Best Santorini Cruises and Boat Tours

One of the best ways to experience the beauty of this island is to take a boat trip along its shores. During the boat ride, you will be able to 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 the views of the island's cliffs rising from the Aegean Sea. In addition, during the boat tour you will be able to explore the island' s beautiful caves and unique rock formations. Without a doubt, taking part in one of these tours is one of the best things to see and do in Santorini.

This cruise experience starts with a pick-up from your hotel for a five-hour fun cruise around the stunning Caldera on a luxury catamaran yacht. You'll sail to the volcanic islands of Santorini for swimming and snorkelling in the crystal 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 harbour, you will board the bus to start your coastal exploration of the island.

You will stop at the Venetsanos Winery, to enjoy a tasting of 3 characteristic wines while gazing at the volcano. Then you will go to the Wine Museum in Mesa Gonia to taste the volcanic white wines and desert wine, unique to the island. The last stop of this tour will be in Oia, one of the most spectacular places to watch the sunset.

Details of interest

• Price: You will have to pay around 200 euros per person.
• Duration: It will take you around 10 hours to complete the tour.
• Means of transport: The whole tour is completed by catamaran and tourist bus.
• Advantages of this option: Transfers to and from the hotel or place of accommodation are included. Meals are included. Vegetarian option available. Drinks are included. Snorkelling equipment is included. You will have access to Wi-Fi.
• Disadvantages of this option: Dinner is not included. Gratuities are not included.

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 start with a pick up from your hotel or accommodation for a short minibus ride to the marina of 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 the middle of the experience you will enjoy unlimited white wine and a barbecue prepared on board. You will snorkel in the waters of Santorini's caldera, then go to Red Beach, White Beach and Indian Rock, only accessible by boat.

You will also visit the 18th century Venetian lighthouse of Akrotiri before continuing your tour to the famous caldera volcano to enjoy bathing in the sulphur-rich thermal waters. The last stop on this trip will be the waters of Mesa Pigadia, where you can swim and snorkel.

Details of interest

• Price: You will pay around 115 euros per person to enjoy this experience.
• Duration: It will take you around 5 hours to complete the trip.
• Means of transport: The whole trip is completed by boat.
• Advantages of this option: Pick-up and drop-off service to and from your hotel or accommodation is included. You will be accompanied by a tour guide. Snacks and lunch or dinner are included. You will be offered unlimited white wine, soft drinks and bottles of water. Use of snorkelling equipment is included. Toilets are available on board. Life jackets, towels and blankets are also provided.
• Disadvantages of this option: Not a wheelchair friendly tour. Tips are not included. Personal expenses are not included.

For this tour you will have the opportunity to have an exciting boat adventure from the port of Athinios and discover a world of wonders on the small islands nearby. You will visit volcanoes, hot springs and traditional villages while enjoying beautiful views and an enchanting atmosphere in the Greek countryside.

During the journey, you will have an audio guide where you will learn about some of the history and culture of the region as you travel to Nea Kameni. This activity is one to include in your travel itinerary if you go to Santorini in September, when it's summer and you can swim at the beaches.

You will also have free time to explore the island and hike the path to the crater of the active volcano. Afterwards you can spend some time at 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.

Interesting details

• Price: You'll pay around €30 per person to enjoy this tour.
• Duration: The experience lasts between 3 and 10 hours, due to the fact that you can opt for a half-day or full-day tour, depending on your time and what you want to explore.
• Means of transport: The whole tour is completed by boat.
• Advantages of this option: You will be transferred by bus to and from the pick-up point closest to your hotel. You will listen to an audio guide on board. Stops at the volcano, hot springs and Thirassia Island are included. You will be able to spend some free time and watch the sunset in Oia. You will be accompanied by a local guide.
• Disadvantages of this option: Lunch is not included. Drinks are not included. Entrance fee to the volcano is not included. Personal expenses are not included.

This morning sailing adventure will start at the picturesque settlement of Oia, in the harbour of Ammoudi. You'll head straight to the volcanic archipelago, from where you'll get a close-up view of the islet of Thirassia, and later enjoy a great swim on its shores. After this experience you can sail on to the volcanic islands and hot springs, which are great places to snorkel or swim while connecting with nature.

One of the highlights of the trip is admiring the iconic Caldera coastline, the Black Indian Rock and the island's moon-like beaches. Black Mountain Beach, White Beach and Red Beach are three incredible places you won't want to miss on this tour either. At the latter you will enjoy a lunch with dessert and wine. The last stop of this cruise is at Vlychada Beach.

Interesting details

• Price: You will have to pay just over 1,000 euros for groups of up to 6 people.
• Duration: The whole trip takes approximately 5 hours.
• Means of transport: The trip is completed by boat and private bus.
• Advantages of this option: Pick-up and return to your accommodation by minibus is included. You will be offered a map of the island with information about Santorini. You will have access to an open bar with Greek wine, beer and soft drinks. Traditional Greek food and barbecue is offered. A vegetarian option is available. Use of swimming and snorkelling equipment is included. Jackets and towels are also included. Free Wi-Fi is available on board.
• Disadvantages of this option: Extra consumption is not included. Personal expenses are also not included.

This tour departs from the port of Athinios on a local caique, which is a traditional wooden boat made by skilled craftsmen. This cruise offers you two options, the first is to take a sunset cruise, stop at the volcano and hot springs and then dine on board, while the second option is to take a sunset cruise, stop at the hot springs of Santorini and then at the island of Thirassia to enjoy dinner at Captain John's Tavern with complimentary white wine, soft drinks and water.

After sunset you might have the chance to go to the Volcano Fireworks Eruption Party, the spectacle of which is incredible 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 an event that happens often, you may be lucky enough to catch the show.

