Tour Finder
  1. Home
  2. SKIP CABLE CAR! The Best Santorini Tour for Cruise Passengers

SKIP CABLE CAR! The Best Santorini Tour for Cruise Passengers

Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4
Image 5
Image 6
Image 7
Image 8
Image 9
Image 10
Image 11
Image 12
Image 13
Image 14
Image 15
Image 16
Image 17
Image 18
Image 19
Image 20
Image 21
Image 22
Image 23

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

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

What To Expect

1

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
2

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

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: 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

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.

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.

Reviews

4.76

110 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

92
12
4
2
0
  • Perfect Way to See Santorini

    Lori H,

    Jul 16, 2025

    - Viator

    5.00

    Made our disembarkation from the cruise ship so much better! Our guide was very good and showed us all the high points of Santorini. We ended with a delicious meal on the black sand beach. My only complaint was that it wasn’t long enough.

  • Great day in Santorini

    Sheri M,

    Jul 16, 2025

    - Viator

    5.00

    I was most nervous about Santorini after reading horror stories about the lines at the cable car. However this excursion through Vexperio (booked on Viator) was the absolute best way to see Santorini on a day excursion from our cruise .We found our guide Anna easily in the crowded port and she was clear and helpful. We immediately got on another boat to the new port, onto an air conditioned mini bus and avoided the cable car/ donkey mess! They stopped us at some beautiful look outs for photos, narrating interesting facts about Santorini along the way. We stopped in Oia for an hour, (crowded but very cool), then in a little town called Megalochori to see an authentic abandoned cave house, then on to a lava beach for a swim and lunch. We would have loved more time at this beach as we were very rushed to eat lunch and it was gorgeous spot. Get the Santorini salad. It was heavenly. Only improvement for this trip would be to cut something else shorter to make this part an hour instead of 45 min. We had an 11am excursion and were back on our ship by 5:15 including the wait for the tender back. Highly recommend.

  • Great Tour for Cruise Stop

    Ashley F,

    Jul 13, 2025

    - Viator

    5.00

    The tour operation was incredibly organized. We opted for a private tour for our family of 3. Once we got off the cruise ship we were corralled with other families where we all boarded a water taxi which took us to our cars. From there we parted ways with the larger groups and got into our own private car with Alexis (guide) and manolis (driver) we knocked out all the highlights and Alexis was a great guide. knowledgeable and fun. Thank you for an amazing day! Bring swimsuits as we didn’t but I wish we would have so we could have ended the day at the beach.

  • Zeus was a great tour...

    krista L,

    Jul 12, 2025

    - Viator

    5.00

    Zeus was a great tour guide.Very knowledgeable of the island.We saw many beautiful views and had lots of time for pictures. This was a wonderful excursion that skipped the cable car transportation which was well worth it!

  • This was one of the best...

    Lorraine M,

    Jul 11, 2025

    - Viator

    5.00

    This was one of the best experiences we've ever had. Alex our guide brought us to the necessary tourist spot, Oia, and allowed sufficient time to explore. (When the rest room required a euro, and we had none, Alex paid for our visit!) It was the second part of the tour that was the best. He took us away from the congested areas to really understand the island. He brought us to his own village, and continually showed his pride in Santorini. Lastly, we had a lovely lunch by the Sea. It was an amazing experience that we'll always remember.

From EUR 62.1

4.76
110 reviews
Check availability

Related Experiences

Santorini Classic Catamaran Cruise with BBQ, Drinks and Transfers

Santorini Classic Catamaran Cruise with BBQ, Drinks and Transfers

4.81

Skip Cable Car !!! Hassle-Free 5 Hour Tour for Cruise Passengers

Skip Cable Car !!! Hassle-Free 5 Hour Tour for Cruise Passengers

4.76

Santorini Platinum Catamaran Cruise with Meal, BBQ and Open Bar

Santorini Platinum Catamaran Cruise with Meal, BBQ and Open Bar

4.89

Santorini Wine Adventure with 12 Wine Tastings, Tapas and Sunset

Santorini Wine Adventure with 12 Wine Tastings, Tapas and Sunset

4.95

Flying Dress Photoshoot in Santorini with Hotel Pickup

Flying Dress Photoshoot in Santorini with Hotel Pickup

4.48

Half-Day Exclusive Catamaran Cruise in Santorini with Meal and Open Bar

Half-Day Exclusive Catamaran Cruise in Santorini with Meal and Open Bar

4.85

Private Santorini Tailor-Made | Choice of the guest!

Private Santorini Tailor-Made | Choice of the guest!

4.99

Santorini Must-See Highlights: Private Sightseeing Tour

Santorini Must-See Highlights: Private Sightseeing Tour

4.93

Santorini Sunset Luxury Sailing Catamaran Cruise with BBQ, drinks, transfer

Santorini Sunset Luxury Sailing Catamaran Cruise with BBQ, drinks, transfer

4.81

Premium Small-Group Catamaran Cruise with BBQ, Open Bar, Transfer

Premium Small-Group Catamaran Cruise with BBQ, Open Bar, Transfer

4.94

Private Tailor-Made Tour : Explore Santorini in Style & Comfort

Private Tailor-Made Tour : Explore Santorini in Style & Comfort

4.94

The Original Skip Cable Car: The Best Santorini Shore Excursion

The Original Skip Cable Car: The Best Santorini Shore Excursion

4.80

Operated by Vexperio

A product of Trip Social Group

Australia: Pavel Australia Pty Ltd

Việt Nam: Công ty TNHH Trip Social

top-50

Winner - HO CHI MINH INNOVATIVE STARTUPS IN TOURISM 2022.

Quick links

Destinations

Contact us

  • zalo
  • whatpsapp
  • messenger
Travelling effortlessly, together

© 2025 Trip Social Group. All rights reserved.

    Accepted Payment Methods

  • visa
  • visa
  • visa