Private Santorini tour: Seven villages, two beaches, wine tasting

Seven hours across Santorini's clifftop villages, volcanic beaches, and a winery stop

A private, full-day Santorini tour with a driver-guide covers the caldera villages of Oia, Firostefani, Imerovigli, and Megalochori, plus Black Beach at Perivolos and Red Beach, with optional wine tasting at a family winery. You choose the order (Oia first for sightseeing or last for sunset), and the guide customizes stops to match your interests, skipping wineries or the Lost Atlantis Experience if you prefer.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Perivolos Beach1h
2. Red Beach20m

Santorini city sightseeing tour

• Meet private driver-guide
• Visit Oia village for sightseeing
• Explore Imerovigli and Rock of Skaros
• Take photos at Firostefani Blue Dome Church
• Relax in Megalochori village
• Optional wine tasting at Gavalas winery
• Swim and lunch at Perissa black sand beach
• Visit Santorini Red Beach
• See Akrotiri lighthouse
• Discover Lost Atlantis Experience

The experience

Seven to eight hours in a private Mercedes or minivan with an English-speaking driver-guide who knows the island's layout and history. The tour builds around the villages perched on the caldera cliffs: Firostefani's famous blue-domed church, the views from Imerovigli and the Rock of Skaros, and the quieter streets of Megalochori. You stop where you want to photograph, linger, or shop: no fixed schedule pushing you along.

The beaches anchor the second half. Perivolos and Perissa have black sand created by centuries of volcanic activity. You get free time to swim and eat lunch at a taverna facing the water. Red Beach, on the south coast, draws fewer crowds and sits worth a visit for its unique geology. If you're interested, the tour includes a stop at Gavalas winery or an art space on the caldera edge, with wine tasting optional. Skip it entirely if you'd rather spend the time elsewhere.

Pickup and drop-off happen at your hotel or ship, and the guide adjusts the route based on what matters to you. Bottled water is included. Food and drinks beyond that are on you. The itinerary can start with Oia at dawn for clear light and fewer tourists, or save it for sunset, when the Aegean turns gold and the crowds thin out.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned Mercedes or minivan.
• English-speaking driver-guide for the full day.
• bottled water.
• customized pickup and drop-off at your hotel or cruise ship.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day19 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 16:00

AgesAdult (18 to 85 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Santorini Airport Shuttle Express

Is this one for you?A private tour suits travelers who want to set their own pace across Santorini's villages and beaches without following a group schedule. The driver-guide handles navigation and can skip or linger at stops based on your interests, so you spend time on what matters to you rather than what a fixed itinerary demands.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the Rock of Skaros that the tour mentions in Imerovigli?

The Rock of Skaros is a rocky outcrop on the caldera cliff in Imerovigli that once served as a lookout post to spot pirates approaching the island. It's a notable landmark for photographs and sits within the village itself.

Can I choose which order to visit the villages, or is the route fixed?

You can choose the order. The main decision is whether to visit Oia first for daytime sightseeing and shopping, or save it for last so you can watch the sunset over the Aegean Sea from there.

Is there time to swim at the black sand beaches?

Yes. At Perivolos and Perissa, you get free time to swim and have lunch at a traditional taverna right in front of the beach. The black sand comes from volcanic activity over centuries.

What happens if I don't want to visit the winery or the Lost Atlantis Experience?

The tour is customized to your tastes. You can skip the winery, the art space, or the Lost Atlantis Experience entirely, and the guide will adjust the stops to match what you actually want to see.

Does the tour work for cruise ship passengers?

Yes. At booking, cruise passengers provide the ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and re-boarding time, and the guide times the pickup and return to fit your ship's schedule.