SKIP CABLE CAR® The Original Santorini Tour for Cruise Passengers

Overview

Available languages

English

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

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

In the event of exceptionally rough sea conditions preventing boat transfers, we reserve the right to operate the regular tour route instead. In such cases, a refund of €10 per person will be provided for each cable car ride required in place of the boat transfer.

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

Guaranteed return to ship on time

Professional local English-speaking tour guide

Small group limited to 18 participants

Port pickup and drop-off

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

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.

30 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

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.

30 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Options

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 Ticket

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.

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.

Shared Tour Ticket

Reviews

4.78

265 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

227

Santorini vibe
Gayane K,
Nov 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Excellent experience highly recommended very organized. Went to the best spot and experience the best of Santorini with additional free time.
Yani is an outstanding...
Roderick S,
Nov 7, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Yani is an outstanding leader who combines deep knowledge with a great sense of humor. He set a positive tone from the start, kept everything organized, and made the experience both educational and fun. He even took us to an excellent Greek restaurant authentic food and a perfect cap to the day. If you’re looking for someone who’s professional, personable, and truly goes above and beyond, Yani is your guy. Five stars.
Fantastic tour of Santorini, no cable cars, best tour guide
janliz767,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Wonderful tour of Santorini with boat pickup to bus which took us up to top of cliffs then to different scenic spots for photos, about an hour to explore beautiful Oia with the blue domes, then through a quaint town. Our tour guide, George, was great, telling us so much about the island. Our last stop was a beautiful beach with outdoor restaurants where we had time to eat. Then back to port where their boat took us back to our ship, without having to wait for tender. Awesome tour, highly recommend!
Glad we skipped the cable...
Thomas R,
Nov 4, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00
Glad we skipped the cable car because the power was out and there was a huge delay. Not really impressed with Santorini. We were on our own in Oia. A tour of the town would have been nice.
Highly recommend
H5746WMjuliettem,
Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I joined the tour last minute, and they were fantastic at flexing the tour to accommodate my needs and make sure I was able to participate as fully as possible.
Wonderful guide made the day
Steve P,
Oct 31, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Best guide in terms of knowledge and expertise. Much better than going through cruise guides. We were blessed by not having to wait in the long lines for the cable car with the trail closed.
A good way to see as much as possible while on a cruise
BArry s,
Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
This was a very good way to see Santorini and you DO NOT want to take the cable car I am sure it’s a lovely experience but the line is something to behold (and you need to behold it 2x). This is a small group. Our guide was exceptional and very interactive with the group. You have time to take the pictures you want and see all the things you have seen pictures of that made you want to come Pro tip. Bring a protein bar Your opportunity to have lunch is at the very end of the tour Beyond that this was the way to go Much less expensive than the ship excursion and we were at all the same places
Great Day Touring Around Santorini
JackieTil,
Oct 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Elisa "Ellie", if I remember correctly was our tour guide. She was excellent explaining all the sites. She did a wonderful job keeping us on schedule too. The driver was great driving and helping people on and off the bus as needed. I wouldn't recommend going if you use a wheelchair, even though one man did. He got off a couple times. Once, he sat there near a gelato restaurant while the rest of us walked around for one hour and another time at the beach where there were restaurants. There are a moderate amount of steps, but not too many if you are somewhat in shape. Our tour was as described and was five hours. It was a perfect length of time considering before and after the tour we had to tender to and from the ship. In any event, it was a great day and I highly recommend it!
Some steep steps, but very doable!
221gayanek,
Oct 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Elisa and Tasso were amazing! I highly recommend this tour! They took us some phenomenal places with lots of times to explore! Elisa answered all our questions and truly did a fantastic job. There was some stairs to walk, but it was very doable. Great suggestions. An exquisite driver that made us feel comfortable and cared for. Highly recommend!
Amazing day in Santorini
kpruitt36,
Oct 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was a perfect way to see the highlights of the island of Santorini. Our driver Thaso and tour guide Elisa were so knowledgeable and made this experience very special. From the point of pick up at the port, they kept us on time to see the best sites. The van held 18 passengers and was a comfortable ride. Book this now! You won’t disappointed!