Private Half-Day Tour of Santorini North Side: Sunset in Oia

An afternoon to watch the sun set over the Aegean from multiple villages at once

A private half-day tour of Santorini's north side covers Oia, Prophet Elias, Imerovigli and Firostefani with a local English-speaking guide and air-conditioned minivan transport. The tour runs 4 to 4.5 hours and includes pickup and drop-off from your hotel or a designated meeting point. The route is timed to end at sunset, and the guide adjusts the pace and stops to suit your group.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Santorini North Side Villages

• Visit Oia village and see sunset
• Explore Imerovigli and Skaros Rock
• Visit Monastery of Profitis Ilias
• Discover Pyrgos village and Venetian castle

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your hotel, then heads north to Imerovigli: perched 300 meters above sea level and known as the "balcony of the Aegean Sea." From there you move to Oia, the island's most photographed village, where white-washed houses cling to volcanic cliffs and blue-domed churches dot the skyline. The guide stops at viewpoints where the Aegean spreads below you on both sides, and the light shifts as the afternoon moves toward evening.

Next is Prophet Elias, the highest point on Santorini at 600 meters. The monastery sits at the summit, and the vantage point takes in the whole island and the sea beyond it: the kind of view that stops conversation. The drive down brings you through Pyrgos, a village that kept its Venetian castle and traditional Cycladic layout, with narrow paths and old stone houses offering views across both sides of the island. Throughout the route, the guide points out the architecture, the history and the shifts in the landscape as you climb and descend.

The tour ends in Oia as the sun reaches the horizon. You watch it drop into the water from one of the village's terraces or viewpoints, with the guide there to answer questions and help you find the best spot. The air-conditioned minivan waits to bring you back to your hotel or meeting point when the light fades.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned minivan transport.
• local English-speaking guide.
• bottled water.
• pickup and drop-off from your hotel or meeting point.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day13 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 17:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (12 to 85 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 6 pickup points.

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Santorini Tours & Guides

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a private guide who adjusts the pace to your group rather than following a fixed itinerary, and if you're available for an afternoon departure that ends before dinner.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4).

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.

How long is the private half-day tour of Santorini's north side?

The tour runs 4 to 4.5 hours total, including transport between villages and time to walk and photograph at each stop.

What villages and sites does the tour visit?

The tour covers Imerovigli, Oia, Prophet Elias monastery at the island's highest point, and Pyrgos, a traditional village with Venetian castle ruins and panoramic views on both sides of the island.

Does the tour include hotel pickup?

Yes, pickup and drop-off from your hotel or a designated meeting point are included, along with transport in an air-conditioned minivan throughout the tour.

What is Imerovigli known for?

Imerovigli sits 300 meters above sea level and is called the "balcony of the Aegean Sea" because it offers some of the most dramatic sunset views of the Aegean, with churches in Cycladic style and the remains of a medieval fortress at Skaros Rock nearby.

Is the guide included, and what language do they speak?

A local, English-speaking guide is included and travels with your group throughout the tour, adjusting the pace and stops to suit your interests.

When does the tour end, and what happens at sunset?

The tour is timed to finish in Oia as the sun sets over the ocean, giving you time to watch from the village's viewpoints and terraces before returning to your hotel.