Heraklion Archaeological Museum

A good place to visit in combination with Knossos palace. Tickets can be purchased on the door and there is a small queue to get in. The museum is well laid out over two floors with thousands of artefacts from Cretan history. It’s incredibly interesting and thought provoking as you walk around and read / view the history of Crete. There are plenty of staff on hand if you have any questions. There are toilets, a cafe and the place has good air con if you’re looking to escape the heat!

The museum itself is stunning — a beautifully curated and thoughtfully laid out collection. We booked 6pm tickets to avoid the crowds, which was absolutely worth it. That said, it was frustrating to be told there were only 10 minutes left just as we were wrapping up, and even more disappointing to find the gift shop had already closed 30 minutes earlier with no warning. A simple heads-up an hour before closing — especially about the gift shop — would go a long way in improving the experience. Still, the museum is well worth the visit.

Nice museum with many artifacts, worth a visit, whether you are into history, or just want to escape the heat for few hours while learning something about ancient civilization. We had a rented car and I highly recommend the large parking place at the port nearby. We did not book online, it took around 15 mins to get in. Can be crowded inside and perhaps not that exciting for children.

Very good museum. Lots of information and the app was good for English info. Very interesting and I enjoyed visiting after Knossos palace. We went as it opened so it wasn’t too busy but got quite busy as time went on. Would definitely recommend a visit. Pay same on the door as you do online, need to select an entry time online so we just paid on arrival.

Included as part of an excursion, we were NOT disappointed when we visited the Heraklion Archaeological Museum – it was blooming fantastic! The museum is gorgeous and its treasures so evocative of the history of Crete. All of the displays are well lit, easy to navigate and with informative and engaging text explanations. The people-to-space ratio is such that you never feel crowded which just adds to the experience. The team were lovely and very happy to pass on their wisdom which was a really nice personal touch to the visit! Not to miss for those interested in the rich history and culture of Crete!

For those interested in Minoan civilization, first writing systems and history, it's a great opportunity to see unique artifacts. For tourists it's a good spot to hide from summer heat and understand better Knossos palace archeological site. If you're into history, consider 2-3 hours visit. If you're usual tourist, 1-2 hours should be enough. There is a nice garden and cafe, if you want to grab a snack or a drink. Small kids will likely to be bored.

A good three or four hours spent here. It’s well laid out, and beautifully presented. Try the cafe as well for a spectacular view of the city, good coffee and local food. €12 entry - but air conditioned and if you like your history and ceramics worth it. Plenty of outside and inside breakout spaces for r&r. A lovely experience setting us up for the old part of the city which is immediately behind.

Nice museum with two floors, gift shops, bathrooms, and large cafe & seating area. The exhibits themselves took 2 hours to see and we could have spent longer in there. I had a hard time figuring out the picture etiquette as sometimes they said no pictures of the gods statues and others were fine, even the headstones and remains? They did have museum staff in all the rooms that could answer some questions. If you only go to one museum in Greece, this is the one to go to! We first went to palace of Knossos with a guide before going here which was great to understand more about where the artifacts from this Meier were found and how the timeline and history was pieced together.