Private Santorini tour with guide: Akrotiri and Prophet Elias

See Akrotiri's preserved village and the island's high points without building the route yourself

A private 5-hour guided tour of Santorini pairs a local English-speaking guide with hotel pickup and an air-conditioned minivan, letting you move between the island's iconic sites (the archaeological site of Akrotiri, the Prophet Elias Monastery at the island's peak, and the hidden gems most visitors miss) without arranging transport or deciding the stops. Admission fees to Akrotiri and any optional wineries are separate. Minimum age is 12.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Santorini's iconic sights

• Travel by private air-conditioned minivan
• Visit archaeological site of Akrotiri
• See Prophet Elias Monastery
• Discover hidden gems with driver-guide

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your hotel and a drive through Santorini in a modern minivan. Your private driver-guide handles the route, so you're not navigating or parking. The air conditioning and bottled water are included. The day centers on two main stops: Akrotiri, a prehistoric village buried and preserved in volcanic ash, and the Prophet Elias Monastery, which sits on the island's highest point. Between and beyond these, your guide can take you to the quieter corners of Santorini that organized groups skip: the places that show you what the island is like when the cruise ships aren't there.

How the five hours unfold depends on what interests you. If you want to walk through Akrotiri's excavated streets and rooms, that takes time. If you prefer to stay outside and see the site from above, the schedule shifts. The same flexibility applies to the monastery. You can spend an hour there or move on. Your guide reads what you want and adjusts. Bottled water is provided, but food and drinks beyond that are on you, as are any admission fees if you decide to enter the museums or join a guided tour inside Akrotiri itself.

The minivan is the practical heart of this: it gets you to places a rental car would struggle with, and it means someone who knows the island is making the driving decisions. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so the day starts and ends at your accommodation. If you're staying without a car or prefer not to drive on unfamiliar roads, this is what makes a full island tour possible in a single morning or afternoon.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned minivan.
• local English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• bottled water.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday and FridayDepartures at 09:30 and 15:30Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by My Santorini Tour

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup means the tour starts at your door, which is essential if you're staying without a rental car or prefer not to drive on island roads: the minivan and guide handle the navigation and the stops, so you're free to focus on what you're seeing instead of where to go next.

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Top questions

What is the archaeological site of Akrotiri like?

Akrotiri is a Bronze Age village preserved under volcanic ash from an eruption around 1600 BCE. The excavation reveals intact streets, rooms, and everyday objects frozen in time, giving a rare window into how people lived in the ancient Aegean. Admission is separate and optional.

Where is the Prophet Elias Monastery and what can you see from there?

The Prophet Elias Monastery sits on the highest point of Santorini. From the top, you get views across the entire island, the caldera, and the surrounding Aegean: the kind of vantage point that shows you the scale of the place.

Do I need to speak Greek, or does the guide speak English?

Your guide speaks English throughout the tour, so language is not a barrier to understanding what you're seeing.

What happens if I want to skip one of the main stops?

The itinerary is flexible. Tell your guide what interests you, and they'll adjust the route and timing. If you'd rather spend the five hours on fewer stops or explore different parts of the island, that's how it works.

Is food included, or do I need to bring my own?

Bottled water is provided, but meals and other drinks are not included. You can ask your guide for restaurant recommendations, or bring snacks if you prefer.

Can children go on this tour?

Yes, children aged 12 and older can join. Younger children are not permitted on this tour.