Santorini Private Tour: Oia, Black Beach & Wine Tasting

Five hours, five stops: from the blue domes of Oia to the volcanic sand and island wines.

A five-hour private tour of Santorini with hotel, port or airport pickup includes an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned minivan transport and wine tasting at an underground winery. You'll visit Oia and its famous blue dome church, climb to Profitis Ilias mountain at the island's highest point, swim or eat at the Black Beach, and end with a wine tasting inside pumice caves built centuries ago. The tour suits travelers who want the main sights without arranging transport or a guide separately.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Santorini's highlights

• Pick up from hotel, port, or airport
• Drive to Oia village and explore
• Stop at blue dome church in Firostefani
• Visit Profitis Ilias mountain and St. Nectarius church
• Taste and buy local products from monks
• Relax or swim at Black Beach
• Visit underground wine museum and wine tasting
• Return to meeting point

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel, villa, port or airport, then heads north to Oia: the village on every Santorini postcard. You'll stop to photograph the blue dome church in Firostefani and the cozy corners Oia is known for, with time to walk and frame shots before moving on. The guide navigates the timing so you're not rushed through either place.

From there the route climbs through local vineyards toward Profitis Ilias, the highest point on the island. The stop at the top gives you the view the mountain is named for, a chance to visit the small St. Nectarius church, and access to local products (honey, wine, herbs) made by the monks who live there. The perspective shifts once you've stood at the peak. The rest of the island spreads below you in a way photographs don't quite capture.

The Black Beach is next, and the time there is yours. Restaurants line the shore serving seafood, fish and traditional Santorinian dishes, or you can swim in the water without the crowds that gather later in the day. The volcanic sand is the thing: dark, fine and warm underfoot, nothing like the white beaches on the other side of the island. You eat and swim on your own dime, but the guide waits and the transport is arranged.

The tour ends at an underground wine museum built into pumice and rock caves that have protected wine for centuries. You'll see the old presses and tools alongside modern equipment, then taste island wines poured by the winemakers themselves. The air-conditioned minivan and English-speaking guide are included throughout. Water is provided, and the return to your starting point is part of the package.

What’s included

• Hotel, port or airport pickup and drop-off.
• transport in an air-conditioned minivan.
• English-speaking guide for the full five hours.
• a small bottle of water per person.
• entrance to the underground wine museum and wine tasting with the winemakers.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

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 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Santorini Best Tours

Is this one for you?The tour is led in English, so it suits travelers comfortable following commentary in that language. The private minivan and fixed five-hour schedule mean you move at one pace without waiting for other groups or adjusting to a shared itinerary: useful if you're traveling with children, elderly relatives or anyone who needs a predictable rhythm and no surprises about timing.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is the Black Beach like, and can I swim there?

The Black Beach is a volcanic sand beach where the water is clear and swimmable. You have free time to swim, eat at one of the seafood restaurants along the shore, or simply walk the sand: food and drinks are at your own cost, but the transport and guide are included in the tour price.

How does the wine tasting work at the end of the tour?

The underground wine museum is built inside ancient pumice and rock caves that have been used for winemaking for centuries. You'll walk through the winery, see the old and modern equipment, and then taste island wines poured by the winemakers themselves. This tasting is included in the tour.

Will I have time to photograph Oia properly, or does the tour rush through?

Oia is the first stop after pickup, and the tour includes time to walk the village, photograph the blue dome church in Firostefani and explore the cozy corners Oia is known for before moving on to the next stop.

What's included in the tour price, and what do I pay separately?

The tour includes hotel, port or airport pickup and drop-off; transport in an air-conditioned minivan; an English-speaking guide; a small bottle of water; and the wine tasting at the end. Food, drinks and restaurant meals are at your own cost.

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

Yes, if you're a cruise passenger, you'll disembark by tender boat at the old port of Fira, and the guide will meet you there for pickup. The tour is five hours, so confirm your ship's departure time before booking to ensure you have enough time.