Your day, step by step
08:00
Walk off the ship to the bus station by the port and take line 2 to Knossos.
08:30
Enter Knossos; an e-ticket bought the night before on the official Hellenic Heritage site skips the ticket queue (no time slot needed). Carry at least a litre of water each; there is little shade.
10:30
Bus back to Eleftherias Square.
11:00
Heraklion Archaeological Museum, a short walk from the square (opens 13:00 on Wednesdays, so swap the order that day).
13:00
Lunch in the old town, for example Parasties near the Venetian Loggia.
14:15
Lions Square and the Morosini Fountain, the Loggia, Agios Titos and 1866 Market Street.
15:30
Walk down to the Venetian harbour and Koules fortress, then along the waterfront to the ship.
- Latest you can leave Old Town (Lions Square)16:10
16:30
Back on board, 60 minutes before all-aboard.
Where to leave from, and when
on foot bus, train, boat taxiPins show when to leave each place. Lines: route back to your ship.
Going further? Leave by these times
- Old Town (Lions Square)Walk via the Venetian harbour, 15–20 min16:10
- Venetian harbour and Koules fortressWalk along the waterfront, 15–20 min16:10
- KnossosCity bus line 2, about 20–25 min, then walk to the berth; taxi 10–15 min if the bus is full15:30
Where people get Heraklion wrong
Visiting Knossos in the midday heat, or leaving it too late when line 2 buses are full.
Built from our Heraklion guide, checked against 18 official sources (October 2026). Nothing here is guessed. Read the full guide or see the sources.
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