For travelers with just a few hours to explore Santorini, it can be tough to figure out what to see, since this picturesque island is packed with must-see attractions. See the best that Santorini has to offer on this private highlights tour. With a personal guide to whisk you around, you can see more in just one day from the popular village of Santorini Oia to red sand beaches and prehistoric archaeological ruins.
Prices are per person when two book together; a solo traveller pays $239.
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 14.
Our first stop will be the village of Oia, the most famous village of Santorini on the north side of the island. At this unique place, visitors can admire the historical houses which have been built in niches inside the volcanic bedrock and the blue-roofed churches. Moreover, the adorable views from this location will make you feel relaxed and will give you the chance to take the first photos for your album.
Next stop on our tour-schedule is the village of Firostefani, the “crown of Fira”, which owes its name to its elevated position. The stunning views of Fira and the volcano from the village will stay in your memory for good. We will go on for a photo shooting visit of the famous Blue Domed Church, an iconic church that has adorned the cover of so many guidebooks of Santorini.
Another unforgettable experience is awaiting at Profitis Ilias, once we reach the summit of Mountain Profitis Ilias (Prophet Elijah), the highest point of Santorini at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level. Here, we will explore the area of the homonymous historical monastery and take more photographs of the panoramic view from this amazing vantage point.
The village of Pyrgos, which is located at the foot of Mountain Profitis Ilias, will be the first traditional village of our tour. This place offers us trademark panoramic views of both sides of Santorini, while it retains features of the Venetian rule. Moreover, the traditional Cycladic houses and pathways placed all around the old Venetian castle make Pyrgos Village a place not to be missed.
The red beach in Akrotiri is undoubtedly worth a visit, given that it is a rare sight, probably unique in the whole world, where red is the dominant color. It is surrounded by steep red hills that create a captivating, wild landscape. If you stand on the top, you will see huge volcanic rocks located in the sea, small pebbles and sand of various colors, mainly red, all over the beach, and attractive dark blue waters.
Akrotiri village is home to two historical treasures that are the main attractions of the village. One of them is the archaeological site of Akrotiri, a very important prehistoric city of the Aegean sea that is completely worth a visit. You can walk through it and see frescoes, artifacts, furniture, modern drainage systems, and even multi-story buildings from the bronze age.
This beautiful structure makes a really good target to walk to. You will be rewarded with fabulous views over the Aegean Sea and surrounding islands.
At this point of our tour it will be our pleasure to take you for a swim at the dazzling crystal clear waters of the famous Black Beach (also known as Perissa) if you wish. This seaside area actually forms the tip of the long black sand beach of Perivolos and is, without a doubt, the busiest and most remarkable beach of Santorini.
Multiple pickup locations offered. Pickup details Hotels & Airbnbs: Pickup is at the lobby or the nearest location accessible by vehicle. Cruise Ship Passengers: The primary pickup point is at the top cable car exit, where your guide/driver will be waiting with a sign displaying your name. Alternatively, pickup can be arranged at Athinios Port or Amoudi Port, provided that travelers arrange a water taxi at their own expense. Airport & Ferry-Boat Travelers: Pickup is at the arrivals terminal, where your guide/driver will be holding a sign with your name. Hotel pickup offered During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels. Airport pickup offered During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included airports. Santorini Airport, Greece Port pickup offered During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included ports. Thira Santorini Port, Órmos Athiniós 847 00, Greece Santorini Cable Car - Upper Station, Ipapantis 10, Thira 847 00, Greece Ammoudi Bay, Οία 847 02, Greece
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
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For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
The VIP Experience: A Full-Day Private Tour lasts about 6 hours. The itinerary has 8 stops.
Prices start at $154 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 $239. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 8:30 AM and 3:00 PM.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Yes, pickup is offered. Multiple pickup locations offered. Pickup details Hotels & Airbnbs: Pickup is at the lobby or the nearest location accessible by vehicle. Cruise Ship Passengers: The primary pickup point is at the top cable car exit, where your guide/driver will be waiting with a sign displaying your name. Alternatively, pickup can be arranged at Athinios Port or Amoudi Port, provided that travelers arrange a water taxi at their own expense. Airport & Ferry-Boat Travelers: Pickup is at the arrivals terminal, where your guide/driver will be holding a sign with your name. Hotel pickup offered During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels. Airport pickup offered During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included airports. Santorini Airport, Greece Port pickup offered During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included ports. Thira Santorini Port, Órmos Athiniós 847 00, Greece Santorini Cable Car - Upper Station, Ipapantis 10, Thira 847 00, Greece Ammoudi Bay, Οία 847 02, Greece Pickup points include Alleys Boutique & Spa Hotel.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 12 travellers can book together.
Specialized infant seats are available
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 84 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Santo Luxury Escape.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Nikos did a great job tailoring the tour for our group of 7 and using his local experience to provide a tour that felt authentic and avoided many of the crowded tourist spots. Lunch was perfect, location was amazing and food and service was great at the Farm to Table restaurant. Van was also comfortable and clean and he is a safe driver. Highly recommended!
Thank you so so much for your lovely words 🙏
I wanted to thank you and Vasili for a wonderful tour today. It was perfect and exactly what we we wanted to experience - the true Santorini. Vasilis was a perfect guide - taking us of course to some of the main sights but focused on the history of Greece and the island. He started by asking us what we wanted to see and do, a true personalized itinerary. He also spent time taking us to beautiful places and little corners and spots perhaps unknown by most tourists. He also shared so much of his family history on the island - just incredible. It was great to spend the day with someone who actually knows the history here and is so passionate about his home! We also loved our little 'beach break' to see the Black Sand beach and enjoy a simple traditional Greek spot. We could not have asked for a better day. Please extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to him. Highly recommend. You will not be disappointed.
