-Leaping Fresco and Prince of the Lilies. Mounted along a quieter side sequence, these galleries work best after the Neopalatial rooms.

Minoan Jewelry and Small Finds Gallery

Goldwork, Seals, and Luxury Objects

Side rooms off the main Minoan circuit display gold jewelry, sealstones, and finely worked luxury objects. The Bee Pendant from Malia anchors this compact detour, which slows the pace before you return to larger fresco and vessel displays.

Post-Palatial / Late Minoan Gallery

Later Bronze Age Crete

Later ground-floor galleries trace post-palatial Crete through funerary finds, figurines, and changing pottery styles after the palace destructions. This section comes after the main Minoan peak and offers a calmer transition before you head upstairs.

Geometric and Archaic Gallery

Early Historic Crete

On the first floor, this bridge section moves from Bronze Age Crete into the early historic Greek world. Pottery, votive offerings, and early sculpture line the route, making it the natural first stop after the stair or lift.

Classical Sculpture Gallery

Classical and Hellenistic Sculpture

Upper-floor halls present statues, reliefs, and funerary monuments from Classical and Hellenistic Crete. Broader sightlines and lighter traffic make this a useful pause after the denser Minoan rooms, with sculpture grouped along a straightforward gallery sequence.

Roman Crete Gallery

Mosaics, Inscriptions, and Daily Life

The first-floor closing galleries cover Roman Crete through mosaics, inscriptions, portraits, and everyday objects. After the sculpture halls, this route broadens the story beyond the Bronze Age and usually feels quieter than the museum’s ground-floor highlights.

What to see at Heraklion Archaeological Museum

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Phaistos Disc

Discovered at the palace of Phaistos in 1908, this clay disc is stamped on both sides with 241 spiral symbols.

Snake Goddess figurines from Knossos

These faience figurines from Knossos, dated to around 1600 BC, show bare-breasted women holding snakes.

Bull-leaping fresco from Knossos

Reassembled from fragments and painted around 1450 BC, this fresco captures an acrobat vaulting over a charging bull.

Bull’s Head rhyton

Carved from black steatite around 1550 BC, this vessel takes the form of a bull’s head with meticulously modeled features.

Malia Gold Bee Pendant

This gold pendant from Malia, only about 4.5 cm wide, features intricate granulation and filigree work.

Harvester Vase

Found at Hagia Triada and carved around 1500 BC, this vase depicts 27 men in a singing harvest procession.

Plan your visit to Heraklion Archaeological Museum

Ladies in Blue fresco at Heraklion Archaeological Museum, depicting three women in Minoan attire.

• Opening hours: Vary by season with longer summer schedules.
• Last entry: About 30 minutes before closing.
• Holiday closures: Includes January 1 and December 25.
• Before you go: Check the official schedule.
• Checked: Timing guidance was verified in May 2026.

Cloakroom hooks with numbered tags at Bridge Theatre, London.

• Bag storage: Available cloakroom.
• Restrooms: On multiple levels.
• Shop: Sells books and souvenirs.
• Strollers: Generally allowed with caution.
• Audio guides: App-based options available.

Wheelchair in a museum setting highlighting accessibility features.

• Step-free entry: Available at the main entrance.
• Lifts: Connect all floors.
• Accessible toilets: Present inside.
• Gallery access: Most galleries are accessible.
• Seating: Limited in some areas.
• Support services: Not clearly published.

No-flash photography sign at SEA Life London.

• Bags: Not allowed inside galleries.
• Photography: Personal use only without flash.
• Restricted equipment: Requires permission.
• Food and drinks: Prohibited inside.
• Behavior: Do not touch artifacts.
• Staff directions: Must be followed.
• Pets: Only service animals allowed.
• Re-entry: Not permitted; plan one continuous visit.
• Checked: Rules confirmed in May 2026.

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Tickets

Heraklion Archaeological Museum Admission Tickets

Visit the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, home to one of the world’s finest collections of Minoan artifacts and ancient Greek treasures.

Everything you get: Entry to the museum with access to all permanent exhibitions and period rooms that trace the evolution of the Minoan civilization through the centuries. Explore priceless artifacts, ancient frescoes, ceremonial objects, and iconic exhibits such as the Phaistos Disk and the Snake Goddess at your own pace.
Why choose this: Discover the rich history, art, and daily life of the Minoan world through one of the most comprehensive collections of ancient Crete, all while enjoying the flexibility of a self-guided visit.
Upgrades: Get an audio guide to enrich your experience with commentary to educate you about the artifacts.

‌

Check availability

Book now, pay later

Flexible duration

Audio guide

Visit the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, home to one of the world’s finest collections of Minoan artifacts and ancient Greek treasures.

Everything you get: Entry to the museum with access to all permanent exhibitions and period rooms that trace the evolution of the Minoan civilization through the centuries. Explore priceless artifacts, ancient frescoes, ceremonial objects, and iconic exhibits such as the Phaistos Disk and the Snake Goddess at your own pace.
Why choose this: Discover the rich history, art, and daily life of the Minoan world through one of the most comprehensive collections of ancient Crete, all while enjoying the flexibility of a self-guided visit.
Upgrades: Get an audio guide to enrich your experience with commentary to educate you about the artifacts.

