Santorini Island Day Trip

Get to know Santorini on a full-day independent trip from Crete, and see as much of the island as you wish! Either soak up the sun with a book on the beach, or explore the pretty island towns and villages. Discover the delights of Fira or Oia; take a cable car ride from the volcanic caldera to the old port; scout out cozy island tavernas; or impress the children with a donkey ride! How you enjoy your time on Santorini is up to you; just note that any entrance fees, activities or meals are at your own expense.

Start your day trip with a pickup from your Crete hotel, and then travel by air-conditioned minibus to the port to board your high-speed boat. The cruising time between Santorini and Crete is roughly two hours, so settle in and gaze out at the sea as you prepare yourself for a day of exploring the island of Santorini independently.

After docking near the capital of Fira, listen to the onboard crew give your travel details (embarkation point and departure time) for the return to Crete, and then head out to discover Santorini. How you spend your time on the gorgeous island is totally up to you!

Check out Kamari, Perissa or Red Beach for a day of sunning yourself on the sands and swimming in the cool waters of the Aegean, or explore Fira for a dose of culture. Look out for the picturesque ruins of windmills and pose for pictures against the pretty whitewashed houses and the blue sea. Maybe pay a visit to Ormos, the old port, to visit the quaint restaurants and tavernas that line the bottom of the caldera’s cliffs. Access to the old port is tricky with some 600 stone steps down, so why not take the cogwheel cable car instead? The short jaunt lends itself to unforgettable views.

Alternatively, make your own way out of Fira to visit other pretty villages and island attractions. The picturesque village of Oia is well known for its beauty, eye-catching blue-domed churches and dramatic volcanic views. Likewise, Firostefani — a village just north of Fira — is visit-worthy, with more volcanic vistas as well as traditional architecture and atmospheric cobbled lanes.

If you are visiting with children, take them for a donkey ride and let them see Santorini’s sights in an oh-so traditional Greek way. And then, when you’re ready to sit down and relax, check out the island’s countless cafes or bars to sample Greek cuisine staples such as Greek salad, moussaka or dolmades (stuffed vine leaves).

Return to port at the prearranged time, and then hop aboard your boat for the crossing back to Crete. Your day trip finishes with a drop-off at your Crete hotel.

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Round-trip boat ride from Crete to Santorini

• Gratuities (optional)
• Food and drinks
• Entrance fees
• Activities