Santorini Private Shore Excursion with Water Taxi Options, Santorini

About this activity

A fully private Santorini shore excursion combining a full-day private island tour with an optional one-way or round-trip private water taxi service between Fira Old Port, Santorini’s cruise tender port, and Athinios Port.

Choose the private tour only and reach your guide independently by public cable car, or select a private water taxi to bypass the Santorini cable car route on arrival or in both directions.

Unlike fixed group skip-the-line tours, this experience is reserved exclusively for your party. Your boat arrangement, private vehicle, local guide, sightseeing route and pace are planned around your group, tender arrival and ship schedule.

The one-way water taxi is best suited to ships with late-evening departures, while the round-trip option is recommended for afternoon departures, when return timing is tighter.

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At a glance

Duration: 8 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: Santoriginal Tours

Ages: Adults (9–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Insta-worthy tour guarantees stunning photo opportunities at multiple stops away from crowds
Included: Fully private Santorini shore excursion reserved only for your party
Included: Flexible route shaped around cruise traffic, interests and pace. Return-to-ship timing plan
Included: Comfortable private vehicle and knowledgeable local guide
Included: Optional one-way or round-trip water taxi service option to bypass the public cable car route

Not included

Not included: Lunch, snacks and additional drinks
Not included: Cable car tickets for cruise ship travelers (10€ pp)
Not included: Entrance fees at optional visits (Wineries & Museums)
Not included: Services not specifically included in the selected booking option

Itinerary

Stop 1

Passing by

Your cruise line tender brings you independently from the ship to Fira Old Port. Guests who select a private water taxi meet our team directly at the Old Port. Tour-only guests take the public cable car independently and meet their local guide outside the upper cable car station in Fira.
Athinios Port Santorini

30 min Admission included

Board a private water taxi reserved exclusively for your party and travel across the caldera from Fira Old Port to Athinios Port. This route bypasses the public Santorini cable car if option is selected.

Round-trip water taxi guests return to Athinios Port and board their private boat back to Fira Old Port, bypassing the public cable car route in both directions.
Three Bells of Fira

15 min

Begin your private Santorini tour at one of the island’s most recognisable caldera viewpoints. Photograph the blue-domed Three Bells of Fira with the volcano, caldera and Aegean Sea behind it while your local guide introduces Santorini’s landscape and history.
Imerovigli

Passing by

Drive through Imerovigli, Santorini’s highest caldera village, known for its cliffside homes, volcanic views and position above Skaros Rock.
Oia

1 h 30 min

Explore Oia at your own pace, with time for its marble lanes, whitewashed cave houses, blue-domed churches and famous caldera viewpoints. Your local guide helps you find the best access and photo locations away from crowds
Pyrgos Kallistis

Passing by

Drive through Pyrgos, Santorini’s former capital and one of the island’s highest traditional villages. See its hillside houses, winding lanes and panoramic position as you continue through the island’s wine-growing countryside. Depending on your interests and cruise-day timing add a visit to a nearby Santorini winery. Wine tasting is not included in the tour price.
Megalochori - Traditional Village

45 min

Explore Megalochori, one of Santorini’s best-preserved traditional villages. Walk through its narrow pathways, see historic cave houses and bell towers, and enjoy the peaceful village square away from the island’s busiest areas.
Perissa Black Sand Beach

one hour

Continue to Santorini’s black-sand coastline for a relaxed seaside stop. Walk or swim the Aegean, enjoy the volcanic landscape or choose an optional lunch at a beachside restaurant.

Lunch, drinks and refreshments are not included.
Fira

Passing by

Tour-only and one-way water taxi guests are dropped near the upper cable car station in Fira for their independent return to Fira Old Port. Cable car tickets are not included.

Meeting point and pickup

You can be picked up from your accommodation or go straight to the meeting point.

Meeting point

Please note that cruise ships do not dock in Santorini Port, they use tender boats for disembarkation at the Old Port of Fira.

Guests booking the private tour only take the public cable car and meet their guide outside the upper cable car station in Fira. Cable car tickets are not included.

End point

Please note that cruise ships do not dock in Santorini Port, they use tender boats for disembarkation at the Old Port of Fira.

Guests booking the private tour only take the public cable car and meet their guide outside the upper cable car station in Fira. Cable car tickets are not included.
The round-trip water taxi option finishes at Fira Old Port.
The one-way water taxi and tour-only options finish near the upper cable car station in Fira.

Pickup points

Your meeting point depends on the option selected. Guests booking a private water taxi meet our team at Fira Old Port after arriving on their cruise ship’s tender.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Fully private experience: Only your party participates, with no waiting for other tour guests.
Cruise ships do not dock at Santorini’s Old Port. Your ship will arrange its own tender service to bring passengers ashore. Your meeting point is reached only after you have boarded your ship’s tender and arrived at the Old Port.
Your cruise ship’s tender between the ship and Fira Old Port is operated by the cruise line and is not included in this experience.
If your tender is delayed, the private water taxi can normally wait 30–45 minutes, subject to port and safe operating conditions.
Cable car delays: Your guide waits complimentary if tendering or cable car queues delay your arrival. Please remain in contact with our team through WhatsApp.

Options

Private Santorini Island Tour

Fully Private Tour: Private Santorini tour exclusively for your party, with a private vehicle and local guide.

Duration: 8 hours: Best for guests on a quiet cruise day to enjoy the public cable car ride and a full 8-hour private island tour.

Private Vehicle: Private car, minivan or Sprinter-style vehicle selected according to your group size.

Fira Meeting Point: Meet outside Fira’s upper cable car station. Cable car tickets and queue time are not included.

Pickup included
One-Way Water Taxi + Tour

Private Water Taxi: Private experience with a one-way water taxi, private vehicle and local guide exclusively for your party.

Duration: 8 hours: Recommended for late-evening sailings, usually after 9 PM: private water taxi on arrival and independent return via Fira.

Old Port to Fira: Meet at Fira Old Port, boat to Athinios, tour Santorini and finish near the Fira cable car.

Private Vehicle: Private car, minivan or Sprinter-style vehicle selected according to your group size.

One-Way Boat Service: Includes Old Port-to-Athinios water taxi. Return to the Old Port and cable car tickets are excluded.

Pickup included
Round-Trip Water Taxi + Tour

Fully Private Package: Including round-trip water taxis from Santorini cruise port, private vehicle and local guide for your party.

Duration: 8 hours: Recommended for afternoon or early-evening sailings, usually before 7 PM, when return timing is tighter.

Old Port Round Trip: Meet at Santorini cruise port, ferry to Athinios, tour Santorini and return by private boat to the Old Port.

Private Vehicle: Private car (1-3), minivan (4-7) or Sprinter-style vehicle (8+) selected according to your group size.

Cable Car Alternative: Bypass the public cable car route in both directions with private water taxi service from cruise port.

Pickup included