Santorini Private Tour: Wine Tasting Oia Profitis Ilias Perissa

Walk Oia's whitewashed streets and taste volcanic wines, then stand at the island's highest point.

A 5-hour private guided tour of Santorini takes you through Oia, up to the Monastery of Profitis Ilias above Pyrgos village, to a traditional winery for wine tasting with local cheese, and down to Perissa Beach on the Aegean. Your guide picks you up from your hotel, airport, or cruise port and handles the route. You choose between a 9:30am daytime departure or a 15:30 sunset one. The tour suits all fitness levels and includes mineral water and soft drinks.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Monastery of Profitis Ilias1h
2. Perissa Beach1h

Explore Santorini's highlights and wine

• Visit charming town of Oia
• Enjoy views at Mt. Prophet Elias
• Wine-tasting at local vineyard
• Drive through or relax at Perissa Beach
• Learn about Santorini and see caldera views

The experience

Oia sits at the top of the itinerary. The town itself is the draw, with its narrow lanes framed by blue domes and the caldera dropping away beyond them. Your private guide leads you through the streets and points out the angles most travelers miss, then you move on to Mt. Prophet Elias, the island's highest peak, where the Monastery of Profitis Ilias stands. The views from there sweep across the whole island and down to the Aegean.

The winery stop is where the day shifts. You taste volcanic wines (grown in the mineral-rich soil that gives Santorini its reputation) paired with a local cheese platter. The wines are the thing here. The operator calls it a traditional winery, and the tasting is built into the tour price. Afterward, you drive to Perissa Beach, the black volcanic sand that runs along the eastern shore. It's a different Santorini from the cliff towns: quieter, less crowded, and the sand itself is the landmark. Dark and fine, a result of the island's volcanic past.

Pickup happens from your hotel, the airport, or if you're on a cruise, the top of the cable car at the port. The guide will be holding a sheet with your name. The whole thing runs five hours, which is tight enough to fit the highlights without the day feeling rushed, but long enough to actually stand in each place instead of just passing through. You pick your departure time at checkout (either the 9:30am start or the 15:30 sunset tour), and the route stays the same either way.

What’s included

• Private guided tour with an English-speaking guide.
• pickup and drop-off from your hotel, airport, or cruise port.
• wine tasting at a traditional volcanic winery.
• local cheese platter.
• mineral water and soft drinks throughout the day.
• access to Oia, the Monastery of Profitis Ilias, and Perissa Beach.

Options for this experience

2 options

Daytime tour starting at 9:30amGuide in English · Available from 1 May 2027Lasts 5 hours; pickup is included

Sunset tour departing at 15:30Guide in English · 15:30Pickup is included

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

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SaturdayDeparts at 15:30Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (4 and older) · Child (2 to 3 years) · Infant (under 2)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Santorini Day Tours

Is this one for you?Book the 9:30am departure if you want the full day to unfold without rushing, or choose 15:30 if you'd rather see the island in golden light and end near sunset. Either way, a private guide means the pace is yours. You linger in Oia's lanes as long as the views hold you, and the winery stop isn't a quick photo stop but time to actually taste and talk.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 3 years); Infant (under 2).

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.

What's the Monastery of Profitis Ilias like, and why is it on this tour?

Profitis Ilias is the highest point on Santorini, sitting above Pyrgos village. The tour takes you there for the views. You can see across the whole island and down to the Aegean from the top, which is why it's a standard stop on the route.

Is the wine tasting included in the price, or do I pay extra at the winery?

Wine tasting at the traditional volcanic winery is included in the tour price, along with a local cheese platter. Mineral water and soft drinks are also included throughout the day.

Can I book this tour if I'm arriving on a cruise ship?

Yes. If you're docking at Santorini, the meeting point is at the top of the cruise port's cable car, and your guide will be holding a sheet with your name. Cable car tickets (€6 per person each way) are separate from the tour price.

What's the difference between the 9:30am and 15:30 departures?

Both tours follow the same route through Oia, Profitis Ilias, the winery, and Perissa Beach. The 9:30am tour is daytime. The 15:30 departure is the sunset option, so you'll see the island in different light depending on which you choose.

Is lunch included, or should I plan to eat separately?

Lunch is optional on this tour. The cheese platter comes with the wine tasting, but a full meal is not part of the standard package. You can arrange it at checkout if you'd like it added.

How physically demanding is this tour?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. You'll walk through Oia's lanes and around the winery, and you can relax at Perissa Beach, but there are no strenuous hikes or climbs required.