Best Santorini Shore Excursions
Planning a European cruise? Do you have a stop in beautiful Santorini, Greece? Wondering what the best Santorini shore excursions are?
Perfect — you’re in the right place! We’re going to share some of the top things to do in Santorini during your cruise stop, especially if you’re visiting with kids (like we did) or want to make the most of a short stay!
We recently went on a family cruise through Europe and absolutely loved it! Greece is one of those magical places that never gets old — and Santorini is truly a highlight. This stunning island is famous for its whitewashed buildings, blue-domed churches, and incredible views.
Santorini is a popular stop on many Mediterranean and Greek Island cruise itineraries. Whether you’re docking in Fira or tendering into Athinios port, there are plenty of amazing ways to explore the island.
In this post, we’re sharing some of the best Santorini shore excursions, including family-friendly options, scenic tours, beach time, and more. We’ve got plenty of tips and resources to help you plan an unforgettable day in Santorini!
Let’s dive into the best Santorini cruise excursion ideas!
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Santorini Cruise Port
Santorini’s cruise port is relatively small and cannot accommodate large ships directly. Instead, larger vessels anchor offshore, and passengers are brought to the island via tender boats.
The port can only handle up to five smaller ships at a time. To manage the flow of visitors, cruise lines are scheduled to arrive at different times throughout the day, helping to prevent overcrowding.
Tender Boats
Since Santorini doesn’t have a large cruise dock, many ships anchor offshore in the caldera, and passengers are transported to the island using tender boats.
These are smaller boats that ferry guests between the cruise ship and the port at Fira. The tender ride typically takes about 10–15 minutes and is organized by the cruise line.
Once you arrive at the port, you can either take a cable car, walk up the steep steps, or ride a donkey to reach the town above.
Our Experience
Our port time was 1:00 pm – 11:00 pm. We requested a tender early in the morning, but our departure time wasn’t until 5:00 pm.
We had to hang out on the ship for hours before we could jump on a tender boat to Santorini.
One thing I will say about being one of the last tender groups is that there was not a very long line for the Santorini Cable Cars. This is how you get into town.
Getting Up the Cliff
Once you arrive at the port in Fira by tender boat, you’ll be greeted by the base of a dramatic, steep cliff that towers nearly 1,300 feet above sea level.
Perched at the top is the iconic whitewashed town of Fira, offering stunning panoramic views of the Aegean Sea.
To reach the town, visitors have three options: ride the cable car for a quick and scenic ascent, walk up the winding path of over 500 cobblestone steps, or take a traditional (but controversial) donkey ride.
No matter how you choose to go up, the journey offers breathtaking views and a true taste of Santorini’s unique landscape.
Santorini Cable Cars
The most popular option for getting up the cliff is the Santorini Cable Cars. This system can bring 1200 people per hour up.
Considering how big cruise ships are and the number of people on them, you can imagine the lines for the cable cars can be very long.
Each gondola can carry 6 people. Some people wait 2+hours to ride them.
Walking
The walk up the 600-step cliff takes over an hour. When we went, it was so hot! There is no shade on the trail leading up the cliff. Walking up was not an option for us with kids.
However, when we left at about 9:30 pm, we decided to walk down because the lines for the gondolas were crazy long! There was no sun, and walking down is much easier than walking up!
Just FYI, if you are going to walk, be aware that there is a ton of donkey droppings along the path!
Donkeys in Santorini
One traditional way to travel up the cliff is by riding donkeys, a long-standing practice in Santorini.
However, many animal welfare groups advise against this, expressing concerns that the animals may be overworked, especially in the intense summer heat, often without adequate water or rest.
Visiting Santorini
Santorini Towns: Fira and Oia
Santorini has two main towns that most visitors explore: Fira and Oia (pronounced “Ee-ah”).
Oia is the famous village known for its iconic blue-domed churches and breathtaking sunset views.
When you get off the cable car, you’ll arrive in Fira, the island’s capital. If you’re exploring on your own, this is where you’ll need to find a taxi or other transportation to get to Oia or other parts of the island.
If you’ve booked a shore excursion through your cruise line, transportation is usually arranged for you and waiting at the top of the cliff.
