Everything ran smoothly, our guide Yianni was informative and fun! It was still very busy for October. We enjoyed our trip.





Avoid the long lines, crowded donkeys, and cable car confusion. Begin your Santorini experience with a convenient boat transfer directly from your cruise port — no waiting, no stairs, just a smooth start to the day. Enjoy a relaxed small-group tour to highlights like Oia, the black sand beach, and the charming village of Megalochori. Created especially for cruise passengers, this tour guarantees an on-time return and a comfortable pace, even during busy season. Travel by air-conditioned minibus with a knowledgeable local guide who brings Santorini’s history and beauty to life. Take in panoramic views, explore picturesque villages, and enjoy free time at each stop. The itinerary is carefully planned around cruise schedules, with a seamless boat transfer back to port. A smart, stress-free way to see Santorini in one day.
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: 73 of the next 212 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 15.
Our Skip Cable Car Santorini Tour is designed specifically for cruise ship passengers like you. This top-rated, time-saving tour lets you skip the long, hot wait for the cable car and dive straight into exploring Santorini. As soon as you step off your cruise ship’s tender, a boat picks you up and takes you directly ashore—bypassing the crowds completely. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea and Caldera during your transfer, making even the journey part of the experience.
Set off on a half-day adventure to explore Santorini’s top attractions. Admire the stunning vistas of the Aegean Sea and the Caldera from the serene and scenic area of Firostefani, home to the iconic blue-domed church.
Next, immerse yourself in the charm of Oia, the most renowned destination on the island. Stroll through its vibrant local market and capture stunning photos that are sure to leave your friends amazed.
Afterward, head to Megalochori, where you can marvel at its unique traditional architecture, offering a charm unlike anything else on the island. You’ll also get a glimpse of the unique grape-growing techniques that produce Santorini’s exceptional wines.
But thats not all! At the end, we’ll visit the famous black sand beach, where you’ll have some free time to relax. Don’t forget to bring your swimsuit if you’d like to take a swim. Before the tour concludes, consider enjoying a delicious meal at a local restaurant (at your own expense) and picking up some souvenirs to remember your Santorini experience.
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. Read more about - SKIP CABLE CAR® The Original Santorini Tour for Cruise Passengers.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Excurgo comparison of 1,636 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Small-Group Skip Cable Car Santorini Tour for First-Time Cruisers lasts about 5 hours. The itinerary has 6 stops.
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.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 9 departures a day between 7:00 AM and 3:30 PM.
It can: 73 of the next 212 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Yes, pickup is offered.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 18 participants.
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
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.
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Everything ran smoothly, our guide Yianni was informative and fun! It was still very busy for October. We enjoyed our trip.
The guide was great. Very knowledgeable. Liked the whole tour. The streets were very crowded but all in all the tour was great
Georgios was a very expirienced, kind and accommodative guide. He showed us hidden diamonds of the island and told us sincerely about life there. The transport organisation was perfect and comfortable, we had enough time to explore alone, swim at the black beach and have lunch as well.
Victor was our tour guide and he was amazing! You can tell he really enjoys his job and made us all feel so welcome. he is a wealth of knowledge and also doubles as a photographer and knows all the best spots. He did his best to show us Santorini and get us there when the crowds were less. This was truly such a great tour, highly recommend.
We enjoyed this tour. Would have liked more time in Oia. 1.20 minutes way to short. The walking tour portion - our guide walked us thru the village fast. Noticed other guides stopping & taking photos for their group participants. Lunch spot at the Black Beach was nice. Based on what we did would have enjoyed a private tailor a tour your way better. This would allow us to spend more time where we wanted.
George was our tour guide. He was awesome. If it weren't for him, I would have not been in a single picture. His food recommendations were on point. He was knowledgeable and friendly. We saw most of the island. We loved Santorini! Thank you George!
Dear Donna, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re thrilled to hear that George made your day so enjoyable and helped you capture some wonderful memories. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to see you again in beautiful Santorini! Warm regards, Alicja Vexperio
First our guide -Elisa was one of the best we have had and we do quite a few Viator excursions. She was very knowledgeable about Santorini and delivered her information and very concise and sometimes humorous manner. She kept our tour group moving on time and was very clear with directions meeting times and things to see in good places to take pictures. She walked with us in several destinations and showed us very interesting things about Santorini without going overboard or repeating herself. Our small group experience in the bands approximately 15 people, was definitely the way to go. We were able to navigate into tight parking places unload quickly and keep our group together. They were nicely air-conditioned, and very comfortable to ride in. We made several stops along the way, seeing all the major towns, and ended up at a beautiful spot on the beach for our lunch, where we could relax see the sites take some great pictures and then load up for a nice trip back home. Our driverAngelo was very careful and gave us a nice smooth safe ride. Overall, one of the best tours we have taken to date I would recommend it to anyone looking for a good small group experience.
Dear Barbara, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your Santorini experience and that Elisa and Angelo helped make your day so special. We truly appreciate your kind words about our small-group tour, comfort, and organization. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope to welcome you back to beautiful Santorini again soon! Best regards, Alicja Vexperio
Wonderful way to see the island. Victor our guide was very good. He altered the itinerary slightly to avoid the crowds. Oia was a zoo. Way too crowded to enjoy. Three cruise ships in. Do the math. Little local town visit/walk was delightful. Lunch was pricey but very good to try Santorini delicacies. Got to swim at black beach and had space to change into swim suit. Overall a good deal but crowds made it a bummer.
Loved your guide Ana. Would have liked to add more time at the black sand beach.
Ana and the driver were very good. Very polite and knowledgeable. The restaurant where we were directed for lunch was quite expensive. There were other options so if you're on a budget you can explore some of the many others. We didn't realize swimming was an option as we only had the ticket and there was no mention, not that we had much time.
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Small-Group Skip Cable Car Santorini Tour for First-Time Cruisers | 5 hours | 4.9 (80) | $56 | |
Skip Cable Car® Santorini Shore Excursion for First-Time Visitors | 5 hours | 4.6 (359) | $56 | View |
Bypass Cable Car: Santorini for First-Time Cruise Ship Visitors | 5 hours | 5.0 (23) | $90 | View |
Skip Sky Tram !! Deluxe Tour of Santorini for First-Time Cruisers | 5 hours | 5.0 (5) | $78 | View |
Best Small-Group Mykonos Shore Excursion for First-Time Cruisers | 4 hours | — | $79 | View |
Avoid Cable Car! Easy Santorini Highlights Tour for Cruise Ships | 5 hours | 4.9 (39) | $56 | View |
Santorini Cable Car-Free & Stress-Free Private Island Tour | 5 hours | 5.0 (116) | $217 | View |