Knossos Palace in January 2027: Hours, Free Sundays & Weather

Knossos is closed on New Year’s Day, Friday 1 January 2027, and reopens on Saturday 2 January on its winter hours of 08:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:40. Entry is free on Sundays 3 and 17 January. Heraklion averages a high of about 15°C in January with rain on around 16 days, and the palace has fewer visitors than in any other month. Pick a dry spell for the palace, wear shoes with good grip and fit in the museum, which closes earlier in winter than the palace does.

January 2027 at a glance

Planning detail	What to know
Is Knossos open in January?	Yes, every day except 1 January
Opening hours	08:00–17:00 from 2 January; last entry 16:40
Free Sundays	3 and 17 January 2027
Next free Sundays	7 and 21 February 2027
Adult admission	€20 (reduced €10); EU citizens under 25 free
Time to allow	90 minutes to two hours
Weather in Heraklion	Average high 15.4°C, rain on about 16 days

Why this matters when planning

January has one closed day and two free ones, all in the first half of the month. New Year’s Day is on Hellenic Heritage’s list of closures, so a palace visit on 1 January is not possible; from 2 January the site is back to its normal winter day. The first free Sunday comes two days later, on 3 January, and the second on 17 January. You still book a ticket for an entry time on tickets.hh.gr for a free day. On other days admission is €20, the reduced ticket €10, and EU citizens under 25 enter free; our Knossos tickets and prices guide has the full list.

This is the emptiest month of the year at Knossos. The site had 5,754 visitors in January 2025 and 4,974 in January 2024, under 200 a day, against about 5,500 a day in August. If you photograph ruins or want time alone in the Throne Room and the light wells, January gives you the space. On a single day in Heraklion, keep the palace as the fixed point and move it into whatever hours stay dry; on a longer stay, choose the driest day in the forecast.

Recommended approach

Look at the forecast the evening before and aim for a dry morning. Arrive between about 10:00 and 11:00, once the air has warmed, and spend the early afternoon at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, which keeps shorter winter hours than the palace. Check its closing time on its website so you do not arrive as it shuts.

If you want someone to explain the rooms, check that the guide is licensed, whether the €20 ticket is included, the group size and the meeting point. The Knossos Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Walking Tour costs $100 per person, includes the ticket and has 4.9/5 from more than 1,500 reviews. For two people, the private Knossos tour with a licensed archaeologist costs $236 for the pair, ticket included, and has 4.9/5 from more than 700 reviews. The shared walk is cheaper for one person; the private tour is the one to choose if you want the guide to follow your questions. Both can be cancelled free up to 24 hours ahead, so a wet forecast does not cost you the fee. An entrance-only ticket suits visitors who would rather explore at their own speed.

City bus line 2 reaches the entrance from central Heraklion in about 20 minutes; check the stop, the direction and the last bus back before you go. A taxi takes about 15 minutes, and the quote should say whether the driver waits. With children or luggage, allow extra time.

Winter considerations

January is cool and wet. The average high of 15.4°C is the lowest of the year in Heraklion, and rain falls on about 16 days. Showers often come in bursts with dry spells between them, but the palace is an open-air ruin with almost no shelter, so carry a waterproof layer and a warm one. Wet limestone paving and stairways get slippery; shoes with good tread matter more this month than any other.

Storms and strong wind can close the site at short notice, even within the published hours. Check for closure news on the morning you go. Our page on visiting Knossos in winter has a full wet-day plan, and the best time to visit Knossos compares January with the rest of the year.

The museum is the obvious indoor stop. It holds the original frescoes and objects from Knossos, which show you what the twentieth-century reconstructions at the palace are based on. Each site has its own €20 ticket.

Frequently asked questions

Is Knossos open in January?

Yes, from Saturday 2 January 2027, every day from 08:00 to 17:00 with last entry at 16:40. It is closed on 1 January. January is cool and wet, with average highs around 15°C.

Can you visit without an organised tour?

Yes. Book a ticket for an entry time on tickets.hh.gr and walk the site on your own. City bus line 2 takes about 20 minutes from Heraklion, and a taxi about 15.

How much time should you allow?

Most first-time visitors spend 90 minutes to two hours. Photographers and specialist tours take longer. Enter by about 15:00 to fit a full visit before the 17:00 closing.

What happens if it rains?

Light rain does not stop a visit, but there is almost no shelter and the paving gets slippery. Heavy rain, storms or strong wind can make the visit unpleasant and can close the site, so check the forecast and any closure notice first.

Is it possible to save on admission?

Yes. Sundays 3 and 17 January 2027 are free for everyone. EU citizens under 25 enter free on any day, and EU citizens over 65 pay €10. Bring a passport or ID card to prove it.

Final planning advice

Avoid 1 January, give the palace a dry morning, and reach the museum in the early afternoon, well before its earlier winter closing.

Practical visit checklist

Confirm the site is open and not closed for weather on the morning of your visit.
Decide between an entrance-only ticket, a shared guided tour with the ticket, or a private guide.
Check the bus line 2 timetable and the last bus back if you are not driving.
Bring ID if you are claiming a free or reduced ticket.
Build in spare time for rain and traffic before any flight or ferry.

Knossos Palace in January