Santorini Private Villages Tour & Akrotiri Archaeological Site
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Santorini, Greece
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Santorini wears its rich history on its sleeve, with medieval buildings, Ottoman villages, and weathered ruins all over the island. Rather than dealing with the hassle of organizing your own transport, discover the island’s history and vibrant culture on this tour around some of its most notable historical marvels. Visit the centuries-old villages of Pyrgos, Megalochori, and Emporio, and then discover the Akrotiri excavations for a glimpse at the island's ancient past.
- This private tour begins and ends at your cruise ship or hotel
- Explore quaint villages and medieval castles many visitors miss
- See the famous excavations of the prehistoric town of Akrotiri
- Beat the crowds and enjoy a more personalized way to travel
What's Included
- Experienced local driver/guide
- Private transportation by air-conditioned & deluxe van
- Free admission to Akrotiri Archaeological Site
- Maps & live commentary
- Hotel/Port/Airport Pick up & Drop off
- Bottled water
- Guaranteed on-time drop-off for cruise passengers with timely return to port
- Cable Car Tickets for Cruise Passengers (Optional)€10.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Hotels & Airbnbs: Pickup is at the lobby or the nearest location accessible by vehicle. Cruise Ship Passengers: The primary pickup point is at the top cable car exit, where your guide/driver will be waiting with a sign displaying your name. Alternatively, pickup can be arranged at Athinios Port or Amoudi Port, provided that travelers arrange a water taxi at their own expense. Airport & Ferry-Boat Travelers: Pickup is at the arrivals terminal, where your guide/driver will be holding a sign with your name.
Itinerary
1
Pyrgos
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Megalochori - Traditional Village
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Castelli of Emporio
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Akrotiri Archaeological Site
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
Santorini (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Service animals allowed
- Your guide/driver is not allowed to guide within Akrotiri's Excavations. You may hire one of the licensed guides in Archaeology provided by the site
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- The itinerary can be customized to suit your preferences
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 155 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Superb tour guide. Kostos is a resident of Santorinii and he knew all the insides and special places to go to well beyond the traditional tourist areas. I cannot provide a higher recommendation.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Dear Robert,
Seeing that you had a 5-Star experience is the best thing we could hope for.Your review means a lot to us,and our local guide Kostas will be more than happy and proud for his service towards you. We look forward to serving you for many years to come.
Best regards,
The Santorini Road Trips team
The walk was intriguing as we wound up/down/around authentic, narrow cobblestone streets through 3 villages. Our guide, Michael, provided both historical and current context for the sites we experienced. Definitely wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for a good workout! We particularly enjoyed experiencing a true cave house (no longer in use). A great beyond the usual Santorini experience.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Mindy,
We greatly appreciate your 5-star rating.Our local guide Michael enjoyed showing you the highlights of Santorini. Thank you for choosing Santorini Road Trips.
Best regards,
The Santorini Road Trips team
What a great tour of the island. Dimitri was a fantastic guide. If you want to see the real Santorini up close and personal, this is the tour to take.
Response from Host, May 2026
Dear Daniel,
We would like to thank you for your excellent review for our local guide Dimitri and your private experience with Santorini Road Trips.
We would like to wish you the best of health and we hope we will see you again in the near future.
Best regards,
The Santorini Road Trips team
This tour was fantastic. It’s easy to get caught up in the photogenic magic of Santorini, but there is so much culture on the island and this tour was perfect to experience all of the culture the island has to offer. And Akrotiri was amazing to see. Our guide, Mike, was native to the island, extremely knowledgeable and so, so nice.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Dear Jen,
Thank you so much for the great review towards to your local guide Mike.We pride ourselves on providing excellent service, and we're glad we could that for you.We hope to see you again soon.
Best wishes,
The Santorini Road Trips team.
Our guide, George, was great. This was a really informative tour and my family and I learned a great deal about Santorini. The ruins of Akrotiri were fascinating.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Dear Mattie,
Thank you for your great feedback and for your 5-star review!It's wonderful to hear that George contibuted to a memorable and enjoyable private trip.
Best wishes,
The Santorini Road Trips team
We had Sakis as our tour guide and we are soooo grateful for having him!! Our ship was late he waited nearly two hours for us which we didn’t expect. He showed us so much of Santorini,beautiful little villages, churches, photo spots, which we loved. His knowledge and passion for his job and country were admirable. He made our trip so memorable such a great person .
