The admission price for the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion will increase by 8 euros to 20 euros in 2026, and despite the same price, Knossos will welcome 1 million visitors this year.
Inside Archelogical Museum Heraklion
Ticket price for Archaeological Museum to be increased
Investment planning
The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion is planning major investments over the next two to three years. They want to turn the museum into a modern showcase.
Operating costs are rising, so they are adjusting admission prices. With the additional budget, they want to ensure improvements and the preservation of the museum.
Tourism is slowly dying, and ticket price increases are accelerating this decline
El. Samaritaki (President of the Association of Professional Tourist Guides) believes that the classic tourism trend is slowly declining. She believes that more expensive tickets are exacerbating the problem.
She cites Spinalonga as an example, where the ticket price has risen from 8 to 20 euros. In her opinion, this makes such sights less attractive for many people.
The picture in Knossos
Tickets to the Palace of Knossos now also cost 20 euros. This puts them on a par with the museum in Heraklion.
Those responsible hope that the higher prices and investments will ensure the site’s attractiveness and preservation. Nevertheless, the palace remains a must-see for many visitors to Crete.
Tourism is slowly dying out
Traditional sightseeing tourism is losing importance. Visitor numbers are stagnating or declining because higher prices and changing interests are dampening demand.
Tourism experts see this as a real challenge for museums and historical sites that depend on these visitors.
A visit to Knossos and the museum now costs 40 euros.
A combined ticket for Knossos and the Archaeological Museum now costs 40 euros. The price increase reflects the increased costs of operation and maintenance.
Many now have to pay more to access cultural sites. This is sparking discussions about accessibility and the financing of such places.
Knossos: Over 14 million euros in revenue and one million visitors this year
Knossos had around 1,025,000 visitors in 2025. This is one of the best seasons in recent years.
In August alone, around 172,000 people visited. In September and October, there were also over 140,000 guests each month.
Even November was surprisingly strong with 33,000 visitors. These figures show how popular the site remains.
Origin of visitors
Most guests came from France and Great Britain. There were slightly fewer Italian tourists, but this had little impact on the overall result.
Revenue and ticket prices
Revenue exceeded 14 million euros. Despite the higher price of 20 euros per ticket, people continued to come.
International visitors in particular chose Knossos as their destination. The price increase hardly deterred them.
Winter offers
On the first and third Sundays of each month, locals and visitors to Crete can enter free of charge.
This means that access to the historic Minoan palace remains possible even in the off-season.
Month |
Number of visitors |
Comments |
|---|---|---|
August |
approx. 172,000 |
Highest number of visitors |
September |
Over 140,000 |
Very good visitor numbers |
October |
Over 140,000 |
Also very well attended |
November |
approx. 33,000 |
Exceptionally high number |
Important: This place is still one of Greece’s most popular cultural attractions.
It really boosts the local economy.
