Santorini: Private Highlights Tour with Oia, Red & Black Beach

Summary

Oia’s blue domes, volcanic beaches, village life and a glass of Santorini wine

You’ll wander Oia’s iconic alleys under blinding sunlight, stand above Santorini at Profitis Ilias Monastery, crunch black sand between your toes at Perissa Beach, and share local wine with caldera views. With pickup included and a friendly local guide leading you through villages and volcanic beaches, this day feels both relaxed and quietly unforgettable.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Santorini highlights private half-day tour

• Visit the village of Oia
• Explore Firostefani and blue dome church
• Visit Monastery of Profit Elias
• Discover traditional village Megalochori
• Relax at Black Beach (Perissa)
• See the distinctive Red Beach
• Taste local wine at Venetsanos Winery

Top questions

How long is the Santorini private highlights tour?

The tour lasts about 5 hours in total.

Does this day trip include pickup from my hotel or cruise ship?

Yes, pickup is included for hotels or cruise ship passengers (provide details when booking).

Which beaches are visited on this tour?

You’ll visit both Perissa (Black Beach) and Red Beach during the tour.

Is wine tasting part of this Santorini highlights tour?

Yes, there’s a stop at Venetsanos Winery for local wine tasting overlooking the caldera.

Are infant seats available on this private tour?

Specialized infant seats are available upon request when booking.

Can children join this half-day Santorini trip?

Yes, children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.

What villages will we see besides Oia?

You’ll also explore Megalochori village and Firostefani during your day trip.

Is lunch included on this private highlights tour?

No set lunch is included but you’ll have time for snacks or meals at beachside restaurants.

What’s included

Your day includes flexible hotel or cruise port pickup in an air-conditioned minivan with bottled water along the way. A knowledgeable local guide leads you through Oia, Firostefani, Megalochori village, Profitis Ilias Monastery, Red Beach and Perissa (Black Beach), finishing with a wine tasting at Venetsanos Winery before returning you comfortably back to your starting point.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the way the sun hit the white houses in Oia—almost too bright to look at, but you can’t help it. We’d barely stepped out of the minivan when our guide, Maria, pointed out a bakery where she gets her morning koulouri. The streets were quiet except for a couple of cats weaving between our legs. I tried to take a photo of the blue domes but honestly, my phone couldn’t catch how the light bounced off them. I just stood there for a second, feeling that salty breeze from the caldera.

We stopped in Firostefani next—Maria called it the “crown” of Santorini. She told us about the church with the famous blue dome (it’s actually smaller than I thought), and then we drove up to Profitis Ilias Monastery. The road twisted up through dry hills and wild thyme; at the top, there was this silence—just wind and distant bells. You could see almost all of Santorini laid out below. I didn’t expect to feel so small or so awake at once.

Megalochori was like stepping into someone’s memory—narrow paths, old doors painted every color you can imagine. An old man waved at us from his courtyard while Maria explained how some houses used to hide from pirates (I guess everyone has their reasons). Then came Perissa Beach—the black sand was hot underfoot, gritty between my toes. We grabbed cold water from a beach bar and watched kids running into the surf. Red Beach looked almost unreal after that—all those cliffs piled up like rusted metal against blue water.

The last stop was Venetsanos Winery. The air smelled like stone and grapes; we tasted white wine looking straight out over the caldera edge. Maria laughed when I tried to pronounce “Assyrtiko”—I probably butchered it but she just poured another glass. Even now, weeks later, I still think about that view and how everything tasted sharper in that moment.