Thank you so so much miss Vanessa for your lovely words.! It was our pleasure for meeting you and show you our beautiful island.!
We opened our holiday by spending our first day on tour with Santo Luxury Escape! We wanted to learn the lay of the land since we would have a car the rest of the week, it was better than expected! Our family of four rode in comfort and felt very safe riding around the narrow, winding roads. Not only did we witness the insane postcard views but we also learned much about the history of Santorini, from an 11th generation local! So priceless! We followed our guide through the towns' narrow alleys, and walked right by the photo lines in Oia because our guide knew the better photo ops ;) We had a wonderful lunch at a local spot on the sea, and dipped our feet in afterwards. We concluded our tour with a wine flight at Santo Wines, which was a perfect time to have some wine while we had a driver 😉 And that wasn't even everything we accomplished. Don't bypass if you really want to learn more about Santorini! July 2026.
Thank you so so much for your lovely words 🙏
We had a wonderful day exploring the entire island of Santorini with an expert. Vasilis did a fabulous job sharing his island with us. He can tailor the tour to your liking too.
Thank you so so much for your lovely words 🙏
We took this tour with Vasilis. He is an excellent tour guide and was very knowledgeable about all aspects of Santorini.. He took us two places that we never would’ve seen on our own.. would highly recommend this tour and ask for Vasilis. You will not be disappointed.
Thank you so so much for your lovely words 🙏
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Absolutely Unforgettable Day in Santorini — Book Vasilas & Santo Luxury Escape NOW If you’re visiting Santorini and thinking about a private tour, stop searching — Santo Luxury Escape with Vasilas is the only answer. We just returned from the most incredible 8-hour private island experience and we are still on cloud nine. From the moment Vasilas picked us up in a beautifully appointed Mercedes van, we knew this was going to be something special. He immediately made us feel like old friends — warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about sharing his island. No rushed groups, no waiting around. Just us, discovering Santorini on our own terms. In eight hours, we managed to hit every highlight the island has to offer. We captured stunning photos at all the iconic spots, took a refreshing swim and enjoyed a leisurely lunch right on the famous Black Beach (a memory we’ll carry forever), wandered through a charming local village that felt completely off the tourist trail, and visited a wonderful local winery where we sampled Santorini’s world-renowned wines — the Assyrtiko was exceptional and Vasilas made the whole experience feel like a personal introduction to the island’s winemaking soul. We ended the day watching the legendary Oia sunset — and it lived up to every bit of its reputation. What truly set this tour apart was Vasilas himself. His storytelling brought the island’s rich history to life in a way no guidebook ever could. He knew exactly when to let us linger and when to keep things moving. He was flexible, attentive, and clearly took great pride in giving us the best possible experience. If you want to see Santorini in comfort, depth, and style — this is it. Worth every penny and then some. Vasilas and Santo Luxury Escape have earned a customer for life, and we will be recommending them to absolutely everyone we know. Thank you, Vasilas. You made our trip.
Thank you so so so so much for your lovely words 🙏
My husband and I chose Santo Luxury Escape when booking a tour because of the great reviews. And now we understand why they are highly recommended! We had an incredible private 8-hour tour of Santorini with Vasilis, and it was truly one of the highlights of our trip. From the moment we were picked up, he made the entire day feel relaxed, personalized, and stress-free. What made the experience so special was how proud Vasilis is to be from Santorini and how much he genuinely loves the island. You could feel his passion in every story he shared, every stop he chose, and every recommendation he gave. He didn’t just show us the tourist spots...he helped us experience the real beauty, history, and culture of Santorini through the eyes of someone who deeply cares about it. He took us to stunning viewpoints, charming villages, and hidden gems we never would have discovered on our own. He was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and accommodating, always making sure the day matched our interests and pace. We never felt rushed, and every part of the tour felt thoughtful and authentic. His love for the island and dedication to giving us an unforgettable experience truly set him apart. If you are visiting Santorini and considering a private tour, we highly recommend Santo Luxury Escape.
Thank you so so much for your lovely words for Vasilis.!🙏🙏🙏 It was our pleasure to show you our beautiful island
From the time Nikos picked us up, we knew he was the guy! He brought us to places we would have never found ourselves. And, most of all we became friends❤️
Thank you so so much for your lovely words 🙏🙏😊
Thank you so much Nikos Drosos and Santo Luxury Escape for such a great day yesterday!! We gave him the challenge of planning a day that involved visiting the history of the island as well as the famous beaches, whilst also seeing the traditional/authentic Santorini and obviously trying some wine! Nikos definitely stepped upto the challenge. We feel like we have a great understanding of this beautiful island. Being from Santorini, we certainly appreciated his knowledge, and even enjoyed the little tests (there are 1,256 churches on the island - I think!) We would definitely recommend this company.
Thank you so so much for your lovely words 🙏
Excellent personalized experience provided by Nikos the owner & driver who is a local and knows Santorini very well! He’s extremely knowledgeable and friendly. It’s awesome that he stays with you throughout the tour to provide insight, information, history the best places for photos etc. You experience many things you might of missed if you were just exploring on your own. Don’t hesitate if you’re thinking about this tour! You won’t be disappointed 😊
Thank you so so so much for your lovely words.!!
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The VIP Experience: A Full-Day Private Tour | 6 hours | 5.0 (84) | $154 | |
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