Santorini’s caldera is one of the most striking marine environments in the Mediterranean - a flooded volcanic crater where the sea is warm, the cliffs are sheer, and every viewpoint feels designed for a photograph. The island’s best experiences happen on the water. Here are the tours worth booking, with specific GYG product links, prices, and honest notes on what each delivers. All prices are approximate as of 2026.
Top Tours at a Glance
| Tour | Duration | Price (from) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catamaran Tour with BBQ Meal and Unlimited Drinks | 5 hrs | from approx. €89 | Families, first-timers |
| Catamaran Cruise with BBQ, Drinks and Volcano | 5 hrs | from approx. €99 | Adventure seekers |
| Adventurous Catamaran with Snorkeling | 5 hrs | from approx. €79 | Solo travellers, budget |
| Gold Catamaran Cruise with Snorkel, BBQ and Open Bar | 5 hrs | from approx. €95 | Culture seekers |
| Santorini Catamaran Cruise with Fresh Meal and Open Bar | 5 hrs | from approx. €110 | Couples, luxury |
| 7-Hour Private Catamaran Cruise with Food and Drink | 7 hrs | from approx. €180 | Luxury, private groups |
| Discover Santorini: Prehistoric Akrotiri and Winery Tour | 4 hrs | from approx. €55 | Culture seekers |
| Santorini Wine Tasting Tour with 12 Tastings and Snacks | 2-3 hrs | from approx. €65 | Wine lovers, foodies |
| Catamaran Cruise, Winery and Oia Sunset Combo | Full day | from approx. €130 | Culture and wine lovers |
Browse all Santorini tours on GetYourGuide
For Families and First-Timers
The defining Santorini experience is on the water, and a catamaran cruise works best for families. You sit on deck, the volcano and caldera walls provide the scenery, and the BBQ lunch solves the problem of where to eat. The standard caldera route visits Nea Kameni (volcano), the Palea Kameni hot springs, and Red Beach or Thirassia depending on the operator.
Catamaran Tour with BBQ Meal and Unlimited Drinks
This 5-hour catamaran is one of the best-reviewed products on GetYourGuide for Santorini. The format works well for families because there is no pressure on timing: lunch happens on deck, swim stops are guided, and the group is a manageable size. The hot springs stop at Palea Kameni turns a standard boat cruise into something more memorable - swimming in water warmed by volcanic activity, the orange-brown mineral staining visible around you. Children who can swim find this genuinely thrilling. The BBQ and unlimited drinks are included, so the headline price covers the full day. From approximately €89 per person as of 2026.
All-Inclusive Catamaran Cruise with Food, Drinks and Volcano
For families who want the volcano walk included with their catamaran day, this tour specifically builds in time on Nea Kameni. The 20-30 minute walk on the volcanic crater is on rough terrain - wear closed shoes, not sandals, and avoid bringing very young children who cannot walk the distance. The view from the summit looking back across the caldera to Fira and Oia is the best perspective on the island’s geography available from any single vantage point. From approximately €99 per person.
Difficulty: Easy on the catamaran; moderate on the volcano walk (rough volcanic rock). Best season: May-October. Morning departures (9am) are calmer than afternoon ones.
For Solo Travellers and Budget Travellers
Solo travellers and budget-conscious visitors should compare the included food and drink carefully before choosing by price alone. The gap between a €79 tour with snorkelling gear and a €95 tour with BBQ and open bar often represents better value at the higher price point once you account for what you would otherwise spend on lunch.
Adventurous Catamaran Experience with Snorkeling
This tour prioritises water activity over table time. The emphasis is on snorkelling at the caldera walls, swimming at hidden coves, and sailing the coast of the volcanic islands. The crew focuses on getting guests in the water at the best spots rather than maximising deck time. For solo travellers who want to be active rather than passive, and who do not need a full BBQ spread, this is the most efficient option. Groups are kept small enough that you are not competing for swimming ladder space with 40 strangers. From approximately €79 per person as of 2026.
Gold Catamaran Cruise with Snorkel, BBQ and Open Bar
The Gold Catamaran is one of the most consistently well-reviewed tours on the island. The route sails past Red Beach and White Beach, stops at the hot springs, and includes a full BBQ lunch with Greek salad, grilled meat, and fresh bread on deck. The open bar covers wine, beer, and soft drinks throughout. For solo travellers who want to socialise, the shared table format on a catamaran of 15-20 people tends to generate conversation naturally - particularly over the wine and BBQ around midday. From approximately €95 per person.
Duration: 5 hours. Difficulty: Easy. Best time: Morning departure for calmer water and better snorkelling light.
For Culture Seekers
Santorini’s geological history (the Minoan eruption of around 1620 BCE was one of the largest volcanic events in recorded human history) and its wine culture (volcanic ash soil produces some of Greece’s most distinctive whites) make it unusually rewarding for culture-focused travellers who go beyond the sunset photographs.
Discover Santorini: Prehistoric Akrotiri and Winery Tour
This half-day tour pairs the excavated prehistoric town of Akrotiri with a wine tasting at a family-owned estate. Akrotiri was buried by the 1620 BCE eruption in a manner similar to Pompeii — two-storey buildings, frescoes, storage jars, and urban infrastructure survive intact under the volcanic ash, giving the most vivid picture of Aegean Bronze Age life anywhere in Greece. The winery section follows with volcanic wine tasting: Assyrtiko grown in basket-trained vines on pumice soil, producing a mineral intensity that you can taste against the backdrop of the same landscape that shaped it. A highly efficient pairing for the culturally serious visitor who wants land-based depth to complement the on-water catamaran experience. From approximately €55 per person as of 2026.
