The Best Santorini Private Tours (2026)

Greece › Santorini › Private Tours
By Santorini Dave
Updated: February 10, 2026

See Also

• Where to Stay in Santorini
• Best Hotels in Santorini
• Best Things To Do in Santorini

Private Tours on Santorini – My Advice

• An Intimate Perspective. A private tour is the best option for discerning travelers who value an intimate, unhurried look at the island. Whether you’re traveling with other couples, as a family, or arriving for the day on a cruise, having a private guide is the single best way to avoid the island’s primary bottlenecks. It usually ends up being the most memorable part of a Santorini trip because it lets you focus on those incredible world-class views at your own pace, away from the typical tourist crush.
• If You Only Choose One. If your time or budget allows for just one excursion, make it a private boat tour of the caldera. Seeing the 300-meter volcanic cliffs from the water is the only way to grasp the scale and unique geology of the island.
• Worth the Investment. Private tours are more expensive than group options, but the value comes in the form of time saved and stress avoided. You won’t be following a flag in a line of 50 people or waiting in the sun for a bus; instead, you have a local expert dedicated to your pace.
• The Half-Day “Highlights” Advantage. Most private land tours are half-day (5–6 hours) “Highlights” tours that hit the iconic spots: Oia, the Firostefani Blue Dome, and the Prophet Ilias peak. The biggest differentiator is that a private guide can pivot the itinerary on the fly to avoid cruise ship congestion and heavy traffic, ensuring you actually see the sights rather than the back of a tour bus.
• Book Well in Advance. High-quality private guides are in short supply. For the 2026 season, we are seeing private catamaran and wine tours sell out faster than usual; aim to book at least 3 to 4 months out, especially for July and August.
• Sophisticated & Effortless. Private tours significantly reduce the physical strain of exploring. Your driver can drop you at the closest possible entry points to shorten walking distances and avoid many of the island’s famous stairs. For those with significant mobility needs, the Accessible Santorini Private Tour uses a specialized van with a ramp so wheelchair users can remain in their chair throughout the day.

The 9 Best Private Tours in Santorini

All these tours include hotel pick-up and drop-off. This is a massive benefit on an island with limited taxis and a crowded bus system – it saves you at least two hours of logistical stress. Pretty much any tour can be made private by just booking every spot.

1. Best of Santorini Private Tour

This is the ultimate half-day “Highlights” tour, covering the island from the Akrotiri Archaeological Site in the south to the iconic village of Oia in the north. The 6-hour duration is the perfect length to visit the Red and Black beaches, the 360-degree viewpoint at Prophet Ilias, and the famous blue domes of Firostefani without feeling rushed. The itinerary is fully customizable, allowing you to swap a beach stop for a winery visit or more time in the traditional alleys of Pyrgos. It is a particularly good choice for cruise ship passengers, as the professional guides are experts at navigating the crowds and ensuring you are back at the cable car with time to spare.

Custom Stops: If you use the flexibility of this tour to add a winery, I recommend requesting Venetsanos Winery or Gavalas Winery (in Megalochori). Venetsanos is built into the cliffside and offers world-class caldera views with a bit more charm and fewer crowds than the larger cooperatives. If you prefer a traditional, family-run atmosphere over a view, Gavalas is unbeatable for its intimate feel and rare indigenous grape varieties.

2. Private Catamaran Cruise

This is almost always the highlight of a Santorini trip. A private catamaran gives you total control over the music, the pace, and how long you stay at each swim stop. You’ll sail past the Red and White beaches, stop at the volcanic hot springs, and cruise directly below the massive caldera cliffs. The 10:30 am Day Cruise is better for vibrant colors and warm swimming weather, while the 3:30 pm Sunset Cruise is cooler and ends with the sun dipping below the horizon near Oia.

The onboard Greek BBQ meal is surprisingly excellent, usually featuring grilled chicken, shrimp, Greek salad, tzatziki, and pasta, all served with unlimited Santorini white wine, beer, and soft drinks. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, making the logistics fairly effortless.

My Tip: If you plan to swim in the hot springs, wear a dark-colored swimsuit. The high sulfur content in the volcanic water will permanently stain white or light-colored fabrics.

If sold out (common June to September): Private Sunset Cruise • 7-Hour Private Catamaran Cruise

3. Private Santorini Wine Tour

This is an exceptional 5-hour journey through the island’s unique volcanic viticulture, led by a professional sommelier. You will visit three distinct, handpicked wineries – often including icons like Hatzidakis, Estate Argyros, or Venetsanos – where you will taste up to 12 different wine varieties. The tour goes deep into the history of the “kouloura” (basket vines) and includes generous platters of local cheese, olives, and snacks at each stop.

The 10:00 am departure is perfect for those who want a guided look at the cellars followed by a relaxed afternoon, while the 4:00 pm Sunset Wine Tour finishes at a clifftop winery (usually Santo Wines or Venetsanos) just as the sun dips into the caldera. This is a private experience, meaning the sommelier can tailor the tastings to your specific palate.

Winery Tip: If your tour visits Estate Argyros, pay close attention to their Vinsanto. It is one of the most prestigious dessert wines in Greece and is aged for decades in oak – it’s essentially liquid history.

Cheaper option: Santorini Sunset Wine Tour

4. Santorini Eat & Walk Food Tour

This is a fantastic 4-hour walking tour that takes you from Firostefani down into the heart of Fira, hitting at least 7 different local stops along the way. You’ll start with traditional Greek coffee and move through a curated menu of Santorini specialties, including tomato keftedes (tomato fritters), local cheeses, olives, honey, and a proper souvlaki. The route follows the downhill caldera path, so you get world-class volcano views while you eat.

