Santorini Customized Private Tour: Design Your Own Day

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.86 (696 reviews) 93% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/47

Duration3h–8h

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN · EL

PickupAt your hotel

You choose the route, the guide handles the logistics

A customized private tour of Santorini where you and your driver/guide design the itinerary together, selecting from beaches like Red Beach and Perissa, villages including Oia and Pyrgos, the Monastery of Profitis Ilias, Akrotiri's ancient ruins, and optional wine or beer tastings. Tours run 3 to 8 hours with hotel or port pickup included, air-conditioned transport, bottled water, and a local expert guide speaking English or Spanish.

3h–8h

Step-by-step itinerary

The Experience

You decide what matters on the day you arrive. Instead of following a fixed route, you and your driver/guide build the itinerary together—whether that means starting with the famous blue domes near Fira, heading straight to a beach, or climbing to the Monastery of Profitis Ilias for views that stretch to neighboring islands. The guide knows Santorini's history and can steer you toward what's worth the time, but the stops are yours to call.

The beaches alone offer real choices. Perissa Beach has black volcanic sand and a recommended beachfront taverna with complimentary sunbeds if you want to swim and eat; Red Beach sits at the southern edge with deep red cliffs and blue water, a short walk from the road. Oia is the postcard village—whitewashed alleys, blue-domed chapels, caldera views—and if you book an afternoon tour, you can stay for the sunset. Quieter options include Finikia, a traditional settlement just outside Oia, or Megalochori, a preserved village with vaulted alleys and bell towers. Pyrgos has a medieval castle at the top with sweeping views, and Akrotiri is a Minoan archaeological site buried in volcanic ash for over 3,500 years; you can walk it independently or arrange a licensed guide on-site for extra context.

The tour length shapes what's possible. A 3-hour run covers the highlights—Oia and a viewpoint or beach. Longer options (4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 hours) let you add a winery or brewery, a second beach, the monastery, and Akrotiri without rushing. Wine tastings at Estate Argyros or other local producers, or a craft beer stop at Ftelos Brewery, are optional add-ons you arrange during the tour. Pickup from your hotel, port, or airport is included, and you ride in an air-conditioned vehicle with bottled water and an umbrella. If you choose a beach stop and buy food or drink, sunbeds are complimentary.

What’s included

Private air-conditioned vehicle with your own driver/guide.
hotel, port, or airport pickup and drop-off.
bottled water.
complimentary umbrella and sunbeds at beach stops when you purchase food or drink.
a local expert guide fluent in English or Spanish, depending on your tour option.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Around travel

Is this one for you?Book a longer tour (6, 7, or 8 hours) if you want to combine multiple stops—a beach, a village, the monastery, and Akrotiri or a winery—without feeling rushed. A 3 or 4-hour tour works best if you have a short window and want to focus on Oia and one other highlight.