From hiking a volcano on a scenic sailing tour to horse riding along black sand beaches. These are the best tours you can book in Santorini!
Santorini is one of the best vacation destinations in Greece for good reason. It offers everything from rich historical sights such as the magnificent Akrotiri and the Castle of Oia to epic adventure tours like quad biking and sea kayaking through its deep blue waters.
It also boasts some of best cave hotels in the world and is known as one of the best places to spend a honeymoon. Santorini attracts over 2 million visitors each year and there’s enough adventure for everyone.
After several trips and day excursions, I’ve rounded up my list of favorite day trips & tours on the island of Santorini. So buckle up, and get ready to be inspired before your journey to this impressive Greek island.
My Top Three Santorini Day Tours
From incredible boat cruises that visit the volcano to wine tasting whilst experiencing amazing views, Santorini offers a range of tours that will leave everyone smiling.
1. Volcanic Islands Cruise with Hot Spring
Sail around Santorini's caldera, hike the volcano (optional), and stop at some epic islands for swimming, exploring, and enjoying the hot springs (Thirassia)
2. Sea Kayak Visiting Sea Caves & Picnic
Are you looking for an adventurous tour that is worth the arm workout? Look no further than the Santorini Sea Kayaking tour. With spectacular views and a picnic to fill you up this one shouldn't be missed.
If sipping wine and enjoying spectacular views is your kind of thing then the Wine Tasting Tour should be on your list. With 3 wine estates to be visited, you will be sure to have an exceptional day. The best part is you don't need to drive!
10 Best Santorini Day Tours That You Should Book Today
1. Volcanic Islands Cruise
If you are a traveler with adventure in your heart, I would say that the Volcanic Islands Cruise is truly unmissable while in Santorini.
As you set sail on your boat ride from the main port at Santorini, you will enjoy both full live commentary and sightseeing until you arrive at the tiny, inhabited island of Nea Kameni, which is home to an active volcano.
Once you arrive at Nea Kameni, it is time to journey to the top of the island's volcano, known as Tholos Naftilos. This is one of Santorini's most iconic attractions, and it is seen as the most spectacular place to visit on the whole island of Nea Kameni!
The hike to the top will typically take slightly less than one hour. This gives you more than enough time to appreciate what the volcano has to offer before you continue the cruise.
Next up is Palea Kameni which offers natural hot springs which are great for soaking in and relaxing. Finishing with Therasia which features a mountain known as Profitis Ilias Mountain, and offers breathtaking views of the nearby islands.
Book: Volcanic Islands Cruise
2. Sunset Luxury Catamaran Cruise
Santorini is well-known for its dreamy sunsets, and one of the best ways of experiencing them on the island is by taking up a sunset cruise.
This luxury boat tour includes more than enough to indulge the senses, and this goes beyond the fact that local wines and fresh Greek barbeque are served onboard.
The first two stops of this unique Catamaran cruise include two beaches, which are Santorini's famous Red Beach and White Beach.
After spending your time indulging in food and enjoying what Santorini beach life has to offer, it is time to journey to the final few stops of the boat trip.
The next two stops are both the hot springs and the volcano of Santorini. If you hike to the top of the volcano, you can expect spectacular panoramic views of Santorini which will truly take your breath away, leaving you speechless.
After appreciating a good sunset below the village of Oia, this sunset luxury cruise ends at the cute fishing port of Ammoudi Bay.
Tip: Santorini tours do book out quickly (June-September) so in order to confirm your spot on a trip be sure to book well in advance!
3. Premium Catamaran Cruise
Another ideal cruise option in Santorini is the Premium Catamaran Cruise. This special cruise features a 5-hour boat ride and private tour, allowing you to see everything that the island has to offer in the greatest way possible.
This private Santorini boat tour offers hotel pickup, which means you can simply wait in your hotel lobby or room until your lift arrives!
On this trip, you can enjoy both Santorini's Red Beach and White Beach before witnessing a spectacular sunset at Oia Village.
