Santorini Private Tour: Skip Cable Car, See Oia & Monastery

The water taxi skips the cable car line entirely, leaving you five hours to see Oia, the monastery, and a volcanic beach.

A private 5-hour Santorini tour for cruise passengers that begins with a shared water taxi from the Old Port to Athinios, bypassing the cable car queues. Your driver-guide then takes you through Firostefani and Finikia to Oia, up to the Monastery of Profitis Ilias at 565 meters for local tastings, and down to Perivolos black beach. The itinerary is customizable to your interests.

Step-by-step itinerary

Santorini private island tour highlights

• Board shared water taxi at Old Port
• Arrive at Athinios port
• Meet private driver and guide
• Photo stop at Firostefani village
• Photo stop at Finikia village
• Explore Oia village with free time
• Visit Monastery of Prophet Elias
• Relax at Perivolos black beach

Stops and time spent at each 7 stops

1. Santorini Old Harbor 15m
2. Port of Santorini 10m
3. Firostefani 15m
4. Finikia 15m
5. Oia 1h
6. Monastery of Profitis Ilias 30m
7. Perivolos 1h

What’s included

• Transfer in a comfortable air-conditioned minibus.
• shared water taxi from the Old Port to Athinios Port, skipping the cable car.
• bottled water.
• port pickup and drop-off.
• full refund if your cruise schedule changes.
• and commentary from your driver-guide throughout the day.

Times

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Next departure: 26 Apr 2027

Information

Private 5-hour Santorini tour from the Old Port with shared water taxi, avoiding cable car queues. Includes Oia, Firostefani's blue-domed church.

Group Private

Live guide English

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. See the exact address

Book up to 2h before

Ages Adult (11 and older) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years)

Cancellation and refunds Free 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.

Confirmation Confirmation within 48 h

Good to know

Low physical effort Stroller-friendly Infant seats available Pets welcome

More information The exact meeting point address, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

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The experience

The tour starts at the Old Port, where you board a shared water taxi that carries you straight to Athinios Port, sidestepping the long gondola queues entirely. Arrive 15 minutes early, and the boat does the work while you skip what slows down most cruise passengers. Once ashore, your private driver-guide meets you with an air-conditioned minibus for the rest of the day.

From Athinios, the route climbs through Firostefani to photograph the iconic blue-domed church against the caldera, then detours to Finikia, a quieter village where you can see Oia across the distance without the crowds. Oia itself gets your free time to wander the Venetian castle, browse the streets, and find your angle on the characteristic architecture. The Monastery of Profitis Ilias sits 565 meters above sea level, the highest point on the island, and the monks who live there sell local wine, olive oil, and sundried tomatoes. You taste what they make and visit the church. The final stop is Perivolos black beach, where you can swim, rest under the sun, or order a traditional Greek meal by the water.

The itinerary is a template, not a script. Tell your guide what matters to you, and the route adjusts. Weather can delay or cancel the water taxi for safety reasons, but the operator offers alternative arrangements or a full refund if that happens. Bottled water and port pickup and drop-off are included. Gratuities and meals are separate.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 4 years).

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 is the Monastery of Profitis Ilias, and why is it on this tour?

The Monastery of Profitis Ilias is a working monastery perched 565 meters above sea level, the highest point on Santorini, and it offers panoramic views of the entire island. The resident monks produce wine, olive oil, and sundried tomatoes that you can taste during your visit, and you also have time to see the charming church on the grounds.

Do I have to follow the itinerary exactly, or can I change it?

The itinerary is customizable to your interests and preferences. Tell your driver-guide what you want to see or skip, and the route adjusts within the 5-hour window.

What happens if the water taxi is delayed or cancelled?

The shared water taxi is subject to port authorities and weather conditions. In extreme weather, it may be delayed or unavailable for safety reasons. The operator will provide alternative arrangements or a full refund in such cases.

How much free time do I get in Oia?

The itinerary gives you free time in Oia to wander the streets, photograph the blue domes, visit the Venetian castle, shop, or have a drink overlooking the caldera. The exact duration depends on your other stops and preferences, which you can discuss with your guide.

Is there a beach stop, and can I swim?

Yes, Perivolos black beach is the last stop. It is an organized sandy beach where you have free time to swim in the water, relax, do water sports, or eat a traditional Greek meal by the Aegean Sea.

Operated by Santorini Karavas Travel. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

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