Things to do · Updated 11 October 2026 · 6 min read
Knossos with a baby or toddler: stroller, heat and timing
Knossos is very doable with a baby or toddler if you go at opening time, bring a baby carrier rather than relying on a stroller, and keep the visit to about an hour and a half. The site has uneven paths, steps and little shade, so water, hats and an early start matter more than anything else.
| Where | About 5 km south of Heraklion city centre |
|---|---|
| From Heraklion Airport | About 10 km, around 20 minutes by car |
| Stroller or carrier? | Carrier on site, stroller optional for the car park and café |
| Time needed | 1-1.5 hours with small children |
| Best time | Opening time, or late afternoon |
| Shade | Very little, a few trees around the edges |
Why Knossos works with small children
The Minoan palace of Knossos is the most visited archaeological site in Crete, and the good news for parents is that it is open, walkable and visual. Toddlers will not care about Bronze Age history, but they will love the wide courtyards, the big staircases, the red columns and the colourful fresco copies. Older babies often enjoy simply being carried around somewhere new and bright. The key is to treat it as a short morning walk, not a full guided tour.
Knossos with a stroller: what to expect
Knossos is not a stroller-friendly site. Paths mix packed earth, gravel, worn stone and some raised walkways, and there are steps between many of the levels. You can push a sturdy stroller with large wheels along the main routes, but expect to lift it over steps several times, and some viewpoints are only reached by stairs.
- Best option: A soft carrier or a hiking-style carrier for babies and young toddlers.
- Toddlers who walk: Let them walk the flat courtyards and carry them on the steps and the busy viewing points.
- If you bring a stroller: Choose one with good wheels and keep it light. A small travel stroller with tiny wheels will struggle.
Heat and shade
This is the biggest challenge. Most of the palace is exposed, with only a few pine trees and patches of shade around the edges. From June to September, the stone reflects the heat and the site gets very warm by late morning.
- Sun hat with a neck flap and a UV top for your baby.
- Plenty of water for everyone, and a bottle or sippy cup for your toddler.
- A muslin or light cover for shade in the carrier.
- Sun cream applied before you leave the car.
When to go
Arrive at opening time. You beat both the heat and the coach tours, the queue at the ticket office is short and the site is quieter, which helps with toddlers who wander. If mornings do not work, late afternoon is the next best window, when tour groups have left and the temperature drops. Avoid midday in July and August.
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons to visit Knossos with a baby. Our guide to the best time to visit Crete with a baby has more on the weather month by month. Check current opening times and prices on the official website before you go, as hours change through the year.
What to bring
- Baby carrier, and a stroller only if it has sturdy wheels.
- Water and snacks. There is a café near the entrance but not on the site itself.
- Hats, sun cream and a light cover for the carrier.
- Nappies and wipes, as facilities are around the entrance area.
- Comfortable shoes for you: you will be carrying extra weight on uneven ground.
Getting to Knossos
Knossos is about 5 km south of Heraklion city and around 20 minutes by car from Heraklion Airport. There are car parks along the road near the entrance. City buses also run from Heraklion, but with a baby or toddler, driving gives you more flexibility for nap times. If you stay in Hersonissos or Agia Pelagia, the drive is roughly 30-40 minutes.
Whichever way you travel, make sure your child has a suitable seat. Our guide to car seats in Crete explains what rental companies and taxis provide.
Combining Knossos with Heraklion
Heraklion Archaeological Museum
The original frescoes and finds from Knossos are in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum in the city centre. Unlike the palace, the museum is stroller-friendly, with a ramp at the main entrance and lift access between floors. It is also indoors, so it is a good plan for the hotter part of the day after an early Knossos visit. With a toddler, an hour is plenty: focus on the frescoes and the bull's head and keep moving.
Heraklion city centre
After the museum, the pedestrian streets around Lions Square and the old harbour are easy with a stroller and full of cafés for an early lunch. See our guide to Heraklion city for more ideas.
A simple Knossos morning with a baby
- Arrive at Knossos at opening time, baby in the carrier.
- Spend 1-1.5 hours on the site, then a drink at the café.
- Drive into Heraklion, visit the Archaeological Museum with the stroller.
- Lunch in the centre, then back to your hotel for nap time.
Rent a sturdy stroller and car seat in Crete
For a day like this, pack your own baby carrier, which is small and light, and leave the bulky items at home. Holiday Stork rents strollers, including an all-terrain model with a smooth ride on paths and cobbles, and i-Size car seats, from €7.80 per day, VAT included, with a minimum rental of 4 days. Car seats are fitted in your rental car at hand-over, and all gear is steam-cleaned after every rental.
Delivery is €13 per booking to Heraklion Airport, Heraklion city and the north coast resorts from Agia Pelagia to Malia, and €26 elsewhere in Crete (€32 in the Chania region).
