Half Day Santorini Sightseeing Shore Excursion Tour

Recommended by 98% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Santorini, Greece

High interest

Booked 3 times today.

5 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Simplify your time in Santorini and avoid the hassle of self-driving by taking a private, customizable day tour. Your guide is a local so can show and tell you things that you might otherwise miss. Visit the lighthouse, the monastery, the castle, lookout points, and many other beautiful spots. Learn more about Santorini while having fun.

Get around in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle
This is a private tour just for you and your party
Includes hotel transfers for your convenience
Ideal for first-time visitors to Santorini who want an overview

What's Included

Private transportation by luxury air-conditioned vehicle
Expert local driver/guide fluent in english
Hotel/Port/Airport pick up and drop-off
Bottled water

Akrotiri excavations ticket (20 Euros per person)
Lunch and personal expenses

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

For Cruise Ship travelers: Your Driver/Tour Guide will be waiting for you at the cable car upper station holding a sign with your name written. For Airport/Port travelers: Your tour guide will be waiting for you outside the arrivals section holding a sign with your name written. For Hotel guests: Your tour guide will meet you at your hotel's reception, entrance or the nearest accessible point by car.

Itinerary

Lighthouse

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

The Castle of St Nicholas

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Akrotiri Archaeological Site

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Imerovigli

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Perissa Black Sand Beach

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Santorini

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Monastery of Profitis Ilias

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Red Beach

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Megalochori - Traditional Village

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed

Near public transportation
Infant seats available
Most travelers can participate
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

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.9

based on 100 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Historical tour with breathtaking sunset

Mary_G, Jun 2026

Makis was a friendly and knowledgeable tour guide. He shared with us his local insights and Santorini history. He took us to the perfect sunset view that was not crowded. If you want an authentic guide- ask for Makis! We were picked up and dropped off from our hotel and it was an easy way to see the sights with no stress.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you very much for your kindness.

The private Santorini tour was perfect!

Stefanie_H, May 2026

Our tour guide Chris was so knowledgeable! He shared so much which made the tour a great experience. We were able to see the island in the comfort of a very nice vehicle.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you very much for your kindness.

Mr Santorini (makis) was...

rob_b, Sep 2025

Mr Santorini (makis) was an excellent guide/ driver. We had flexibility in the schedule to allow us to change the experience we wanted. Would highly recommend.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you very much Rob

Great tour in Santorini

Henry_G, Sep 2025

After a bit of confusion, Mike handled things and our guide for the day was Petras. He was very knowledgeable, personable and a very kind and friendly person. Do not hesitate requesting him for your tour in Santorini!

Response from Host, Sep 2025

Thank you very much Henry.

Santorini local guide u must have

Laura_R, May 2025

Gravilious is an amazing tour guide! I would recommend him to everyone. Amazing tour - Santorini - very personal - very amazing

Response from Host, May 2025

Thank you very much. I hope to see you again.

Great private tour of santorini

Bri_G, May 2025

Makis was a great tour guide! He is a local which was greatly appreciated when touring santorini. He knew so much about the island and its history. He took us to a handful of sights and we were not rushed. We were traveling with a young child and he suuplied a baby seat for the car as well which was greatly appreciated. Nice comfortable van. We started tour at 9 and seemed to be ahead of all of the crowds from cruise ships, etc which was also very nice for picture taking and walking around with a young child. Would recommend this tour!

Response from Host, May 2025

Thank you very much. I hope to see you again to my beautiful island 🏝

Absolutely AMAZING! Must do in Santorini!

Nicole_C, Apr 2025

Makis was one of the best, if not the best local tour guides I have ever had. He was on time, kind, patient with us wanting to spend extra time hiking at places and FULL of useful information. He made recommendations to us based on learning our interests, which did not disappoint. Even some of the more “odd” questions we had, he was able to provide information and historical background on. He really provided us a fantastic day of an experience. If in Santorini again, I’ll be for sure reaching out to my new friend! Thanks Makis!

Response from Host, Apr 2025

Thank you very much Nicole,I hope to see you again to my beautiful Island. Makis

Well worth it

Julie_Z, Apr 2025

Well worth the time! A true local with so much knowledge to share. Very patient, helpful and flexible.

Response from Host, Apr 2025

Thank you very much for your kindness. Makis

Best Tour Guide in all of Santorini

Jonathan_P, Jan 2025

Makis was INCREDIBLE!! Being a local his whole life it was truly a pleasurable experience to hear about all the ins and outs of the small island of Santorini. Though a small island there was a a lot of knowledge and history to absorb while on our tour. He took us from the North end to the South end and all in between. We enjoyed him so much that we wish we had another day in Santorini to learn more about the island. Highly recommend taking this tour with Maki’s, who is also known as Mr. Santorini!

Amazing

Stephanie_M, May 2024

Makis was the BEST tour guide we’ve ever had and we’ve been on hundreds of tours and cruises. He took us to places and explained things no tour guide has ever done. We are tired of paying ship prices and having mediocre experiences. I will always book through Viator from now on!

Memorable Adventures

Angelique_C, Nov 2023

Our tour guide Monika was the best we have had during our traveling journey! She was pleasant, kind, very informative and knowledgeable about the island. We would definitely use her services again!

