We will be in port in Crete for 5 hours in August. Do we need a guide to see the sights, or is this self-doable? Any suggestions?

What port in Crete will you be at?

And what do you want to see?

Obviously I need help! WE'll be in Heraklion, and I would like to see the ruins of the Palace of Knossos. Other than that what's a must-see? The Museum? Villages? What do I have time for in 5 hours? And what's the best way to do it?

I did it by bus and picked up a guide at the site. I imagine you can get a taxi at the port. With a good guidebook you don't really need a guide at all. I would also recommend the museum, but I really don't think you can do both in only five hours.

Best Suggestion: Get a guidebook with an extensive section about Crete.

You could just about squeeze in Knossos and the Museum in 5 hours, but only just.

There are good book guides to the site at the entrance, but there are also hireable human guides. IMHO you need to see teh site before the museum- I know tehre are others who disagree.

If you choose to do it with just a travle guidebook (as opposed to one for Knossos) I'd recommend the Blue Guide.

Use taxis; they're ubiquitous and cheap.

The museum, incidentally is closed, but they've put some of the better pieces in a temporary exhibition

Sheila, as always, is spot on. By the time you get to Knossos and do it justice, your 5 hours will be gone. I bought a guide book and did it myself, I'm not a guide sort of person but that's up to you.

How would you recommend getting from the port to Knossos?

With only five hours ? a taxi.