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Dear Naomi,
Thank you so much for your five-star review.Sakis and the whole team here at Santorini Road Trips is committed to providing high-quality service,and we're thrilled to hear that we made a good impression to you.We look forward to seeing you back soon.
Best wishes,
The Santorini Road Trips team.
Fantastic tour around Santorini to learn more about the island! If you’re wanting to learn some history and get out of the main hubs this is the tour! Vasilis did a magnificent job!
Response from Host, May 2025
Dear Andrea,
Thank you so much for the great review towards to your local guide Vasilis.We pride ourselves on providing excellent service, and we're glad we could that for you.We hope to see you again soon.
Best wishes,
The Santorini Road Trips team.
Vasilis did an outstanding job providing us with a history of Santorini that we could not have had on our own. His passion and knowledge came across throughout the tour. This was a highlight of our visit to this beautiful island. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Dec 2024
Dear Jeff,
Thank you so much for the awesome review and the time to share your feedback.We work hard to meet expectations like yours,and we're happy to hear Vasilis your local guide hit the mark for you.We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to him.We can't wait to welcome you back on your next visit.
Best wishes,
The Santorini Road Trips team.
Our guide was the best part. Panagiota was our guide and she was waiting patiently for us when we exited the lift from the port. She is very proud of her island and had excellent knowledge of all the sites we went to. We were ahead of and away from the crowds and bus tours. She allowed us time to explore but still kept to a schedule. She was very informative and knowledgeable. When the tour ended she advised us of an excellent quiet restaurant and other sites to visit for our afternoon.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Dear Marie,
Hearing how much you enjoy your private experience with your local guide Panagiota has brightened our day ar Santorini Road Trips.Thank you for the 5-Star review you left us and for choosing us.We're looking forward to making your day once more when you next visit our beautiful island.
Warm regards,
The Santorini Road Trips team
We had Alex as our driver and guide. He was great! Very personable and knowledgeable of the island. It was a lovely experience having the tour just be Alex, my husband and I. Definitely worth the extra money to avoid crowds, coach buses and the wait!
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Dear Hannah,
We really appreciate you taking the time to leave us your awesome 5-star review.You made our day ,and your support means the world to us.Your local guide Alex will be more than happy and proud for his service towards you.Thank you for choosing Santorini Road Trips.
Best regards,
The Santorini Road Trips Team.
We’ve booked many tours in a great number of countries through Viator. The site is super convenient to use and our tours have been fabulous. So, we booked tours through them for Santorini. One of them was a Private Cultural Villages tour.
Our tour guide for this tour was Panagiota. She arrived on time for a hotel pick up and used WhatsApp to tell us she arrived. We toured 4 villages and the archeological site in Akrotirii. Panagiota was super, super knowledgeable about Santorini and its history (as well as the flora and fauna of the island).
In addition, she bought our tickets to the Akrotiri site so that we could jump the queue for tickets and go right into the museum. She also gave us tips on what to do and see on other days of our stay. Panagiota took lots of photos of my wife and I. She is a great photographer using my iPhone.
I highly recommend this tour and I highly recommend having Panagiota as your guide.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Dear Raymond,
Thank you for taking the time to share your 5-Star experience.Your review warmed our hearts,and we're thrilled to have made your day.Panagiota will be more than happy and proud for her service towards you.Looking forward to serving you again soon!
Best regards,
Tha Santorini Road Trips Team
What a wonderful tour of Santorini! We enjoyed learning about the islands history and visiting Megalochori and the architectural ruins at Akrotiri. Our tour guide, Panagiota, was fabulous. Very knowledgeable and entertaining. It was a fun way to spend 4 hours and see more of Santorini and its rich culture than we otherwise would have done. I highly recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Dear Katie,
We would like to thank you for your excellent review for your local guide Panagiota and your private experience with us.
We would like to wish you the best of health and we hope we will see you again in the near future.
Best regards,
The Santorini Road Trips team
Our guide Nikos was amazing and the vehicle was spotless and comfortable. We traveled with a baby and had no problems at all. Akrotiri was fantastic!!
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Dear Maya,
Thank you for the 5-Star review.Thank you for choosing us and allowing to create lasting memories for you and your group.We greatly appreciate your kind words towards your local guide Nikos and hoping to have the pleasure to serving you again in the future.
