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When planning a trip to Santorini, you will find thousands of tours and activities across the island. This can be both exciting and overwhelming since it’s hard to decipher which ones are actually worth splurging on! There are many activities in Santorini you can do on your own and have an incredible experience. However, there are some tours that are 100% worth the money.
I’ll be the first to admit, when seeing the price tag on some of these activities and tours, you may consider trying to do it cheaper. However, after visiting Santorini, I realize first hand how much bang for your buck you get with these pre-booked tours. For example, we did a wine tasting at one winery on our own and ended up spending just as much as a full day tour that took you to multiple wineries (and also included transportation).
Looking for some of the best tours and activities in Santorini, Greece? Here are the ones I 100% recommend and think are worth spending money on.
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SUNSET CATAMARAN CRUISE
Our sunset catamaran cruise was hands down the biggest (and best) activity we splurged on in Santorini. I can easily say it was worth every penny. Everything for the entire day was handled for us. From the transfer from our hotel, to the beach visits, delicious spread of traditional Greek cuisine, and unlimited beer and wine. The staff on board was so friendly and accommodating, and truly cared about making sure you had the best experience.
Our catamaran tour in Santorini started in the mid afternoon and ended after watching the sun meet the horizon from the water in Oia. During this activity in Santorini, we were brought around the island and to the nearby caldera. The catamaran was anchored at specific beaches where we had time to jump off and swim. It was especially fun to swim in the volcanic hot springs! There was also an option to do the same Catamaran Cruise from morning into the afternoon if the timing of that works better for your schedule.
Book your Santorini Sunset Catamaran Cruise here.
I highly suggest this specific tour, or another that has a smaller group. You can find some cheaper Catamaran or boat cruises, but some have over 25 people on board, which wouldn’t be nearly as relaxing. Our tour limited to 10 people, which made it nice to have our own space or mingle if we wanted to.
SANTORINI WINE TASTING TOUR
If you didn’t know, Santorini is well known for their fantastic wine varieties. Because of the landscape in which it is grown, the wine in Santorini is unlike anywhere else in the world.
Santorini is most famous for it’s flagship grape, the Assyrtiko. This grape variety is high in acid and full of citrus notes. You will often find most wineries on the island of Santorini have a dry white wine made with this variety. Most will be un-oaked, but a few wineries have added an oak flavor to some of their wines.
When pre-booking activities in Santorini, keep in mind these wine tastings book up quickly (especially during the high season from June-September.) For this reason, I highly recommend booking prior to your travels to the island. Although the price may seem high for a wine tasting tour, they include transportation, multiple wine tastings, and a tour guide. If you were to visit a winery on your own, you can easily spend hundreds of dollars on tastings, food and taxis.
Book a Santorini Wine Tour here!
Santorini has over 20 wineries on the entire island, and each is unique in it’s own way. Most have incredible views of the island, which make the wine tasting experience even more spectacular!
The most popular wineries in Santorini, Greece are:
AIRPORT & CRUISE PORT TRANSFERS
Trust me, schedule your airport or cruise port transfer ahead of time. There is a bus on Santorini, but it can be very unreliable depending on where your accommodation is.
Purchase tickets for your Santorini transfers here.
There are also taxi’s available throughout the island, but they are fairly expensive. I loved having a company booked through Viator where they promise to track your flights or boat so if there are any delays, they are aware. Once we got into Santorini, we found our driver holding a sign with our name on it and it was smooth sailing from there! It can be pretty chaotic especially at the cruise port, so we were so grateful to have everything already lined up.
FOOD & DRINK TOUR AT SUNSET
If you are looking for a culinary experience in Santorini, look no further than this food and drink tour! On this tour you not only will try classic Greek dishes made fresh by locals, but you will also see both famous spots and hidden gems of the island. Explore the cobblestone streets and take in one of the most incredible sunsets you will ever see in your lifetime.
After sunset, you will be taken to a local bar where you will sample Santorini spirits and learn more about Greek drinking traditions. This is the best tour for immersing yourself in food and drink while taking in the culture the island of Santorini. Well worth the money. Plus, if you did all all this on your own, it would cost almost double!
VACATION PHOTOGRAPHER
Depending on your purpose for visiting Santorini you may want to hire a professional photographer to capture your vacation. No matter how often people debate that Santorini is overrated, one thing everyone can agree on is how beautiful the island is. With the incredible cliffs overlooking the Aegean sea, it’s absolutely breathtaking everywhere you look. Having professional photos taken on backdrops like these is a once in a lifetime kind of experience. You’ll forever look back at those photos and remember your time in Santorini.
Plus, photographers in Santorini know all the hidden places to go to get the best shots!
