The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion is a museum in Heraklion, Crete, which houses artefacts from the Neolithic to the Roman periods. The building was designed by renowned Greek architect Panagiotis Kalkos and is considered one of the best ancient art museums in Europe.
Very well set up, all the information available in English. It has a good organization through the time. They included quite interesting details, the ligth is well set up so most of the time you could take nice pictures. The rooms are plenty of space, so you can enjoy the visit even in crowded moments.
Claudio Garcia — Google review
Great museum and very beautiful items and displays. The only part I didn't like was that I paid full price for a ticket and the Greek/roman statue section was closed and I wasn't told when purchasing which I feel warrants a cheaper price. Takes a while to get around also and if you want to visit the place the artifacts are from (mostly Knossos palace) you can buy the dual ticket and get the number 2 bus. Well worth a trip to both.
Paul King — Google review
This is a must visit museum! It is one of the best museums I’ve ever visited and it is the most important museum to learn about the ancient Minoan culture, history, artwork and artifacts. The selection of items were very extensive, and they were carefully curated both in Greek and English. It is also unique because these are not items you can find in other museums in the world. What’s so impressive to me was how carefully preserved these items were. Or perhaps some of these were carefully restored but one would never think that some were from 4-5000 years ago. I do notice that some people touch some of the artifacts which frustrated me. Perhaps it would be wise to section off some of those items so that they cannot be damaged. There is an app that goes with tours for the museum. However, I find the app a little bit confusing, but nonetheless, you can read up more on certain items carefully after your visit. This museum requires 3 to 4 hours at least to carefully see, and absorb all the information. I highly recommend visiting this museum.
Wendy Law — Google review
The place is quite big. There are 2 floors. Plenty of exhibits. The customer service is excellent. The museum is in the heart of the city, so parking is somewhat difficult to find. In short, the place is good, but I have seen some better museums in my life.
Mateusz Szadziul — Google review
An interesting, affordable (6 euros)museum that we completed in less than an hour. Watch for Ginger the resident cat who lures you in with her meowing affections and nips you when you fall for her wiles lol.
It was nice respite from the pouring march rains. Staff were friendly and offered to store our bags of purchases. A no frills indoor cafeteria Should you need a drink or snack. They allow you to bring bottled water as you walk in the museum
Hopi W — Google review
A must have for your visit at Héraklion. Recommended to visit it before going to Kronoss. If you want to see everything clearly, prepare a bottle of water in the bag and the whole afternoon.
Mo — Google review
Absolutely loved going here ❤️. Why I haven't been here all these years, I'll never know (oh yes, covid came and we had lock downs). On a happier note, I took loads of pictures, it was all so fascinating. I think if anyone plans to go to Knossos Palace, it is a good idea to come here first. I wish I had, as my visit to Knossos Palace would have made way more sense, and I could have placed the objects I saw at the museum, that Knossos.
Paula O'Neill — Google review
If you've been to the palace first, then it makes sense to see the museum. But otherwise it's just full of hundreds of clay bulls!
But if you know the background then it adds the context as to why they're important.
The staff are like boring lifeguards, we got told off so many times for pointing, getting to close to items on display, loitering, laughing to loudly & taking photos posing next to statue's where photos are allowed (see pictures attached)! So it took the fun out of being there.
Ginge Haynes — Google review
This new archaeological museum has so much to see it's almost impossible to absorb everything in one visit. It's simply mind-blowing for all you history geeks out there.
I don't remember the entrance fee but it wasn't much, less than 10 euros, I think.
Go! Immerse yourself into it! Take enough time to really enjoy everything this beautiful museum has to offer.
M M — Google review
Lovely museum with treasures and artifacts from Minoan civilization, from the Palace at Knossos and all over Crete. Well organised with ample air-conditioning. It takes about 2 hours for the whole museum. The statues at the last portion of the museum are stunning.
Ben Kee — Google review
Breathtakingly beautiful exhibition. You'd question what happened to the human race for the past 5000 years, as ancient Greeks arguably make more modern, exquisite and imaginative art works!
It's worth highlighting that the official mobile app of the museum is incredibly helpful - out of all the museums I've visited these years, including the British Museum and Athens Archeology Museum, I'd say this museum's app is the most clear, informative and easy to use one. Makes the visit a lot more guided.
Joyce Zhou — Google review
Ein guter Ort um sich die Geschichte anzusehen. Man kann hier entspannt das Museum besuchen und es ist auch nicht so überladen. Wir haben eine Führung gebucht und das war sehr hilfreich. Kann ich nur empfehlen. Wir habeb uns dort mit Führung ca. 1,5 Stunden aufgehalten.
(Translated by Google)
A good place to see history. You can visit the museum here in a relaxed manner and it is not too cluttered. We booked a tour and that was very helpful. I can only recommend. We spent about 1.5 hours there with a guide.
Schebi — Google review
Amazing collection of VERY ancient pottery, sculpture, metals works, burial items and art. So much of each type and many/most in beautiful condition!
The galleries are laid out very well so that it's easy to follow the chronology, with helpful brief info cards for everything.
I've been to a few, and this is a great mid-sized local museum. Astounding exhibits!
