knossos palace transfer

Welcome to

Knossos Palace Transfer Guide

Enjoy your Knossos Palace tour from Chania

Welcome to your ultimate resource on Knossos Palace transfer from Chania. Whether you’re booking a private transfer, hopping on a shared shuttle, or piecing together a KTEL bus + local shuttle journey, this comprehensive guide has you covered. We’ll walk you through every step—from deciding why a transfer is the best choice, to exploring all available options, to answering every frequently asked question and sharing key insider tips. A smooth Chania to Knossos transfer means more time exploring the heart of Minoan Crete and less time worrying about logistics.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to get to Knossos Palace from Chania, what each transport option costs and how long it takes, where to reserve your spot, and how to optimize your trip for comfort, budget, and convenience.

Transfer Options at a Glance

Whether you prioritize speed, cost, comfort, or flexibility, here are the four main ways to travel from Chania to Knossos Palace.

Private Taxi to Knossos

Overview

A private taxi or car hire gives you ultimate control. You set the pickup time, choose the vehicle size, and enjoy a door-to-door ride straight to Knossos.

Cost & Duration

  • Cost: Approximately €150–€200 one-way.

  • Duration: Around 2–2.5 hours; the fastest route clocks in at 2 h 5 min.

Perks & Tips

  • Air-conditioning, bottled water, and optional local guide add-ons.

  • Ideal for families, small groups, or travelers with limited time.

  • Book online at least 24 hours in advance to lock in the best rate.

Public Transport (KTEL Bus + Local Shuttle)

Overview

The most budget-friendly option: first take the KTEL bus from Chania to Heraklion, then hop on a Heraklion–Knossos shuttle or taxi for the final leg.

Route, Time & Cost

  • Route: Chania → Heraklion (≈ 3 h by KTEL), then Heraklion → Knossos Palace shuttle (≈ 45 min).

  • Total Time & Cost: About 3½–4 h, costing €11–€17 total.

Tips for Public Transport

  • Purchase your KTEL ticket at the Chania bus station early to guarantee a seat.

  • Buy the Heraklion–Knossos shuttle ticket in advance at the Heraklion station or online.

  • Factor in walking distance between bus and shuttle stops.

Why Choose a Transfer from Chania to Knossos Palace?

Choosing the right transfer from Chania to Knossos Palace can make or break your day trip. Here’s why most travelers prefer a dedicated transfer over piecing together multiple modes of public transport:

Comfort vs. Cost

  • Private taxi from Chania  or Chania airport

    • Enjoy a door-to-door, air-conditioned ride in a modern vehicle.

    • Vehicle options range from sedans to minibuses for groups.

    • Bottled water and luggage assistance included.

  • Public bus + shuttle

    • The cheapest way to travel, combining the KTEL intercity bus and a local Heraklion shuttle.

    • Requires two separate tickets and some walking between stops.

    • Best for budget travelers willing to trade time and effort for savings.

Door-to-door Convenience

  • One-step booking processes eliminate lugging heavy bags across bus terminals.

  • Private transfers and shared shuttles pick up at your hotel or Chania port/airport.

  • No walking from remote bus stops—just hop in and relax until you arrive at the Palace of Knossos.

knossos palace-archaelogical site
knosos palaca taxi

Example Day-Trip Itinerary for Knossos

  1. 7:00 AM – Hotel pickup in Chania via our minivans private transfer

  2. 9:30 AM – Arrive at Knossos Palace.

  3. 9:45–11:45 AM – Guided exploration of the palace’s central court, throne room, and frescoes. This service can be booked through Airbnb Experiences.

  4. 11:45 AM – Short break at onsite café (refreshments included in some tour combos).

  5. 12:15 PM – Depart for Heraklion Archaeological Museum (optional stop for Minoan frescoes overview).

  6. 1:45 PM – Return transfer to Chania (arrive by 3:30 PM for dinner in town).

Incorporates both Knossos transfer and tour combo and optional museum visit.

What to Pack for Your Transfer

Essentials for the Road

  • Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses (Crete’s sun can be intense)

  • Comfortable shoes for walking on uneven palace grounds

Comfort & Entertainment

  • Water bottle (refillable)

  • Light snack for the road—some tours include bottled water and a snack pack

  • Portable charger for photos and route maps

Best Time to Travel & Seasonality

Peak vs. Shoulder Seasons

  • Peak (June–August): Higher transfer prices, guaranteed early bookings required.