What makes this tour stand out is the balance between street food and sit-down tastings. You’ll sample local craft beer, Santorini wine, and raki paired with seasonal tapas. It’s an ideal activity for your first day on the island because the guides (like Aristotelis or Lena) act as local insiders, pointing out the best non-touristy tavernas and helping you get your bearings.

Foodie Tip: Don’t eat a big breakfast before the 10:00 am tour. By the time you reach the final stop – usually a hidden tavern with caldera views for a midday meal – you will be very full. This is technically a small-group tour (capped at 8-10 people), but it feels very intimate.

Can also be booked on GetYourGuide.

5. Santorini Cooking Class and Wine-Tasting

This 5-hour experience is a deep dive into the island’s volcanic flavors, combining a guided winery tour with a hands-on culinary lesson. You’ll start by visiting two traditional wineries to sample up to eight different volcanic wines, learning how the unique “aspa” soil creates such high-acidity, crisp vintages. The highlight is the cooking session led by a local chef, where you’ll help prepare a multi-course feast of Santorinian staples like tomato fritters (ntomatokeftedes), fava, and a signature main like pork fillets in Vinsanto sauce or traditional moussaka.

The atmosphere is easy-going and social, making it perfect for honeymooners or small groups. You’ll sit down to eat your own creations paired with even more wine, and you’ll leave with a recipe booklet to recreate the dishes at home. Both private and semi-private (max 8 people) versions are available, and the luxury van transport includes hotel or cruise port pickup.

Cooking Tip: If you are traveling as a family, this is one of the few “educational” tours that actually keeps teenagers engaged. The hands-on nature of the kitchen is a welcome break from historical sightseeing, and the meal at the end is one of the most authentic you’ll have on the island.

6. Private Helicopter Flight

A helicopter flight is the only way to see the entire crescent shape of the caldera and the depth of the volcanic crater in one view. These tours typically depart near Pyrgos and offer 20 or 30-minute circuits that fly over the active volcano (Nea Kameni), the hot springs, and the “sugar cube” houses of Oia and Fira. The low-altitude perspective of the 300-meter cliffs is genuinely exhilarating.

Prices usually start around €900 to €1,200 for a private group (up to 4 or 5 people), making it a popular choice for special occasions like honeymoons or milestone birthdays. Beyond sightseeing, this is also the ultimate “shortcut” to other islands – a helicopter can get you from Santorini to Mykonos in 40 minutes, skipping the 3 to 5-hour ferry ride entirely.

Photo Tip: Book your flight for late afternoon. The “Golden Hour” light hitting the multi-colored layers of the caldera cliffs – red, black, and white – makes for incredible aerial photography that you just can’t get from the ground.

If you’re looking for an island transfer: Santorini to Mykonos Helicopter

7. Santorini Fishing Tour

This is a high-quality alternative to the standard catamaran cruises, focusing on traditional Greek island life. You’ll head out on a local fishing boat with a professional crew to pull in nets and try your hand at line fishing. Even if you aren’t an angler, the experience of being on a working boat in the caldera is fantastic. After the fishing, the crew prepares an incredibly fresh seafood meal using the catch of the day, served right on deck along with local wine and salads.

The tour includes stops for swimming and snorkeling in the clear waters near the Red and White beaches. While technically a small-group tour capped at 10 people, you can effectively make it private by booking all the spots for a family or group of friends. The Morning Tour is generally better for those who want to focus on the fishing techniques, while the Sunset Tour offers a more relaxed, romantic atmosphere.

My Tip: This is arguably the best “sea-to-table” meal you can find on the island. There is something uniquely satisfying about eating fish that was in the water only an hour before. It’s a great pick for kids who might find a standard sightseeing boat a bit slow.

Choose your time: Daytime Fishing Tour • Sunset Fishing Tour

8. Santorini Private Photography Tour

Note: Bring your own gear (camera or smartphone). This is the best way to ensure you leave the island with those world-class shots you see in magazines. A professional photographer acts as your personal guide to the island’s most photogenic corners, including the iconic blue domes and hidden paths that most tourists can’t find. The 4-hour tour typically starts in the mid-afternoon, ending with a dedicated sunset session at the Akrotiri Lighthouse or Prophet Ilias.

The route is designed to avoid the primary tourist bottlenecks. Because it is a private tour, the pace is entirely up to you. This is also an excellent “best of both worlds” tour – if one person is a photography enthusiast and the other just wants to see the sights, it works perfectly as a high-end private sightseeing tour where the guide knows all the secret viewpoints.

My Tip: Use your guide’s knowledge of “insider access.” They know which private paths are okay to use for photos and which are off-limits, saving you the stress of navigating Oia’s crowded and confusing “No Entry” zones.

9. Akrotiri & 3 Wineries with Tastings

This is the best way to combine the island’s most important historical site with its world-class wine culture. You’ll spend the first part of the day exploring the prehistoric city of Akrotiri, the “Pompeii of the Aegean.” Having a professional licensed guide is essential to understanding the sophisticated drainage systems and multi-story buildings that were preserved under volcanic ash for 3,600 years.

Following the tour of the ruins, you’ll visit 3 distinct estate wineries to taste up to 12 different volcanic wines. You’ll learn about the unique “kouloura” basket vines that allow grapes to grow with almost zero rainfall. Most tours include a stop at a cliffside winery like Venetsanos or Santo Wines for a tasting paired with local cheese and olives.

Practical Tip: Akrotiri is fully enclosed under a state-of-the-art bioclimatic roof, making this an ideal “midday” activity to escape the intense Aegean sun. If you aren’t interested in the wine portion and just want a deep dive into history, the private tour of ancient Akrotiri is excellent.