Steve Ryan — Google review
Great atmosphere, love that you can see how they decorated their Palace.
Ray Leggett — Google review
Absolutely stunning. I spent 3 hours and was amazed by the amount of artful pottery, jewelry and weapons produced by the Minoan. If you really want to understand what live was like 4000 years ago at the time if the Knossos palace you have to come here and dive into the fascinating history.
Christian Lochner — Google review
The Lux Local Organic Museum
Do the Palace of Knossos before coming here, if you want to have a greater appreciation for the history and adventure that lead to many of these artifacts being featured in this museum.
It is incredible that there is so much in this museum despite being up to 5,000 years old.
My mind was blown that the ancient Greeks saw the Minoans as we see the ancient Greeks. This multi tiered layers of history and mythology have shaped the western world from sports to religion.
A true local and healthy feast for the eyes, mind and spirit.
Kevin L — Google review
There is a combined ticket for visiting the museum and Knossos. We only found out about it after visiting Knossos. The museum was great! We really enjoyed the exposition and the layout. We felt that this is a must if you really want to get an idea of the artefacts found in Knossos and other archaeological sites. We rushed so we only had an hour, I wish we had at least 2.
Elitsa Levendova — Google review
This was a great place to visit. I bought a combined ticket to here and Knossos. There are so many artifacts here and it really takes you through the history of Crete. There's a lot of great information about the place. I could've spent a lot longer here but I went on my last day in Crete and was pretty tired. Would definitely recommend visiting.
Oliver Paterson — Google review
Excellent museum with clear signs and really great exhibitions. The best thing to do in Heraklion. If you can, combine your ticket with going to Knossos. I’d recommend going there first to have context for your visit.
Jessica Coyle — Google review
Pretty modern, clean and interesting museum. Highly recommend seeing the Knossos ruins beforehand (preferably with a guide) to get a better understanding of a lot of the items on display here and make the most of the experience.
WARNING: Although taking pictures inside is allowed, it is not allowed to take them with any gestures, grimaces, etc. (peace signs / thumbs up)
They don't seem to tell you this at the entrance, so a few people, including myself, got in trouble for it. (The staff ask you to delete the photos)
Armin Čaušević — Google review
Very old-fashioned museum, 90s style, absolutely not interactive like other modern museums. Museum keepers are very mean to the tourists. They do not allow to pose for the pictures with the exhibits, and if you do, prepare, that the lady approaches you and demands to delete all the pics off your phone.
As for the exhibits themselves: too much clay, all put together, no proper chronology. To understand what you see, you have to read the long descriptions in a rather small font.
I do not recommend this place. There are better ways to spend 12 €.
Nat Myk — Google review
We stopped in on our last day in Crete and were glad we did. The artifacts are incredible and the way the museum flows is thoughtful and logical. The BIGGEST downside, is that we happened to go the same day as a cruise ship so it was packed. The museum isn't very big so it was loud and at times difficult to get up to see the artifacts.
The staff is great! Very friendly and knowledgeable. I would recommend getting a guide that knows where all the good stuff is and has some inside knowledge so you can better understand what you're looking at.
Samantha Turnbull — Google review
We bought our tickets on their website, choosing from 4-5pm.
When we went there around 15:30 to be early, they told us it was closed, we showed them our tickets and still refused.
The next day we went early in the morning and showed the lady who denied us the entry the day before if we could use the tickets and she said no, but we had the proof that the museum makes you select the time you’d like to visit (as every single museum in the world), she said it was for “statistics”, to this day, I will never find out what that meant.
We had to beg security to let us in and we could finally appreciate this place.
They urgently need to fix their website, we were not the only ones affected.
Angela Bertrand — Google review
It's a very interesting museum with an overwhelming amount of ceramics, stamps, jewellery, and other treasures from the minoan period and Knossos.
This is really what I missed when visiting the site of the Palace. There it could have been a great help to have the model on exposure together with just a few things from the museum, to make that visit more interesting and as a carot to visit the museum in town.
I spent three amazing hours and knew a lot more about how skilled people were in those days. The pottery really blew my mind! So many different forms and minute decorations. Not speaking of the head of the bull!
I really recommend visiting this museum!
Lya Saaek — Google review
If you like museums this one had a surprising amount of interesting items found in caves and ruins. Amazing to see.
Annette McGuire — Google review
I spent 2 hours walking round in detail the museum is circular so you won't get lost or miss anything with the great culture of Herklion and Crete with disabled access for upstairs. The museum was fantastic and detailed amount of ancient Greece and the hellenistic period that heavily influenced the daily modern day life it is a seek peak Into our past that is a do not miss
Jeanette Williams — Google review
A super complete and instructive museum.
The amount of historical items is amazing.
Ancient Greek art, jewellery and history mix between the items of the museum.
Luciana Côrtes — Google review
We had prepaid combo tickets which were only €5 more than the price for Knossos with 3 days to use them. So glad we did. Lovely artefacts from Minoan sites giving a real insight into their lives which you don’t get from the site alone. Nice cool galleries with seating. A bit crowded.
alison wright — Google review
6stars! Renewed display, and in a modern display.. I really loved it. I visited for the third time in the last 30 years.