  • Shoulder (April–May, September–October): Mild weather, lower rates, fewer crowds.

 Impact on Availability

  • Shared shuttles fill up quickly in July–August—book in advance.

  • Private transfers remain flexible but may surge in price during local festivals.

Questions we get about Knossos Palace transfer

You can easily arrange a Knossos Palace transfer by booking a private transfer from Chania airport or Chania port. If you prefer public transport, take the KTEL bus from Chania to Heraklion and then hop on a local Heraklion–Knossos shuttle for the final leg straight to the palace entrance.

A direct taxi transfer or private car hire from Chania to Knossos Palace takes around 2 to 2.5 hours, depending on traffic and stops. If you opt for the public KTEL bus + local shuttle combo, budget closer to 3.5 to 4 hours including the bus ride and cab transfer.

Many local providers allow last-minute bookings for same-day Knossos Palace transfers, but availability fills up fast in peak season (June–September). It’s best to secure your spot at least some days or more in advance to guarantee a private or shared shuttle.

You can reserve a Knossos Palace transfer in advance with us. Just give us a call to arrange all the details.

There is no formal taxi rank inside the Palace of Knossos grounds, but licensed taxis and minivans often wait just outside the main entrance. If you are planning to visit Knossos palace on your own instead of booking a minivan make sure to note local taxi numbers.

If you are visiting Chania with a cruise ship or located near Chana port. The distance from Chania port to Knossos Palace is approximately 145 km, translating to about a 2-hour drive via the E75/A90 highway. Private transfers and taxis typically follow the coastal route, offering scenic views along the way.

Standard inclusions are:

  • Pickup and drop-off at your Chania hotel, port, or airport
  • Air-conditioned vehicle (sedan, minivan)
  • Bottled water and Wi-Fi (in some vehicles)

Yes. Many Cretan transfer companies and guided-tour operators offer pickups in Rethymno en route to Knossos Palace. We can help you book your private transfer from Rethymno to Knossos Palace. Just give us a call to find a date that is most suitable for you and your family.

Some Interesting Stats about Knossos Palace

 

  • 1,026,113 total visitors in 2024 (Heraklion Archaeological Museum).

  • 525,837 visitors Jan–Jul 2024.

  • 5,000 average daily visitors in summer 2022.

  • 2–2.5 h avg. taxi transfer time Chania → Knossos.

You can specify the exact address or hotel on the comments section
Please write us in the comments if you need more than one.

Booking Information

How to book your transfer

Let us take care of your transfer from Platanias to Samaria Gorge

We specialise on your safe transfer on Samaria Gorge or any other Gorge of West Crete.

Reliability
Comfort
Experience

Why Choose Samaria Taxi

At Samaria taxi, we understand the importance of reliability and punctuality for making your trip stress free. It is very important for us to arrive on schedule every time, with our team of excperienced drivers through their detailed knowledge of the roads, allowing you to relax and enjoy the route.

With our extended fleet of Minivans, minibus and taxi we cater to every need of our customers. We provide transfers for bigger or smaller groups or even suggest a shared route if it pleases you for better pricing plans. All of the cars in our fleet provide a comfortable and easy ride.

Our drivers at Samaria taxi are highly experienced with extensive local knowledge of the Samaria Gorge and the surrounding areas. With many years of experience of driving on the routes of West Crete, they ensure a safe and smooth journey, allowing them to provide tips and recommendations, giving you a better travel experience.

With our very competitive pricing you can be sure that our quote will be the best on the market. We keep our prices low without compromising our quality or have any small letters in our services. If you get a better quote you can always ask us to match it.

What are your transfer options?

At Samaria taxi, we can provide taxi transfer to Samaria Gorge, from any location of Crete. We can pick you up from your hotel or randevouz point and transfer you to the Gorge. We are located on most of the large cities around Crete, so we can give very competitive pricing.

We also provide taxi to Agia Irini Gorge and Vasiliki Strata Gorge

We can accomodate a small or larger group transfer with the wide selection of cars in our fleet. We can provide from taxis to minivans and mini bus.

If you have any special requests, you can contact us to talk it through and find the best solution for your transfer.

Besides Samaria Gorge, we provide transfer to other known gorges of West Crete as well. These gorges are Agia Irini Gorge and Vasiliki Strata Gorge, Imbros Gorge and more.
Discover more information for those two smaller but beautiful gorges of West Crete.

 

Find out more information for your luxury transportation for a fun day full of hiking bellow.

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