Santorini Private Tour: Flexible Itinerary with Port Pickup
Three Bells of Fira, Oia's main street, and your choice of beaches or villages: all in one private vehicle
A private guided tour of Santorini designed around your schedule and interests, with pickup at the cruise port or your hotel. You choose the stops (Oia, the Three Bells of Fira, Imerovigli, Perivolos Beach, Red Beach, or the village of Pyrgos), and your English-speaking driver adjusts the route and timing to fit your day. The tour runs 4 to 6 hours depending on the option you select, and includes an air-conditioned Mercedes SUV, bottled water, and flexible timing if your ship runs late or the cable car has a queue.
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Step-by-step itinerary
Santorini private tour highlights
- Visit the Three Bells of Fira
- Explore Imerovigli village and viewpoints
- Drive scenic route to Oia
- Stroll Oia’s main street and shops
- Visit charming Pyrgos village
- Relax at Perivolos Beach
- See the Red Beach volcanic rocks
What’s included
- Air-conditioned Mercedes SUV with WiFi.
- bottled water.
- English-speaking private driver.
- flexible pickup from the cruise port at the Old Port or from your hotel or Airbnb.
- timing adjusted for ship delays or cable-car queues.
- Every day 05:00 08:00 08:30 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00
Information
Private guided tour of Santorini with flexible itinerary tailored to you: pickup at the Old Port for cruise passengers, or from your hotel.
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The experience
The pickup happens at the Old Port with a crew member holding a name sign, so there's no confusion when you disembark. If you want to reach the top of the caldera without waiting in the cable-car line, you can arrange a water transfer (€40 per person, fast and scenic) or take the cable car (€10 per person) at your own pace. The driver knows the timing and adjusts if tendering delays happen. You just stay in touch about when you'll be ready to start.
From there, the route is yours. A 20-minute scenic drive takes you toward Oia along the caldera rim, passing the whitewashed Church of the Assumption with its three blue bells in Firostefani, then through Imerovigli, a quiet village perched on the cliffs with views of Skaros Rock and the volcanic slopes. Oia's main street (lined with galleries, cafes, and shops along the northern edge) is where most people spend time watching the caldera and Aegean stretch out below, especially if you're there for the sunset. If you'd rather skip the crowds, your driver can take you to Pyrgos instead, a hilltop village with medieval streets, a Venetian castle ruin at the peak, and far fewer tourists, or to one of the beaches: Perivolos, with its black volcanic sand and beachside tavernas, or Red Beach, where red rocks meet turquoise water.
The vehicle is air-conditioned, has WiFi, and comes with bottled water. You're not on a fixed schedule with other passengers: the tour moves at your pace, and if you want to linger at a church, walk a beach, or sit at a cafe longer than planned, the driver waits. Lunch stops are your choice and at your expense, though the driver suggests local favorites. The whole day is built so you can be back at the port in time to re-board, or back at your hotel by evening.
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 15 years); Infant (under 2).
Can I visit Oia and a beach on the same tour?
Yes. Oia is usually the main stop, but your driver can add a beach visit (either Perivolos with its black sand and restaurants, or Red Beach with its dramatic red rocks and turquoise water) depending on how much time you have and which option you book.
What happens if my cruise ship is delayed?
The tour is flexible. Let your driver know about the delay, and the pickup time adjusts so you're not rushed or left waiting at the port. The same goes if the cable car has a long queue: the driver works around it.
Is the water transfer from the port included?
The water transfer is optional and costs €40 per person. It's a fast, scenic alternative to the cable car (€10 per person) if you want to skip the queue when you arrive or leave the port.
What is the Three Bells of Fira?
The Three Bells of Fira is the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Firostefani, just outside Fira. It has a striking blue dome and sits on the caldera edge with panoramic views of the volcanic cliffs, the Aegean, and the surrounding islands. It's one of Santorini's most photographed spots.
Can I choose which villages and beaches to visit?
Completely. You can visit Oia, the quiet village of Imerovigli, the hilltop village of Pyrgos with its Venetian castle, Perivolos Beach, Red Beach, or a mix of them. Your driver tailors the route to what interests you and how much time you have.
Is lunch included?
Lunch is not included, but your driver knows local tavernas and restaurants at the beaches and in the villages and can suggest places. You stop where you want and pay separately.
Operated by VIP Transfers and Tours. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 2 days ago
Santorini Private Tour: Flexible Itinerary with Port Pickup
3h–6h · EN · at your hotel
from € 32 per person
≈ US$ 36 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.