Best Tours in Santorini 2026

1. Catamaran Sunset Sailing Tour

The finest way to experience Santorini's sunset — from a catamaran on the Aegean with the caldera cliffs above. Most tours include: swimming in the hot springs (volcanic vents off the coast of Nea Kameni where the water is 35°C), snorkelling at the lava formations, a visit to the volcanic islet of Thirassia and the return at sunset with the caldera turning gold above the boat. Most all-inclusive: Greek wine, beer, fresh fruit and a BBQ.

💡 Choose a catamaran with maximum 20 people — small group operators give significantly better experiences than the large 100-person boats that also run this route.

2. Akrotiri Minoan Archaeological Site Tour

The Minoan city buried by the volcanic eruption that destroyed Bronze Age Santorini around 1600 BCE — perfectly preserved streets, buildings, drainage systems and household items, all sealed under volcanic ash for 3,600 years. The guided tour is essential for understanding what you're looking at (the site is extraordinarily well-preserved but requires interpretation). Arrive at 8am opening with the earliest tour group.

💡 Akrotiri at 8am before the tour groups arrive is almost empty — the experience is completely different from the midday crowds. Book the earliest available tour slot.

3. Santorini Wine Tour

Santorini's volcanic soil produces Assyrtiko — one of the world's most distinctive white wines, dry, high-acid and with extraordinary minerality. A wine tour visits 2–3 of the island's finest wineries: typically Santo Wines (caldera views, good introduction to Assyrtiko), Domaine Sigalas (the finest producer on the island) and Hatzidakis. The guided context explains the unique basket-vine cultivation method and why volcanic soil produces such distinctive grapes.

💡 September is the finest month for winery visits — the harvest is underway and the winemaking process can be seen in action.

4. Fira to Oia Guided Caldera Walk

The 10km caldera rim walk from Fira to Oia is Santorini's finest free experience — but a guided version adds the geological history of the volcanic caldera (one of the world's largest Plinian eruptions), the mythology of the eruption as the possible origin of the Atlantis legend and architectural notes on the villages passed along the route (Firostefani, Imerovigli). Walking the route with a guide transforms it from a beautiful walk into a deeply contextualised experience.

💡 Do the walk in the morning (depart 7am) before the heat peaks. The guided tour handles the return transport from Oia.

5. Santorini Volcanic Islands & Hot Springs

A boat tour to the active volcanic islets in the centre of the Santorini caldera — Nea Kameni (where you can walk to the crater rim of an active volcano, sulphurous steam vents still active) and the hot springs off its coast (35°C volcanic water, extraordinary to swim in). The geological experience of swimming in the remains of an ancient eruption that may have ended Bronze Age Cretan civilisation.

💡 Combine with the catamaran tour for a full-day caldera experience — many operators offer the volcanic islands morning + catamaran afternoon combination.

• ✔ Catamaran tours: book small group operators (max 20) for a significantly better experience than the large boats
• ✔ Akrotiri at 8am before tour groups arrive is one of the finest archaeological experiences in Greece
• ✔ Wine tours in September: the harvest is underway — the most interesting time to visit the wineries
• ✔ The Fira–Oia walk can be done independently (free) or with a guided tour — both are excellent
• ✔ Hot springs tour: wear old swimwear — the volcanic minerals stain clothing permanently