Santorini Private Tour: Oia, Red & Black Sand Beaches

Oia's Castle, the red rocks of the south coast, and the highest point of the island in one morning.

A private guided tour of Santorini with a local English-speaking driver covers the island's main sights over four hours in an air-conditioned vehicle. The route moves through Oia and its blue dome churches, climbs to Profitis Ilias at the island's highest point, descends to the red and black sand beaches on the south coast, and includes stops for photographs at panoramic viewpoints. Bottled water and private transportation are included; lunch is not. The travel time between stops runs around an hour and forty minutes total.

Step-by-step itinerary

Santorini island highlights tour

• Visit Oia village and old Castle
• Explore Firostefani and Caldera views
• See Profitis Ilias highest point
• Stop at Akrotiri panoramic views
• Visit Red Beach and take photos
• Relax at Perissa black sand beach

The Experience

The tour starts with Oia, the village famous for sunsets and the old Castle of Oia, where narrow streets and blue dome churches frame the most photographed corners of Santorini. From there the driver takes you through Firostefani to see the Caldera, the rock of Skaros and the volcano rising from the sea. Profitis Ilias comes next—the highest point on the island, where the view opens to the whole landscape and the surrounding area spreads out below.

The route then moves south through Akrotiri, stopping at panoramic viewpoints along the way before reaching Red Beach, where the volcanic rocks themselves are the color that gives the beach its name. You get time to photograph and stand in the unique landscape. The final stop is Perissa Beach on the east side, where the sand is black and the water runs deep. There's free time here to swim, walk or eat at one of the restaurants along the shore.

Your driver speaks English and provides information about each area as you move through it. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and bottled water is provided throughout the day. Because this is a private tour, the route and timing are yours to shape—the four-hour window is the frame, but the stops and how long you spend at each one can shift based on what interests you.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transportation with an English-speaking driver.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• pickup arranged as part of the booking.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Blue Moon Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see the island's main sights without renting a car or navigating between stops yourself—the driver handles the route and timing, and the private format means you set the pace at each location instead of moving with a group schedule.

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Top questions

What exactly is Oia and why do people photograph it so much?

Oia is a traditional village perched on the caldera rim, known for its sunsets and whitewashed buildings with blue dome churches. The old Castle of Oia and the narrow streets lined with these churches create the most recognizable views in Santorini, which is why it's the first stop on the tour.

Can I swim at Red Beach and Perissa Beach, or is it just for photographs?

Both beaches are swimmable. Red Beach is smaller and more dramatic because of the volcanic rock formations, so most visitors photograph and walk the shoreline. Perissa Beach is larger with black sand, and the tour includes free time there specifically so you can swim, relax or eat at a nearby restaurant.

How much driving is there between stops?

The travel time between each destination adds up to around an hour and forty minutes across the full four-hour tour, so roughly half the time is on the road and half is at the sites themselves.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not included. At Perissa Beach, the final stop, there are restaurants nearby where you can eat during your free time there, but you arrange and pay for it separately.

What's the difference between the full tour and the 3-hour East Part option?

The full private tour covers the whole island—Oia and the villages on the north and west, plus both the red and black sand beaches on the south and east. The 3-hour East Part tour focuses on the eastern side of the island, covering fewer stops in less time.