Santorini is a popular destination because there are so many fantastic things to see and do around the island of Thira.

A cruise around the island and into the caldera is the best way to truly appreciate the stunning volcanic scenery of the Santorini Caldera.

There are a wide variety of Santorini boat cruises to choose from. Join a local fishing boat crew to catch, cook, and eat shrimp and squid.

Visit the active volcano at the center of the caldera and swim in the hot springs. Relax on a catamaran and snorkel in the warm waters in a peaceful cove off the coast of Thira.

The kind of cruise you choose is entirely up to your personal interests and taste. I’ve selected 7 top-rated Santorini sunset cruises & catamaran tours that I believe are the best.

Best Boat Tours From Santorini

	Santorini Volcano & Thirassia Sunset Dinner Cruise	Santorini 5-Hour Small Group Catamaran Cruise	Santorini Luxury Sunset Cruise
Departure:	Hotel pick-up	Hotel pick-up	Hotel pick-up
Start:	Around 2:00 PM	10:00 AM or 3:00 PM	3:00 PM
Duration:	6 hours	5 hours	5 hours
Includes:	Cruise, buffet dinner, wine, and swim in a hot spring	Cruise, Greek barbecue buffet, unlimited local wines or soft drinks, snorkeling equipment	Catamaran cruise, lunch & dessert, open bar & snorkeling equipment
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Be sure to see our other Greece boat tour reviews: Boat Trips From Athens, Boat Trips From Mykonos, Boat Trips From Corfu.

Quick Answer: The 7 Best Rated Santorini Boat Trips For 2024

1. Santorini Volcano & Thirassia Sunset Dinner Cruise
2. 5-Hour Small Group Catamaran Cruise From Santorini
3. Luxury Sunset Cruise From Santorini
4. Romantic Sunset Cruise With King Thiras In The Caldera
5. Santorini 5-Hour Luxury Catamaran Lunch & Sunset Cruise
6. Santorini Sunset Fishing Trip With Dinner & Drinks
7. Catamaran Cruise With Lunch & Open Bar From Santorini

We have reviewed the top rated boat tours from Santorini providing overviews and highlighting the details of each. We also make recommendations on staying in Santorini in our guide section.

Santorini Boat Trip Reviews

1. Santorini Volcano & Thirassia Sunset Dinner Cruise

Santorini is world-famous for its stunning sunset views, and observing this from a cruise ship is a unique experience you should have at least once in your life.

But your cruise doesn’t start with the sunset. Before then, you’ll climb to the top of an active volcano on Nea Kameni Island and see the volcanic fumes rise from sulfur vents.

And, if you’re feeling brave, you can swim in a hot spring on the nearby island of Palea Kameni.

The boat will also sail to Thirasia Island, the other inhabited island of the Santorini Caldera. There the ship will anchor offshore while you enjoy a buffet dinner or chicken rolls, pork rolls, baked potato, and rice.

Sip local wine as you admire the views across the caldera. At the end of the day, enjoy sailing into the sunset as your ship returns to Santorini.

Ensure that you take a good quality camera along, because this cruise will leave you with memories that last a lifetime.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

Other Experiences You May Enjoy:

2. Santorini: 5-Hour Small Group Catamaran Cruise

If you enjoy small group cruises, superb scenery, Greek food, and snorkeling, this the best Santorini catamaran tour for you.

Santorini is blessed with many excellent beaches, and your cruise will begin with two of the most famous: Red Beach and White Beach.

Named for the color of their cliffs and sand, both are great places to enjoy swimming and snorkeling with the equipment provided.

Next, you’ll sail past Akrotiri lighthouse, which is one of the oldest lighthouses in Greece built by the French in 1892. Below the lighthouse, you can admire the sea caves and beautiful rock formations of the southern coastline of Santorini.

Your crew will prepare a delicious buffet lunch together with a Greek Salad and mezes. While admiring the landscape around the caldera, you can enjoy unlimited wine or soft drinks.

And if you’ve chosen the evening cruise, you can enjoy a fantastic sunset over the Aegean Sea.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

3. Santorini: Luxury Sunset Cruise

This is a fantastic, all-inclusive cruise around the Santorini Caldera and Santorini Island’s southern coast. You’ll see the Red, Black, and White Beaches and the two small islands in the center of the caldera, Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni.

When the catamaran sails along the southern coastline, you’ll pass Akrotiri lighthouse, a 128-year-old lighthouse original built by the French.

Get your camera ready for the stunning rocky landscape with breathtaking cliffs and romantic sea caves.

