Labyrinth of the Minotaur: where the real palace is and how much a ticket costs
The Minotaur lived in a labyrinth with no way out. That is how the myth goes, and the real labyrinth on Crete has been searched for over a century.
The Palace of Knossos stands near Heraklion (Knossos on the map). Although the legend was born thousands of years ago, the palace itself opened to visitors back in the early 20th century.
Ahead: the myth of the Minotaur, the history of the Minoan civilization, opening hours, prices, and the route from Heraklion. You will see what actually survives in the palace and understand how to plan your visit without the queue and the midday heat.
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💡 In short:
- No separate labyrinth has been found: the myth most likely grew out of the Palace of Knossos near Heraklion.
- Allow about two hours to see the palace.
- Arrive by 08:00: the queue is shorter and the heat has not set in yet.
Minoan civilization and King Minos
The Minoan civilization emerged on Crete around 3000 BC and faded out by roughly 1100 BC (according to Britannica). It is linked to Minos, the legendary ruler of the island.
Minos built a strong state with an army and a fleet. It grew wealthy through trade in copper, bronze, and pottery, and palaces were built on the island for the nobility.
© Zde · CC BY-SAPhoto: Zde, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsTraces of this culture were discovered in 1900 by the English archaeologist Arthur Evans (history of the excavations). He also gave it the name "Minoan," after the king from the myth.
Later, scholars established that the prosperous Cretan state suffered greatly from a catastrophe on a neighboring island. The eruption of the volcano on Santorini around 1600 BC caused a tsunami that reached Crete (according to Wikipedia).
After the catastrophe, the Minoans never regained their former power. The state gradually faded away, leaving behind the memory of a powerful king and his palace.
The legend of the Minotaur and Ariadne's thread
After Minos's reign, the labyrinth became surrounded by legends. The people of Crete worshipped the bull and considered it a sacred animal, like many ancient peoples of the Mediterranean.
King Minos, like other Greek rulers, was supposed to sacrifice a bull to Poseidon. One day he broke his vow and kept the sacred animal for himself.
The god of the sea took revenge. He made Minos's wife, Pasiphae, fall in love with the bull, and she gave birth to a creature with a human body and a bull's head. That is how the Minotaur came to be.
© Painter of London E 4 · CC BYPhoto: Painter of London E 4, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5), Wikimedia CommonsBy order of the king, the craftsman Daedalus built a tangled labyrinth. The monster was locked inside, and it demanded sacrifices: Athenian young men and women were brought to Crete and given to the Minotaur.
The Athenians were powerless against Minos's vassals, who came for the next victims. Then Theseus, son of King Aegeus, decided to kill the monster and set off for Crete himself.
Before the hero's journey, Ariadne, Minos's daughter, saw him and fell in love. She gave him a ball of thread so he could find his way out of the underground maze. Unwinding the thread, Theseus reached the Minotaur, defeated it, and made his way back out. That ball of thread went down in history as Ariadne's thread.
Knossos Palace: where the real labyrinth was found
The real labyrinth most likely stood on the site of Knossos Palace. Scholars believe the myth grew out of the enormous Bronze Age palace complex near Heraklion.
The palace covered about 22,000 m² (according to the Crete tourism portal). The number of rooms exceeds a thousand, and they are connected by intricately curved corridors. It is easy to get lost in such passageways.
© Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SAPhoto: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsArchaeologists have excavated walls and columns that stood for thousands of years. Today it is a true museum of Minoan Cretan architecture and art.
Myth and history diverge here. Scholars debate whether the labyrinth was a separate structure or simply the confusing layout of the palace. For a tourist, the difference is small: under the vaults of Knossos, it is easy to believe either version.
What to see at Knossos: halls and frescoes
At Knossos, the paintings matter more than the walls. The frescoes depict women with amphorae and dancers in elegant dresses.
Separately, look for the bull-leaping fresco. It shows an acrobat jumping over the back of a mighty animal, and the artist captures the contrast between the beast's strength and the fragility of the human figure.
The ornaments near the entrances have retained the freshness of their colors and the rhythm of their lines. Looking at them, you understand how highly the Minoans valued beauty.
Step into the throne room: the ruler's stone seat is still there. The second must-see is the hall with the dolphin fresco, a favorite shot for photographers.
Tickets and opening hours (as of 09/2026)
A full ticket costs 20 €, a reduced ticket 10 € (as of 09/2026, official website of the Greek Ministry of Culture). The palace is open every day, but it is closed on January 1, March 25, May 1, August 15, and December 25-26.
Period | Opening hours |
|---|---|
April | 08:00-20:00 |
September | 08:00-19:30 |
October | 08:00-18:30 |
November-March | 08:30-17:00 |
Prices and schedule: as of 09/2026, verified on the official monument website.
Get tickets in advance: in summer a line forms at the entrance, and there is almost no shade on the grounds. Look for skip-the-line online options from ticket services.
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Good to know: the visit takes about two hours. Wear comfortable shoes, because the paths are rocky.
How to get to Knossos from Heraklion
Knossos is only 5 km from the center of Heraklion (Knossos location), so a car is not essential. City bus line 2 departs from the bus station near the port, and the ride takes about 20 minutes (according to Crete Immersion, 2026). The ticket falls within the first fare zone, the cheapest one offered by the city carrier (KTEL Heraklion).
By car, the drive takes the same amount of time. A taxi from the center costs more than the bus, but it will pick you up right at your hotel.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
Where is the Minotaur's labyrinth?
Archaeologists have not found a separate labyrinth. The myth is believed to have grown out of the Palace of Knossos, 5 km from Heraklion (Wikipedia). The palace covered about 22,000 m², and its rooms were connected by confusing corridors. It was this layout that gave rise to the legend of an underground dungeon with a monster.
How much does a ticket to the Palace of Knossos cost?
A full ticket costs 20 €, a reduced ticket 10 € (as of 09/2026, official website of the Greek Ministry of Culture). Free entry is available on open days, including March 6, April 18, May 18, and the last weekend of September. Check the schedule before your trip, because in extreme heat the palace is sometimes closed during the day.
How long does the visit take?
Allow at least two hours. The palace is large, and in summer the site is hot with little shade. Add a break for water and do not plan a strenuous walk after Knossos. With a guide, the visit goes faster: without explanations, ruins from different eras look almost identical.
When is the best time to arrive?
Early in the morning. The gates open at 08:00, and before the first groups arrive you can walk through the main halls almost alone. By midday, the open area becomes very hot, and finding shelter is difficult. In winter, arrive closer to midday, when the air has warmed up.
What should you definitely see at Knossos?
The Throne Room, the bull-leaping fresco, and the Dolphin Hall. Also take in the scale of the complex from the south side. If you are short on time, start with the ceremonial rooms, where the main frescoes are concentrated, and only then explore the outer courtyards.
In short: what to book
No separate labyrinth has been found, but the myth most likely grew out of the Palace of Knossos. Allow about two hours for the visit.
If you have one day in Heraklion, start at 08:00: the line is shorter and the heat has not yet set in. For an overnight stay, choose a hotel in the center, from where it is easy to reach Knossos by bus or taxi.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.