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Private Santorini Sightseeing | Must-Sees & Hidden Gems
Duration: 5
Overview
Santorini’s iconic landmarks and its best-kept secrets — all in one private day.
This private Santorini sightseeing tour covers both sides of the island: the must-sees that every visitor comes for, and the hidden gems that only a local guide knows how to find. Before setting off, your expert local guide will discuss your interests, what you’ve already seen, and what matters most to you — then design a 5-hour itinerary on the spot. There are no fixed routes, no shared groups, and no compromises.
Whether you want to spend the morning in Oia photographing the blue-domed churches, take the scenic road to Prophet Elias Monastery at the island’s highest peak, discover the hidden lanes of Megalochori, stand at the edge of the dramatic Red Beach, or simply ask your guide to show you their personal favourite corners of the island — this tour delivers exactly that.
Popular stops include Oia, the Three Bells of Fira, Megalochori village, Red Beach, Perissa Black Sand Beach, Prophet Elias Monastery, and an optional wine tasting at a local winery. But the itinerary is entirely yours to shape. If you’ve seen some of these before, we’ll find something new. If you want to linger somewhere longer, we stay.
For first-time visitors and returning travelers alike, this is the most complete and flexible private tour in Santorini available — everything the island has to show you, designed around what you actually want to see.
Included / Exluded
What to Expect
Why choose this private tour
Every traveler arrives in Santorini with a different list. Some want the famous photographs. Some want the history. Some have been before and want to go deeper. Some just want to hand the day to someone who knows the island and trust them to make it extraordinary.
This tour works for all of them — because the itinerary is never fixed in advance. Before you set off, your guide will have a genuine conversation with you about what you want from the day: which landmarks matter, which you’ve already seen, how much walking you want to do, whether you’d like to include a wine tasting, and whether there are any hidden corners you’ve heard about and want to find. Then the tour is built around that conversation.
The result is a private Santorini sightseeing tour that feels nothing like a tour — because it is, in every meaningful sense, just a local expert showing you their island at your pace, on your terms.
You will:
- Shape the entire 5-hour itinerary around your own interests and priorities
- See Santorini’s most iconic sights — Oia, Red Beach, Three Bells of Fira — if you choose
- Discover the island’s lesser-known corners with a guide who knows them
- Travel in a private, air-conditioned minivan — no shared coaches, no fixed stops
- Extend the tour on the day if you want more time
- Add an optional wine tasting to complete the experience
Full description
Your tour begins with pickup from your hotel, port, airport, or the nearest accessible meeting point. From the moment you meet your guide, the day is yours.
Before the vehicle sets off, your guide will spend a few minutes talking through your interests and priorities — what you’re most excited to see, whether this is your first visit or a return trip, how much walking you’d like to do, and whether there’s anything specific you’ve heard about and want to find. From that conversation, your guide will map out the day — and remain flexible throughout to adjust it as you go.
Oia is one of the most requested stops on any Santorini tour, and for good reason. Its blue-domed churches, whitewashed cave houses, and panoramic caldera views are the images most associated with the island worldwide. Your guide will take you beyond the main street — into the less-visited lanes, to the best photography viewpoints, and through the architectural details that make Oia worth spending real time in rather than just passing through.
The Three Bells of Fira in Firostefani are arguably the single most photographed spot in Greece — the combination of the stark white bell tower and the volcanic caldera panorama behind it is one of the most recognizable images in travel photography. Your guide will position you for the best shots and explain the history and geology that created this view.
Megalochori village offers a quieter, more authentic side of Santorini — neoclassical mansions, vine-shaded lanes, and a village square that still functions as the social heart of the settlement. A natural complement to the more famous caldera-edge sights.
Red Beach is one of the most visually dramatic natural landmarks in the Mediterranean — towering red and black volcanic cliffs dropping directly to vivid turquoise water. Its proximity to the Akrotiri archaeological site makes it a natural pairing for guests interested in the island’s volcanic and ancient history.
Perissa Black Sand Beach stretches along the base of Mesa Vouno mountain, its jet-black volcanic sand one of the most vivid reminders of Santorini’s geological origins. The ruins of Ancient Thera are visible on the ridge above.
Prophet Elias Monastery sits at 565 metres — the highest point on the island — and offers what is widely considered the most complete panoramic view of Santorini available from land. On a clear day, several other Cycladic islands are visible from the summit. Your guide will share the history of the monastery and the significance of this peak in the island’s spiritual and cultural life.
An optional wine tasting can be arranged at a local winery at any point during the tour. Please request this when booking.
Popular itinerary ideas
This tour is fully flexible, but here are some of the combinations guests most often build with their guide:
First-Time Santorini Highlights Oia → Three Bells of Fira → Megalochori → Red Beach → Perissa
History & Landscape Akrotiri Archaeological Site → Red Beach → Prophet Elias Monastery → Megalochori
Wine & Villages Megalochori → Local Winery Wine Tasting → Pyrgos Kallistis → Castelli of Emporio
Return Visitor / Hidden Gems Prophet Elias Monastery → Finikia village → Imerovigli → local spots chosen by your guide
All itineraries are indicative. As a fully private tour, every stop can be adjusted, swapped, or built from scratch around your preferences.
Itinerary
*This is an indicative itinerary and can be customized to your needs
Oia, Santorini
The most celebrated village in Santorini — famous worldwide for its blue-domed churches, whitewashed cave houses, and panoramic caldera views. Your guide will take you through the village's best corners, from the famous viewpoints to the quieter lanes that most visitors walk straight past. One of the most requested stops on any Santorini tour, and one of the most rewarding when explored with someone who knows it well.