Anchoring near Palea Kameni, you’ll have the opportunity to swim in a cove filled with hot spring water heated to between 86⁰F and 95⁰F by the active volcano below.

You can use the snorkeling equipment provided to explore the underwater volcanic formations.

Finally, the catamaran will anchor off the coast of Thirassia Island. There the crew will prepare a delicious dinner for you complete with dessert and wine.

As the sun sets over the Aegean Sea, you can sip drinks from the open bar and admire the beauty of nature.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

4. Romantic Sunset Cruise With King Thiras In The Caldera

This is the best sunset cruise in Santorini for anyone fascinated by the great age of sail. You’ll cruise around Santorini Island aboard a genuine wooden sailboat.

After sailing from Athinios, your sailing ship will take you around the Santorini caldera to admire the amazing landscape of this giant active volcano.

Aboard ship, the crew will prepare you a tasty buffet dinner. While you enjoy your food, the captain will select a tranquil position within the caldera from where you can watch a beautiful sunset over the Aegean Sea.

This boat tour from Santorini offers amazing value for money for anybody who simply wants to enjoy a meal and a sunset aboard a romantic sailboat. You’ll enjoy the atmosphere and the stunning scenery.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

5. Santorini: 5-Hour Luxury Catamaran Lunch & Sunset Cruise

On this great scenic tour, you have the choice between joining an early cruise with lunch or a late cruise with dinner and a fantastic sunset.

The cruise includes a stop at the famous White Beach where the cliffs, pebbles, and sand are… white. This makes a sharp contrast with many of the other black sand beaches or the nearby Red Beach.

Anchored off the White Beach, you can swim or snorkel in the beautiful blue water of the Aegean Sea. You’ll also sail into the caldera to explore the small islands of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni in the center.

At Palea Kameni, you can swim in the hot spring cove heated by volcanic activity deep underground. The mineral-rich, orange-tinged water is believed to be therapeutic.

This cruise also includes tasty mezes, a gourmet Greek meal, and dessert. If you’ve chosen the later sunset cruise, you can sip local wine while watching the sun go down over the Aegean Sea.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

6. Santorini Sunset Fishing Trip With Dinner & Drinks

This is by far my favorite Santorini cruise. As part of a small group on a traditional fishing boat, you observe or help the crew lift shrimp nets filled with local marine life, like shrimp, squid and octopus, then the crew teaches you how to prepare and cook it.

With enthusiastic local experts, you’ll learn lots about local marine life and the traditions among the local fishermen. You’ll also get to see the stunning landscape of the caldera and watch the sunset over the Aegean Sea.

Using the snorkeling equipment provided, you can dive under the waves into the crystal-clear water and see the marine life in its natural setting. Alternatively, you can sunbathe in the remaining daylight on the deck.

If you want to fish some more, you can use the fishing rods and live bait provided. You get to eat what you’ve cooked while sipping unlimited local drinks.

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

7. Santorini: Catamaran Cruise With Lunch & Open Bar

If you want to tour all the unique beaches and landmarks on the south coast of Santorini, this is a great tour for you. You’ll visit the Red Beach at Akrotiri, sail past Akrotiri lighthouse, view the White Beach and stop at Mesa Pigadia Beach.

During the Red Beach stop, you’ll have the opportunity to swim in the warm Aegean Sea or snorkel beneath the waves with the equipment provided.

The vivid colors of the wild red cliffs, red pebbles, and red sand make this one of the most popular beaches to visit.

Entering the central caldera, you’ll sail to the tiny island of Palea Kameni. Here you’ll see the famous hot springs heated by continuing volcanic activity.

The orange-tinted spring water enters a shallow cove off the island’s coast and is believed to provide therapeutic benefits. The spring’s temperature is always between 86⁰F and 95⁰F.

During the Mesa Pigadia Beach stop, you can swim or snorkel some more and then enjoy a delicious barbecue meal. Here you have a chance to relax and sip beverages from the open bar while admiring the stunning volcanic scenery.

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

Santorini Travel Guide

Every year, millions flock to Santorini because it’s a fascinating place to visit. Not only is the island of Thira part of an active volcano, but it’s also potentially the source of the legend of Atlantis.

Santorini, officially called Thira on Greek maps, is an island of picturesque villages, ancient ruins, and popular beach resorts. You can climb a volcano, swim in a hot spring, watch an amazing sunset, and join a local fisherman to pull shrimps out of the Aegean Sea and eat them. In Santorini, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

There are lots of things for you to do and see around Santorini. This brief travel guide was written to help you enjoy your visit to the most popular island in Greece.

