Tours/Santorini/Skip Cable Car® Santorini Shore Excursion for First-Time Visitors
Skip Cable Car® Santorini Shore Excursion for First-Time Visitors
4.6(359)Santorini5 hours
VIATOR4.5(282)TRIPADVISOR4.8(77)
+15 photos
At a glance
Duration
5 hours
Price from
$56 / person
Location
Santorini, Greece
Rating
4.6 / 5 · 359 reviews
Languages
EN
Group
Small group, up to 18
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Confirmation
Instant
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
Vexperio
Meeting point
After disembarking from the tender, please wait at the tender drop-off point and do not enter the cable car. Look for our team holding ‘VEXPERIO’ signs. If you are late, please contact us.After the tour, we'll bring you back to the port by boat.
Description
Step off your cruise ship and explore Santorini on a small-group shore excursion designed specifically for cruise passengers. Visit top sights like Oia and Firostefani’s famous blue-domed churches while enjoying panoramic island views and local insights from an expert guide. Travel in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle with a maximum of 18 guests for a personalized experience. The tour departs conveniently from the Fira cable car exit and is carefully timed to match cruise schedules, ensuring a smooth, stress-free adventure.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
9 times a day, 7:00 AM–3:30 PM
Next available
Mon, Oct 12
Adult (ages 3+)
$56
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $1,184.
Larger groups pay less per person.
In demand: 44 of the next 212 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 11.
Tour Options
Shared ShorEx
Meeting Point for Tour: Upon debarking from the tender, please remain in the Old Port at the exact spot where your ship’s tender drops you off.
Ticket for Skip Cable Car Tour
Skip the cable car: For select cruise ships only: on the busiest docking dates in Santorini we offer a special tour, skipping the cable car.
Shared Tour: This is a ticket for a shared tour. It allows to skip the cable car which on some dates can take many hours.
Pick-up by Boat: Upon arrival by your ship’s tender to the Santorini harbor, we will pick you up by our boat, skipping the cable car.
Return by Boat: At the end of the tour, we will return you to your tender pick-up point by boat, once again avoiding cable car lines.
Included in tour price: This option already includes the private boat transfer in the price. There are no additional costs with this option.
Book an early tender: Please book an early tender directly with your cruise ship's staff to ensure timely arrival.
Private with Shared Boat Rides
Skip the cable car: Private guided tour and shared boat transfers from the Old Port to the Athinios Port and back, bypass the cable car.
Private tour&shared boat rides: The boat transfers are shared with other guests. The private tour starts at Athinios Port where you meet your guide & driver.
Shared Skip Cable Car Tour
Skip the cable car: For select cruise ships only: on the busiest docking dates in Santorini we offer a special tour, skipping the cable car.
Shared Tour: This is a ticket for a shared tour. It allows to skip the cable car which on some dates can take many hours.
Pick-up by Boat: Upon arrival by your ship’s tender to the Santorini harbor, we will pick you up by our boat, skipping the cable car.
Return by Boat: At the end of the tour, we will return you to your tender pick-up point by boat, once again avoiding cable car lines.
Included in tour price: This option already includes the boat transfers in the price. There are no additional costs with this option.
Book an early tender: Please book an early tender directly with your cruise ship's staff to ensure timely arrival.
Shared Boat/Transfer Only
No guided tour included: This option does not include a tour or a guide, only boat transfers.
Only transfer to Athinios Port: Please note this option does not include a guided tour and only a shared transfer from the Old to the Athinios Port by boat.
Drop off location: Please note your drop-off location is at the Athinios port where you will need to take a taxi to transfer to Fira Town.
Itinerary
Athinios Port Santorini
30 min
Our Skip Cable Car Santorini Tour is created for cruise ship guests who want to make the most of their time on the island. Skip the long waits and summer heat at the cable car, and start your Santorini adventure the easy way.
After stepping off your cruise ship’s tender, you’ll meet our friendly Vexperio team at the Old Port, where everyone will board the boat transfer together for a smooth and relaxing journey ashore.
Enjoy breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea and Caldera during your transfer, making even the journey part of the experience.
