Santorini Private Tour: Oia, Red Beach & Hidden Villages

Build your own route through Santorini's villages, beaches and caldera views

A 5-hour private tour of Santorini with an English-speaking local guide, hotel or cruise port pickup, and air-conditioned vehicle. You choose which stops matter: Oia's whitewashed houses and blue dome churches, the dramatic red volcanic cliffs of Red Beach, the hilltop village of Pyrgos, the Emporio windmills, or the black sand of Perivolos Beach. The itinerary bends to what interests you, and the guide offers insider tips on restaurants, wineries and photo spots along the way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Red Beach30m
2. Perivolos Beach1h

Santorini private sightseeing tour

• Pickup from hotel or port
• Explore Oia village and caldera views
• Admire blue dome chapel in Firostefani
• Visit Red Beach near Akrotiri
• Tour Pyrgos Kallistis hilltop village
• See Emporio Windmills and panoramic views
• Relax at Perivolos Beach

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your hotel, airport, Airbnb or cruise port. If you're arriving by ship, take the cable car down from the old port to Fira, where the driver will meet you with a nameplate. From there, the five hours are yours to shape. Most travelers begin in Oia, walking the cobblestone pathways that tumble down the steep caldera edge past whitewashed houses and the famous blue dome chapel where couples marry. The village sits at the top of the island's highest cliffs, and the guide points out the graphic contrast between the architecture and the Aegean below.

Red Beach comes next for many: a small cove ringed by towering red volcanic cliffs that drop to reddish-black sand and pebbles, the color a sharp break from the deep blue water. The guide knows which angles photograph best and how long to linger without the afternoon crowds. From there, the route opens: some groups head inland to Pyrgos, a traditional hilltop village away from the cliff settlements, or to the Emporio windmills, a lesser-known pair of whitewashed Cycladic structures on a hill in the south with panoramic views across the island. Others prefer Perivolos Beach, one of Santorini's longest stretches of black volcanic sand on the southeastern coast. The guide carries local knowledge about each stop (which restaurants work for lunch, where the light stays good for photos, which wineries are worth the detour), and adjusts the pace if you want to spend an extra hour somewhere or skip a stop entirely.

The vehicle is air-conditioned and stays with you throughout, so there's no switching between drivers or waiting for group departures. All fees, taxes and transportation are included. You're not arranging pickups between stops or negotiating with local vendors. The guide speaks English and knows the island well enough to answer questions about what you're seeing and to suggest hidden spots most tourists miss.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transportation throughout the tour.
• English-speaking local guide with insider knowledge of restaurants, wineries and photo spots.
• pickup from your hotel, airport, Airbnb or cruise port.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Lasts 6h, runs every day, 6 start times, from € 90 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 16:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 69 years) · Senior (70 and older) · Youth (8 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 7 years) · Infant (under 2)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Santorini Pickups

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling as a couple, a small family, or a group of friends who want to move at your own pace without waiting for strangers or following a fixed schedule. The private format means you spend time at the places you love and skip anything that doesn't interest you: Oia if you want the sunset views, Red Beach if you want dramatic cliffs, or the quieter villages if you prefer fewer crowds.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 17 years); Child (2 to 7 years); Infant (under 2).

What is the Blue Dome Church in Firostefani that the tour mentions?

The blue dome chapel is Santorini's most photographed church, located in Oia at the edge of the caldera. It's famous as a wedding venue and sits among the whitewashed houses that define the village's iconic look.

Can I spend more time at one beach and skip another stop?

Yes. The itinerary is completely flexible. You choose which attractions matter to you. If you want to spend three hours at Red Beach instead of moving through multiple stops, the guide adjusts the route and timing to fit your interests.

What is Red Beach and why is it different from other Santorini beaches?

Red Beach is on Santorini's southwestern coast near Akrotiri, surrounded by dramatic red volcanic cliffs that drop straight to reddish-black sand and pebbles. The vivid color of the cliffs against the deep blue Aegean makes it visually striking and one of the island's most famous beaches.

If I'm arriving on a cruise ship, how does pickup work?

Take the cable car down from the old port to Fira. The driver will wait just outside the cable car station with a sign bearing your name, then transport you in the air-conditioned vehicle for the rest of the tour.

What insider recommendations does the guide offer?

The guide provides local tips on restaurants, wineries, shopping and hidden photo locations around the island. These are woven into the tour as you move between stops, so you leave with suggestions that match your interests.

How long does the tour last and what's included in the price?

The tour runs five hours and includes private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, all fees and taxes, and an English-speaking local guide. Hotel, airport, Airbnb and cruise port pickup are all included. You don't arrange separate transport between stops.