Santorini Wine Tasting Tour with 12 Tastings and Snacks
For wine-focused visitors who want a dedicated tasting session rather than a single stop, this tour covers 12 different wines — a structured progression through Assyrtiko dry whites, Nykteri (Santorini’s oak-aged white), Vinsanto (the sweet dessert wine made from sun-dried grapes, produced in tiny quantities), and limited red varieties from the indigenous Mavrotragano grape. Local snacks accompany the tastings. The format suits travellers who want to understand Santorini’s wine identity rather than just taste one house’s best-sellers. From approximately €65 per person.
Catamaran Cruise, Winery and Oia Sunset Combo
This full-day combination tour is the strongest single booking for culture seekers who want the complete Santorini picture. The morning catamaran covers the caldera and volcanic islands with geological commentary. The afternoon winery visit focuses on the Assyrtiko grape — the island’s dominant variety, producing high-acid, minerally whites unlike anything from the mainland. The day concludes in Oia for the sunset, experienced with enough context to understand what you are looking at rather than just photographing it. From approximately €130 per person as of 2026. A long day but exceptionally well-structured for those who want depth over snapshots.
Duration: 4-8+ hours depending on option. Difficulty: Easy to moderate. Best season: May-October. September is harvest season at many wineries.
For Adventure Seekers and Nature Lovers
The caldera offers physical experiences beyond the catamaran deck. The volcanic islands, sea caves, and thermal springs reward travellers who want to engage with the landscape rather than observe it from a comfortable sun lounger.
All-Inclusive Catamaran Cruise with Food, Drinks and Volcano
Beyond the volcano walk, the all-inclusive format includes snorkelling at the base of the caldera cliffs where the water is clearest. The volcanic rock formations create an underwater landscape unlike standard Aegean snorkelling - darker colours, unusual formations, and warm water in late summer when the caldera heats through. The swim at the hot springs adds a tactile element that passengers on standard day ferries do not get. From approximately €99 per person.
The Adventurous Catamaran with Snorkeling from approximately €79 per person is the most activity-dense option for travellers who want maximum time in the water across multiple stops.
Sea kayaking from Ammoudi Bay (local operators run 3-hour guided sessions from approximately €65 per person) adds another layer for travellers who want the caldera at water level, paddling past volcanic rock and into sea caves that no boat can access. The Meltemi afternoon wind makes morning kayak departures essential in July and August.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate depending on swimming confidence. Best season: May-October. Morning departures essential in summer to avoid Meltemi afternoon winds.
For Luxury Travellers
Premium catamaran experiences justify their higher prices through smaller groups, higher-quality food, and crew ratios that mean you are not waiting in line for the swimming ladder. The difference between sharing a BBQ with 40 people and sitting down to a freshly prepared Greek meal for 12 is significant.
Santorini Catamaran Cruise with Fresh Meal and Open Bar
This catamaran limits passenger numbers and centres the day around a freshly prepared Greek meal rather than a pre-cooked BBQ spread — grilled fish, seasonal vegetables, and local wines matched to the food. The route covers the caldera, hot springs, and volcanic islands with swim stops. For couples seeking a relaxed sailing day with genuine quality in the food and drink, this format delivers substantially more than the standard group catamaran. From approximately €110 per person as of 2026.
7-Hour Private Catamaran Cruise with Food and Drink
A private catamaran chartered exclusively for your group, with a 7-hour format that allows unhurried swimming at multiple caldera stops, extended time at the Palea Kameni hot springs, and a proper sit-down meal on deck. The route is agreed with the captain in advance, so if you want to anchor at the Red Beach for 90 minutes or circumnavigate Thirasia, the schedule accommodates that. For groups of 4-8 where the per-person cost becomes genuinely competitive with premium shared catamarans, this is the definitive Santorini water experience. From approximately €180 per person as of 2026 — the price reflects exclusivity and duration rather than individual opulence.
Duration: 5-7 hours. Difficulty: Easy. Best season: May-October. Book at least a week ahead in July and August — private boats and premium operators fill first.
Booking Tips
Book catamaran tours at least a week ahead in July and August - good operators sell out. Wine tours can typically be arranged with 48 hours’ notice except during harvest week (late September). For volcano boat trips, same-day booking is usually possible but choose smaller group options over mass-ferry versions - the experience is noticeably different. Already on the island and looking for what is still available? Check our last-minute tours page for current availability across Santorini and the rest of Greece.
Book Santorini tours and excursions with GetYourGuide. Pick up a Greece eSIM before you fly.
See Also
- Santorini Island Guide - full island overview beyond just the tours
- Where to Stay in Santorini - Fira, Oia, and Imerovigli options
- Santorini Itinerary - how to structure 3-5 days on the island
- Milos vs Santorini - if you’re deciding between the two Cycladic volcanic islands
- Best Tours in Mykonos - comparing what’s on offer a ferry ride away
- Greek Island Hopping Itinerary - building Santorini into a wider Cyclades circuit