Private half day

Santorini Half Day Private Tour

Four hours on the caldera rim: Firostefani, Imerovigli and Oia, always. Plus one optional extra — another stop or a wine tasting, not both.

Santorini Half Day Private Tour lasts 4–5 h, costs from €240 per group and includes Private air-conditioned vehicle for four hours, English-speaking driver, Hotel pickup and drop-off (meeting point for groups of 21+).

Duration: 4–5 h
Departure: Private
Languages: English-speaking driver
Cancellation policy: Free cancellation up to 48h before

What you'll see

Route map of the day: 1. Firostefani, 2. Imerovigli, 3. Oia — Numbered pins: the route, in orderSmall grey pins: optional stopsLines show the order of the day, not the exact roads.

Core route — always included

1
Firostefani
Viewpoint30 min on site
The blue dome and the volcano behind it, from the rim north of Fira.
2
Imerovigli
Viewpoint40 min on site Groups of 21+: coach-park stop with a walk in
The highest point of the rim, straight above Skaros. Large vehicles park below and walk in.
Narrow access: large vehicles park below the village and walk in.
3
Oia
Free time90 min on site Groups of 21+: coach-park stop with a walk in
Oia to finish, with an hour and a half in the lanes, the castle ruin and the windmills — the part of the island nobody wants to hurry.
Sunset crowds: the main lane is shoulder to shoulder from an hour before sunset.
Coach parking is outside the village; groups of 21+ walk in from the coach park.

One optional extra — a stop from this list, or the wine tasting, not both

Skaros Rock45 min at the stop + 0 min driving
Amoudi Bay45 min at the stop + 15 min driving
Fira45 min at the stop + 10 min driving

Details for all 3 stops

Skaros Rock
The rock below Imerovigli, on foot: about 20 minutes each way on rough ground, for the view back at the whole rim. No driving — it starts where the tour already stops.
45 min on site Groups of 21+: coach-park stop with a walk in
Reached on foot from Imerovigli: uneven path, about 20 minutes each way. Budget 45 minutes minimum.
Amoudi Bay
The fishing harbour below Oia, reached by road: fish tavernas on the quay and the cliff above you. Adds about 15 minutes of driving to the day.
45 min on site
About 300 steps down from Oia, or road access; fish tavernas. Each tour states whether the descent is on foot or by road.
Fira
The capital, on the way: the caldera path, the cathedral square and the shops. Adds about 10 minutes of driving.
45 min on site
On cruise-ship days the cable-car queue can be long — it is why the cruise buffer exists.

Optional wine tasting at Santo Wines — €30 per person. Pick it in the booking form instead of an extra stop: it adds 50 minutes to the day and is charged per adult with your booking — nothing further is paid at the winery. 18 and over; younger guests are served soft drinks.

Highlights

A fixed rim route: Firostefani, Imerovigli, Oia
An hour and a half in Oia at the end, unhurried
One optional extra: Skaros, Amoudi, Fira — or the wine tasting
Optional wine tasting at Santo Wines, €30 per person, 50 minutes
Your own vehicle and driver for four hours
Priced per group, from €240

About this tour

Four hours holds three stops that are worth doing, not twelve that are not. The route is fixed and it is the caldera rim: Firostefani for the blue dome with the volcano behind it, Imerovigli for the highest point of the rim and the view down at Skaros, and Oia for an hour and a half at the end.

On top of that you add one extra, if you want one: Skaros on foot from Imerovigli, Amoudi below Oia, Fira on the way — or the wine tasting at Santo Wines, €30 per person. Pick one or neither: choosing one turns the other off.

The extra lengthens the day by the time it really takes — time on site plus the driving — and the booking form shows you that before you pay. With no extra, the tour is four hours door to door.

Pick your start time. If your four hours would end in Oia at sunset, the village will be busy and drop-off will be later if you want to stay for the sun — the Full Day tour is built for that. The price is per vehicle; groups of 21 or more travel by coach from a meeting point we agree when we confirm the booking.

All 9 photos

Firostefani
Vlychada
Lighthouse
Black sand
Panorama santroini
Santorini Highlights
pyrgos 1
Profitis ILias
Profitis ILias

What's included

Private air-conditioned vehicle for four hours
English-speaking driver
Hotel pickup and drop-off (meeting point for groups of 21+)
Bottled water
Fuel, tolls and parking

Not included

Wine tasting at Santo Wines — optional extra, €30 per person (18+), prepaid with your booking
Food, drinks and sunbeds
Gratuities
Travel insurance

Prices

1–4 passengers
car
€240
per group
5–8 passengers
9-seat van
€280
per group
9–20 passengers
minibus
€630
per group
21–50 passengers
50-seat coach
€1,280
per group

Optional wine tasting at Santo Wines: €30 per adult (18+), prepaid with the booking.

