More about: The 10 Best Boat Trips and Cruises in Santorini
One of the best ways to experience the beauty of this island is by taking a boat tour along its coastline. During the boat trip, you can admire the small caldera islands and their famous beaches, such as Red Beach and White Beach.
This tour will also give you the opportunity to enjoy views of the island's cliffs rising from the Aegean Sea. In addition, during the boat tour you can explore the island's beautiful caves and unique rock formations. Without a doubt, participating in one of these tours is one of the best things to see and do in Santorini.
1. Catamaran cruise, winery and combined sunset tour in Oia
This cruise experience begins with pick-up from your hotel and a direct transfer to five hours of fun touring the impressive Caldera on a luxurious catamaran yacht. You will sail to the volcanic islands of Santorini to swim and snorkel in the crystal-clear blue waters.
During the trip, you will also have the opportunity to visit the volcanic beaches, including the famous hot springs and the Red and White beaches. In addition, the crew will prepare a delicious barbecue served family-style and paired with unlimited Santorini white wine and soft drinks. Back at the port, you will board the bus to begin your coastal exploration of the island.
You will stop at the Venetsanos Winery to enjoy a tasting of three characteristic wines while admiring the volcano. You will then go to the Wine Museum in Mesa Gonia to taste volcanic white wines and desert wine, unique to the island. The last stop on this tour will be in Oia, one of the most spectacular places to watch the sunset.
Details of interest
- Price: You will need to pay around £170 per person.
- Duration: The tour takes around 10 hours to complete.
- Transport: The entire tour is completed by catamaran and tourist bus.
2. Catamaran cruise with lunch and open bar in Santorini
On this tour, you will enjoy an unforgettable tour of Santorini sailing aboard a spacious and luxurious catamaran through the crystal-clear waters of the island. The tour will begin with pick-up from your hotel or accommodation for a short minibus ride to the marina in Vlychada, where you will board the catamaran.
Your guide will tell you everything you need to know about the history and geology of Santorini. In addition, during the experience you will enjoy unlimited white wine and a barbecue prepared on board. You can snorkel in the waters of the Santorini caldera, then head to Red Beach, White Beach and the Indian Rock, only accessible by boat.
You will also visit the 18th-century Venetian lighthouse at Akrotiri before continuing your tour to the famous caldera volcano to enjoy a swim in the sulphur-rich hot springs. The last stop on this trip will be in the waters of Mesa Pigadia, where you can swim and dive.
Details of interest
- Price: You will pay around £100 per person to enjoy this experience.
- Duration: The trip takes around 5 hours to complete.
- Means of transport: The entire tour is completed by boat.
3. Cruise around the volcanic islands and hot springs in Santorini
On this tour, you will have the opportunity to enjoy an exciting boat adventure from the port of Athinios and discover a world of wonders on the small nearby islands. You will visit volcanoes, hot springs and traditional villages while enjoying beautiful views and a charming atmosphere in the Greek countryside.
During the trip, you will have an audio guide to learn about the history and culture of the region as you travel to Nea Kameni. This activity is one you can include in your travel itinerary if you are visiting Santorini in September, when it is summer and you can swim at the beaches.
You will also have free time to explore the island and walk along the path to the crater of the active volcano. Afterwards, you can spend some time in the hot springs of Palea Kameni before continuing on to Therasia. You can even visit the village of Manolas, which can be reached by winding stairs or by donkey.
Details of interest
- Price: You will pay around £27 per person to enjoy this tour.
- Duration: The experience lasts between 3 and 10 hours, as you can choose between a half-day or full-day tour, depending on your time and what you want to explore.
- Means of transport: The entire tour is completed by boat.
4. Private day cruise around Santorini
This morning sailing adventure will begin in the picturesque settlement of Oia, in the port of Ammoudi. You will head straight to the volcanic archipelago, where you can see the islet of Thirassia up close and later enjoy a swim off its shores. After this experience, you can continue sailing towards the volcanic islands and hot springs, which are ideal places for diving or swimming while connecting with nature.
One of the things you will enjoy most about the trip is admiring the iconic Caldera coastline, the Black Rock of the Indian and the island's moon-like beaches. Playa de la Montaña Negra, Playa Blanca and Playa Roja are three incredible places that you won't want to miss on this tour. At the latter, you will enjoy a meal with dessert and wine. The last stop on this cruise is at Vlychada beach.
Details of interest
- Price: You will pay just over £800 for groups of up to 6 people.
- Duration: The entire tour lasts approximately 5 hours.
- Transport: The trip is completed by boat and private bus.
5. Volcanic sunset cruise in Santorini
This tour departs from Athinios Port on a local caique, a traditional wooden boat built by skilled craftsmen. This cruise offers two options: the first is a sunset cruise, stopping at the volcano and the hot springs, followed by dinner on board; the second option is a sunset cruise, stopping at the hot springs of Santorini and then at the island of Thirassia to enjoy dinner at Captain John's Tavern with white wine, soft drinks and complimentary water.
