Knossos Palace in November
From 1 November 2026 Knossos closes at 17:00, with last entry at 16:40. The free Sunday still ahead is 15 November, the next are 6 and 20 December, and the month is mild but wetter than October.
November is the first month of winter hours at Knossos: since 1 November 2026 the palace has opened 08:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:40, an hour earlier than in late October. Entry is free on Sunday 15 November; 1 November, the month’s other free Sunday, has passed. Heraklion highs still average about 20°C, but showers are more likely than in October and the site has a fraction of its autumn crowds. Arrive between 09:30 and 11:00 and allow two hours. If you want a guide, the skip-the-line guided walking tour includes the €20 ticket.
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November 2026 at a glance
| Planning detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Is November good for Knossos? | Yes, if you want a quiet visit: mild, with far fewer visitors, but wetter than October |
| Opening hours | 08:00–17:00 every day from 1 November; last entry 16:40 |
| Free Sundays | 1 November (passed) and 15 November 2026 |
| Next free Sundays | 6 and 20 December 2026 |
| Adult admission | €20 (reduced €10); EU citizens under 25 free |
| Closed days | None in November; the next closures are 25 and 26 December |
| Weather in Heraklion | Average high 20.4°C, rain on about 11 days |
What changed on 1 November
From 16 to 31 October the palace closed at 18:00. On 1 November it moved to its winter hours, 08:00 to 17:00, and stays on them until 31 March. Last entry is 20 minutes before closing, at 16:40. Hellenic Heritage, which runs the site and sells the tickets, lists these hours for winter 2026–27.
A later start leaves you less time. For a full two-hour visit before the 17:00 closing, enter by about 15:00, and if you are arriving by bus after lunch, aim for an earlier one. Greek clocks went back on 25 October, so the afternoons are also darker than a fortnight ago.
Free Sundays in November and December
Knossos is free for everyone on the first and third Sunday of each month from November to March. In November 2026 those are Sunday 1 November, now past, and Sunday 15 November. Even on a free day you need a ticket for an entry time, booked through Hellenic Heritage on tickets.hh.gr.
If 15 November does not fit your trip, the next free Sundays are 6 and 20 December 2026. The 28 October national holiday, also a free day, has gone for this year. On any other day, admission is €20 and the reduced ticket €10, EU citizens under 25 enter free, and EU citizens over 65 pay the reduced price. Our Knossos tickets and prices guide lists who qualifies for each.
What November is like at Knossos
The crowds drop sharply. Knossos had 22,417 visitors in November 2025, against 125,865 in October, so roughly one person on the site in November for every six in October. That works out at about 750 a day, against about 5,500 a day in August.
The weather is still mild. Heraklion averages a high of 20.4°C in November, warm enough to walk the site at midday in a light layer. Rain is more frequent, with about 11 rainy days in the month against 8 in October, usually as showers between dry spells. Our guide to the best time to visit Knossos compares November with every other month.
With a single day in Heraklion, make Knossos the fixed point and leave the rest of the day loose, so you can move the palace into the dry hours. On a longer stay, pick the driest day from the forecast for the palace and save museums for the showery ones.
A November day at Knossos
Arrive between 09:30 and 11:00, allow about two hours at the palace, and spend the early afternoon at the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, which holds the original frescoes and finds from Knossos. The museum keeps its own winter hours, so check them on its website before you go. Each site has its own €20 ticket.
City bus line 2 takes about 20 minutes from central Heraklion; check the stop, the direction and the time of the last bus back before you set out. A taxi takes about 15 minutes, and a return or waiting arrangement should be agreed in the quote. With children or luggage, allow extra time for boarding and the walk from the stop.
On site in November
The palace is an open-air ruin with almost no shelter. After rain the old paving and stairways get slippery, so wear shoes with grip and carry a light waterproof. In strong wind or a thunderstorm the visit becomes hard going, and the site can close at short notice: on 3 October 2026 it closed from 14:00 because of the weather. Our page on visiting Knossos in winter has a full wet-day plan and the free Sundays for the rest of the season.
Booking a guided tour in November
Before booking any tour, check that the guide is licensed, whether the €20 admission is included, the group size and the exact meeting point. A guided tour and an entrance-only ticket suit different visitors: the ticket lets you set your own pace, the guide explains the rooms in about 90 minutes.
The Knossos Palace skip-the-line guided walking tour costs $100 per person with the ticket included, has 4.9/5 from more than 1,500 reviews, and can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before, a useful margin in a showery month. If you would rather see the museum and the palace with the same guide, the Archaeological Museum and Knossos Palace half-day guided tour costs $113 and has 4.9/5, but from only 35 reviews, and both entrance fees are extra.
Frequently asked questions
Is November good for Knossos?
Yes, for a quiet visit. Heraklion highs average about 20°C and the site has roughly a sixth of October’s visitors. The costs are a 17:00 closing and more showers than in October, with about 11 rainy days in the month.
Is Knossos free on Sunday 15 November 2026?
Yes. The first and third Sundays from November to March are free for everyone, so 1 and 15 November 2026 are free. You still need a ticket for an entry time from tickets.hh.gr.
Can you visit without an organised tour?
Yes. Independent visitors need a valid ticket for an entry time. City bus line 2 runs from Heraklion to the entrance in about 20 minutes, or you can take a taxi.
How much time should you allow?
Most first-time visitors need 90 minutes to two hours at the palace; specialist tours and photography take longer. The site closes at 17:00, so enter by about 15:00.
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, thunderstorms or strong wind can make the visit miserable and can close the site, so check the forecast and any closure news before travelling.
Is it possible to save on admission?
Yes. Come on a free Sunday, 15 November or 6 or 20 December 2026. EU citizens under 25 enter free every day, and EU citizens over 65 pay €10. Carry a passport or ID card.
Final planning advice
Enter between 09:30 and 11:00, allow two hours, and keep the museum for the early afternoon or a wet morning.
Practical visit checklist
- Check the opening hours and any weather closure on the morning you go.
- Decide whether you want an official ticket, a guided tour with the ticket included, or a guide-only tour.
- Check the bus line 2 timetable, including the last bus back, if you are not driving.
- Carry a passport or ID card if you are claiming a free or reduced ticket.
- Allow extra time for showers, traffic and queues, especially before a flight or ferry.
Official sources for planning
See Knossos With Someone Who Can Read It
The most-reviewed guided walk of the palace: skip-the-ticket-line entry, the €20 admission included, and a licensed guide for 90 minutes. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
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