The Best Santorini Private Tours

GreeceSantorini › Private Tours
Updated: May 15, 2023

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Private boat tour in Santorini.

The private catamaran cruise with food & drinks (a deluxe tour of the Santorini caldera) is fantastic.

Private Tours on Santorini: What to Know

  • Private day tours and tour guides in Santorini are more expensive than group tours but they’re just about always worth the extra cost. (Even the most expensive tours will still be a small portion of what you paid to get here – yet will likely be the most memorable part of your trip.)
  • Book early. It’s easy to reserve last-minute group tours, but there are surprisingly few private tours offered on Santorini and they get booked early for visits from June to September.
  • If you only have time for one then do a boat tour of the caldera – the cliffs and the caldera are what makes Santorini so fantastically unique.
  • The Accessible Santorini Private Tour is a guided sightseeing tour. The large private van can accommodate one wheelchair user that can board with a ramp, without having to leave the chair. The vehicle can accept more disabled passengers, as long as they use folding wheelchairs.

The 9 Best Private Tours in Santorini

All these tours include hotel pick-up and drop-off (which doesn’t sound significant but is super helpful).

1. Best of Santorini Private Tour

Private tour of Santorini.

Excellent guided tour around the highlights of Santorini – from Akrotiri in the south to Oia at the northernmost tip. In between, you’ll visit beaches, churches, wineries, and historical sites. The professional guide is top-notch.

2. Private Catamaran Cruise

The best tours in Santorini, Greece.

Wonderful boat tour of the hot springs and caldera cliffs with swimming and snorkeling. Go pretty much anywhere you want with your private tour guide and captain. If this isn’t the highlight of your trip I’d be surprised. Starts at 10:30am (day cruise) or 3:30pm (sunset cruise). Delicious BBQ meal and unlimited bear and santorini wine. Hotel pick up and drop off are included. If sold out (as often happens) these are also great tours: Private Sunset Cruise7-Hour Private Catamaran CruisePrivate Cruise on a Motor Yacht

3. Private Santorini Wine Tour

Winery with caldera view in Santorini.

Incredible wine tour of Santorini’s best wineries with plenty of tastings, cheese, olives, and snacks. There’s a 10am departure and a 4pm. Both visit a winery with great caldera views. The later tour will include sunset views. Cheaper option: Santorini Sunset Wine Tour

4. Santorini Cooking Class and Wine-Tasting

Greek cooking class in Santorini.

Such a wonderful experience and a great way to learn about the island and its culture. Easy going and super fun. There are both private and semi-private (max of 8 people) versions available.

5. Private Helicopter Flight

Helicopter tour in Santorini.

Phenomenal views of the Santorini caldera, volcano, cliffs, beaches, and nearby islands. Very cool and highly recommended (though obviously expensive).

6. Highlights of Santorini Photography Tour

Photography tour in Santorini.

If you want to get incredible shots of Santorini this is how you do. You’ll see the most spectacular views from all over the island. The tour starts at 3:30pm and last 4 hours (though often goes a little longer). This is as much a sightseeing tour as a photography tour, so if one person is really into photography and the other more interested in sightseeing it still works great.

7. Santorini Fishing Tour

Private fishing tour in Santorini.

This isn’t truly a private tour but there are only 10 spots on the boat so if you want it to yourself just book all ten. It’s a great boat tour and super fun for all – even if you’re not into fishing. Sail around the Santorini waters on a local fishing boat. Fresh seafood lunch or dinner served on board (eat what you catch and get from the nets). There are stops to swim and snorkel. The daytime tour is best for families and serious fishermen. The sunset tour is best for couples.

8. Akrotiri & 3 Wineries with Tastings

Akrotiri in Santorini.

Explore the fantastic archaeological site at the ancient village of Akrotiri. The guide is very knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. (Having a guide is essential for touring Akrotiri.) After the Akrotiri, visit 3 different wineries and learn about Santorini wine-making (unique due to the limited rainfall). Taste 12 wines from Santorini and other parts of Greece. There are early morning and late afternoon start times. If you only want Akrotiri then the private tour of ancient Akrotiri is excellent.

9. Santorini Jet Ski Tour to the Volcano

Jet ski tour to the volcano.

Not your typical private tour but an incredible experience if you’re looking for something a little more active. My one-word review: Amazing!

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About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave Author Bio. Santorini Dave was started in 2011 by a guy who loved Greece, travel, and great hotels. We're now a small team of writers and researchers on a mission to deliver the most helpful travel content on the internet. We specialize in Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, and Greece and recommend the best hotels, best neighborhoods, and best family hotels in top destinations around the world. We also make hotel maps and travel videos. I can be contacted at dave@santorinidave.com.

  1. Boat Tours Fully Booked for September

    We’ve heard wonderful things about the Best of Santorini tour but unfortunately it’s sold out for our dates in early September. Can you recommend a different tour that is similar? Thanks!

    Tom

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      The Best of Santorini Full-Day Private Tour is also excellent. It’s basically the same tour but 2 hours longer and visits Oia, Imerovigli, Firostefani, Akrotiri, Red Beach, Black Beach, Emporio, Megalochori, Prophet Ilias, Pyrgos, and a Winery with caldera views. You’ll love it.

  2. Santorini Day Trip in February

    February travel to Athens and I want to do a day trip to Santorini. I’d love a walking tour and a wine tasting. What are the possibilities of that in February? I am going to be part of a group of 6 women.

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      You would need to fly obviously. Catch an early flight to Santorini and one of the last flights back to Athens. It would be a very full day to do both a wine tour and a walking tour but it’s doable. Try this wine tour (which will run in February) and one of these walking tours.

  3. How To Book Santorini Tours

    Hi Dave, your website is very helpful. I will be in Santorini on 1st week of October and would like to do the Santorini: Sunset Catamaran Sailing Cruise in Caldera. Please advise where I can buy the ticket for this tour?

    Thanks,
    Sapphire

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      Book through Get Your Guide. Good prices, easy and reliable, and you have a 3rd party to take up disputes with if there’s any problem.

  4. Kid Friendly Private Tour in Santorini

    Visiting Santorini in early September. Seems like everything is just about fully booked but have found a space for the private catamaran tour. Just wanted to confirm that this is a kid and family-friendly tour of the caldera with swimming and fun stuff.
    Thanks,
    Agnes

    1. Santorini Dave The Hotel Expert

      Yes, definitely. Kids will love it! Just an amazing experience (for any age).

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