The Original Skip Cable Car: The Best Santorini Shore Excursion
Overview
Available languages
4 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Skip the long lines and crowds with The ONLY Original Skip Cable Car Small-Group Santorini Tour, designed exclusively for cruise ship passengers. This top-rated tour offers direct boat transfer from your tender to shore, bypassing the congested cable car, and a guided journey through Santorini’s most iconic sights, including Oia, Fira, Megalochori, and the Black Beach. Travel in an air-conditioned bus for a more efficient experience. Enjoy stunning views, local wines, and authentic island culture, all timed perfectly to fit your cruise schedule. Optimize your limited time in Santorini with the tour that cruise guests consistently rank #1.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Modern, comfortable, air-conditioned minibus
Professional local English-speaking tour guide (if option selected)
Full refund if your ship cannot dock
Port pick-up and drop off
Guaranteed return to ship on time
Transfers by boat to bypass the Cable Car
One 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
The ONLY Original Skip Cable Car: Small-Group 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. Your first destination is the serene neighborhood of Finikia, home to the famous blue dome. Here, you begin immersing yourself in the island's beauty, far from the crowded port.
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.
Custom Request
Skip Cable Car Tour Ticket
Shared Tour: This is a ticket for a tour shared with other passengers.
Boat Transfers: This tour uses boat transfers to and from Athinios Port, after you disembark from your ship's tender.
Private Tour/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.
Duration: 5 hours: The tour is 4-5-hour long, depending on the traffic at the port. Our main priority is to get you back to the port on time.
Reviews
76 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
The Best Tour
Debra B,
Jun 16, 2025
- Viator
5.00Do this tour! Be had a great day. Don’t miss this one. The tour was perfect and glad we booked this. You won’t go wrong.
It is well worth the...
Elisa M,
Jun 15, 2025
- Viator
5.00It is well worth the price. We missed the long line to the top and we had a fun and engaging guide, Yianni. Although you have to see Oia, it is beautiful, we enjoyed the second half was even better. Megalochori is as beautiful as Oia but not as crowded and it was fun to put your toes in the black sand beach.
Excellent tour of...
Starr H,
Jun 15, 2025
- Viator
5.00Excellent tour of Santorini. Well organized. Comfortable transportation. Our guide Victor was excellent! He was very personable, informative and made the tour fun!
Love skipping the cable...
carylinmother2,
Jun 12, 2025
- Viator
5.00Love skipping the cable car and using boat to get to Oia and Fira. Tour was so informative, well organized and the free time in each stop was just right! Definitely recommend this tour vs waiting in the long lines we saw for cable cars.
Beautiful town and great way to see it
Christine S,
Jun 10, 2025
- Viator
5.00So much to see in Santorini this was a great way to view a lot of it. Guide was wonderful and helpful. It started early enough that probably didn’t need to skip the cable cars but at least we didn’t have to worry about it.
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