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The Palace of Knossos
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| Hours | Apr to mid-Oct daily 8am-8pm; mid-Oct to Mar Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat-Sun 8:30am-3pm | ||
| Location | Knossos Rd., 5km (3 miles) south of Iraklion | ||
| Transportation | Frequent buses from center of Iraklion | ||
| Phone | 2810/231-940 | ||
| Prices | Admission 6€ ($7.80), 3€ ($3.90) students with official ID and E.U. citizens 65 or over. Free on Sun Nov-Mar and some Sun in summer. Special combination ticket for the Palace of Knossos and Archaeological Museum is 10€ ($13) | ||
| Other | Free parking down slope on left 90m (300 ft.) before main entrance | ||
Frommer's Review
This is undeniably one of the great archaeological sites of the world, yet until Arthur Evans began excavating here in 1900, little was known about the ancient people who inhabited it. Using every possible clue and remnant, Evans rebuilt large parts of the palace -- walls, floors, stairs, windows, and columns. Visitors must now stay on a walkway, but you still get a good sense of the structure's labyrinthine nature. You are looking at the remains of two major palaces plus several restorations made from about 2000 B.C. to 1250 B.C. This was not a palace in the modern sense of a royal residence, but a combination of that and the Minoans' chief religious-ceremonial center as well as their administrative headquarters and royal workshops. Take the time for a guided tour here; it's worth the expense (your hotel or a travel agency can arrange it). On your own, you'll need at least 2 hours for a cursory walk-through. The latter part of the day and Sunday tend to be less crowded.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
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| Frommer's Greece, 7th Edition | |
| 0 stars | Frommer's Recommended | |
| 1 stars | Frommer's Highly Recommended | |
| 2 stars | Frommer's Very Highly Recommended | |
| 3 stars | Frommer's Exceptional |
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Other ratings provide stars based primarily on price and amenities; the Frommer's star rating is meant to quantify the kind of intangible, experiential elements that help travelers make informed decisions.
The "baseline" recommendation is zero stars--every hotel, restaurant, attraction, shop, and nightlife establishment that Frommer's chooses to review is recommended; otherwise, we simply wouldn't include it.