Details of interest

• Price: You will have to pay around 120 euros per person to enjoy this experience.
• Duration: It will take you four to eight hours to complete the tour.
• Means of transport: The whole trip is completed by boat.
• Advantages of this option: You are offered a glass of white wine. Snacks and dinner are also included.
• Disadvantages of this option: Additional drinks are not included, although they are available for purchase.

This interesting and fun experience starts with a pick up from your hotel or accommodation in a luxury minivan, drive to the harbour and board a traditional wooden fishing boat accompanied by a tour guide. As you sail you will have the opportunity to learn different fishing techniques from the crew, while the guides try their hand at catching prawns and octopus.

After this fishing experience, you will stay close to the Red, White and Black Beaches, which are some of the best fishing areas on the island. There, you'll receive the necessary fishing equipment, including rods, hooks, lures and fresh bait, and your guide will give you a demonstration on how to fish on your own. At this time you can also enjoy drinks and local food.

Details of interest

• Price: You will pay around 160 euros per person to enjoy this experience.
• Duration: It will take you around 5 hours to complete the trip.
• Means of transport: The whole trip is done by traditional wooden fishing boat.
• Advantages of this option: Pick up and drop off at the hotel or accommodation is included. Fresh fish meal, snacks, drinks and refreshments are included on board. First aid kit, fishing equipment and snorkelling masks are provided, as well as towels.
• Disadvantages of this option: Extra snacks are not included. Pets and drones are not allowed.

After your guide picks you up from your hotel or accommodation, you'll head straight to the northern tip of the island, in the bay of Ammoudi, under the cliffs of Oia town. There you will board a catamaran yacht and sail towards the south coast of Santorini, stopping at the beautiful Red and White Beaches for swimming and snorkelling in the crystal clear waters.

Your sailing experience continues through the Santorini Caldera, the island's flooded volcanic crater. You will admire the scenery of the Santorini Lagoon and the volcanic islands, where you can bathe in the warm thermal springs. Later, in a secluded bay of the Santorini Lagoon, you will go for a swim while the crew prepares a delicious Greek meal served family style.

Details of interest

• Price: You'll pay around 206 euros for the experience.
• Duration: The whole trip takes approximately 5 hours.
• Means of transport: The trip is completed by catamaran yacht.
• Advantages of this option: Pick up and drop off at the hotel is included. You will be accompanied by a professional Greek skipper and crew. Free drinks are offered. You will be provided with snorkelling equipment and beach towels. Full board included.
• Disadvantages of this option: Extra consumption and gratuities are not included.

This exciting boat trip is one of the best things to see and do in May in Santorini, considering it's the summer season. You will travel around the beautiful Greek islands of Nea Kameni, Palea Kameni, and Therasia. You will start your tour 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. Then you will go to see the island of Palea Kameni, where you can swim in sulphurous thermal baths or relax in the green waters. The third place to see is the island of Therasia, which used to be attached to Santorini before a volcanic eruption, where you can swim at the beach and explore the ancient village of Manola.

Details of interest

• Price: You will have to pay around 62 euros per person.
• Duration: It will take you about 9 hours to complete the trip.
• Means of transport: The whole tour is done by boat and bus.
• Advantages of this option: Transport to and from your hotel or accommodation is included. You will be accompanied by a tour guide on the boat.
• Disadvantages of this option: Entrance to the volcano is not included. Lunch at Therasia is not included.

In this experience you will have the opportunity to explore the volcanic island of Santorini with this exciting cruise to the three caldera islands. First you will go to Nea Kameni and then you will go to Palea Kameni, another lava island where you will immerse yourself in its warm and therapeutic green sulphurous waters.

On the second day, you will take a tour around the whole island in a comfortable tour 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 the beach of Perissa. During the trip you will taste the 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 have to pay around 95 euros per person.
• Duration: The whole tour takes about two days to complete.
• Means of transport: You can do the whole tour by boat and bus.
• Advantages of this option: Both tours are included on two consecutive days. Pick-up and drop-off at a location near your hotel or accommodation is included. You will have a guided tour and commentary in several languages.
• Disadvantages of this option: Entrance to the volcano and the Akrotiri site is not included. Lunch and dinner are not included. Personal expenses are not included.

This experience is a good opportunity to enjoy Santorini on a private trip away from the conventional tourist sites. You will go sailing along the south coast in a luxury speedboat, accompanied by a local skipper who will tell you all about the trip. What's more, the entire trip is private, meaning that only you and your group are involved.

Your trip will start at Perivolos beach, where you will board the boat to go straight to visit the famous Red Beach, known for its characteristic rocky and reddish landscape. You will then continue sailing along the coast along Akrotiri to the so-called Black Mountain. Here you can enjoy the crystal clear waters, swimming and snorkelling. At the end you can visit the active volcano to bathe in the sulphur-rich thermal waters.

Interesting details

• Price: You will have to pay around 485 euros per group of up to 4 people.
• Duration: The experience lasts about 2 hours.
• Means of transport: The whole tour is done by boat.
• Advantages of this option: You will be accompanied by an experienced local skipper. You will be provided with safety equipment and snorkelling gear. You will be provided with dry bags for personal belongings, towels, sunscreen and water. There will also be music throughout the trip.
• Disadvantages of this option: No pick-up or drop-off at the hotel or accommodation is included. Not suitable for pregnant women or wheelchair users.

On Santorini boat trips, you will enjoy breathtaking and unique views of the island from the sea. You can admire the beauty of Santorini's caldera, cliffs and beaches from a different and enchanting perspective.

In addition, many of these tours often include meals and drinks, and some have tour guides who will explain the history and landscapes you are discovering, adding a unique and educational value to your experience.