The 15 Best Santorini Shore Excursions

1.The Best Santorini Small-Group Shore Excursion for Cruise Ships

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 344 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $83Our pick

This 4 to 5-hour Santorini shore excursion takes up to 19 people from the port area to Firostefani, Oia, Megalochori, and Perivolos Beach. Expect an air-conditioned minibus, an English-speaking guide such as Gina, Victor, Alex, or Spiros, free time, photo stops, and a ship-return guarantee.

“Traveling with family with all ages. This tour was a perfect way to see and learn about Santorini. Our guide was on time and super friendly and helpful. We got some beautiful photos and spent a little time shopping. The guide was flexible with our schedule and we learned about the history of the island. She was very patient with our group.”

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2.SKIP CABLE CAR® The Original Santorini Tour for Cruise Passengers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 268 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $47Best value

Meet at Santorini’s Old Harbor for a small-group shore excursion that uses a boat instead of the cable car, then an air-conditioned minibus to Oia, Finikia, Megalochori, and Perivolos Beach. Guides such as George, Zeus, Yani, and Viera lead the day in English, with time for photos, village walks, and a possible swim.

“Yianni is the best tour guide we have ever had. He was full of energy, had a ton of information and stories to tell about Santorini and its culture! He went out of his way to ensure our group had optimal photo opportunities and positions. We loved that he called us "best group ever". He made sure we made it back on time to our ship. Over all he put his tour group first in every way and made the whole trip memorable. 10/10 best guide ever!”

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3.Skip Gondola Shore Excursion: No Cable Car, Water Taxi Provided!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 87 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $54

Cover Santorini’s essential sights in about six hours with hotel, airport, or cruise pickup, a small group of up to 16, and water transport from the old port. Expect Oia, Imerovigli, Pyrgos, black-sand beaches, Megalochori, and photo stops with guides such as George, Nicolas, or Lisandros.

“Nicolas was a wonderful guide! He was so knowledgeable and took us to all the beautiful sites, plus took pictures for us.”

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4.Santorini 8-Hour Private Tour with Hotel & Cruise Port Pickup

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 64 reviews · 6 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $392

Spend 6 to 8 hours touring Santorini in a private vehicle with a local guide and driver. Visit Oia, Firostefani, Mount Prophet Elias, two beaches, the lighthouse, Fira, and Estate Argyros Winery. Hotel, airport, and cruise-port pickup are available.

“We had 12 travelers & they were able to accommodate our group in a very nice van. They were also able to shift to an alternative port pick up at the last minute when there was a power outage at the main port with the funicular. Our guide was able to show us the whole island, avoid the crowds & do a wine tasting all in 6 hrs. Fabulous day! Definitely recommend doing a private tour with them on Santorini. Very worth the price! Slight hiccup at the end of the day with a super long line for the funicular due to the earlier power outage & 5 cruise ships…”

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5.Private Shore Excursion: Best of Santorini Customized Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 55 reviews · 4 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $199

Build a private Santorini tour around your priorities, from Oia and the blue-domed churches to black beaches, Akrotiri, villages, and wineries. Guides including Theodore, Michael, and Theo handle the driving, local stories, photo stops, and port drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle.

“Loved the flexibility. Driver was knowledgeable, friendly & spoke English well. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend!”

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6.Skip Gondola Private Tour : Cruise Port pick up included

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $199

Spend 6 to 7 hours seeing Santorini with a private driver-guide such as Nikos, Katerina, Vasilis, or Tony. Visit Oia, Pyrgos, the Three Bells of Fira, Prophet Elias, the Heart of Santorini, and Perivolos Beach, with Wi-Fi, water, and cruise-port pickup included.

“Other than a little confusion about the meeting place, which was also partially our own fault, this was an excellent tour of this beautiful island. Nikos, our guide, was friendly and very knowledgeable. He let us decide how much walking we could do, and gave us a very thorough tour, with a lot of information.”

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7.One Day in Santorini from Cruise Ship: Ultimate Island Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 53 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $120

Travel by air-conditioned vehicle with a private guide such as Efstratios, also called Stratos, across Santorini’s best-known sights. You’ll visit Oia, Imerovigli, Firostefani, Pyrgos, Perissa Black Sand Beach, and Akrotiri Lighthouse in about 4.5 hours.

