Santorini day trip from Crete: Oia and Fira with ferry

Six hours on Santorini's oldest village and its capital, without arranging the ferry yourself

A day trip from Crete to Santorini includes round-trip coach and ferry transport, a guided tour of Oia and Fira, and free time to wander the stone-built streets of both villages. Hotel pickup is available on select departures. The entire island visit runs about six hours, leaving the rest of your day free.

Step-by-step itinerary

Santorini day trip from Crete

• Travel from Crete to Santorini by coach and ferry
• Guided coach tour to Oia village
• Stroll Oia's alleys and streets
• Visit Fira and explore alleys freely
• Free time for sightseeing and beach lazing
• Depart Santorini for Heraklion

The experience

Staying on Crete and want to see Santorini without solving ferry schedules yourself: this tour handles the transport. You get picked up at your hotel (depending on your chosen departure point), travel by air-conditioned coach to the ferry port, and sail across to the island. A guide meets you at the Port of Santorini and takes the group by coach to Oia, the oldest village on the island, where narrow stone-built streets and whitewashed buildings open onto views of the caldera and the sea. After a short guided walk through Oia's alleys, you have free time to explore on your own: long enough to find a café, walk to a viewpoint, or simply sit with the view.

From Oia, the coach carries you to Fira, Santorini's capital, where the same rhythm repeats: a brief guided introduction to the town's layout and history, then free time to wander the picturesque traditional alleys, shop, or eat. The entire stay on the island is roughly six hours. When it's time to leave, you return to the port and take the ferry back to Crete, arriving at your starting point by evening. The prebooked ferry ticket and all transport are included, so you skip the confusion of timetables and ticket windows.

Guides speak English, Italian, French, German and several other languages. The tour suits all fitness levels, and families traveling with small children can join if the children are comfortable on buses and boats and in the sun. Infants travel on an adult's lap. Pets are not permitted.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned coach transport from Crete to the ferry port and around Santorini.
• round-trip ferry ticket to the island.
• guided tour of Oia and Fira with a live guide.
• hotel pickup on select departure options.

Options for this experience

5 options

Transfer from Malia to KarterosGuide in 5 languages · No fixed timeGuided bus tour: the additional tour takes place on the coach across the Island of Santorini as it drives through the towns of Oia and Fira. Pickup and drop-off from Malia: pick-up and drop-off are made from the main road, partly from hotel exits or meeting points in Malia - Karteros. Ferry boat.

Santorini Heraklion, pickup not includedGuide in 5 languages · No fixed timeDuration: 10 hours. No transfer!. Ferry boat: meeting point at the harbor at least at 7:15 a.m.

Santorini Rethymno, pickup not includedGuide in 4 languages · Available from 18 May 2027Duration: 12 hours. No transfer!

See 2 more options

Transfer from Ag. Pelagia and AmmoudaraGuide in 5 languages · No fixed timeGuided bus tour: the additional tour takes place on the coach across the Island of Santorini as it drives through the towns of Oia and Fira. Pickup and drop-off to the harbor: fully air-conditioned coach. Pick-up and drop-off from the main road, partly from hotel exits in Fodele, Agia Pelagia and Ammoudara. Fast ferry boat.

Santorini from SissiGuide in 5 languages · Available from 13 Apr 2027Pickup and drop-off from Sissi: pick-up and drop-off from the main road, partly from hotel exits in Sissi. Full air-conditioned coach or bus: transfer in a modern, fully air-conditioned coach with experienced drivers.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SaturdayLast departure this season: 31 Oct

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Live guideEnglish, French, German, Italian, Polish, Romanian and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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 yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by TOURLINE

Is this one for you?Choose a departure with hotel pickup if you're staying outside Heraklion or Rethymno, since it saves you the drive to the port and the cost of parking or a taxi. The six-hour island visit is long enough to see both villages and have genuine free time in each, but short enough that you're back on Crete by evening: useful if you have other plans or simply prefer not to overnight away.

Traveler reviews

4.83★★★★★★★★★★

6 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Polish and Romanian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: 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.

Can I get picked up at my hotel in Crete?

Hotel pickup is included on some departure options, specifically the Ag. Pelagia + Ammoud, Malia - Karteros, and Sissi routes. The no-pickup options depart from Rethymno or Heraklion, so you'll need to meet the coach at the port.

What is Oia like to walk through?

Oia is built on steep terrain with small alleys and stone streets that wind between whitewashed buildings. The village is the oldest on Santorini, and the harmony of the architecture, the sea view, and the light create the look most people recognize from photographs. Wear comfortable shoes for the uneven ground.

How much free time do I get in each village?

After the guided walk in Oia, you have free time to explore the village on your own. The same applies in Fira after the brief introduction. The exact length depends on the day's schedule, but both stops are designed to give you space to wander, eat, or simply sit and take in the view rather than rush through.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes round-trip ferry transport, coach travel on the island, an air-conditioned vehicle for the journey from Crete, and a live guide. Hotel pickup is included on select departures. Lunch, snacks, coffee and tea are not included, and an optional excursion to the volcano costs an additional 20 euros per person.

How long is the entire trip from Crete?

The full day runs between 10 and 15 hours depending on your pickup location and ferry times. The time spent on Santorini itself is about six hours, with the rest taken up by coach travel to the port, the ferry crossing in both directions, and the return journey to Crete.