Firostefani
30 min
Once the boat arrives at your designated pick-up point, you’ll continue your journey in a comfortable, air-conditioned bus. Your first stop is Santorini’s famous blue dome in the charming area of Firostefani - a peaceful setting perfect for capturing those iconic island photos away from the busy crowds of Oia. It’s a relaxing and beautiful introduction to Santorini’s unique Cycladic charm.
Oia
60 min
The journey continues in the lively village of Oia, where charming market streets, whitewashed houses, and breathtaking caldera views create one of Santorini’s most memorable settings. Stroll through its picturesque alleys, soak in the island atmosphere, and don’t forget to capture a photo of the iconic windmills overlooking the sparkling Aegean Sea.
Picturesque Blue Dome Santorini
Pass by
Marvel at and take some pictures of the world-famous picturesque Blue Domes of Santorini!
Megalochori - Traditional Village
30 min
Discover the timeless charm of Santorini in the traditional village of Megalochori, where authentic island life and local character come together beautifully. Wander through its peaceful streets lined with classic Cycladic architecture and experience a side of Santorini rich in history and culture. Along the way, learn about the island’s unique winemaking traditions and the distinctive grape-growing methods that have been passed down through generations.
Perivolos Beach
60 min
You’ll visit the famous Black Beach, where you’ll have free time to relax and enjoy traditional Greek cuisine (at your own expense) at one of the many seaside tavernas and bars.
If you're in the mood for a swim, be sure to bring your swimsuit. It's the perfect spot to soak up the sun or enjoy the unique volcanic shoreline.
Santorini Old Harbor
30 min
You'll return to the port by boat, avoiding the long cable car lines entirely. Sit back and enjoy the perfect ending to your day in Santorini as you're brought directly back to your cruise ship's tender.
What's included
Included
Modern, comfortable, air-conditioned minibus
Small group limited to 18 participants
Full refund if your ship cannot dock
Guaranteed return to ship on time
Professional local English-speaking tour guide
Port pickup and drop-off
Transfers by boat to bypass the Cable Car
1 complimentary bottle of water per person
Not included
Food and Beverages
Gratuities (Optional: Recommend 10% for guides, and 5% for bus drivers)
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.6
359 reviews
5
287
4
33
3
15
2
15
1
9
How it compares in Santorini
Starting price $56 is 72% below the typical $200 for tours of similar length in Santorini
Excurgo comparison of 1,647 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
In the event of exceptionally rough sea conditions preventing boat transfers, we reserve the right to operate the regular tour route instead. In such cases, a refund of €10 per person will be provided for each cable car ride required in place of the boat transfer.
The tour start time will be adjusted to your ship’s docking schedule to minimize waiting and accommodate possible disembarkation delays. You’ll receive the final meeting time in the Meeting Instructions about one week before the tour.
Please note that wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, electric scooters, and other mobility devices cannot be accommodated on shared tours. Tours on Santorini involve uneven surfaces, cobblestone pathways, and some sections with stairs. We kindly request that all participants carefully assess their physical ability to complete the tour prior to making a reservation. Refunds cannot be issued to guests who are unable to complete the tour due to accessibility limitations.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does this tour take?
Skip Cable Car® Santorini Shore Excursion for First-Time Visitors lasts about 5 hours. The itinerary has 7 stops.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $56 per person for this Santorini experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. That is the per-person price when two book together; a solo traveller pays $1,184. There are 5 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does this tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 9 departures a day between 7:00 AM and 3:30 PM.
Does this tour sell out?
It can: 44 of the next 212 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel this tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 18 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Please note that wheelchairs, walkers, rollators, electric scooters, and other mobility devices cannot be accommodated on shared tours. Tours on Santorini involve uneven surfaces, cobblestone pathways, and some sections with stairs. We kindly request that all participants carefully assess their physical ability to complete the tour prior to making a reservation. Refunds cannot be issued to guests who are unable to complete the tour due to accessibility limitations.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(359)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
C
Christopher_V
October 10, 2026 · via Viator
Avoid this vendor!
The actual tour was okay. The rating is based on multiple emails and messages from the vendor that were extremely bad.