Airports & Entry

There are 2 ways to reach Santorini: by air or sea.

By Air

Because Santorini is a popular destination, you’ll find the singe, small terminal at Santorini Island International Airport crowded during high season. Security and check-in lines can be long and slow.

Given that the airport experienced exponential growth in passenger volume over the past 2 decades and now handles 2.3 million passengers a year, it’s surprising there are no plans for extension. At the moment, it’s a very basic airport. At least there’s Wi-Fi to keep you entertained.

You’ll find the usual ATMs around the terminal, and OneXchange provides currency exchange services. The duty-free shop is found in Departures and the phone shop in Arrivals, Landside. There are 6 cafés, 3 Airside and 3 Landside.

The easiest and cheapest way to get from the airport to Fira is to take a public bus operated by KTEL. It takes just 15 minutes and costs €1.80. But if you prefer, there’s a taxi rank outside the airport and the fare will be around €20. For people who like the freedom of driving for themselves, vehicle rentals are available from Suntime, Sixt, Hertz, Goldcar, Avis, and Avance.

By Sea

Many visitors to Santorini take a ferry. You can cross from Athens to Santorini’s Athinios ferry port daily on a fast 5-hour SeaJets ferry for about €60 or take a slower, 7½-hour Blue Star ferry for about €38. Ferries also operate from Athinios to other Greek islands, like Crete.

Unfortunately, the ferry port isn’t as convenient as the airport. The public bus takes about 85 minutes and costs €2.30. A taxi will take approximately 30 minutes and be more comfortable but costs around €35.

Santorini is also a popular port of call for Mediterranean cruises. These dock at Skala, Fira’s old harbor. Skala is within walking distance of the center of Fira, though you can opt to take a cable car or ride a donkey instead.

Planning Tips

Santorini is an ever more popular destination for a reason. You will have fun there. Here are 5 tips to help you enjoy your visit.

Tip #1: Go at the best time of year for you

If you’re going to Santorini to enjoy the beaches and nightlife, summer is the best time to go. That’s when all the bars and clubs will be open and internationally renowned DJs make guest appearances in the larger venues. But if your main interest is in the ancient ruins or local culture, spring and fall might be better. Outside of summer, there will be fewer crowds and it won’t be so hot when you’re touring old and dusty archaeological sites.

Tip #2: Book tickets in advance, especially during summer

Because Santorini is a popular destination, the best hotel rooms and tours might be fully booked when you arrive. If you book in advance, you’ll avoid disappointment. Reputable tour operators offer full refunds for tours that are canceled with reasonable notice, so it doesn’t cost you anything to book in advance and secure your place.

Tip #3: Don’t drink tap water

Santorini has no rivers and few springs, so seawater is desalinized to make tap water. This is safe for brushing your teeth, bathing, and cooking but never drink water from the faucet. Stick to bottled water for safe rehydration.

Tip #4: Wear sensible shoes

Santorini is a popular destination for millionaires and celebrities, so it’s tempting to dress up in heels or formal shoes. However, the geography of the island means that everywhere you go in the main settlements, you’re faced with steep slopes and slippery cobbles. When you go out to enjoy the nightlife, leave your heels behind.

Tip #5: Carry cash

Smaller businesses in Greece often don’t accept card payments. So, when you go out to eat or to enjoy the nightlife, make sure you take enough cash. You don’t want to be left washing the dishes at the end of the night!

Restaurants & Eating Out

The traditional fare in Santorini is typically Mediterranean but somehow better. Because of the unique ecology of the island and its volcanic soil, Santorini produces amazing fruit and vegetable that make the local dishes taste better than any prepared elsewhere. You can sample these delicious local foods in tavernas scattered all around the island.

Santorini tomatoes are especially popular, and tomato fritters (tomato gefthedes) are a popular meze (appetizer). A special Santorini fava is made from a local hulled, sun-dried legume rather than the yellow split pea used elsewhere in Greece.

A local variety of cucumber called katsouni boasts a sweet taste like melon. Santorini pomegranates are to die for! The local fresh vegetables are often combined to prepare a Greek salad better than any you’ve tasted before.

Mezes are the traditional start to any Mediterranean meal. These are small snacks served hot or cold, often with dips. Saganaki is a great meze made from cheese in filo pastry coated in honey and fried in a special saganaki pan. It’s common to see locals sipping ouzo, the famous Greek anise liquor, while nibbling mezes.