Megalochori Village, Santorini
A beautifully preserved traditional village away from the caldera crowds, with neoclassical mansions, vine-shaded lanes, and a central square that still reflects authentic Cycladic life. One of the most photogenic and genuinely local stops on the island.
Santorini Red Beach
One of the most visually striking natural landmarks in the Mediterranean — dramatic red and black volcanic cliffs dropping directly to clear turquoise water. A short walk from the Akrotiri archaeological site, Red Beach is a vivid reminder of the volcanic forces that shaped the island.
Black Sand Beach, Perissa
Santorini's famous black sand beach at the base of Mesa Vouno mountain — its volcanic dark sand stretching along a long, dramatic coastline, with the ruins of Ancient Thera visible on the ridge above. A distinctive and visually striking stop that tells the geological story of the island in the most immediate way possible.
Prophet Elias Monastery
At 565 metres, the summit of Prophet Elias is the highest point on Santorini and offers the most complete panoramic view of the island available from land — the caldera, the villages, the volcanic coastline, and on a clear day, several other Cycladic islands in the distance. Your guide will share the history of the monastery that has stood at this peak since the 18th century and the significance of the summit in the island's cultural life.
Wine-tasting (optional)
An optional wine tasting at a local Santorini winery can be added at any point in the tour. Santorini's volcanic terroir produces wines of extraordinary character — most notably Assyrtiko — from some of the oldest ungrafted vines in the world. Please request this when booking.
The most celebrated village in Santorini — famous worldwide for its blue-domed churches, whitewashed cave houses, and panoramic caldera views. Your guide will take you through the village’s best corners, from the famous viewpoints to the quieter lanes that most visitors walk straight past. One of the most requested stops on any Santorini tour, and one of the most rewarding when explored with someone who knows it well.
A beautifully preserved traditional village away from the caldera crowds, with neoclassical mansions, vine-shaded lanes, and a central square that still reflects authentic Cycladic life. One of the most photogenic and genuinely local stops on the island.
One of the most visually striking natural landmarks in the Mediterranean — dramatic red and black volcanic cliffs dropping directly to clear turquoise water. A short walk from the Akrotiri archaeological site, Red Beach is a vivid reminder of the volcanic forces that shaped the island.
Santorini’s famous black sand beach at the base of Mesa Vouno mountain — its volcanic dark sand stretching along a long, dramatic coastline, with the ruins of Ancient Thera visible on the ridge above. A distinctive and visually striking stop that tells the geological story of the island in the most immediate way possible.
At 565 metres, the summit of Prophet Elias is the highest point on Santorini and offers the most complete panoramic view of the island available from land — the caldera, the villages, the volcanic coastline, and on a clear day, several other Cycladic islands in the distance. Your guide will share the history of the monastery that has stood at this peak since the 18th century and the significance of the summit in the island’s cultural life.
An optional wine tasting at a local Santorini winery can be added at any point in the tour. Santorini’s volcanic terroir produces wines of extraordinary character — most notably Assyrtiko — from some of the oldest ungrafted vines in the world. Please request this when booking.
Map
Important Information
Meeting Point
Wineries
Helicopter Rides
Parts of Santorini are built on steep streets which makes parking very difficult or impossible. For this reason, there may be instances where we cannot access your specific hotel, but we will try and get as close to your hotel as possible. We will send you the correct instructions and pick-up point after your booking.
This tour has no fixed itinerary. Before setting off, your guide will discuss your preferences and build the day around them. You can also adjust stops and timing during the tour. The tour can be extended by the hour on the day, subject to guide availability.
This tour can accommodate guests with limited mobility, provided they are able to get in and out of the vehicle independently or with assistance from their companion. Please contact us in advance so we can plan the most accessible route for your group.
This tour is well suited to cruise ship guests and can be timed around your ship’s schedule. Cable car tickets are not included (€10 per ride). Pickup may be arranged from the top of the cable car exit depending on timing and access.
Share:
Private
Cancellation Policy
Tour FAQ
Yes, for guests arriving by cruise ship, we offer skip-the-line assistance for shore excursions in Santorini, helping you avoid long waiting times at the cable car.
We can also arrange private water taxi transfers (upon request and subject to availability):
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€150 per way (1–8 people, maximum capacity) for disembarkation to Ammoudi Bay
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€200 per way (1–8 people, maximum capacity) for disembarkation to Athinios Port
Yes, the itinerary is fully customizable! Before the tour starts, your guide will discuss your preferences and tailor the route based on what you’ve seen before, your interests, or any must-see spots on your list.
Absolutely. If you’re enjoying your time and want to explore more, you can request to extend the tour by the hour (subject to availability). Just let your guide know during the tour.
You’ll travel in a clean, air-conditioned minivan with plenty of space for comfort and luggage (if needed).
Yes, the tour is family-friendly and can be adapted to suit all ages and mobility levels. Let us know in advance so we can plan accordingly.
Meals and wine tastings are not included, but we can recommend excellent spots for lunch or organize a wine tasting as part of your tour (additional costs apply).
You’ll be accompanied by a knowledgeable local driver-guide who will share insights, and recommendations throughout the tour.
Yess. The tour can be extended by the hour on the day, subject to guide availability. Just let your guide know during the tour.
Not sure yet?
You can contact us at any time and get a personalized itinerary or ask away any of your questions before booking.