Knossos Κνωσός
Heraklion, Greece UNESCO World Heritage Site
Knossos is an organized archaeological site and ancient polis located in Heraklion, Greece, with an inception dating back to 7000 BC. As part of the Minoan Palatial Centres, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the most looked-up sights in Greece, with about 856,000 visitors recorded in 2018.
Planning a visit
The summer months of June, July, and August offer warm daily highs of 29 °C to 30 °C with very little rain, making them suitable for visiting. Conversely, winters are cooler and significantly wetter, with rainfall peaking in December and January at over 120 mm. The site is located 5 km from Heraklion International Nikos Kazantzakis Airport and 325 km from Athens. Visitors can combine a trip to Knossos with nearby locations such as the Heraklion Archaeological Museum, 5.1 km away, or the Koules Fortress, 5.7 km away. Other nearby sites include Malia, Mount Ida, and Phaistos. The site is open Monday through Sunday from 08:00 to 20:00. Admission is €15 for a full ticket or €8 for concessions. The site is not wheelchair accessible.
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 30 °C. The wettest is December, with about 127 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 14 | 14 | 17 | 21 | 25 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 24 | 19 | 15 |
| Average low, °C | 7 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 12 | 9 |
| Rainfall, mm | 126 | 98 | 70 | 33 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 59 | 103 | 127 |
| Rainy days | 16 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 14 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