Like elsewhere in Greece, moussaka is a popular main dish. This is layers of eggplant and mincemeat topped with bechamel sauce and baked in an oven. Often, it’s seasoned with nutmeg and cinnamon.

Beachside tavernas serve fantastic gyros with spit-roasted lamb stuffed into pita bread and topped with those delicious local vegetables. You’ll find them served with yogurt.

But my favorite Santorini food is spanakopita, which is a tasty Greek savory pastry stuffed with feta cheese, chopped spinach, spring onions, and spices. You’ll find these served like pie in tavernas or formed into triangles for consumption on the hoof.

Popular Santorini desserts include walnut cake and galaktoboureko. Galaktoboureko is semolina custard wrapped in filo pastry. It is served cut into squares and coated in a sweet syrup.

Just like elsewhere in Greece, you’ll find baklava in all the bakeries. If you’ve not tasted these before, they’re amazing filo dough pastries stuffed with chopped nuts and coated in honey.

Nightlife & Entertainment

Although Santorini has a tiny population of only 15,550, there’s no shortage of bars, cocktail bars, and night clubs to cater to the millions of tourists who visit each year. Most of the nightlife is found in the capital of Fira, but the main resorts also have much to offer.

If you like traditional pubs, wander around Fira to find Murphy’s, Highlander, and Two Brothers. All offer a traditional pub atmosphere and great cold beers to end your day the right way.

Lively cocktail bars are found around the winding streets of Fira. MoMix and Casablanca Soul both combine complex cocktails with a live DJ for fun parties. The most popular nightclubs are also found in Fira. These include Mamounia, Koo Club, and Enigma.

If it’s romance you’re looking for, try Tango cocktail bar or Kira Thira Jazz Bar in Fira, or Lioyerma Pool Bar in Oia. Kira Thira is especially great for “older” (I mean not in their twenties) couples who love live music.

The best beach bars cluster around the southeast of the island along Perissa Beach and Perivolos Beach. These beaches are side by side and collectively called the Black Beach. Popular beach bars include Wave Bar, Wet Stories, JoJo, Chilli, and Seaside Santorini. All can be found along the Black Beach except Wave Bar, which is on Eros Beach on the southern tip of the island.

Getting Around

Santorini is a small island, only 10 miles long by 3 miles wide. You can drive the whole length of the island in less than ¾-hour if there’s no traffic and walk it within 3 hours. That means you can easily get anywhere by bus or even on foot.

Within a town, it’s easiest to get around by foot. Nothing will be too far away, and you can probably walk to your destination before the bus or taxi arrives to take you. When going from town to town, you’ll find a bus more convenient.

Santorini’s towns and villages are compact with tight and winding roads. Walking is an easy way to get around and allows you to absorb the curious sights and interact with the locals. However, watch out for mopeds driven by careless youths. Under local law, these small motorbikes may be ridden on the sidewalk!

The public bus services in Santorini are run by KTEL, who are based in Fira. Every service runs from and back to Fira, which means there are no direct services from southern to northern destinations. So, for example, if you wanted to travel from Perivolos on the southeast coast to Oia in the far north, you’d have to change to a second bus in Fira.

The buses are modern and air-conditioned. You pay as you get on the bus, and the most expensive fare is €2.81. During the high season, most services run once an hour during the day.

If you don’t want to walk and prefer the freedom of your own vehicle, it’s easy to rent a car, moped, or ATV in Fira or at the airport. To hire a vehicle in Santorini, you’ll require an International Driving Permit.

Taxis are always an option. Main routes from town to town often have fixed rates of between €10 and €20. Otherwise, be cautious. Write down the destination address to avoid confusion and agree on the fare before setting off.

Santorini is, of course, part of the Santorini Caldera group of islands. To get from Santorini (Thira) to the second smallest island of Thirassia, you’ll have to take a ferry from Athinios, the port on the west coast 5 miles south of Fira, or Oia 7 miles north. The ferries run 3 times a day and should cost less than €5.

Accommodations

The best place for you to stay on Santorini depends upon why you’re going and your budget. Given the small size of the island, you can stay anywhere and still see and do the same things. However, you might prefer to stay in certain places for convenience. Most visitors stay in Imerovigli, Oia, Fira, or one of the villages near the better beaches along the southeast coast.

Imerovigli

You’ll find the best luxury hotels on the island in Imerovigli. This is a village where you’ll get great sunsets and panoramic views of the caldera. It’s also less crowded than Fira and Oia. Here you’ll find luxury hotels like Grace Hotel Santorini and San Antonio Hotel Santorini, both rated 5-stars on TripAdvisor.