All prices include VAT.

Important information

One optional extra — a stop or the tasting, not both

The route below always runs. On top of it you may add ONE extra: either one more stop from the short list, or the wine tasting. Choosing one turns the other off. The extra lengthens the day by the time it takes, and the booking form shows exactly how much before you pay.

Skaros Rock is a walk

Skaros is reached on foot from Imerovigli: about 20 minutes each way on an uneven path. We budget 45 minutes minimum for it, and it is not suitable for anyone unsteady on their feet.

Amoudi Bay is 300 steps below Oia

When Amoudi is on the itinerary we drive down by the road; nobody has to take the steps. The road is narrow and the quay is small, so on busy days the vehicle waits above and the last stretch is a short walk.

Optional wine tasting at Santo Wines — €30 per person

Three different wines, served with a plate of local cheeses, cured meats and breadsticks, overlooking the vineyard. About 50 minutes. 18 and over — younger guests are welcome and are served soft drinks. Pick it in the booking form: it adds 50 minutes to the day and is charged per adult with your booking — nothing further is paid at the winery. You may add one extra stop OR the tasting, not both.

Wine tasting — what it includes, 18+

Groups of 21 or more travel by coach

Our 50-seat coaches cannot reach hotel entrances and cannot enter the village centres of Oia, Pyrgos, Emporio or Imerovigli. For groups of 21 or more we agree a meeting point with you when we confirm your booking, and we will tell you in advance which stops involve a short walk from the coach park.

Accessibility

Villages mean steps, steep cobbles and uneven ground. Our tours are not wheelchair accessible. Contact us before booking and we will say honestly what is possible for you.

Service animals

Service animals and assistance dogs are welcome on all our tours at no extra charge. Please tell us when you book so we can seat you comfortably and plan the stops around you.

Itinerary flexibility

The order may change for traffic, weather, cruise-ship crowds or closures. All listed stops are visited unless conditions make one unsafe or impossible, and the reason is explained on the day.

Good to know

What to bring

Sun hat
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Comfortable walking shoes
A light layer for the evening
A charged phone
Shoes with a grip if you choose Skaros

Meeting & pickup

Your driver meets you at your hotel entrance or the nearest accessible point. For groups of 21 or more we agree a meeting point with you when we confirm your booking.

Cancellation policy

More than 48h before pickup — 100% refund
24–48h before pickup — 50% refund
Less than 24h before pickup — no refund
No-show — no refund

Read the full cancellation policy

Frequently asked questions

What if it rains?

The tour runs. Rain on Santorini is short and rare in season; the villages, the winery and the viewpoints all work in it, and the order is adjusted so that the exposed stops fall in the dry spells. If the weather makes a stop unsafe — high winds at a cliff edge, for instance — we skip that stop and say why.

Can we change the order of the stops?

Yes, with the driver on the morning. The order on the page is the one that works best for light and crowds, but if you want the beach before the villages, say so at pickup. The only fixed point is a sunset stop, which has to be last.

Is lunch included?

No, and four hours does not hold a sit-down meal. The driver will tell you where to eat well after drop-off — or choose Amoudi as your extra, where the fish tavernas are on the water.

Can we change the route?

Not the three stops — they are what four hours holds on the caldera rim, and they are why the tour costs what it does. You can add one thing: Skaros, Amoudi, Fira, or the wine tasting. If you want a different route altogether, the Flexible tour lets you build one and book the hours it needs.

What if my flight is late and I miss the pickup?

Tours start from your hotel, not the airport, so a late flight only matters if you land on the morning of the tour. If that is your plan, tell us the flight number when you book and we will set the pickup after your realistic arrival, or move you to another day at no charge if the flight is delayed.

Can you take a wheelchair?

Not on this tour as designed. The villages are steps and steep cobbles, the viewpoints are uneven, and our vehicles have no lift. If you or someone in your party uses a wheelchair, contact us before booking: we will say honestly which stops are workable from the vehicle and which are not, and quote a route built around that.

Can we add a wine tasting?

Yes — pick the wine tasting at Santo Wines in the booking form: €30 per person, three wines with a plate of local cheeses, cured meats and breadsticks, about 50 minutes. It is the alternative to an extra stop, not an addition to one — choosing it turns the extra stops off. It is charged with your booking for every guest aged 18 or over; nothing further is paid at the winery.