The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is one of the oldest and most important museums in Greece, and among the most famous museums in Europe. It houses representative artefacts from all periods of Cretan prehistory and history, covering a chronological span of over 5,500 years from the Neolithic period to Roman times. The Heraklion Archaeological Museum prides itself for its unique Minoan collection, which includes the masterpieces of Minoan art. It is rightly considered as the Museum of Minoan Culture par excellence.
Located in the Heraklio city center, it was designed by the architect Patroklos Karantinos and was built between 1935 and 1958 on a site previously occupied by the Venetian monastery of Saint-Francis which was destroyed by earthquake in 1856. The ruins of the monastery are visible in the museum’s garden.
The Museum building is an important example of the Greek Modernist style of architecture. The colours and building materials used, along with the multicoloured veined marble, are reminiscent of the painted imitation marble revetments of the Minoan palaces. The two-storey building includes extensive exhibition rooms, an audiovisual media room and laboratories. The Museum also has a vestibule, a gift shop leased from the Archaeological Receipts Fund, and a cafeteria in the garden.
The Heraklion Archaeological Museum is a Special Regional Service of the Ministry of Culture. Along with the permanent exhibition, the museum organizes temporary exhibitions in Greece and abroad, creates and implements educational programs, collaborates with scientific and scholarly institutions, and houses a variety of cultural events.
| Archaeological Museum of Herakleion Xanthoudidou 2 Str., Τ.Κ. 71202, Herakleion (Prefecture of Iraklio) Telephone: 2810 279000, 2810 279002, 2810 279087 Fax: 2810 279001 Email: amh@culture.gr |
| TicketsFull: €5, Reduced: €5 The Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports would like to announce that the visitors can now buy tickets at the museum’s ticket booth or online through the only official website: etickets.tap.gr Visitors with reduced admission tickets are asked to present the relevant dosuments for admission to the museum (ID card/passport or student ID cards). Special ticket package: Full: €16, Reduced: €8 The special ticket package is valid for 3 days (only one visit per site is allowed in the 3 day period). Valid for: Heraklion Archaeological Museum, Knossos Free admission days 6 March (in memory of Melina Mercouri) 18 April (International Monuments Day) 18 May (International Museums Day) The last weekend of September annually (European Heritage Days) 28 OctoberEvery first Sunday from November 1st to March 31st Reduced admission for:Escorting parents on educational visits of primary schools.Greek citizens and citizens of other Member – States of the European Union who are over 65 years old, upon presentation of their ID card or passport for verification of their age and country of origin.Students of University – Higher Education Institutes, Technological Educational Institutes or equivalent Schools of countries from outside the European Union, upon presentation of their student ID cards Free admission for: Cultural Card holders Escorting teachers during educational visits of schools and institutions of primary, secondary and tertiary education and of military schools. Holders of a free passHolders of a solidarity cardHolders of a valid unemployment card. Journalists upon presentation of their journalist identity card Members of Societies and Associations of Friends of Museums and Archaeological Sites, upon presentation of their certified membership card. Members of the Chamber of Fine Arts of Greece and equivalent Chambers of member-states of the EU, upon presentation of their membership card Members of the ICOM-ICOMOS, upon presentation of their membership card Official guests of the Greek State, after approval from the General Directorate of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage.Parents of families with three children and their children up to the age of 23 or 24 if they are students and regardless of age if they have disability, upon presentation of a family status certificate issued by the MunicipalityParents of multi-child families and their children up to the age of 23, up to the age of 25 if they are doing their military service or studying and regardless of age if they have disabilities, upon presentation of a certified multi-child pass from the Supreme Confederation of multi-child parents of Greece (ASPE).Persons with disabilities (67 % or over) and one escort, upon presentation of the certification of disability issued by the Ministry of Health or a medical certification from a public hospital, where the disability and the percentage of disability are clearly stated Single parent families with minors, upon presentation of a family status certificate issued by the Municipality. In the case of divorsed parents, only the parent holding custody of the childrenStudents of University – Higher Education Institutes, Technological Educational Institutes, Military Schools or equivalent Schools of EU member states, as well as Schools of Guides, upon presentation of their student identity card The employees of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Archaeological Receipts Fund, upon presentation of their service ID card. The police officers of the Department of Antiquity Smuggling of the Directorate of SecurityTourist guides upon presentation of their professional ID card.Young people, up to the age of 18, upon presentation of their Identity Card or passport for age confirmation. |
| OpenWinter: From 7 January to 28 February 2019: Monday, Wednesday to Sunday: 08:30 – 15:30 Tuesday: 10:00 – 17:00 From 1-31 March 2019: Monday & Wednesday – Sunday: 08:00 – 16:00 Tuesday : 10:00 – 17:00 Summer: The visiting hours for the summer will be announced by the Ministry of Culture and Sports. Holidays1 January: closed 6 January: 08:30 – 15:00Shrove Monday: 08:30 – 15:00 25 March: closedGood Friday: 12:00 – 17:00 Holy Saturday: 08:00 – 15:00 1May: closed Easter Sunday: closed Easter Monday: closed Holy Spirit Day: 08:00 – 20:00 15 August: 08:00 – 15:00 28 October: 08:00 – 15:00 25 December: closed 26 December: closed |
