Santorini Cable Car-Free & Stress-Free Private Island Tour
Description
The ideal shore excursion for cruise passengers who want to make the most of their limited time on the island! Skip the gondola and the long queues with this exclusive, tailor-made 5-hour private tour. Your journey begins at the Old Port, where you’ll board a shared water taxi that whisks you past the crowds directly to Athinios Port. Discover the best of Santorini: the Three Bells of Fira, the iconic blue domes, traditional villages, panoramic views from the Monastery, and the volcanic Black Beach. The itinerary can be customized to your interests & preferences. PLEASE NOTE: The water taxi service is shared with other passengers and is subject to the port authorities and weather conditions. In the event of extreme weather, the water taxi may be delayed or unavailable due to safety concerns. In such cases, alternative arrangements or refund options will be provided.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your journey begins from the old port, where our team will be waiting for you outside the Santo Star office. From there, you'll board a shared water taxi that will take you to Athinios port, allowing you to skip the gondola and avoid the long queues. For a smooth departure, we recommend arriving at least 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
Once on land, your private driver/guide will take you on a personalized exploration of the island’s most famous landmarks and hidden gems.
Our first photo stop will be in Firostefani, a picturesque village renowned for its iconic blue-domed church. Here, you can admire the spectacular views of the volcanic caldera while learning about the fascinating history and culture of Santorini.
Our second photo stop is in Finikia, a peaceful hidden gem where you can enjoy the quiet atmosphere away from the crowds and take in the beautiful view of Oia from afar.
Then, we'll start heading to Oia, Santorini’s most iconic destination and a UNESCO-protected treasure. This picturesque village, with its traditional architecture and breathtaking views, is sure to captivate you. Enjoy some free time to wander through its charming streets, take photos of the characteristic blue domes, visit the Venetian castle, do your shopping, or enjoy a refreshing drink overlooking the caldera.
Perched 565 meters above sea level, the Monastery of Prophet Elias is the highest point on Santorini and offers one of the most breathtaking panoramic views of the island. Here, you’ll have the chance to taste local delicacies produced by the resident monks (such as wine, olive oil, sundried tomatoes), and visit the charming church of the area.
Our last stop is at the black beach of Perivolos, an organized sandy beach where you will have your free time to relax under the sun, swim in crystal clear waters, do water sports, or enjoy a traditional Greek meal by the Aegean Sea. The itinerary presented above is just a suggestion. You are welcome to create your own tour that will be planned to suit your interests.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The remaining time will be spent on driving from one location to another.
- There are no health restictions
Reviews(54)
Joanna spoke excellent English and was able to explain the highlights in an easy to understand manner. She also acted as our photographer and made sure everyone got what they wanted out of the tour. Our drive, Marino, navigated the roads smoothly. I easily get motion sickness but he drove very smooth and consistent, so I had no problems at all.
Enjoyed a lovely day with Victor and his driver. It was an informative and stress free day. Victor was friendly and generous with his time and knowledge. A pleasant day.
Our guide, George, was absolutely exceptional. We traveled as a multigenerational family of 5 with the eldest being 84 and the youngest 18! George was extremely friendly and kind - making sure my 84 year old mom was well taken care of and that we were able to see all the incredible sights of Santorini - including a great photo op for us of the blue domes, the black sand beaches, Fira, Oia, and a few other unique stops along the way! He truly made our day unforgettable and one that we will cherish for a lifetime.
Victor and Angel were wonderful! Beautiful time on Santorini.
Daniel was great and knowledgeable. Our driver was also great. We were able to see things that aren’t manageable during busier times. Enjoyed the day.
Víctor was super cool and nice, he answered all our questions, and spyros was a peak driver and victor helped a out a lot at one point
Victor and Soiros were amazing. We had very little time on the island and we managed to see the main sights and have an amazing meal on the beach. Highly recommended!
Tasso and Joanna were exceptional! Joanna is very knowledgeable and accommodating. Will use again!
Alex was fantastic! Being a local, he knew Santorini inside and out and showed us many of the island’s most memorable spots. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and incredibly patient, especially with our children. He went out of his way to make sure everyone was comfortable and enjoying the experience. He also took some wonderful family photos for us throughout the day. We were able to leave our cruise ship early and take the cable car without any wait, which saved us a great deal of time and made the beginning of our tour smooth and stress-free. One of the highlights for our family was visiting the black beach. Alex recommended a restaurant right by the water, and it turned out to be an excellent choice. We would also like to thank Samantha. Because we chose the cable car instead of the water taxi, she promptly refunded €100 for the unused service. We truly appreciated her honesty, professionalism, and outstanding customer care. This tour exceeded our expectations, and we highly recommend it. If you have the opportunity to tour with Alex, don’t hesitate—he helped make our visit to Santorini a truly memorable experience.
Provided friendly, professional, and customer-focused service, ensuring a positive experience for every client.
