Visiting Knossos Palace in Winter
Knossos stays open all winter, 08:00–17:00 from 1 November to 31 March, with free entry on the first and third Sundays. How to plan a winter visit around rain, the museum and the 16:40 last entry.
Knossos is open all winter, 08:00 to 17:00 every day from 1 November to 31 March, with last entry at 16:40. It closes only on 25 and 26 December, 1 January and 25 March. You share the palace with far fewer people than in summer, but rain and wind are more likely, and there is almost nowhere to shelter on the site. Plan the palace for a dry morning and keep the Heraklion Archaeological Museum for a wet one. If you want a guide, the skip-the-line guided walking tour runs 90 minutes with the €20 ticket included.
Check Availability
Winter at Knossos at a glance
| Planning detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Is Knossos open in winter? | Yes, every day except 25–26 December, 1 January and 25 March |
| Winter hours | 08:00–17:00 from 1 November to 31 March; last entry 16:40 |
| Time to allow | 90 minutes to two hours at the palace |
| Adult admission | €20 (reduced €10), the same price all year |
| Free admission | First and third Sunday of each month, November to March |
| Weather | Heraklion highs average 15 to 20°C, with rain on 11 to 16 days a month |
These are the season’s fixed points. For the hours in every other month and the visitor count and weather for each month, our guide to the best time to visit Knossos has the full table and a date checker.
Why winter changes the plan
Winter is when Knossos is quietest. The site had fewer than 10,000 visitors a month in December, January and February 2025, against about 172,000 in August, so you share the courtyards and stairways with far fewer people. Midday is comfortable for walking, with Heraklion highs of about 15 to 20°C, and on the first and third Sundays entry is free for everyone.
The trade-off is a shorter day and wetter weather. The site closes at 17:00, and in December and January rain falls on around half the days. Knossos is an open-air ruin, and when it pours you get wet.
If you have only one day in Heraklion, make Knossos the priority and keep the rest of the day light, so you can move the palace to whichever part of the day stays dry. If you are staying longer, watch the forecast, pick the driest day for the palace and use the museum as the fallback when rain or strong wind sets in. Around Christmas, New Year and 25 March, the holiday closures matter more than the daily hours: check that your day is not one of them before you build anything around it.
A winter day plan, dry or wet
On a dry day
Arrive in the late morning, when the air has warmed up and any early showers have usually passed, and give the palace 90 minutes to two hours. The site closes at 17:00, so an arrival by about 15:00 still leaves a full two-hour visit. Spend the afternoon in Heraklion: the museum, the Venetian harbour and the old town are all 5 km away. Our guide to how long to spend at Knossos breaks the visit down room by room.
On a wet day
Swap the order. Go to the Heraklion Archaeological Museum first, while it rains, and move on to the palace if the afternoon clears. Light rain does not stop a visit, but heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong wind make the ruins hard going and can close the site: on 3 October 2026 Knossos closed from 14:00 because of the weather.
Pairing the palace with the museum
The museum holds the originals of the frescoes, pottery and objects found at Knossos, which makes it the best place to understand which parts of the palace Arthur Evans reconstructed in the twentieth century. It is indoors, and the two are about 20 minutes apart on city bus line 2. Each has its own €20 ticket, as the combined ticket is no longer sold. The museum sets its own winter hours, so check them on its website before you plan a day around both. To see both with one guide, the Archaeological Museum and Knossos Palace half-day guided tour costs $113 and has 4.9/5, though from only 35 reviews, and both entrance fees are extra. Our Knossos and Archaeological Museum guide covers which to see first and how long each takes.
What changes on site in winter
The palace is almost entirely outdoors and the old paving gets slippery after rain, especially on the stairways and the worn stone of the courtyards. Wear shoes with grip and bring a waterproof layer; an umbrella is little use on a windy day.
The published hours can change on the day: the local antiquities office can close Knossos when weather makes the site dangerous, so check the news on the morning of your visit if storms are forecast.
Tickets and free Sundays in winter
Admission is €20 and the reduced ticket €10, with the same prices all year. EU citizens under 25 enter free on any day, and EU citizens over 65 pay the reduced price from 1 October to 31 May; bring a passport or ID card. Official tickets come from Hellenic Heritage at tickets.hh.gr and are sold for a set entry time.
Entry is free for everyone on the first and third Sunday of each month from November to March. For winter 2026–27 those Sundays are 1 and 15 November, 6 and 20 December, 3 and 17 January, 7 and 21 February, and 7 and 21 March. You still need a ticket for an entry time on a free day. Our Knossos tickets and prices guide covers every category, and our page on Knossos in November has the month’s dates in detail.
Getting there in winter
City bus line 2 runs from central Heraklion to the palace entrance in about 20 minutes. Check the direction of travel, the stop and the time of the last bus back before you set out. A taxi takes about 15 minutes; if you want it to wait or come back for you, agree that in the quote. Travelling with children or luggage, allow extra time for boarding and the walk from the stop. Our Heraklion to Knossos guide has fares and timetables.
A guided tour in winter
A guided visit and an entrance-only ticket suit different people. With a ticket you go at your own pace; with a guide you get the story of the rooms in 90 minutes and someone else handles the ticket. Before you book any tour, check that the guide is licensed, whether the €20 admission is included, the group size and the exact meeting point.
Our pick for a winter visit is the Knossos Palace skip-the-line guided walking tour: $100 per person with the entry ticket included, 4.9/5 from more than 1,500 reviews, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before, which matters when the forecast can turn. If you want an archaeologist to yourselves, the private guided tour with skip-the-line ticket costs $236 for a group of up to two, also with the ticket included, and has 4.9/5 from more than 700 reviews. For more options, see which Knossos tour is right for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is Knossos open in winter?
Yes. Knossos is open every day from 1 November to 31 March, 08:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:40. It closes on 25 and 26 December, 1 January and 25 March, and can close at short notice in severe weather.
Can you visit Knossos without an organised tour?
Yes. Knossos admits independent visitors with a valid ticket, bought on tickets.hh.gr for an entry time. City bus line 2 runs from Heraklion to the entrance, or you can take a taxi.
How much time should you allow at Knossos in winter?
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 arrive by about 15:00 for a full visit.
What happens if it rains at Knossos?
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. Check the forecast and any closure news before you go, and keep the Heraklion Archaeological Museum as the indoor alternative.
Can you save on admission in winter?
Yes. Entry is free for everyone on the first and third Sunday of each month from November to March. EU citizens under 25 enter free on any day, and EU citizens over 65 pay €10 from 1 October to 31 May. Carry a passport or ID card to claim either.
Final planning advice
Plan 90 minutes to two hours at the palace, arrive in the late morning on a dry day, and check that your date is not 25 or 26 December, 1 January or 25 March.
Practical visit checklist
- Check the opening hours, holiday closures and any weather closure on the morning of your visit.
- Decide between 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 weather, traffic and queues, especially if you have a flight or ferry afterwards.
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.
Check Availability & Book