Oia

Oia is reputed to have the best sunsets in Santorini, but it’s much more crowded and touristy than Imerovigli. There are lots of wonderful hotels in Oia, like Adronis Luxury Suites or the more affordable Fileria Suites Hotel.

Fira

If you’re attracted to the nightlife, then you’ll probably prefer to stay in Fira. Off-season, Fira is the only place where you’re still guaranteed lively bars. Celestia Grand Hotel is a great luxury choice, but De Sol Spa Hotel is still a great hotel and much more affordable.

The south east coast

For beach holidays or family holidays with the kids, you’re better off in Kamari, Perissa, and Perivolos. Also, because these towns are on the east coast and don’t have the amazing caldera and sunset views, the hotels are much cheaper and better value for money. Hotels like Anassa Hotel, Cavo Bianco, and La Bellezza Eco Boutique Hotel are among the top-rated hotels in Santorini, yet they’re a third of the cost of the luxury hotels in Fira and Oia!

For people who like a little more independence, you can find great villas to rent in Santorini. For example, Secret Earth has a good reputation for great value for money rentals.

Weather

Santorini has a semi-arid climate somewhat tempered by the surrounding Aegean Sea. The island experiences hot and dry summers and mild winters. This makes it a great destination all year round.

The summer is hot and sunny. The hottest month is July when average temperatures range from 73⁰F to 84⁰F. It’s still sunny in the fall, but the rainy season begins in October. In November, average temperatures range from 57⁰F to 66⁰F.

As winter begins, December sees a sudden drop in average temperatures, ranging from 52⁰F to 59⁰F. It’s coldest in January, with average temperatures from 50⁰F to 57⁰F.

In spring, the rainy season ends toward the close of March. Temperatures grows steadily between March and May. The average temperatures in April range from 55⁰F to 64⁰F.

Attractions

Santorini is one of the most popular Greek islands for a good reason. It boasts unique geological, archaeological, and architectural features making it a fantastic destination for a wide range of people.

As is common among Greek islands, the capital town has the same name as the island. The official name of the island is actually Thira, and the locals pronounce this Fira. On maps, both the island and the town are often marked as Thira.

Fira sits atop cliffs a thousand feet above the caldera. You will love exploring its picturesque maze of cubic, whitewashed homes, tiny squares, and blue-domed churches. Here is also where you’ll find the main museums as well as the best selection of cafés, restaurants, and bars.

From Fira, or any other settlement on the west coast, you can enjoy stunning views across the caldera. The various islands of the Santorini Caldera are actually the rim of an underwater volcanic crater.

In the center of the caldera are two small, uninhabited islands called Nea Kameni and Palia Kame. The larger was formed when the volcano erupted in 47 CE. The Romans of that time were shocked by the appearance of a new island, so it was well recorded.

You can take tours to Nea Kameni and Palia Kame to enjoy the views and see the volcanic craters. There are also hot springs and volcanic gas emissions. The orange-tinted, hot spring water bubbles into a shallow cove on Palia Kame and is said to offer therapeutic benefits. The water in the cove is between 86⁰F and 95⁰F. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can swim in the hot spring water.

On the southeastern coast of Santorini, you can visit the Ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine ruins of classical Thera. The temples, theater, gym, and villas date back to as early as the 9^th century BCE.

Artifacts uncovered in the various archaeological excavations of classical Thera are displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Thera in Fira. There you can see beautiful ceramics, clay figurines, and ancient inscriptions.

However, the most exciting archaeological site in Santorini is the Akrotiri Archaeological Site. This is like Greece’s Pompeii because the settlement here was covered with ash during a major volcanic eruption in the 16^th century BCE. And what’s particularly interesting about this is that this prehistoric town may well be the original Atlantis.

The sophisticated Minoan settlement uncovered by archaeologists contains many surprising features given its age. These unusual features include hot and cold water plumbing, water cleaned toilets, sewers, and three-story buildings. The bronze age inhabitants apparently made use of geothermal energy to heat their water.

These modern features would have made this town appear futuristic and even alien to contemporary Greek visitors 3,600 years ago. But the volcanic eruption destroyed the town and wiped its memory from the Earth. This may have led to the many legends about an advanced civilization slipping into the sea never to be seen again.

The Museum of Prehistoric Thira in Fira displays artifacts from the Akrotiri site, including marble figurines, well-preserved frescoes, painted ceramics, weapons, and tools.