Review of the 4 hr Tailor made tour

Marci_H, Oct 2023

We booked the Tailor Made Tour. Our guide came to the cable car upper station at 11:20. He was friendly, a good driver, and told us much about Santorini history and what Santorini locals think about many things. For our 4 hour tour, we saw the lighthouse 20 min, Akrotiri ruins 50 min and the Profitis Ilias Monastery 10 min. We grabbed a sandwich too 45 min. The rest of the time was driving. The sites were very interesting. We did not see the red beach, the black beach, castle of st nickolas, or Megalochori (we really wanted to see Oia). If you want to see more, you should probably book 1 to 2 more hours. Our guide did not offer us additional hours to see the other sites on our tour list.

Island tour with a true local!

Christine_S, Sep 2023

After the tour, we had Mr. Santorini’s business card and we were stranded. We messaged him, he came right over and drove us to our hotel.

Great experience

maryjane_d, Aug 2023

Makis was very accommodating! I loved that he took us to the black beach area where we had lunch. The restaurant 41 is very nice. Makis also tried helping us with our lost luggage. Overall the tour was great.

Excellent excursion!

CristinaMaria_M, Jul 2025

It was the best tour we could hire to meet Santorini. Stravos was an excellent guide and communication flowed in a very good way. Days before they were aware of what kind of car was better and more comfortable for us for the excursion. The day of the tour was very punctual to pick us up at the agreed point. Before we started he explained very well what we would do on the tour and the order of activities. We knew the whole island from end to end, had the patience to explain in detail each place we visited. Your English is very good! He recommended us a very good restaurant to eat and supported us to take some pictures.

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Response from Host, Jul 2025

Thank you very much Cristina Maria

Lo mejor para un viaje corto!

Carlos_F, May 2025

Excelente! El mejor guía!!! Es un viaje lleno de historia, buenas charlas y mucha flexibilidad. Sus recomendaciones fueron las mejores Y recorrer la isla con su tranquilidad, es lo mejor!

Response from Host, May 2025

Thank you very much. I hope to see you again to my beautiful island 🏝

I do not recommend. A terrible trip.

Dawid_Dudek, Sep 2020

English: I can’t write good opinion. First: the organizer did not implement the program. When I asked us to visit according to the program, I heard that "I have to choose what I want to see". It's very unprofessional. I paid for the entire tour program, not part of it. Second: The organizer demanded an additional cash payment of EUR 70 from me. He informed me that "he made a mistake in the viator offer description and I have to pay extra". I feel cheated and feel that I have wasted my day. ………….. Opinia w języku polskim: Niestety nie mogę wystawić dobrej opinii. Organizator wycieczki nie zrealizował programu. Odnoszę wrażenie, że go po prostu nie znał. Gdy poprosiłem, abyśmy zwiedzali wg programu usłyszałem, że mam sobie „wybrać co chcę zobaczyć”. Kierowca nieprofesjonalny. Dodatkowo zażądał ode mnie 70 euro dopłaty w gotówce, gdyż „pomylił się w tym co napisał na stronie viator”. Odmówił także wystawienia dla mnie rachunku na to dodatkowe 70 euro. Czuję się oszukany i mam poczucie, że zmarnowałem dzień.

Response from Host, Jan 2021

Hello Mr. Dawid. I am responding for your review. I remember very well the situation, When you booked the tour, I contacted you , to explain you that was my mistake, the price 70 euro for 6 hours private tour for two persons. I asked you to cancel it or to pay 70 euro extra and you agreed. About the misunderstanding frase "I have to choose what I want to see" I gave you the option to make the same tour with another order. At the time when the tour started, I started to give you informations about my island, your answer was that you are teacher of history so you stop talk to me, your behaviour changed and i understood from this point, that misunderstanding happened. Maybe becouse English is not our mother language. I tried to do my best as I do with everybody as a local host, but you didn't give me a chance. I hope this misunderstanding finish and if you can withdraw the only bad review I have in my all carrier. Best regards. Witam panie Dawid. Odpowiadam za Twoją recenzję. Bardzo dobrze pamiętam sytuację, kiedy rezerwowałeś wycieczkę, skontaktowałem się z Tobą, aby wyjaśnić, że to mój błąd, cena 70 euro za 6 godzin prywatnej wycieczki dla dwóch osób. Poprosiłem cię o anulowanie tego lub dopłacenie 70 euro i zgodziłeś się. O niezrozumieniu frase "Muszę wybrać to, co chcę zobaczyć" Dałem Ci możliwość zrobienia tej samej wycieczki z innym zamówieniem. W momencie rozpoczęcia wycieczki zacząłem udzielać informacji o mojej wyspie, Twoja odpowiedź brzmiała, że jesteś nauczycielem historii, więc przestań ze mną rozmawiać, zmieniło się Twoje zachowanie i od tego momentu zrozumiałem, że doszło do nieporozumienia. Może dlatego, że angielski nie jest naszym językiem ojczystym. Starałem się dać z siebie wszystko jako miejscowy gospodarz, ale nie dałeś mi szansy. Mam nadzieję, że to nieporozumienie zakończy się i jeśli będziecie mogli wycofać jedyną złą recenzję, jaką mam w moim przypadku. Z poważaniem.

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