Private Santorini Shore Excursions for Cruise Passengers: Rates, Itinerary & Complete Guide
Thinking about a Private Santorini Shore Excursion? You are in the right place. At Santorini Day Tours we offer various options and itineraries for private Santorini tours with a duration of 4 hours, 5 hours or 8 hours in total.
My name is Dimitris Papadopoulos and I am the Tours Director of Santorini Day Tours since 2012. Below you will find all the information and rates for our Private Santorini Shore Excursions.
Whether you are coming on a cruise ship for the day (or a couple of hours), or spending a few nights at a Santorini hotel or Airbnb, we will be delighted to show you around Santorini’s must-see highlights and hidden gems, often missed by visitors.
See All Options & Book Your Shore Excursion →
Rates: Private Santorini Shore Excursions
Santorini in a Day: 4-Hour Private Santorini Tour
Santorini in a Day: 5-Hour Private Santorini Tour
Santorini Highlights: 5-Hour Private Santorini Tour with Wine Tasting
Amazing Santorini: 8-Hour Private Santorini Tour
See All Options & Book Your Shore Excursion →
Santorini Day Tours | Who We Are | 5* Tour Operator | Santorini Greece
Santorini Day Tours has been operating since 2012 and is proudly based 100% in Santorini, Greece — not elsewhere. We are a leading supplier of tours and experiences for major travel platforms and concierge services, such as Viator, American Express, GetYourGuide, Expedia, TripAdvisor, Airbnb and numerous US Travel Agents (Virtuoso, Fora Travel and many more).
Numerous Santorini experiences advertised and sold online by third-party providers are operated and fulfilled by Santorini Day Tours — we are the end tour operator based in Santorini, Greece. When you book with Santorini Day Tours, you are booking directly with a 5* Tour Operator.
Optional Extras for Your Private Santorini Shore Excursion
1. Skip Santorini Cable Car — Optional Water Taxi / Water Bus Service for Cruise Passengers (One-Way)
Upgrade your booking with an optional shared Water Taxi / Water Bus transfer from Fira Port to either Athinios Port or Ammoudi Bay (operator’s choice, subject to availability). This convenient service allows you to skip the Santorini Cable Car before the start of your tour.
Instead of taking the Santorini cable car from the cruise port to Fira, meet your Private Guide at the Santorini Port and travel by water directly to Athinios Port or Ammoudi Bay. Since both locations are accessible by road, your private tour van/bus will meet you there to begin your Private Santorini Shore Excursion with Santorini Day Tours.
Please note:
1. This is a one-way transfer from Fira Port (Cruise Port) to Athinios Port or Ammoudi Bay.
2. For your return to the cruise ship, you may either: take the Santorini Cable Car (€10 per person, one way), or purchase the water transfer service again for €50 per person.
3. Price remains the same for Adults and Kids.
Price: EUR 50 Per Person Extra
2. Optional Add-On: 1-Hour Guided Tour of the Akrotiri Excavations
Optionally add a 1-hour guided tour inside the ruins of Akrotiri to your existing booking with a specialized archaeologist guide. Akrotiri is the most important ancient site of Santorini, and only official Greek archaeologists are licensed to guide inside. Admission tickets (20.00 Euros per person) are not included and have to be paid extra on the spot at the site’s entrance counter.
Price: EUR 150 Per Reservation/Booking (fixed rate)
3. Optional Add-On: Santo Winery Tasting of 4 Wines with Cheese
Optionally, you can add a wine tasting experience at the Santo Wines winery to your existing booking, which offers waterfront views of Santorini and its volcano; an extra EUR 50 per person is required. The wine tasting experience at Santo Winery includes a tasting of 4 types of wine, paired with a plateau of local cheese. Please note that the Santo Winery tasting includes only a tasting — Santo Winery does not offer a tour of their facilities. This is an optional extra; you can just skip it and proceed without it.
Price: EUR 50 Per Person (Adults Only)
4. Optional Add-On: Private Pool Access and Sun-Loungers
Enhance your Santorini experience by adding Private Pool Access & Sun Loungers to your existing booking. Enjoy unlimited access to a private swimming pool at an exclusive Santorini property operated by Santorini Day Tours, offering a peaceful setting with beautiful views of one of Santorini’s iconic blue domes.
Escape the crowds, relax on comfortable sun loungers, take a refreshing swim, and soak up the Mediterranean sunshine at your own pace. This optional upgrade is the perfect addition to your Santorini experience before returning to your cruise ship or continuing your holiday.
Price: EUR 250 Per Reservation/Booking (fixed rate)
5. Private Santorini Blue Dome Viewpoint — Free of Charge
Would you love a photo of one of Santorini’s iconic Blue Dome Churches without the crowds? Right next to the Santorini Day Tours office we have a private, restricted access to one of the island’s beautiful Blue Dome Churches — a viewpoint that’s closed to the public. Access is only available to our guests and completely FREE OF CHARGE.
