Private tour
Discover Gorgeous Southern Santorini
4.9 on Tripadvisor · 119 reviewsFour hours with a local guide in your own Mercedes minivan. See the island’s highest viewpoint, hilltop villages, the lighthouse at Akrotiri, Red Beach and the black-sand beaches, and visit a winery on the cliffs.
About this tour
Free cancellation*
Up to 48 hours before the tour.
*The card processing fee (about 3%) isn’t refunded.
4 hours
Private
Your party only, in an air-conditioned minivan.
English-speaking guide
A local who lives on the island.
Meeting point
Fira cable car or your hotel. Look for the Greece Holiday Tours sign.
What guests say
★★★★★
Billy was by far the best tour guide we’ve had. … We saw beautiful Oia, churches, beaches, cliff side winery with a view of the caldera, highest point in Santorini, and the list goes on. All while still making stops for us for restroom breaks and making sure we made it back to cruise ship perfectly on time to see sunset.
Review of Private Shore Excursion: The Best of Santorini
Select date and guests
From€280for 2 guests
Highlights
- The view from Profitis Ilias Monastery, the island’s highest point
- Akrotiri lighthouse and the red cliffs of Red Beach
- Time on the black sand at Perivolos and Perissa
- A winery on the cliffs, with an optional tasting
What to expect
This private tour covers the south of Santorini at an easy pace. Your local guide drives, tells you about the island and helps you take the photos you want.
Views and villages
Start with photos at the blue-domed church in Firostefani, then head to Profitis Ilias Monastery on the island’s highest point. On the way south you stop briefly in Pyrgos and Emborio, two traditional villages, and visit the lighthouse at Akrotiri.
Beaches
At Red Beach, lava cliffs and red sand meet blue water. Then spend time at the black-sand beaches of Perivolos and Perissa to sunbathe, swim or have something to eat.
Wine with a view
Santorini has been known for its wine throughout history. Stop at a winery on the cliffs, with the view to match, and book a tasting there if you like.
Itinerary
Firostefani
Photos at the blue-domed church.
Profitis Ilias Monastery
Views and historic architecture at the island’s highest point.
Pyrgos and Emborio
Short visits to two traditional villages.
Akrotiri lighthouse
The well-known lighthouse in the south.
Red Beach
Lava cliffs and red sand.
Perivolos and Perissa
Black-sand beaches: swim, relax or eat.
A winery on the cliffs
Caldera views, with an optional tasting.
What’s included
- Experienced local guide and driver
- Air-conditioned minivan
- Bottled water
- All taxes
- Snacks, meals and drinks
- Wine tasting (optional, paid at the winery)
- Personal expenses and tips (optional)
Meeting point
We pick you up at your hotel, Athinios port or the airport. You can also meet us at the exit of the Fira cable car, where your guide waits behind the gate. Look for a sign with your name and the Greece Holiday Tours logo.
Your guide and vehicle
Air-conditioned minivan
Your guide speaks English. Russian, Spanish, German, French or Italian on request. You travel in a comfortable air-conditioned Mercedes minivan.
Our guides
Chris, Chrysa and Vasilis: locals who live on the island and know it well.
Good to know
What to bring
Sunscreen, swimwear, a towel.
Accessibility
Our tours aren’t really suitable for wheelchair users or guests with limited mobility. Please message us before you book.
Reviews
Ratings for Greece Holiday Tours across all tours.
★★★★★
Billy was by far the best tour guide we’ve had. … We saw beautiful Oia, churches, beaches, cliff side winery with a view of the caldera, highest point in Santorini, and the list goes on. All while still making stops for us for restroom breaks and making sure we made it back to cruise ship perfectly on time to see sunset.
Review of Private Shore Excursion: The Best of Santorini
Genevieve E. · Cruise guest · via Tripadvisor · June 2025 ★★★★★
Nik arranged for a beer/wine tasting tour followed by a home cooked dinner from a local small holder. … Chris was very knowledgeable about the wines but surpassed himself with his culinary knowledge and skills.
Review of Greece Holiday Tours
Hockbitt · Guest · via Tripadvisor · June 2026 ★★★★★
Before we left I knew that we wanted a more personal and tailored tour to explore Santorini than the cruise ship was offering. … it was a brilliant tour and possibly the best one we took during the week.
Review of Santorini by Car with a Local
Emma D. · Cruise guest · via Tripadvisor · October 2025 ★★★★★
Ted made our Santorini experience truly unforgettable. … The pacing of the tour was perfect—not rushed, but never dull—and everything was well-organized.
Review of Private Shore Excursion: The Best of Santorini
Naman J. · Guest · via Tripadvisor · May 2026
Questions about this tour
Where do we meet if we arrive by cruise ship?
At the top of the Fira cable car. Your guide waits just outside the exit, holding a Greece Holiday Tours sign.
What happens if my ship or tender is delayed?
Don’t worry. We adjust the tour time to when you arrive, and your guide waits for you at the cable car exit.
Do we need to take the cable car?
Yes, if your ship anchors off Fira. Take the tender to the Old Port, then the cable car up to town (€10 per person, one way, paid at the station). Your guide meets you at the cable car exit. You can walk up the steps instead, but allow extra time for the climb.
What is the difference between a small-group and a private tour?
On a small-group tour you share the vehicle and guide with other guests on a set route. On a private tour the vehicle and guide are for your party only, so you can shape the route and the pace.
