10 Day Trips in Santorini: Which One to Actually Book

1.From Heraklion/Crete: Santorini Island Guided Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,448 reviews · 9 - 14 hours · from $200Our pick

Travel from Heraklion to Santorini by modern high-speed ferry, then visit Oia and Fira by air-conditioned coach. Your guide, including guides such as Karin on some departures, explains the island’s mythology and points out the best views. You get about 5.5 hours to explore, with an optional volcano and hot springs cruise.

“Loved it from start to finish. So well organised and what a joy to visit such a beautiful island. already planning our return!”

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2.Akrotiri: Guided Horseback Riding Day Trip to a Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 477 reviews · 1 hour · from $88

Ride from Akrotiri to Vlychada Beach on a calm, well-trained horse with guides such as Thanasis, Minas, Giota, and Raffaela. You’ll pass vineyards, lava rock, and local trails before stopping for beach photos. The one-hour small-group ride suits beginners, couples, and families, with hotel transfer available for an extra fee.

“This ride was truly amazing! We enjoyed the views and explanition of our guide. The horses were nice and we did some running and galop! Loved it!!”

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3.Full-Day Trip to Santorini by Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 279 reviews · 13 hours · from $243

Take a high-speed ferry from Rethymno to Santorini, then tour Oia and Fira by air-conditioned bus with a multilingual guide. You get about 1 hour 45 minutes in Oia and 2 hours in Fira, plus an optional caldera boat trip. Hotel pickup is available from much of the Rethymno area.

“We have visited one of the most charming place of the world. The visit started 7.30 in the morning, when we have to be on Rethimno port. We left the car outside the harbour, on the street, no tax. A lady guided us to a line that end by taking the tickets. Be carefull: on this ticket is writen the number of the bus we had to take in Santorini port. We checked in with smart phone, but it is to recomand knowing the name of the tourist company you booked. At 8.00 sharp the quick ferry "Seajet" went to Santorini island. The trip on the sea eas 2,5 hours.…”

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4.Santorini Day Trip with Boat Transfer & Oia Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 269 reviews · 11 hours · from $199

Take a high-speed SeaJets boat from Heraklion to Santorini, then tour Oia and Fira by air-conditioned bus with an English, French, German, or Polish-speaking escort. You get Caldera views, free time in Fira, and an optional €20 volcano boat trip. Bring your passport, sun protection, and comfortable shoes.

“mal. os escribí mensaje. mi hijo menor sin sitio en bus fue sentado en un escalón. riesgo y peligro. no sé paga para esto. tomaré medidas”

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5.Guided Santorini Day Trip with Ferry Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 225 reviews · from $191

Travel from Crete to Santorini by fast ferry, then follow a guided bus route to Oia and Fira. You get about 1.5 hours in Oia and 2 hours in Fira, with free time for views, food, and shopping. Hotel pickup is optional, and a volcano boat trip costs an extra €20.

“Thoroughly enjoyed the day trip but wish we’d had more time in oia.”

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6.Santorini full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 102 reviews · 11 hours · from $94

You’ll cross the Aegean by air-conditioned boat, ride by bus from Santorini’s port to Fira, and spend about six hours exploring. A multilingual guide helps with the transfer and island orientation, while your free time is best used for Fira, lunch, shopping, and, if you plan carefully, a quick trip to Oia.

“If you are staying in paros, and you would like to go see Santini in a day this trip is your only best option unless you decide to stay back in the island. Because the regular fairies from the Passport usually leaves at 10:45 AM, and you have to take back the 3:30 PM ferry to return to Paros. This trip will start the boat at 8:30 AM from the port, and you will reach Santorini- Fira by 10.45ish. From the Santini port up to Fira centre, it can take about another 20 minutes or so(bus transportation from the port to Fira centre is included in this trip ), you…”

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7.Full-Day Trip to Santorini

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 97 reviews · 13 hours · from $282

You leave Chania by coach, board a high-speed catamaran in Rethymno, then tour Santorini by air-conditioned bus. You visit cliff-top Oia, enjoy free time in Fira, and can join an optional €20 volcano boat trip. The day lasts about 13 hours and includes multilingual bus commentary.

“I booked 2 tickets together but got separate seats both ways, that was annoying.”

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8.Private Day Trip to Santorini from Athens: Sightseeing Highlights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 39 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $1,253Top rated

This private day trip pairs round-trip flights from Athens with a six-hour Santorini tour in a comfortable minivan. Your local guide, possibly Dimitris, Argyris, or Dora, takes you to Oia, Megalochori, Red Beach, Perivolos, and Profitis Ilias. Optional tasting includes four Santorini wines.

“The tour guide she was excellent very kowlegeable and accommodating ! Dora you the best we enjoyed you and the trip ! Highly recommend this trip . I spent a day but it felt like a few weeks.”

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9.Santorini Day Trip by Boat with Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 38 reviews · from $90

Travel from Naxos to Santorini by boat, with a cash bar on board and an English-speaking guide waiting for the island tour. After seeing Santorini by bus, you get free time in Fira for a walk, a drink, or independent sightseeing. The $90 price includes the cruise, bus tour, and island visits, but not drinks or archaeological entry fees.

“The views were great. The guide could have been more extended into history of Island. Overall great experience.”

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10.Guided Island Day Trip with Beach Visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 34 reviews · 10 hours · from $82Best value

Spend 10 hours touring Santorini by bus with an English-speaking guide. Visit Prophet Elias Monastery, Pyrgos, Akrotiri, Red Beach, Fira, and Oia. The day mixes archaeology, village streets, sea views, and sunset photos. Nicolas, Tanya, and driver George have been praised on different departures, though guide assignments can vary.

“Ærgerligt at man laver en tur til en strand, som faktisk har et skilt, hvor der står at der er mulighed for livsfare forbundet med at se det, samt at den udgravning som er en del af turen er meget dyr at komme ind og se.”

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