That means when you visit, there will be zero other guests in your shot. Just you and the view. You’re welcome to enjoy this private spot, as well as Santorini’s many other Blue Dome Churches around the island. Just let your guide know, and we’ll be happy to arrange it!
Price: EUR 0.00 Extra (free of charge)
Santorini Day Tours | Elite Customer Support through WhatsApp
Once you arrive to Santorini you will be assigned to a senior customer support member that will be assisting you through WhatsApp (Text Messages App) to find your driver. We have given hundreds (if not thousands) of Private Santorini Tours for guests coming on cruise ships — our experience is simply top-class.
You can always stay in touch with Santorini Day Tours using our efficient WhatsApp Customer Channel: https://wa.me/306976812170
Santorini Points of Interest — Private Santorini Shore Excursion
Create your own itinerary, subject to tour duration. See what you want to see — you are in command of your private tour itinerary and time.
1. Oia Town
Google Maps Pin
Discover the world-famous village of Oia, known for its whitewashed houses, blue-domed churches, and stunning caldera views. Stroll through its charming narrow streets filled with boutique shops, art galleries, and local cafés, and enjoy plenty of time for photos from Santorini’s most iconic viewpoints. Oia is the perfect place to experience the island’s beauty, atmosphere, and unforgettable scenery.
2. Black Beach of Perissa or Kamari
Google Maps Pin
Relax by Santorini’s famous black volcanic sand beach, either in Perissa or Kamari, depending on your tour route. Enjoy free time to swim in the Aegean Sea, walk along the lively beachfront promenade, or sit at a seaside café or restaurant for a refreshing drink. It’s the perfect stop to experience Santorini’s unique volcanic landscape and laid-back coastal vibe.
3. Three Bells of Fira (Blue Dome Church of Firostefani)
Google Maps Pin
Stop at the iconic Three Bells of Fira, one of Santorini’s most famous photo locations. Admire the classic blue dome and white bell tower set against the breathtaking backdrop of the caldera and the deep Aegean Sea. This is a perfect moment to capture postcard-worthy photos and take in the island’s unique Cycladic beauty.
4. Prophet Elias Lookout Point (Top of Mt. Elias)
Google Maps Pin
Enjoy panoramic views from Prophet Elias, the highest point of Santorini. From this scenic lookout, you’ll take in breathtaking 360° views across the island — white villages, vineyards, volcanic landscapes, and the sparkling Aegean Sea. It’s a peaceful stop that offers incredible photo opportunities and a unique perspective of Santorini from above.
5. Enjoy a Meal at an Authentic Santorini Restaurant
Options: Popeye, Mario, or Galini
Enjoy a delicious meal at a traditional Santorini restaurant such as Popeye, Mario, or Galini, where you can taste authentic local flavors in a relaxed island setting. Choose from classic Greek dishes made with fresh ingredients, and enjoy warm hospitality and a welcoming atmosphere. It’s the perfect opportunity to experience Santorini’s food culture like a local.
6. Santorini Lighthouse — Southernmost Part
Google Maps Pin
Visit the historic Santorini Lighthouse, located on the island’s rugged southern edge. Enjoy dramatic views over the open Aegean Sea, steep volcanic cliffs, and the surrounding coastline — an ideal spot for stunning photos and a peaceful moment away from the busy towns. This scenic stop offers a different, more wild and natural side of Santorini.
7. Pyrgos or Megalochori Village
Pyrgos Google Maps Pin | Megalochori Google Maps Pin
Step into the authentic side of Santorini with a visit to Pyrgos or Megalochori, two of the island’s most charming traditional villages. Wander through peaceful alleys, admire Cycladic architecture, hidden chapels, and beautiful local squares, and enjoy a slower pace away from the crowds. These villages offer a genuine taste of Santorini’s culture, history, and everyday island life.
8. Santo Winery
Google Maps Pin
Visit the Santo Wines Winery in Pyrgos, Santorini’s famous and iconic cliff-top winery. Taste the unique types of wines produced in Santorini, Greece — Assyrtiko, Nightwine and Vinsanto (Wine of the Saints) — on a caldera-edge terrace with breathtaking ocean-front views.
9. Private Santorini Blue Dome Viewpoint
Google Maps Pin
Would you love a photo of one of Santorini’s iconic Blue Dome Churches… without the crowds? Right next to the Santorini Day Tours office we have a private, restricted access to one of the island’s beautiful Blue Dome Churches — a viewpoint that’s closed to the public. That means when you visit, there will be zero other guests in your shot. Just you and the view. You’re welcome to enjoy this private spot, as well as Santorini’s many other Blue Dome Churches around the island. Just let your guide know, and we’ll be happy to arrange it!
Santorini: General Information for Cruise Passengers
Santorini is a tender-only port. In Santorini, your cruise ship will not be docking; you will be tendered ashore by local ferries/tender boats. Santorini has two ports where cruise passengers are tendered: the Fira Town Port and the Athinios Port.