You can also find and book independent Santorini shore excursions once you reach the top or before your trip.
Weather in Santorini
Santorini summers can be extremely hot, especially during peak cruise season. Be sure to bring sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water to stay comfortable while exploring.
Our Experience & Tips
If you’re looking for a smooth, VIP-style experience, booking a shore excursion through your cruise line is likely the easiest option.
Cruise passengers with official excursions are usually the first to disembark and have direct access to guided tours and transportation.
However, if you’re hoping to avoid the higher prices of cruise line excursions, the independent options listed below may be a better fit—and they can still offer an incredible Santorini experience at a more affordable price.
Small group tours are the way to go. Most of these will meet at the upper station of the cable cars. However, there are some Santorini shore excursions that skip the Cable Cars completely.
Most of the tour companies realize that the cable cars take time, so no worries! Just book an early tender.
Once you meet up with your tour, they will take you to cool places such as:
- Firostefani
- Oia
- Profitis llias (Highest point on island)
- Megalochori (Traditional Village)
- Perivolos Beach
Most of the tours are around 4-6 hours.
Another really popular option in Santorini is to book a Catamaran or sailing tour.
Taking in Santorini by boat is a really cool option. Some of the sites you might see include:
- Sailing near Volcano
- Palea Kameni
- Hot Springs
- Light House
- Red Beach (Snorkeling)
- White Beach (Snorkeling)
There are lots of catamaran cruises. Make sure to pick one that hits the spots you would like to stop.
Looking for a unique adventure? Hop on a volcanic tour and sail across the caldera to explore the dramatic Santorini Volcano up close!
You’ll hike the rugged volcanic landscape, learn about the island’s explosive history, and then take a dip in the natural hot springs, where the warm, mineral-rich waters are said to have therapeutic properties.
These tours are affordable, last about three hours, and offer a perfect mix of relaxation and exploration.
Best of all, they’re typically less crowded than the main tourist spots, making them a fantastic option if you’re looking to escape the crowds and do something truly memorable.
E-bikes tours are a great way to see areas of the island you probably wouldn’t see on any other tour.
There are few companies on the island. These tours come with a guide. The guide will take you to cool places such as:
- Perissa Black Sand Beach
- Emporio Village
- Megalochori
- Heart of Santorini
- Windmills of Emporio
Santorini is such a beautiful place with dramatic colors and incredible backgrounds.
Some people dream of professional photographs, and guess what, you can book a photography tour.
One really popular photo shoot includes a flying dress. There are all sorts of colors. This would be a fun experience and a great way to spend your time on the island.
This is the best deal on photography tours I was able to find!
If food is your jam, there are some fun food tasting tours or even cooking classes.
These tours would be perfect for all food-loving people who want to try the best Mediterranean cuisine on the island.
Just to give you an idea there are fresh pies, donuts, olive oil, souvlaki, loukoumades, and more!
Are you Ready to Book a Santorini Cruise Excursion?!
Hopefully, this guide helped you discover some of the best Santorini shore excursions for your cruise stop.
During our visit, we opted for a self-guided tour of Oia, which gave us the freedom to explore at our own pace, sample delicious local dishes, and soak in those iconic cliffside views.
If you’re short on time, this can be a great option—especially if you prefer flexibility.
However, if you have a bit more time or want a more in-depth experience, booking a guided Santorini tour is highly recommended.
Whether it’s exploring the volcano, relaxing in the hot springs, or discovering hidden gems with a local guide, there’s something for every traveler on this stunning island.
We Love To Cruise!
We love family cruises. We have been on some fun ships, the Disney Wish, Odyssey of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas.
We have gone out of Rome, Orlando, Miami, and Galveston. Vancouver is another great option.
We have visited Thrill Water Park at Perfect Day, and have been to port stops in the Bahamas We have also hit a private island in Roatan, checked out Costa Maya to see the ruins, and visited Cozumel.
Castaway Cay is awesome. We did the Castaway Cay 5k If your itinerary includes these stops, take a look at some of the fun tours available.
If you are planning a cruise in Europe, we did some amazing excursions in Rome, Naples, Mykonos, and Ephesus.
Can’t wait to go on more cruises!
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