--- title: Santorini Cable Car-Free & Stress-Free Private Island Tour lang: en type: tour city: Santorini country: Greece price: 190 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.95 reviews: 128 duration_minutes: 300 languages: [en] free_cancellation: "true" rank_in_category: 48 of 77 (Island Sightseeing Tours) schedule_checked: 2026-11-08 data_updated: 2026-11-08 canonical: https://guidekin.com/greece/santorini/tours/santorini-cable-car-free-stress-free-private-island-tour/ --- # Santorini Cable Car-Free & Stress-Free Private Island Tour **Guidekin's take:** A shared water taxi takes you from the Old Port to Athinios Port, bypassing the cable car before island sightseeing. The land section is a private tour for your party with a guide, minibus transport and water; food and drinks cost extra. 4.95 from 128 reviews at €190 per person for 5h. In our comparison: #48 of 77 in Island Sightseeing Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview The ideal shore excursion for cruise passengers who want to make the most of their limited time on the island! Skip the gondola and the long queues with this exclusive, tailor-made 5-hour private tour. Your journey begins at the Old Port, where you’ll board a shared water taxi that whisks you past the long cable car queues directly to Athinios Port. Discover the best of Santorini, including the Three Bells of Fira, the Iconic Blue Domed Churches, Traditional Villages, Panoramic Caldera Views, the Monastery of Profit Ilias, and the Volcanic Black Beach. The itinerary can be customized to your interests & preferences. PLEASE NOTE: The water taxi service is shared with other passengers and is subject to the port authorities and weather conditions. In the event of extreme weather, the water taxi may be delayed or unavailable due to safety concerns. In such cases, alternative arrangements or refund options will be provided. ## Before you book - Meeting point: Our team will be waiting for you outside… - Min. 3 to book: not for solo travellers - 6 start times: between 09:00 and 15:30 - Food not included: bring or buy your own - Strollers OK: infants accepted - Age rule: Specialized infant seats are available **Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point ## Key facts - Price: from €190 per person - Duration: 5h - Rating: 4.95/5 from 128 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Operator: Santorini Karavas Travel - Minimum booking: 3 travellers at this price - Group: Private tour, your party only - Guide languages: English - Start times: 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 15:30 - Booking: Confirmation within 48 hours, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-11-08 ## Reviews 4.95 from 128 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 99% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 127 of 128. - 5 stars: 123 (96%) - 4 stars: 4 (3%) - 3 stars: 0 (0%) - 2 stars: 1 (1%) - 1 star: 0 (0%) ### What reviewers say Reviewers praise the guides and bypassing cable car queues; organisation of port transfers draws mixed reports **Praised:** - Engaging guides with detailed knowledge of island life and history - Skilled, considerate drivers on winding roads - Boat transfers that bypass cable car queues - Comfortable vehicles with air conditioning - Varied village, beach and photo stops **Complaints:** - Some find port transfers disorganised, while others describe them as straightforward Written by Guidekin from the 50 most recent English reviews on Tripadvisor & Viator (2026-07-28 to 2026-11-01); last checked 2026-11-08. ## What's included - Transfer in a comfortable, air-conditioned minibus - Skip the Gondola - Bottled water - Port pick-up & drop-off - Full refund in case of a change to the cruise schedule - Shared Water Taxi - Commentary from your driver/guide ## Not included - Gratuities - Food & drinks ## Itinerary 1. **Santorini Old Harbor** (15m) - Your journey begins from the old port, where our team will be waiting for you outside the Santo Star office. From there, you'll board a shared water taxi that will take you to Athinios port, allowing you to skip the gondola and avoid the long queues. For a smooth departure,... 2. **Athinios Port Santorini** (10m) - Once on land, your private driver/guide will take you on a personalized exploration of the island’s most famous landmarks and hidden gems. 3. **Firostefani** (15m) - Our first photo stop will be in Firostefani, a picturesque village renowned for its iconic blue-domed church. Here, you can admire the spectacular views of the volcanic caldera while learning about the fascinating history and culture of Santorini. 4. **Finikia** (15m) - Our second photo stop is in Finikia, a peaceful hidden gem where you can enjoy the quiet atmosphere away from the crowds and take in the beautiful view of Oia from afar. 5. **Oia** (1h) - Then, we'll start heading to Oia, Santorini’s most iconic destination and a UNESCO-protected treasure. This picturesque village, with its traditional architecture and breathtaking views, is sure to captivate you. Enjoy some free time to wander through its charming streets,... 6. **Monastery of Profitis Ilias** (30m) - Perched 565 meters above sea level, the Monastery of Prophet Elias is the highest point on Santorini and offers one of the most breathtaking panoramic views of the island. Here, you’ll have the chance to taste local delicacies produced by the resident monks (such as wine,... 7. **Perivolos** (1h) - Our last stop is at the black beach of Perivolos, an organized sandy beach where you will have your free time to relax under the sun, swim in crystal clear waters, do water sports, or enjoy a traditional Greek meal by the Aegean Sea. The itinerary presented above is just a... ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 15:30 - Schedule last checked: 2026-11-08 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. ## Meeting point Our team will be waiting for you outside the "Santo Star" office, holding a sign with your name for easy identification. Ends: back at the meeting point ## Good to know - Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller - Service animals allowed - Specialized infant seats are available - Suitable for all physical fitness levels - The remaining time will be spent on driving from one location to another. - There are no health restictions ## Cost for your party | People | Total | Per person | |---|---|---| | 4 | €760 | €190 | | 6 | €1020 | €170 | Cheapest option for that party size from the operator's current price tiers; the calendar shows the exact figure for your date. Shared tours in Island Sightseeing Tours start at €90 per person. ## Compared with other Island Sightseeing Tours | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #48 of 77** | €190 | 5h | 4.95 (128) | private | | [Private Classic Santorini Panorama: Visit Top Destinations](/greece/santorini/tours/private-classic-santorini-panorama-visit-top-destinations/?format=md) | €195 | 5h | 4.99 (978) | private | | [Santorini Private Full-Day Tour – Customizable Island Experience](/greece/santorini/tours/santorini-private-full-day-tour-customizable-island-experience/?format=md) | €200 | 6h | 5.0 (241) | private | | [Best of Santorini Sightseeing Guided Tour 5h](/greece/santorini/tours/best-of-santorini-sightseeing-guided-tour-5h/?format=md) | €120 | 5h | 5.0 (194) | shared | Ranked #48 of 77 in Island Sightseeing Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €90 to €750, median €163; typical length 5h. 69 of 77 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Full list: https://guidekin.com/greece/santorini/santorini-sightseeing-tours/?format=md ## More in Santorini - All Santorini tours: https://guidekin.com/greece/santorini/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/greece/santorini/tours/santorini-cable-car-free-stress-free-private-island-tour/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/greece/santorini/?format=md