By default, all independent cruise passengers in Santorini are tendered to the Fira Town Port, also known as the Scala Port, or the Old Port of Fira Town. At the Fira Town Port, you must use the Santorini cable car to get up to Fira Town (Santorini’s capital town), as the Fira Town Port is only serviced by a cable car and does not have road access (it is inaccessible by cars or buses). Cable car tickets cost EUR 10 per person per ride. Tickets cannot be pre-purchased.
From the top of the Santorini cable car (still an inaccessible by car/van area — pedestrian zone) you must walk 4 minutes downhill (easy walk — approx. 1 block), and meet the guide of Santorini Day Tours in front of the Santorini McDonald’s. Google Pin/Directions to McDonald’s of Santorini: Open the McDonald’s meeting point in Google Maps
That’s where the default meeting point location for your private guide will be if you tender to the Fira Town Port and take the Santorini Cable Car.
Where will I be picked up from for my Private Santorini Tour with Santorini Day Tours?
— If you are tendered to the Fira Town Port, we will pick you up from the Santorini McDonald’s near the top of the cable car (you must use the cable car; the Fira Town Port is inaccessible by car and only serviced by a cable car). Google Pin/Directions to McDonald’s of Santorini: Open the McDonald’s meeting point in Google Maps
— If you are tendered to the Athinios Port, we will pick you up directly from the Athinios Port (Athinios Port has road access). We — as Santorini Day Tours — have no control on where the cruise ship will tender you; it relies solely on their decision.
Optional Add-On: Skip Santorini Cable Car — Water Taxi / Water Bus Service for Cruise Passengers (One-Way)
Upgrade your booking with an optional shared Water Taxi / Water Bus transfer from Fira Port to either Athinios Port or Ammoudi Bay (operator’s choice, subject to availability). This convenient service allows you to skip the Santorini Cable Car before the start of your tour.
Instead of taking the Santorini cable car from the cruise port to Fira, meet your Private Guide at the Santorini Port and travel by water directly to Athinios Port or Ammoudi Bay. Since both locations are accessible by road, your private tour van/bus will meet you there to begin your Private Santorini Shore Excursion with Santorini Day Tours.
Please note:
1. This is a one-way transfer from Fira Port (Cruise Port) to Athinios Port or Ammoudi Bay.
2. For your return to the cruise ship, you may either: take the Santorini Cable Car (€10 per person, one way), or purchase the water transfer service again for €50 per person.
3. Price remains the same for Adults and Kids.
Price: EUR 50 Per Person Extra
Alternatively, please note that instead of hiring a private water taxi, you may just use the Santorini Cable Car located at the Fira Port (Old Port of Fira). If your cruise ship does not provide a free tender service to Athinios Port (which has direct road access and does not require cable cars or water taxis), the cable car is the most convenient option.
Cable Car Cost: €10 per person (one way)
Duration: approx. 3 minutes
Please note that cable car tickets are purchased on-site only and cannot be pre-purchased.
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)
What happens if I arrive late? I am nervous that with the tendering and cable car logistics I might miss my private tour/driver appointment.
We are aware that Santorini is a tender port, and we understand that the “logistics” with the cable car and tenders is somewhat unpredictable. Regardless if you arrive late on your private tour/driver appointment, there is no need to worry. Your “tour/driver” time starts from the moment you meet with your guide/driver, not before. Our staff member/members will be waiting for you for as long as it needs — complimentary.
Additionally, our Customer Support/Service Team is always with you via live WhatsApp Chat, to guide you through every process, emergencies and last-minute assistance where needed: Santorini Day Tours — WhatsApp Customer Support
See All Options & Book Your Shore Excursion →
Payment and Cancellation Policy
To confirm any tour or experience, full payment is required at the time of booking via credit/debit card or PayPal on our website. Once your booking is completed, your card or PayPal account will be charged immediately for the total/whole amount.
You may cancel your booking for a 100% refund up to 72 hours (3 days) before departure, for any reason. Cancellations made less than 72 hours before departure are non-refundable. You can book at any time, subject to our availability. We strongly recommend booking in advance, as availability may be limited or zero closer to your travel date, to avoid any disappointment.
For cruise ship travelers: If your cruise ship is unable to dock in Santorini or changes route due to weather conditions or any other reason, we offer a free cancellation and a full refund of your booking.
Contact Santorini Day Tours
You can also text Santorini Day Tours on WhatsApp (Text Messages only). Santorini Day Tours WhatsApp Customer Support Chat is here: Click to Chat (Text Messages: 306976812170)
Dimitris Papadopoulos — Managing Director
Santorini Day Tours | 5* Tour Operator | Santorini Greece
A Tripadvisor Top-Rated Tour Operator
Tour Operator Business License: GR-1167E60000587901
100% Based in Santorini, Greece since 2012
BOOK ONLINE: https://santorini-privatetour.com/
Phone: (+30) 2286034123 (Mon–Sun 9am–5pm, Greece Time)
Email: info@santorinidaytours.gr
WhatsApp: Click to Chat (Text Messages: 306976812170)
Website: https://santorini-privatetour.com/
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100% free cancellation up to 72 hours before departure · Full refund if your cruise ship cannot dock · 5* Tour Operator, based in Santorini since 2012