Book: Premium Catamaran Cruise
4. Guided Wine Tasting Tour
Are you a fan of wine tasting?
If so, this must be your lucky day, and this wine-tasting tour is going to please all of your senses!
What is particularly fascinating about this guided wine tour is that it includes multiple visits to different wineries on the island. This certainly creates some contrast, and I would say that it creates a perfectly, well-rounded tour when it comes to wine tasting as a whole.
This tour offers 12 glasses of wine per person from three separate wineries in Santorini. For this reason, you know you are bound to taste something new.
Local wines are served with even the possibility of sipping on some volcanic wine if it is something you are curious about.
One thing is for sure, you are in for a great time if you love wine!
Book: Guided Wine Tasting Tour
5. Horse Riding Trip on Black Sand Beach
Although horse riding is a relatively popular activity in Santorini, this horse riding trip definitely stands out from the crowd.
This is particularly because the tour includes a horse riding expert to guide you every hoof of the way.
When beginning this tour, you will journey towards Vlichada Beach, which is one of Santorini's gorgeous black sand beaches. During the trip, your expert guide will teach you the ideal way to ride the horse, making it both a secure and exhilarating experience for those involved.
You're also free to ask your guide to take as many photos as you want for your Instagram feed.
Book: Horse Riding
6. Santorini Fishing Tours
If you are considering fishing activities in Santorini, this fishing tour should be at the top of your list.
You can personalize your entire 5-hour trip which puts it on a whole other level as a fishing experience. It is a known fact that fishing can take time, and it is a sure bet that you will catch something worth waiting for on this trip in the time available.
Once you are done fishing, don't hesitate to do some snorkeling or swimming in the Aegean waters that surround your private boat. This serves as an ideal way to burn off the complimentary snacks offered onboard.
When it comes to different tours in Santorini, daily fishing tours certainly provide an unforgettable experience!
Book: Santorini Fishing Tours
7. Sea Kayak Visiting Sea Caves & Picnic
Sea kayaking is another epic activity option for travelers exploring Santorini.
This is for the more adventurous travelers out there, and the fantastic news is that the online ticket prices are surprisingly cheap.
Once you start the tour, you will be provided with all of the necessary safety gear and snorkeling equipment to get nice and wet. After putting on your life jacket and hopping into your kayak, it is time to cruise around Santorini's south coast.
Kayaking offers a completely different perspective of this Greek island from being on a cruise boat, and you are bound to spot some interesting things that you haven't seen before.
It is worth mentioning twice, that this kayaking tour is for those travelers who adore exploration and adventure. If you think this is you, there is no doubt that you are bound to have an exciting day out on this small group tour.
8. Traditional Sightseeing Bus Tour with Oia Sunset
Is traditional sightseeing something that floats your boat?
If so, the tour company NST Santorini Tours offers an action-packed sightseeing tour for you and your family. What makes this tour special is the fact it combines a wide variety of sights to see, all on the same day.
After booking, the first stop you will visit is an archaeological site known as Excavations of Akrotiri. This is one of the most popular destinations for tours in Santorini and is famously known for being covered in volcanic ash during the 16th Century BC.
As you finish exploring these phenomenal ruins with your tour guide, it is time to dive deeper into the history of the island at Emporio Village.
Emporio Village is not only the largest village in Santorini, but it contains historically significant attractions such as the medieval castle of Kasteli, and the Tower of Nimborio.
In addition to all of the above, this grouped bus tour also includes a trip to Perissa Beach, a Santorini Winery, Profitis IIias which is the island's highest point, and Oia to catch an early evening sunset.
9. ATV-Quad Tour
For those ATV lovers, this ATV-Quad Tour is sure to be a blast for your friends and family!
There are four areas you will see while on this quad tour. These include:
- Perissa Black Sand Beach
- Castelli of Emporio
- Megalochori - Traditional Village
- Heart of Santorini
Now, if you can imagine getting to and from them on a quad bike, that definitely spices things up!
