10 Best Shore Excursions in Santorini for Cruise Passengers

That explains why regular tourists check the cruise ships schedule to plan their Santorini experiences. They have more time on their hands, so they can afford to relax and unwind between a wine tasting tour, a cooking class and a Fira to Oia hike.

You, as a cruise passenger, don’t have this luxury. You need to make sure you use your time on the island in the most efficient way.

This is why booking the best shore excursions ahead of time is key to creating unforgettable memories.

From wine tasting tours and cooking classes to visiting secret beaches and taking flying dress photo shoots, here are the 10 best Santorini shore excursions for cruise passengers.

You’ll only find 9 excursions here, below. That’s because we’ve listed our top pick by the beginning of this page.

Beware before booking your Santorini shore excursions:

There’s no road access to the old port of Fira. Tour operators won’t be able to send a vehicle to pick you up from the port.

There’s no dock for cruise ships, either. Passengers must take the ship tender, which is a smaller boat, to get to the shore.

You’ll need to take the cable car or to climb hundreds of stairs to meet your excursion guide. There are also donkeys you can ride, even though many people consider this as being cruel to the animals.

When choosing your experiences, consider at least one hour of waiting time for the cable car. Most likely there will be hundreds of people willing to take the teleferik just like you.

Special tip: There is a way to avoid doing the line for the cable car or taking the stairs. Click here to see it.

By booking the above mentioned tour, you’ll get a boat transfer from the old port of Fira to Athinios port, where you’ll directly board a minibus to tour the island.

The old port of Fira, the beginning and the end of your Santorini port of call visit

1. 5-Hour Custom Sightseeing Tour with a Private Driver & Guide

This custom tour with a private driver is the best shore excursion for first-time Santorini visitors. It allows you to build an itinerary to include most of the top landmarks and experiences on the island.

Build a custom itinerary to visit Oia, the three bells of Fira, Akrotiri, and some of the volcanic black sand beaches such as Perissa and Kamari.

This shore excursion is suitable for groups up to 7 people.

The driver will wait for you at the top cable car stop in Fira. That’s also where the tour ends, so you should factor in the time needed to reach the Old Port of Fira where your tender boat will be waiting to take you back to your cruise ship.

Click here to check the price and other details and book your trip now!

2. Santorini Private Instagram Tour

This private tour focuses on the most beautiful, iconic locations in Santorini, with the purpose of helping you make your Instagram account shine.

You’ll go directly to some of Santorini’s most Instagrammable spots, without needing to spend time on research.

You’ll visit a good mix of locations such as a lighthouse, a church, and a winery.

The tour is designed to allow you plenty of time to take the photos you want.

You’ll travel in a private vehicle with wi-fi, so you’ll be able to post your best photos and reels directly to Instagram while moving from one location to the next.

Click here to see more details about this tour and to book your date.

3. Santorini Highlights Shore Excursion for Cruise Ship Passengers

This popular shore excursion combines several of Santorini’s top attractions – Firostefani, Oia, Profitis Illias, the village of Megalochori, and Perivolos Beach.

Swimming in the sea is also possible, provided that the water is warm enough for that.

This is not a private excursion. On the other hand, it is one of the most affordable shore excursions you could book in Santorini.

The transportation by air-conditioned bus is excellent, the views are breathtaking, and the professional local guide is there for you.

Click here to see more details and to book this Santorini shore excursion now.

4. Private Wine & Tapas Tasting Tour in 3 Wineries

Santorini is home to delicious wines. In this tour you’ll taste 12 of them, next to some local cheeses and olives.

A professional sommelier will explain you everything about these wines.

When it comes to shore excursions, it’s best to take a private wine tasting tour. Just check out the details of this one, here.

As this tour can accommodate up to 15 people, you’ll be able to take other cruise ship passengers with you.

5. Hike the Caldera Rim from Fira to Oia

For active cruise guests, hiking along the 10 km Fira to Oia pedestrian path makes for an adventurous shore excursion.

Pass through lesser-known villages like Firostefani and Imerovigli with incredible caldera viewpoints along the way.

Once you get to the end point of the hike, in Oia, take a taxi or a bus to return to Fira.

You can do this the other way around: in the old port of Fira, take a boat to Oia, then walk back to Fira on the clifftop.

6. Skip Cable Car! Santorini Shore Excursion with Boat Transfers

Are you in a hurry? Your best bet to visit Santorini on a cruise stop is to skip the cable car and use a boat transfer instead.

Click here to check out the itinerary and the other details of this tour. This is an experience crafted with cruise ship passengers in mind.

You’ll visit the famous blue dome in Oia, the lovely Firostefani with impressive views of the caldera, the highest point at Prophet Ilias, and the village of Megalochori with its traditional Cycladic architecture.

If time allows, you’ll also stop by the black sand beach of Perivolos.

The beautiful view of caldera from Firostefani

7. ATV Quad Bike Adventure

For adventure lovers and adrenaline junkies, a quad bike or ATV tour is a great way to visit Santorini. Following a safety briefing, drivers follow guides across open roads with incredible coastal lookouts over world-famous caldera views.

Most half or full day quad bike excursions also stop at Black Beach, Red Beach, ancient sites, and more.

Tour organizers handle all logistics details, so that you can focus on enjoying yourself and having fun.

Click here to see more details about this Santorini shore experience.

The Quad bike tour of Santorini is about 3 hours long. Add the time you need to get off your ship, plus the time you need to get from the port to the meeting point (and back).

Before booking, ensure you can take this tour without ricking to miss your boarding.

8. Santorini Tour with a Professional Photographer

This is a tour for influencers and Instagram aficionados.

You’ll get to see Oia and Imerovigli, and also get 30 great portrait shots for your social media pages.

The English-speaking guide (who is also your photographer) will accompany you step by step, choosing the best photo spots for your photo session.

Click here to book this tour right now!

9. Santorini Volcano and Hot Springs Cruise from the Old Port

Here’s what you get when you book this 3-hour tour that starts and ends in the old port of Fira, just where your cruise ship tender will dock:

– Guided volcano hiking tour (with expert insights into its history and geology.)

– Visit to the hot springs (for a unique swimming experience in sulfur-rich, warm waters.)

– Tour escort (to guide and assist throughout the trip.)

– Foam pool noodles for added support while swimming at the hot springs.

Click here to check out the current price of this excursion and to book your date.

What is your favorite excursion you’d like to take during your next Greek islands hopping cruise?