SKIP CABLE CAR! The Best Santorini Tour for Cruise Passengers
Overview
Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
Avoid long lines, donkeys, and the cable car chaos. Start your Santorini day with a boat transfer from your cruise port — no waiting, no stairs — and enjoy a seamless small-group tour to iconic spots like Oia, the black sand beach, and the village of Megalochori. This tour is built for cruise passengers, with on-time return guaranteed and space to breathe — even during peak season.
Travel in comfort by air-conditioned minibus with a top-rated local guide who brings Santorini’s history and beauty to life. You’ll stop in postcard-worthy villages, taste local flavors if you wish, and take in panoramic views without rushing. The route is crafted specifically around cruise schedules — with enough free time to enjoy each stop and a smooth return to port by boat. This is the smarter, safer way to experience Santorini in just one day — no lines, no chaos, no stress.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Modern, comfortable, air-conditioned minibus
Full refund if your ship cannot dock
Port pick-up and drop off
Guaranteed return to ship on time
Professional local English-speaking tour guide
Small group limited to 18 participants
Transfers by boat to bypass the Cable Car
1 complimentary bottle of water per person
Gratuities (Recommend 10% for guides, and 5% for bus drivers)
Food and Beverages
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting points
End points
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
What To Expect
Athinios Port Santorini
Our Skip Cable Car Santorini Tour is designed specifically for cruise ship passengers like you. This top-rated, time-saving tour lets you skip the long, hot wait for the cable car and dive straight into exploring Santorini. As soon as you step off your cruise ship’s tender, a boat picks you up and takes you directly ashore—bypassing the crowds completely. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea and Caldera during your transfer, making even the journey part of the experience.
Finikia
After the boat reaches your designated pick-up spot, an air-conditioned bus takes over. Start your sightseeing at Santorini’s famous blue dome in the peaceful Finikia area. This spot is ideal for iconic photographs without the Oia crowds, offering a relaxed first impression of the island’s unique Cycladic architecture.
Options
Ticket for Shared Tour
Shared Tour: This is a ticket for a shared tour.
Pick-up by Boat: Upon arrival by your ship’s tender to the Santorini harbor, we will pick you up by our boat, skipping the cable car.
Return by Boat: At the end of the tour, we will return you to your tender pick-up point by boat, once again avoiding cable car lines.
Included in tour price: This option already includes the private boat transfer in the price. There are no additional costs with this option.
Book an early tender!: Please book an early tender directly with your cruise ship's staff to ensure timely arrival.
Private with Shared Boat Rides
Skip the cable car!: Private guided tour and shared boat transfers from the Old Port to the Athinios Port and back - bypass the cable car!
Private tour&shared boat rides: The boat transfers are shared with other guests. The private tour starts at Athinios Port where you meet your guide & driver.
Shared Boat/Transfer Only
No guided tour included: This option does not include a tour or a guide, only boat transfers.
Only transfer to Athinios Port: Please note this option does not include a guided tour and only a shared transfer from the Old to the Athinios Port by boat.
Drop off location: Please note your drop-off location is at the Athinios port where you will need to take a taxi to transfer to Fira Town.
Shared Tour
Shared Tour: This is a ticket for a tour shared with other passengers.
Pick-up by Boat: Upon arrival by your ship’s tender to the Santorini harbor, we will pick you up by our boat, skipping the cable car.
Return by Boat: At the end of the tour, we will return you to your tender pick-up point by boat, once again avoiding cable car lines.
Included in tour price: This option already includes the private boat transfer in the price. There are no additional costs with this option.
Book an early tender!: Please book an early tender directly with your cruise ship's staff to ensure timely arrival.
Shared Tour Ticket
Shared Tour: This is a ticket for a tour shared with other passengers.
Pick-up by Boat: Upon arrival by your ship’s tender to the Santorini harbor, we will pick you up by our boat, skipping the cable car.
Return by Boat: At the end of the tour, we will return you to your tender pick-up point by boat, once again avoiding cable car lines.
Included in tour price: This option already includes the private boat transfer in the price. There are no additional costs with this option.
Book an early tender!: Please book an early tender directly with your cruise ship's staff to ensure timely arrival.
Reviews
135 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Skip the cable car in Santorini
WendiP,
Aug 9, 2025
- Viator
5.00Our family of 5 with teen boys enjoyed a day in Santorini, which is notoriously difficult to get around. Picked up at the harbor by a boat and driven to Oia with a few scenic stops on the way. Very crowded there but had an hour to explore before visiting beautiful traditional village and then an hour at the black beach. Restaurants on the beach for lunch and a beach club with a pool. Recommend.
Recommend this tour 100%
Diane M,
Aug 8, 2025
- Viator
5.00Alex was a great tour guide! So knowledgeable and pleasant. The island of Santorini was our favorite of all the stops!
This tour was one of the...
Mario C,
Aug 4, 2025
- Viator
5.00This tour was one of the highlights of our trip. We were a large group and they were able to provide a large enough bus for all of us. Loved that it was a private tour just for us. They were in constant contact with our ship and made sure to get us back in time. Would highly recommend this tour, worth it to skip the cable car.
Perfect tour to see the whole island with limited time.
Desiree W,
Aug 4, 2025
- Viator
5.00We had the best day exploring the island from bottom to top. Gina was the BEST! She was very informative and friendly and easily kept our attention. Highly recommend this trip if you’d like to see a bit of everything with limited time.
Full day tour on Santorini
Angela Z,
Aug 3, 2025
- Viator
5.00This was a full day tour of Santorini, including the capital of Fira, the town of Oia and the lovely little village of Megalochori. Our tour guide was Yanis and he did his best to allow us to get the best photos possible, however, we went in July, which is probably the worst time to visit the island. The temperatures were super high and the crowds were horrific. I would not recommend going during the summer. I think this tour would’ve been much more enjoyable in the fall with cooler, weather and small crowds.
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