West of Heraklion, stop by the Ruins of Tylissos, where three Minoan houses from the Bronze Age stand at the entrance to a Cretan village. We enjoyed this intimate archaeological site, whose short and easy tour nicely complements a visit to the island’s grand palaces.
In this article, you’ll find some useful tips to help you prepare for your visit and have a great time!
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the region anonymously, making our own choices and paying our bills in full.
Why Visit the Ruins of Tylissos?
Are the Ruins of Tylissos worth the trip? Our take:
Yes, the Ruins of Tylissos are worth a visit. This Minoan site can be explored on a short, easy walk. We particularly appreciated the beautiful informational panels at the visitor center, which make the ruins very easy to understand. You’ll find it to be an ideal complement to the great Cretan palaces.
It’s one of the best archaeological sites in Crete!
Our Favorite Moments
Here are our three favorite moments from our visit:
- Reading the informational panels is a great way to understand the site before exploring it.
- The discovery of House A, the largest of the three, and its monumental entrance with two pillars.
- The terracotta pipes of the aqueduct, which carried water from a spring that still supplies the village.
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Directions and Map: Ruins of Tylissos, Crete
Where are the Ruins of Tylissos located?
- In the village of Tylissos, in the mountains west of Heraklion
- Travel time from Heraklion: 25 min
- Travel time from Hersonissos: 45 min
- Travel time from Rethymno: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Here is a map to help you find your way:
How to get there?
Several options are available to you:
- By car: This is the easiest option. From Heraklion, it’s a 25-minute drive west to the village of Tylissos, in the mountains.
- By bus: Buses run from Heraklion to the village of Tylissos; check the KTEL network for schedules
Parking
You can park near the site, in the village of Tylissos.
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everything is included in the price and the service is excellent. No stress! - Choose a car with a decent engine for greater comfort on the few mountain roads.
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Helpful Tips: Duration, Hours, Food…
Best time to visit
The site is an outdoor attraction, and the Cretan sun beats down hard in the summer. We therefore recommend that you visit in the morning, as soon as it opens at 8:30 a.m. Please note that the site may close on an exceptional basis in the event of extreme heat. Be sure to bring water and a hat.
Duration of the tour and main challenges
The tour consists of a short, easy walk. Plan to spend less than an hour there—just enough time to read the informational panels and explore the three houses.
We didn’t encounter any particular difficulties. The site is fairly flat.
However, as with all archaeological sites, once you’re inside the ruins, the ground is not flat.
Tips for Your Visit
Be sure to start at the information center at the entrance. The display panels there will provide you with the key to understanding the ruins. Next, explore Houses A, B, and C before heading to the aqueduct and the Place de l’Autel.
Visiting with Children
Thanks to its short and easy walking path, the site is well-suited for families. We didn’t notice any facilities specifically for young children.
Hours and Admission Prices
- The site is open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (last admission at 3:15 p.m.) and closed on Tuesdays. (Our visitor notes indicate minimum opening hours from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.: please check based on the season.)
- It is also closed on January 1, March 25 (Greek National Day), May 1, Orthodox Easter Sunday, and December 25 and 26. On certain holidays, it closes earlier, at 3:00 p.m.
- Full price: 5€
- Reduced price: €3
- Free admission: March 6, April 18, May 18, the last weekend in September (European Heritage Days), and October 28.
- Visit the official website for more information here.
Catering
There are no dining options on site.
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The Three Minoan Houses of Tylissos
The excavations have uncovered three large Minoan houses, designated by the letters A, B, and C.
House A
House A, the largest of the three excavated houses, opens to the east with a monumental entrance flanked by two pillars. Pause for a moment on the threshold to appreciate the scale of the building, which was expanded during the Late Minoan II period (15th–14th centuries B.C.).
We then explored the southern section, which houses the most remarkable rooms: a hall featuring a polythyron (a partition consisting of a series of pillars and doors), a pillared crypt, and a lustral basin—a small, sunken room. The northern section, meanwhile, housed the storage areas. We appreciated this very clear layout, which allows one to distinguish at a glance between the ceremonial spaces and the storage areas.
House B
Adjacent to the previous building, House B has a rectangular floor plan and consists of 21 rooms. We enjoyed reconstructing its layout: an entrance hall, followed by a guard post, then the staircase and an open-air courtyard. You’ll surely notice the location of the kitchen or hearth, as well as a room that also features a polythyron.
Other rooms round out the complex and demonstrate just how well-organized these homes were. We found it to be more compact than House A, but just as informative for understanding the domestic life of the Minoans.
La Maison C
The final building in this trio, Maison C, has a layout similar to the other two and contains 23 rooms. Take note of the locations of its three staircases: they once led to a floor that no longer exists.
We also observed Cistern D, located at the northeast corner, which remains intact. According to the Greek Ministry of Culture, this house dates to the Late Minoan III period, between the 14th and 11th centuries B.C. (another page on the same website dates it to the 14th century B.C.: to be verified). We found it interesting to note that the Minoans were already building multi-level dwellings.
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Water and Community Life in Tylissos
The Minoan Aqueduct
38 meters northwest of House C, you will find terracotta pipes that were part of an aqueduct. They carried water from the Agios Mamas spring to the Minoan settlement. We were struck by the fact that this same spring still supplies water to the village of Tylissos today.
More than three thousand years separate these water channels from the water that now flows into the neighboring houses! This technical detail, inconspicuous amid the ruins, reminded us of the importance of water management for Bronze Age societies in Crete.
Altar Square
Finally, head to the Altar Square, an area paved with stone slabs. In its northern section, the 1954 excavations revealed the remains of a small portico with five columns. Around the same time, archaeologists also uncovered part of a paved courtyard to the west. We appreciated this change of scale: after the intimacy of the houses, this plaza evokes an open-air gathering place. Its name suggests a religious or communal function—we’ll leave it to your imagination as you walk across the stone slabs.
A Brief History
The houses of Tylissos are part of the Minoan civilization, which flourished on Crete during the Bronze Age. Here are the major milestones in their history:
- 16th–15th centuries B.C.: Construction of houses during the Late Minoan I period.
- 15th–14th centuries B.C.: Expansion of House A during the Late Minoan II period.
- 14th century B.C.: Additions to House C during the Late Minoan III period, followed by the site’s destruction by fire.
- Historic period: Reoccupation of the site, as evidenced by later houses built on the Minoan ruins.
- 1902–1913: Excavations led by the Greek archaeologist Joseph Chatzidakis.
- 1954: Restoration work revealed a paved courtyard to the west and a small portico with five columns on the Altar Plaza.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who excavated the Tylissos site?
The site was excavated between 1902 and 1913 by the Greek archaeologist Joseph Chatzidakis. Restoration work carried out in 1954 subsequently revealed a paved courtyard and a small portico with five columns.
On which days is admission free?
Admission is free on March 6 (in memory of Melina Mercouri, former Greek Minister of Culture), April 18 (International Monuments Day), May 18 (International Museum Day), the last weekend in September (European Heritage Days), and October 28 (Greek National Day).
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