“Efstratios was a great tour guide and we really enjoyed it. We saw almost all the island . Thank you and we will be back soon.”

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8.6hr Small Group Shore Excursion Villages & Wine

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 45 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $156

Travel by air-conditioned vehicle from Santorini’s Fira cable car to Profitis Ilias, Megalochori, Oia’s Castle of St Nicholas, and Anhydrous Winery. You’ll hear island stories, taste wine with food pairings, and tour with a group of no more than 18 people.

“The guide was excellent and the driver was great! The tours in and around Santorini were also great as the guide was fabulous!”

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9.Santorini 4-Hour Private Tour including Wine Tasting, Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 45 reviews · 30 minutes to 1 hour (approx.) · from $192

Ride in a private Mercedes minivan to Oia, Firostefani, Prophet Elias Monastery, and Venetsanos Winery. Guides such as Michael Angelo and Marios add local context, while the winery tasting pairs volcanic wines with snacks and caldera views.

“Marios was a wonderful tour guide. Skip the line tour, inc glorious private areas. Great historical knowledge. And to end a wonderful day the vinery was superb.”

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10.Santorini ATV Quad off-road Tour: Perfect for Cruise Passengers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 37 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $167

Ride a 450cc or 550cc ATV through Santorini with guides such as Adonis, Pavlos, and Alex. Expect safety training, dusty back roads, Perissa Black Sand Beach, Megalochori, vineyards, Emporio windmills, caldera views, and a Greek lunch. Pickup is available in Fira, but no return drop-off is offered.

“We had an awesome experience. Our tour guide was excellent and very knowledgeable. The lunch was also delicious! Highly recommend! The only thing “negative” I would say is if you do not take the shuttle and have a taxi drop you off, there are no signs saying it’s an ATV place. Again highly recommend! Your that went before us said they also had a great time!”

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11.Shore Trip to Bypass Cable Car with Boat Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 31 reviews · from $157

You’ll leave your cruise tender by boat, avoiding Santorini’s cable car queue, then tour Firostefani, Oia, Prophet Ilias, Black Beach, and Megalochori with an English-speaking guide. Guide Elena may add local food and wine stops. The 4 to 5-hour trip returns you to the ship by boat.

“Outstanding tour, water transfer to old port and our guide Elena was amazing. She took us to many sights, had the chance to try local wine at the black beach as well as eat some street food. I highly recommend her. We say so many cool sights. Comfortable transportation. Great bus driver!”

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12.Full Day Shore Excursion Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $216

This private Santorini tour combines caldera viewpoints, the Three Bells of Fira, Oia, Red Beach, Perivolos, and optional Santo Wines. Your local guide, possibly Mika, drives your group, provides water, and shares island stories. Hotel pickup is offered in the Thera area.

“This was just an expensive cab ride. No useful content, no guidance at historic locations. Why was this billed as an "historic Santorini" tour? This was merely transportation to one old site, and to one view spot.”

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13.Exclusive 3 Hour Caldera Private Tour for Cruise Ship Travelers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $126

You’ll visit Firostefani, Imerovigli, and Oia with a private guide and pickup anywhere on Santorini. Guide George is praised for his island history and friendly care. Expect photo stops, the Three Bells of Fira, the Big Blue Dome, and about 1.5 hours to explore Oia.

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14.Santorini Delight: Mini-Group Tour for Cruise Passengers

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 26 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $86

This five-hour cruise-port tour takes you by air-conditioned bus to Firostefani, Oia, a famous blue dome, Megalochori, and Perivolos Beach. Guides such as George, Chris, Angeliki, and Hara have been praised for lively local insight. The start time follows your ship’s arrival.

“It was a very good tour, guide was knowledgeable and easy to understand. We saw the highlights and they waited for us to get to the meeting point. We were on a cruise ship so had to take the cable car from the port. Try to get off the ship early as the lines for the cable car are long but they move well enough. When finishing the tour, ask the guide to direct you to the end of the line as they are long going down as well.”

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15.5-Hour Private Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · 5 hours

You’ll tour Santorini by air-conditioned Mercedes minivan with an English-speaking local guide, visiting Oia, a traditional village, volcanic beaches, caldera viewpoints, and possibly a winery. Panos and Maria are named guides, and your private itinerary can be adjusted to suit your ship schedule and interests.

“Excelente! Nuestra guía María habla español & teníamos este tour en inglés y fue súper!”

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