Kind regards,
The Santorini Road Trips team.
The vehicle and tour guid were perfect. Sights not great but good. English speaking tour guid. Air conditioned vehicle
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Dear Bob,
We would like to thank you for your excellent review for your private experience with us.
We would like to wish you the best of health and we hope we will see you again in the near future.
Best regards,
The Santorini Road Trips team
Our tour of the southern part of Santorini, including Akrotiri, with Tasos was simply outstanding! Tasos's depth of knowledge about the history, culture, and villages of the area truly made the experience unforgettable. His passion for sharing the stories and significance behind the sites we visited added immense value to our journey. My kids, aged 17 and 22, were thoroughly engaged and fascinated by Tasos's expertise. The tour not only showcased the beauty of Santorini but also provided a rich understanding of its heritage. We highly recommend Tasos for a comprehensive and enlightening exploration of this stunning island.
It was 10 stars all around. We highly recommend asking that Tasos is your tour guide.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Dear Jen,
Thank you for your gracius words!We're delighted to hear you enjoyed Taso's service.Providing exceptional experiences is our top priority, and your feedback motivates us to keep exceeding expectations.We look forward to serving you again soon.
Warm regards,
The Santorini Road Trips team.
Our guide, Alex, was great. He was very knowledgeable- giving us historical and current info about what we saw. Pace was perfect and somewhat flexible for our family and perfect amount of time. Van was comfortable and clean. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Dear Kenje,
It's always amazing to read that we've been successful in our goal of providing our customers with the best possible experience.It fills us with pride to know that our service is valued by our community.Alex and the whole team of Santorini Road Trips strive to be the best we can be every singe day.Thank you so much again.
Best regards,
The Santorini Road Trips
Michael’s friendliness, knowledge and effort to plan the best trip for us made this a five star experience. We would definitely recommend it!
Response from Host, May 2024
Dear Marjorie,
We would like to thank you for your excellent review for your local guides Michael and your private experience with us.
We would like to wish you the best of health and we hope we will see you again in the near future.
Best regards,
The Santorini Road Trips team
Vasilis was an enthusiastic and accommodating guide. He was very knowledgeable and especially proud of his hometown and family history in Emporio. Akrotiri is a must-see!
Response from Host, May 2024
Dear Donald,
Thank you for the 5-Star review.Thank you for choosing us and allowing to create lasting memories for you and your wife.We greatly appreciate your kind words towards your local guide Vasilis and hoping to have the pleasure to serving you again in the future.
Kind regards,
The Santorini Road Trips team.
Vasilis from Santorini Road Trips was a terrific tour guide. He is native to the island and very passionate about its history and culture. He met us at the top of the cable car in Fira and put himself and a very comfortable Mercedes Van at our disposal for the next 4 hours. We enjoyed touring several small villages including Vasilis's home village while he narrated the history of each. Walking through the very narrow streets typical of Santorini and seeing the underground "homes" was a memorable experience. Next we went to Akrotiri and spent an interesting hour touring the ruins. Next we went to a winery to sample some excellent Santorini wines. Finally, he dropped us off at the Santorini Archeological Museum, which was an easy walk to the cable car. I would highly recommend this tour as an opportunity to see the island and get away from the immensely crowded, expensive and touristy towns of Oia and Fira. I also highly recommend Vasilis as an interesting and stimulating tour guide. This tour is a bargain considering the personal service and the quality of the vehicle and driver/guide.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Dear Dennis,
Thank you for the 5-Star review.Thank you for choosing us and allowing to create lasting memories for you and your group.We greatly appreciate your kind words towards your local guide Vasili and hoping to have the pleasure to serving you again in the future.
Kind regards,
The Santorini Road Trips team.
The cave houses, ruins, windmills and friendly tour guide were highlights of this excursion. Van was very comfortable.
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Dear Chrissie,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave an excellent rating.I'm so glad you like Vasilis's work.I'll pass along the kind words,and let her khow to keep up the amazing work.Your opinion is valued to the whole team of Santorini Road Trips and it help us maintain an excellent standard of service to our customers.
Looking forward to seeing you again.
Best wishes,
The Santorini Road Trips team.
Climbing to the church and castle on the highest point of the island. I was not happy with the car supplied -- very poor vision out of small windows and high front seat back. Our guide was polite, but not very good with information.