After sunset, you may have the opportunity to go to the Volcano Fireworks Eruption Party, which is an incredible spectacle because the fireworks can reach up to 90 miles high, creating a unique combination of light, sound and colour that turns night into day. Although this is not a frequent event, you may be lucky enough to see the show.
Details of interest
- Price: You will have to pay around £120 per person to enjoy this experience.
- Duration: The tour takes between four and eight hours to complete.
- Means of transport: The entire trip is completed by boat.
6. Traditional fishing excursion and fresh fish lunch in Santorini
This interesting and fun experience begins with pick-up from your hotel or accommodation in a luxury minivan to the port, where you will board a traditional wooden fishing boat accompanied by a tour guide. While sailing, you will have the opportunity to learn different fishing techniques from the crew as the guides try to catch shrimp and octopus.
After this fishing experience, you will stay near the Red, White and Black Beaches, which are some of the best fishing spots on the island. There, you will receive the necessary fishing equipment, including rods, hooks, lures and fresh bait, and your guide will show you how to fish for yourself. At this point, you can also enjoy local drinks and food.
Details of interest
- Price: You will pay around £140 per person to enjoy this experience.
- Duration: The trip takes around 5 hours to complete.
- Transportation: The entire trip is done in a traditional wooden fishing boat.
7. Luxury morning cruise from the town of Oia in Santorini
After your guide picks you up at your hotel or accommodation, you will head straight to the northern tip of the island, in Ammoudi Bay, beneath the cliffs of the town of Oia. There you will board a catamaran yacht and sail towards the south coast of Santorini, stopping at the beautiful Red and White Beaches to swim and snorkel in the crystal clear waters.
Your sailing experience continues through the Santorini Caldera, the island's flooded volcanic crater. You will admire the landscape of Santorini's lagoon and volcanic islands, where you can take a dip in the warm thermal springs. Later, in a secluded bay in Santorini's lagoon, you will go swimming while the crew prepares a delicious Greek meal served family style.
Details of interest
- Price: You will pay around £180 for the experience.
- Duration: The entire trip lasts approximately 5 hours.
- Means of transport: The trip is completed by catamaran yacht.
8. Day boat trip to visit the volcano of Santorini, Therasia and Oia
This exciting boat trip is one of the best things to see and do in Santorini in May, considering that it is summer season. You will travel around the beautiful Greek islands of Nea Kameni, Palea Kameni, and Therasia. To start the tour, you will depart from the port of Athinios, which you will reach by bus from your hotel.
Once on board, you will first go to the volcanic island of Nea Kameni to walk along an intricate path to the crater of an active volcano. Next, you will visit the island of Palea Kameni, where you can swim in sulphurous thermal baths or relax in the green waters. The third place to visit will be the island of Therasia, which used to be connected to Santorini before a volcanic eruption. There, you will swim at the beach and explore the ancient village of Manola.
Details of interest
- Price: You will have to pay around £56 per person.
- Duration: The trip takes around 9 hours to complete.
- Means of transport: The entire tour is by boat and bus.
9. Two-day volcanic cruise and bus tour
On this experience, you will have the opportunity to explore the volcanic island of Santorini with this exciting cruise to the three islands of the caldera. First, you will go to Nea Kameni and then to Palea Kameni, another lava island where you can immerse yourself in its warm, therapeutic green sulphurous waters.
On the second day, you can take a tour of the entire island in a comfortable tourist bus. On this tour, you will visit Akrotiri, an important archaeological site in the region. You will also have the opportunity to visit the picturesque village of Emborio and enjoy Perissa Beach. During the trip, you will taste local wine at a famous winery in the area. At the end of the day, you can enjoy the sunset in the village of Oia.
Details of interest
- Price: You will need to pay around £85 per person.
- Duration: The entire tour takes about two days to complete.
- Transportation: You can do the entire tour by boat and bus.
10. Private boat trip with snorkelling, sea caves and hot springs
This experience is a great opportunity to enjoy Santorini on a private trip away from the usual tourist spots. You'll sail along the south coast in a luxury speedboat, accompanied by a local captain who will tell you everything you want to know about the route. What's more, the entire tour is private, meaning that it's just you and your group.
Your trip will begin at Perivolos Beach, where you'll board the boat and head straight to the famous Red Beach, known for its distinctive rocky, reddish landscape. You'll then continue sailing along the coast past Akrotiri to the so-called Black Mountain. Here you can enjoy the crystal-clear waters, swim and dive. Finally, you can visit the active volcano and bathe in sulphur-rich hot springs.
Details of interest
- Price: You will have to pay around £485 per group of up to 4 people.
- Duration: The experience lasts about 2 hours.
- Transportation: The entire tour is by boat.
What will I see on this type of boat trip around Santorini?
On boat trips around Santorini, you can enjoy breathtaking and unique views of the island from the sea. You can admire the beauty of the Santorini caldera and see its cliffs and beaches from a different and enchanting perspective.
In addition, many of these tours usually include food and drinks, and some have tour guides who will explain the history and landscapes you are discovering, adding unique and educational value to your experience.