Background: Our start time was moved up from 1000 to 0900, and we were told that we needed to get the earliest tender available to get there. It listed a specific location at the Old Port, and that there would be someone with a sign with the company's name.
The problem, we eventually found, is that early tenders only go to the New Port, more than two miles away, because only the New Port has space for the myriad number of busses required to serve larger ship tour groups.
The vender ABSOLUTELY should have known this, and put their person at the New Port, as well as modifying their instructions.
We contacted the vender directly by phone, 20 minutes before the tour's start, and they still maintained that the pickup was at the Old Port, and even sent pictures where we should go.
Net result: We missed the boat shuttle provided by the vendor from the Old Port to the New that gave great picture opportunities, and is one of their selling points. The mini bus picked up all passengers at the New Port.
Other passengers who purchased this tour through a different online service, i.e., NOT Viator, received correct instructions.
Operator response
Dear Christopher,
Thank you for your feedback.
We are surprised and concerned by your comments and would like to clarify the situation for future guests.
We welcomed over 100 guests that day, and you were the only guests who arrived directly at the New Port. As our meeting point is at the Old Port, where our boat transfer takes guests to the New Port, we are unsure why you chose to take a tender directly there, as from our knowledge, this requires a specific request to the cruise ship staff. Our drivers were waiting at the New Port to welcome our guests.
We are sorry you missed the boat transfer, which was part of the experience, although we were pleased that you were still able to join the tour despite arriving at the wrong port. We have one standard version of our meeting instructions, shared with all guests, and the majority of our bookings come through Viator. All other guests arrived at the Old Port and joined the tour on time as planned.
Thank you for your feedback.
Kind regards,
Alicja
Vexperio
J
Janet_E
October 5, 2026 · via Viator
Santorini
Alex was a wonderful pleasure. It was a little confusing at the port to know where to meet up at first however, once we got on the boat and went over to the Newport, we met Alex and he took us a lot of fun places and he was very accommodating. Gave us an excellent choice for lunch.
D
Darrell_F
October 4, 2026 · via Viator
Fewer crowds
Excellent tour of the island. We got to see much of Santorini. Tour guide had excellent places to get photos. He took excellent photos with our camera.
J
Julie_G
October 3, 2026 · via Viator
1st Time Santorini Visitors
This tour was incredible! We covered more of the island than we expected. We learned so much about Santorini’s history. Thank you Johanna and Tavos (spelling?)
C
Caroline_B
September 24, 2026 · via Viator
Skipping the cable car...
Skipping the cable car was a big plus!
Bus was comfortable. I found we had a good enough of time in each town to explore a little. The restaurant they bring you to is on a beach, good food and gorgeously decorated. It was a good option for us who was on a cruise and the provider was very good with messaging to choose the best time for our tour to start based on the arrival time of our ship.
Operator response
Dear Caroline,
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re delighted you enjoyed the comfortable bus, time to explore, and the beautiful beachfront restaurant. Making sure our tour timing works smoothly with our guests’ cruise schedules is always a top priority for us. We hope to welcome you again in the future!
Best regards,
Alicja
Vexperio
C
Curtis_G
September 22, 2026 · via Viator
Fun tour
Great to skip the long cable car line. Our guide is a professional drummer on the island. He was knowledgeable and absolutely entertaining. We had a great time
J
Jazmin_T
September 8, 2026 · via Viator
Our guide, Alex, and our...
Our guide, Alex, and our driver, Sotiris, were both amazing! Alex was very knowledgeable about his history, giving us interesting facts about both Santorini and Greece. They also knew all the best, uncrowded spots for pictures and took fantastic photos for us. Most importantly for a cruise excursion, they kept perfectly to the schedule and got us back to the port right on time. Car was clean with AC and provided welcome water.
D
denisgV3618CE
July 30, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
No fuss guided tour
Very well organized, perfect guide and driver
N
Nancy_E
July 21, 2026 · via Viator
Traveling in Greece
The views are amazing. Ana and Tasos were fantastic. Very educational, informative and interesting. Thanks
J
Joanne_H
July 16, 2026 · via Viator
Hot weather but our tour...
Hot weather but our tour guide was very energetic and took time to take pictures of family and groups. Very informative of the beautiful island
