Knossos Palace, Winery & Olive Oil Tour with Cretan Lunch
This day tour pairs a visit to the Palace of Knossos with the food-and-drink side of Crete: a winery with wine tasting, an olive oil tasting, and a traditional Cretan lunch. It runs as a guided trip with transport from the Heraklion area, and lunch is generally part of the package. Knossos’s €20 admission may be charged separately, so confirm the inclusions when you book.
Crete is as famous for its vineyards and olive groves as for its archaeology, and this tour leans into both. You start with the island’s most important Minoan site, then spend the rest of the day tasting what the surrounding countryside produces — local wines, extra-virgin olive oil, and a sit-down Cretan meal. It’s a gentler, more sensory day than a pure sightseeing marathon.
That mix makes it a good fit for travelers who want context and culture rather than a checklist of ruins. This guide covers the itinerary, what’s included, the wine and food element, and how to decide if a tasting-focused day suits you.
Tour at a Glance
| Detail | Knossos, Winery & Olive Oil Tour with Lunch |
|---|---|
| Type | Guided food-and-wine day tour |
| Main elements | Knossos, winery & wine tasting, olive oil tasting, lunch |
| Knossos entry | €20 admission may be separate — confirm at booking |
| Lunch | Generally included — confirm on the listing |
| Departure area | Heraklion region |
| Price | Varies — see the live listing |
What This Food & Wine Tour Includes
The tour combines guided time at the Palace of Knossos with a winery visit and wine tasting, an olive oil tasting, and a traditional Cretan lunch. It’s a guided group day trip with transport from the Heraklion area, and lunch is usually part of the price. Because inclusions vary, confirm whether the €20 Knossos admission and the tastings are covered before you book.
The archaeology comes first. At Knossos you walk the palace’s showpiece spaces — the Central Court, the residential quarter, the Queen's Megaron with its dolphin fresco and remarkably advanced drainage, and the north entrance with its charging-bull relief. A guide adds the context that the site’s thin signage leaves out and separates the genuine Minoan remains from Sir Arthur Evans’s concrete reconstruction.
After the palace the day turns to the table. You visit a winery for a tasting of Cretan wines, sample local extra-virgin olive oil, and sit down to a traditional lunch built around regional produce. Crete has a distinctive food culture and its own grape varieties, so the tastings are a real introduction rather than a generic add-on.
What is included: Guided visit to Knossos, a winery visit with wine tasting, an olive oil tasting, and a traditional Cretan lunch; transport from the Heraklion area
Duration: Full or most of the day — confirm the exact length on the listing
Languages: Guided in English and possibly other languages — confirm your language when booking
Rating: See the live listing for the current rating and number of reviews
Meeting point: A central meeting point or hotel pickup in the Heraklion area is usual — confirm your exact arrangements when booking
Cancellation: Check the live listing — many GetYourGuide tours offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before, but confirm the exact policy for your date
Best for: Visitors who want to combine the Minoan palace with a relaxed introduction to Cretan wine, olive oil and food in one day
Book This TourIf you’d rather keep the focus on the ruins and skip the tastings, a Knossos-only guided walking tour covers the palace in depth in a shorter half-day.
Is Lunch and Knossos Entry Included?
Lunch is generally part of this package, and the wine and olive oil tastings are the core of the day. The €20 Knossos admission, however, may be quoted separately, so read the inclusions carefully before booking. Under-18s and EU citizens under 25 enter Knossos free with ID, and if you want bare entry without the food element, a standalone ticket is much cheaper.
The tastings and lunch are the reason to choose this tour, so confirm on the listing exactly what the meal covers and whether drinks beyond the tasting are extra. As with most Crete day tours, the Knossos entrance fee may not be folded into the headline price. If the food side doesn’t appeal and you just want to see the palace, buy a standalone Knossos entry ticket instead. Our Knossos tickets guide compares the prices.
Pacing a Tasting-Focused Day
A food and wine day is more leisurely than a multi-site sightseeing dash, which is part of the appeal. Doing Knossos in the morning also means you’re often ahead of the midday crowds at the open-air, largely shadeless site, then moving indoors and into the shade of a winery for the warmest part of the day. Our guide to the best time to visit explains the seasonal patterns, and where to eat near Knossos is handy if you’d rather arrange your own meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lunch included in this tour?
Lunch is generally part of the package, built around traditional Cretan dishes and local produce. Confirm on the live listing exactly what the meal covers and whether any drinks beyond the wine tasting cost extra. If you have dietary requirements, flag them when booking, as small-group food tours can usually accommodate them with notice.
Is the €20 Knossos entrance fee included?
Not necessarily. Many day tours price the transport, guiding and tastings and then add the €20 Knossos admission separately. Read the inclusions on the live listing before booking so you know the total cost. Under-18s and EU citizens under 25 enter Knossos free with valid ID, which lowers the total for eligible travelers.
What kind of wine will I taste?
You’ll usually taste Cretan wines at a local winery, often including indigenous grape varieties that are distinctive to the island. Crete has a long winemaking tradition, so it’s a genuine regional introduction rather than a generic tasting. Confirm how many wines are included and whether the tasting is guided by the winery or your tour leader.
Is there a minimum age, and what about non-drinkers?
Wine tasting is for adults, but the tour welcomes non-drinkers and families too — the olive oil tasting, the lunch and Knossos itself appeal regardless of whether you drink. If you’re traveling with children or prefer not to drink, the day still works well; just confirm any age policy for the winery portion when you book.
How much time do I get at Knossos?
Because the day also includes a winery, an olive oil tasting and lunch, the guided time at Knossos is condensed compared with a palace-focused visit. If you want an unhurried look at the ruins, choose a dedicated Knossos tour or a standalone ticket and set your own pace, then arrange the food side separately.
Are the frescoes at Knossos originals?
No. The vivid frescoes on site, including the Queen’s Megaron dolphins and the north-entrance charging bull, are reproductions. The surviving originals are displayed in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum in the city. The replicas let you see the art in its architectural setting while the fragile originals are conserved indoors at the museum.
What is the olive oil tasting like?
You typically sample local extra-virgin olive oil, often with bread and sometimes alongside other regional products, while learning what makes Cretan oil distinctive. Crete produces some of Greece’s most prized olive oil, so it’s a meaningful part of the day rather than a token stop. Confirm whether the tasting is at the same venue as lunch or a separate producer.
Where does the tour depart from?
Most departures are from the Heraklion area, with either a central meeting point or hotel pickup. Confirm your exact pickup location and time when you book. If you’re based well away from Heraklion, factor in the transfer, which can add significantly to the length of the day.
Can I cancel if my plans change?
Cancellation terms vary, so confirm on the live listing. Many GetYourGuide tours offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, which is useful given how easily Crete plans shift with weather or transport schedules. Check the exact policy for your date and operator rather than assuming the booking is flexible.