So whether you are curious about the Castelli of Emporio and its cute little narrow streets, or Megalochori which is one of the island's most picturesque villages, you are bound to see numerous unforgettable sights during this excursion.
Book: ATV-Quad Tour
10. Electric Mountain Bike Adventure
If you're desiring to explore Santorini by bike, I would highly recommend this electric mountain bike tour.
Electric mountain bikes typically require less effort for getting around, which is much needed during a sweltering Greek Spring or Summer.
The fabulous part about this tour is that it features some of the best areas in Santorini as a whole. You really can't get better than Emporio Village, Megalochori Village, and Perivolos Beach to relax.
You can expect this tour to take a total of just over 3 hours including stop-offs. Another exciting element of the tour that is included is free wine and food tasting.
Now if that isn't good cycling motivation, I don't know what is!
Looking For A Place To Stay in Santorini?
To make the most of an unforgettable Santorini travel experience, you'll want to stay at one of the beautiful cliff villages of Oia or Fira (Thira). Below I have selected the top three accommodation options for each budget.
1. Divine Cave Experience Luxury
Rated as the best cave hotel experience in Santorini. This adults-only cave hotel is located just north of the exclusive Imerovigli cliffside village and each room comes with its own cave pool with views over the ocean!
2. La Perla Villas and Suites Mid-Range
Arguably the best mid-range option for a memorable and romantic Santorini getaway. These villas and suites are very well located in the beautiful village of Oia, where you can catch unforgettable sunset views over the volcano.
3. Bed Spot Hostel Budget
The best hostel in Santorini. This one is located in the Fira center district and is very popular with backpackers and budget-conscious travelers after all the amenities such as a shared kitchen and a huge outdoor terrace common area.
My Tour Selection Process
- Tour Criteria: I only choose high-value tours run by experienced guides with high safety & sustainability standards. I look for variety, locations, price, reviews, & accessibility.
- My Experience: After traveling extensively in Santorini & booking many tours myself, I've handpicked options that visit my favorite locations like Nea Kameni & black sand beaches.
- Top Reviews: All tours on this list have earned a high customer rating of at least 4/5 stars on travel sites like Viator & GetYourGuide. I have included links to book the best price for each tour.
- Local Insights: I've met many locals, tour guides, & travelers during my time in Santorini. Many options on this list come directly from recommendations by travelers on the road.
Read more about how I review & select tours & experiences.
I'm Olly, a full-time traveler since 2018. Each tour in this guide is handpicked by me. Read my travel review ethics statement.
FAQs About Santorini Tours
How many days do you need in Santorini?
A minimum of three days is recommended. This allows time to explore the volcanic landscapes, enjoy the beaches, take a tour, and of course, watch the world-famous sunsets.
What should I wear on a Santorini tour?
For most tours in Santorini, comfortable casual attire is suitable. For boat tours, bring a swimsuit, towel, hat and sun protection. If you plan to hike the volcano or explore archaeological sites, wear sturdy walking shoes or sneakers, and bring a hat along with plenty of sunscreen.
Can you tour the volcano on Santorini?
Yes, you can tour the volcano on Santorini with Volcanic Islands Cruise. This tour includes a hike to the crater where you can witness the volcanic landscape up close and enjoy panoramic views of Santorini.
What kind of adventure tours can I find in Santorini?
Santorini offers a variety of adventure tours, including ATV tours, horse riding , electric bike tours and sea kayaking. These tours provide a thrilling way to explore the volcanic landscapes and beautiful waters around the island.
I hope you enjoyed this guide post on the best day tours on the island of Santorini. If you're interested in more Santorini travel guides or where to stay in Santorini feel free to check out all of our others below.
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- Amazing Cave Hotels in Greece - from Santorini to Crete, discover the island's most unique stays
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- Where to Stay in Ios - discover the party island of Ios in this detailed accommodation guide
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