Stavros, our guide was friendly and knowledgeable. He showed us several villages around the island and kept the pace appropriate for this older couple. The only suggestion would be to add the monastery as a stop. I would recommend Stavros and this tour.
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Dear Brian,
We would like to thank you for your excellent review for your local guide Stavros and your private experience with us.
We would like to wish you the best of health and we hope we will see you again in the near future.
Best regards,
The Santorini Road Trips team
Lazaros said as a wonderful guide and we loved being able to see so much in a short time. He was great at answering our questions and proving history and great detail. Highly recommend! Great way to see small villages and Akratori.
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Dear Sara,
Thank you for the 5-Star review.Thank you for choosing us and allowing to create lasting memories.We greatly appreciate your kind words towards your local guide Lazaros and hoping to have the pleasure to serving you again in the future.
Kind regards,
The Santorini Road Trips team.
We had a great tour in Santorini! We went to 3 villages and the caldera rim. The time spent at each spot was appropriate and it was fun to explore and better understand the history.
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Dear Dave,
We would like to thank you for your excellent review and your private experience with us.
We would like to wish you the best of health and we hope we will see you again in the near future.
Best regards,
The Santorini Road Trips team
Learning about how Greek families lived in underground caves and passed their heritage down from generation to generation was most interesting to me. I enjoyed the tour of the current cultural villages and learning about how the number of bells in the churches represented the number of clerics.
Response from Host, Sep 2023
Dear Mary,
Seeing that you had a 5-Star experience is the best thing we could hope for.Your review means a lot to us, Vasilis will be more than happy and proud for his service towards you. We look forward to serving you for many years to come.
Best regards,
The Santorini Road Trips team
Demetrius was everything you could ever want in a guide. He was a wonderful story teller but he was extremely thoughtful and interested in OUR interests and modeling the tour to those interests. He was very kind and when I felt bad, his concern was obvious and genuine. I cannot say enough to convey how great this experience was and how wonderful Dimetruis is. Thank you!!! Loved the lighthouse!
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Dear Kimberly,
Seeing that you had a 5-Star experience is the best thing we could hope for.Your review means a lot to us, Demetrius will be more than happy and proud for his service towards you. We look forward to serving you for many years to come.
Best regards,
The Santorini Road Trips team
This was a great tour! Stavros was very knowledgeable. We visited several villages in Santorini and got to explore the narrow streets/alleys, visited a cave house, and went to Akrotiri. We learned a lot about the history of the island, it’s buildings, and the different towns. The mini van was comfortable. Would definitely recommend.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Dear Andrea,
We would like to thank you for your excellent review for your local guide Stavros and your private experience with us.
We would like to wish you the best of health and we hope we will see you again in the near future.
Best regards,
The Santorini Road Trips team
Wow what a great experience we had. Demetrious our driver arrived early and was very engaging. He spoke perfect english (which was great since none of us spoke Greek). We went to several great spots on Santorini and he knew all the backroads and were to go to avoid the crowds. We had a great conversation all day and this really made my trip to Greece even more special. I would suggest seeking out this man for anything you want to do on the island. This is a must do tour and I highly recomend Demetrious for your adventures. Great time, great man and he provided so many intersting facts it really is a must do.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Dear Douglas,
It's always amazing to read that we've been successful in our goal of providing our customers with the best possible experience.It fills us with pride to know that our service is valued by our community.Demetrious and the whole team of Santorini Road Trips strive to be the best we can be every singe day.Thank you so much again.
Best regards,
The Santorini Road Trips
Dimitris was a fantastic guide for our family tour! Knowledgeable and friendly, we had a great time. The villages and Akrotiri were all excellent stops. Thank you
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Dera John,
We would like to thank you for your excellent review for your local guide Dimitri and your private experience with us.
We would like to wish you the best of health and we hope we will see you again in the near future.
Best regards,
The Santorini Road Trips team
Our guide was amazing - we were a family of 5 and we learned all about the history of the island and the churches. The stop for wine tasting and sampling of local foods was SO good! We thoroughly enjoyed the tour.
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Dear Kristina,
It's always amazing to read that we've been successful in our goal of providing our customers with the best possible experience.It fills us with pride to know that our service is valued by our community.Vasilis and the whole team of Santorini Road Trips strive to be the best we can be every singe day.Thank you so much again.
Best regards,
The Santorini Road Trips
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per personWas $212.25(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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