ATV EXPERIENCE
If you’re looking for adventurous activities in Santorini, this ATV experience tour is a great way to see the island while also getting a bit of a thrill! This tour will be a small group with a guide who will show you some epic locations in Santorini. Along the way you will make stops at the Venetian Castle, a wine cellar, windmills and more. You’ll even get some local snacks and wine to sample along the tour route! This specific tour will also pick you up and drop you off at your hotel, so you don’t have to worry about paying for a taxi.
If you are young and adventurous, this is also a great activity in Santorini to meet other likeminded travelers!
GREEK COOKING CLASS TOUR
If you had to ask me about my favorite part of traveling in Greece, the food will be at the top of my list! Greek food is so unbelievably fresh. There are so many incredible authentic Greek dishes. Think gyros, baklava, tzatziki, and moussaka. The list is never-ending!
This Greek-cooking class tour in Santorini is a fun break from sightseeing! You will be picked up at central meeting spot and brought to a location to learn how to make some of the most traditional Greek dishes. Then, you’ll spend the rest of the afternoon sampling the dishes you created while sipping on local wine. What better way to spend an afternoon in Santorini?
KAYAKING SANTORINI TOUR
When it comes to activities in Santorini, put this one on your bucketlist! Kayaking on the Aegean sea is such a unique way to experience the island of Santorini. Not only will you be able to explore the island from below the cliffs, but you’ll also be able to see into the crystal clear water below! One of the most interesting parts of Santorini is how unique each beach is. This is such a unique way to explore each one and see the fabulous red hue of Red Beach, while taking in the incredible rock formations that Santorini sit on.
Book your Kayaking tour in Santorini here.
This Kayaking tour includes a light lunch and experienced guide to help take you around to some of the coolest spots in Santorini.
AKROTIRI EXCAVATIONS & RED BEACH EXCURSION
If you are looking for historical activities in Santorini, this ones for you! Akrotiri was the settlement on Santorini from the Cycladic Bronze age. The ancient civilization of Akrotiri can be traced back to the 5th millennium BC. What was once a prosperous fishing and farming village, grew into an important trade center for Cyprus and Crete. Akrotiri was known for having many streets, drainage systems, production of pottery and more. In the 16th century BC, a volcanic eruption of Thera destroyed the entire village.
When visiting the Akrotiri Excavations, you can walk around the remains of the site to see what is left of the architecture, along with artifacts, frescos and pottery found at the site. It’s basically the Pompeii of Santorini. This activity in Santorini is ideal for history buffs, or anyone interested in learning more about Santorini in general!
With this Akrotiri Excavation & Red Beach tour, you will get to visit the historical site of Akrotiri. You will then be brought to some beaches including Santorini’s famous Red Beach where you will have free time for swimming and exploring. It’s a perfect activity for combining your day with some sightseeing and relaxing beach time.
WINE MUSEUM TOUR
The Santorini Wine Museum is not only a winery itself, but is also filled with history and knowledge of winemaking and tasting throughout the island. Because of the landscape of Santorini, it’s wine is famous throughout the world for it’s unique production and quality.
The Wine Museum is family run and owned. Nestled into a cave, the museum is eight meters below the ground and has a labyrinth of tunnels running through it. In fact, it took the family 21 years to build!
Pre-book your Wine Museum Tour & Tasting here.
When visiting the Wine Museum, you’ll learn about the history and experience of wine production dating back to the 1600’s. Since the soil on the island is mostly composed of volcanic ash and rock, winemakers in Santorini had to get creative with production. They started growing their grapes on vines wrapped in a basket-like shape to allow the vines to stay low to the ground. This way, they will get less damaged from the high winds often experienced on the island.
The wine museum also produces their own wine, so you can also book a wine tasting during your visit. I highly recommend pre-booking tickets since they can sell out quickly during tourist season. This specific tour includes the tour of the museum, wine tasting, pick up and drop offs.
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Now that you know some of the experiences and activities in Santorini that are actually worth spending money on, you’ll have a much easier time planning your trip. Keep in mind if you are traveling in the high season of June through September, you will want to pre-book many activities, tours, and even reservations to popular restaurants.
Traveling to other parts of Greece? Check out my other Greece Blog Posts!
Santorini is a special island. With incredible food, landscapes, culture and people it’s a place I will always hold close to my heart. Enjoy your time in the cyclades and be sure to take in those views of the Aegean Sea!
BEST SANTORINI TRAVEL RESOURCES
Need help planning your trip to Santorini, Greece? Go to my travel resources page for my favorite travel companies to save you money, time, and headaches!
1. BOOK FLIGHTS WITH SKYSCANNER
2. BOOK ACCOMMODATION WITH BOOKING.COM or HOTELS.COM
3. BOOK ACTIVITIES AND TOURS WITH GET YOUR GUIDE or VIATOR.COM
4. BOOK TRAVEL INSURANCE WITH WORLD NOMADS.
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