Inclusions #

Entry to Heraklion Archaeological Museum
Admission to all parts of the museum
Self-guided English audio tour for your smartphone (based on option selected)

What to bring

Smartphone requirement: Bring an Android 9.0+ or iOS 17.0+ smartphone for the audio tour.
Headphones: Bring your own headphones to enjoy the audio guide.
Device charge: Ensure your smartphone is fully charged before your visit.

Accessibility

Wheelchair access: The museum is wheelchair accessible.

What’s not allowed

Live guidance: A live guide is not included in this experience.
Devices not provided: Smartphones and headphones are not provided with your ticket.
Pets and smoking: Pets and smoking are not allowed inside the museum.

Additional information

Ticket type: This activity uses the regular adult entry ticket, which is valid for all ages.
Device compatibility: The audio tour does not work on Windows Phones or older Apple devices listed in your voucher.
Refund policy: This activity is non-refundable.

Concession eligibility

Children and young people (EU citizens): Individuals up to 25 years old from EU member states are entitled to free admission upon presenting a valid ID or passport.
Children and young people (Non-EU citizens): Those aged between 6 and 25 years are eligible for a reduced admission fee, while children up to 6 years old from non-EU countries can gain free admission upon presenting a valid ID.
Senior citizens: Individuals over 65 years old from Greece or other EU member states are eligible for a reduced admission fee upon presenting a valid ID or passport.
Persons with disabilities: Individuals with an 80% disability or more, regardless of nationality, and one escort (if applicable) can access free admission upon presenting a valid disability certificate along with their ID or passport.
Greek citizens (special categories): Greek families with many children (with children up to 25 years old, or any age if they have disabilities) are eligible for free admission upon presenting a valid large family certificate and disability certificate (if applicable). Greek unemployed citizens can also receive free admission with a valid unemployment card and ID.

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Why choose an audio-guided tour?

Compare Heraklion Museum ticket options.

‌

Tickets

Heraklion Archaeological Museum Admission Tickets with Multilingual Audio Guide

Experience the Heraklion Archaeological Museum–one of the most famous museums in Europe and home to the most priceless pieces of Minoan history and art.

Everything you get: Regular entry to all areas of the museum, plus a self-guided English tour on your smartphone with text and audio narration. Use offline maps and content to navigate major exhibits, from Minoan frescoes to the Phaistos Disk, with plenty of free time to explore. Admire the exhibits such as Golden Bee Pendant, Phaistos Disc, Snake Goddess, Stone Bull's Head Rhyton, and King Mino’s Ring.
Why choose this: Get in depth context without joining a group tour, saving time and cost while still understanding what you are seeing.

‌

Check availability

Flexible duration

Audio guide

Experience the Heraklion Archaeological Museum–one of the most famous museums in Europe and home to the most priceless pieces of Minoan history and art.

Everything you get: Regular entry to all areas of the museum, plus a self-guided English tour on your smartphone with text and audio narration. Use offline maps and content to navigate major exhibits, from Minoan frescoes to the Phaistos Disk, with plenty of free time to explore. Admire the exhibits such as Golden Bee Pendant, Phaistos Disc, Snake Goddess, Stone Bull's Head Rhyton, and King Mino’s Ring.
Why choose this: Get in depth context without joining a group tour, saving time and cost while still understanding what you are seeing.

Inclusions #

Entry to Heraklion Archaeological Museum
Admission to all parts of the museum
Self-guided English audio tour for your smartphone
Offline content (text, audio narration, and maps)
Free time to explore the museum

Exclusions #

Live guide
Smartphone or headphones

What to bring

Smartphone requirement: Bring an Android 9.0+ or iOS 17.0+ smartphone for the audio tour.
Headphones: Bring your own headphones to enjoy the audio guide.
Device charge: Ensure your smartphone is fully charged before your visit.

Accessibility

Wheelchair access: The museum is wheelchair accessible.

What’s not allowed

Live guidance: A live guide is not included in this experience.
Devices not provided: Smartphones and headphones are not provided with your ticket.
Pets and smoking: Pets and smoking are not allowed inside the museum.

Additional information

Ticket type: This activity uses the regular adult entry ticket, which is valid for all ages.
Device compatibility: The audio tour does not work on Windows Phones or older Apple devices listed in your voucher.
Refund policy: This activity is non-refundable.

Concession eligibility

Children and young people (EU citizens): Individuals up to 25 years old from EU member states are entitled to free admission upon presenting a valid ID or passport.
Children and young people (Non-EU citizens): Those aged between 6 and 25 years are eligible for a reduced admission fee, while children up to 6 years old from non-EU countries can gain free admission upon presenting a valid ID.
Senior citizens: Individuals over 65 years old from Greece or other EU member states are eligible for a reduced admission fee upon presenting a valid ID or passport.
Persons with disabilities: Individuals with an 80% disability or more, regardless of nationality, and one escort (if applicable) can access free admission upon presenting a valid disability certificate along with their ID or passport.
Greek citizens (special categories): Greek families with many children (with children up to 25 years old, or any age if they have disabilities) are eligible for free admission upon presenting a valid large family certificate and disability certificate (if applicable). Greek unemployed citizens can also receive free admission with a valid unemployment card and ID.

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

‌

Tickets