Thrakomakedones Tours
Private Tour: Santorini Highlights with Akrotiri
5
Private Tour: Santorini Highlights with Akrotiri
By Touring with Kostas
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About
Exploring Santorini by yourself could mean transport hassles and possibly missing some of the island’s history and highlights. Get everything covered on this private tour: with a panoramic drive, visits to key sights, and the advantage of a guide and private minivan transport. Explore the ruins at Akrotiri, visit Oia, stop at Firostefani’s blue-domed church, and add a wine tasting if you wish. Hotel and port transfers are included.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99
Duration: 6h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: German, English
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Highlights
- Experience Santorini’s highlights with ease on a private island tour
- See and learn more than you would alone: with private transport and a guide
- Tour Akrotiri, stop for photos at Firostefani, visit Oia, and enjoy an optional wine tasting
- Relax with hotel or cruise port pickup and drop-off
- Private tour
- Professional guide
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
What's not included- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Start:
- Cable Car Station Regency Casinos, Parnithos, Acharnes 136 72, GreeceFor Cruise ship passengers. We meet at the top of the cable car station, just look for a sign with your name. Hotel guests meeting points to be agreed based on hotel location.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 64807P3- At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 64807P3
From
$377.97
per adult (price varies by group size)
Select date and travelers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- Parnithos, Acharnes 136 72, GreeceFor Cruise ship passengers. We meet at the top of the cable car station, just look for a sign with your name. Hotel guests meeting points to be agreed based on hotel location.
- 1A guided tour with a professional certified Greek tour guide. Guiding services and a transportation included.
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Connector121252771640 contributionsThe perfect guideWe are happy to add to the many superlative reviews Kostas has received. We’ve traveled a good deal and never had a better tour guide. He is highly knowledgeable and personable; his explanations are very informative and concise and peppered with information that addresses both ancient and modern Santorini. Seeing the ancient sites with his imaginative guidance makes a huge difference.Written November 14, 2024
- V8463PVandrewm0 contributionsKostas’ tour was a highlight of our entire tripKostas was a great tour guide - from the history to the stories to his engaging personality. We chose the winery tasting for the end of the tour - which was great. This tour was one of the highlights of our entire 10 day cruise.Written November 6, 2024
- robertjd3490 contributionsInformative and Fun Tour of the Southern Part of SantoriniWe spent the day touring the southern part of Santorini with Kostos. He is a wealth of knowledge about the island and its history and a very personable guy. Our favorite part was the tour of the Akrotiri ruins. Absolutely fascinating!!! It is a personal tour so when we expressed interest, he took up up to Mt. Elijah, the tallest place on Santorini. This tour is expensive but, as the saying goes, you get what you pay for!!!Written October 25, 2024
- manfredsH9465QC0 contributionsA beautiful island with exceptional views.We loved the tour. Kostas kept the tour enjoyable and his knowledge of the island was exceptional since he also lives there. Our group included a few older individuals that could not walk at a high pace, Kostas took this into account and modified the tour to accommodate us.Written October 3, 2024
- 238cillac0 contributionsSuperb overview of SantoriniThe most fabulous tour & Kostas is the BEST guide we have ever had. His knowledge coupled with his delivery gives important insights into Santorini’s history, geography & culture. We learned so much while thoroughly enjoying our day. Highly recommend the wine tasting!Written September 17, 2024
- xgx20230 contributionsWorth the waitBased on a YouTube video and the recommendation of a well-known travel expert named Rick, I checked Kostas' availability almost exactly a year before our return visit to Santorini. Happily, he was available, so it was a matter of waiting and counting the days. (We happened to meet two couples onboard our ship who had tried to book Kostas but were referred to another guide!) Unfortunately, the process of getting ashore was even more chaotic than expected and we reached the top of the cable car more than two hours later than we had hoped. Fortunately, I had been in touch with Kostas and he was very understanding and welcoming. With that behind us, we had a wonderful afternoon with Kostas as we saw both the touristy, whitewashed-and-blue-roofed sights and many off-the-beaten-path areas where cruiseshippers usually don't venture. This included the beachfront village of Kamari. Of course, Oia was a must-see, and our visit was well-timed to avoid the worst of the daily crowd. Kostas' very helpful assistant, Nicoletta, had also booked a dinner reservation at a local restaurant (Ouzeri), where we enjoyed a nice meal before watching a spectacular Santorini sunset and heading down the surprisingly not-busy cable car. A great day and a great tour, and we almost managed to forget the chaotic start!Written September 12, 2024
- V4100RKkristyb0 contributionsAm amazing day exploring!!!We had the best day with Kostas touring all over Santorini. It was a fast paced tour but we still felt relaxed and enjoyed ourselves. We saw everything we wanted to see and Kostas told us so many things we didn't know and would not have seen or learned on our own. Lunch at the Winery was amazing delicious and windy! Kostas took tons of great photos for us on our personal devices. Kostas was recommended by a friend and we were so glad we followed the recommendation. His van was spacious and easy. He was helpful and responsive. And he even took us to a few extra spots. Loved it all!!Written August 29, 2024
- X820BBjamest0 contributionsFantastic tour with KostasKostas was brilliant. In the run up to the tour we had emails and texts to tell us where to meet, and the contact was really good. He met us where he said, in a clean, comfortable vehicle which he drove very safely. Kostas was a great guide, really good at making the history and culture of the island interesting and very engaging with the kids. He made Akrotiri come to life for us, and the tour wasn’t rushed at all. On the way back he gave us good advice for spending the rest of the day, and on top of all that he’s a really nice guy, and good company. I can’t recommend Kostas highly enough. Book a tour with him.Written August 27, 2024
- joancM4723LE0 contributionsExcellent tourKosta was amazing! He was very personable, informative and accommodating to our family. The cable car experience was a mess but Kosta was accommodating for our delays. He changed the direction to help us keep away from the crowd.Written July 29, 2024
- J1253LObrandons0 contributionsAmazing experienceWe arranged a Santorini Highlights tour with Kostas. Fortunately, we were able to have Kostas himself as our guide. Kostas was very friendly and very knowledgeable. He adjusted the itinerary on the fly for us to see sights that mattered most to us. We saw areas of Santorini we would not have seen any other way, and he helped us get great family photos. I highly recommend this tour company for anyone visiting Santorini.Written July 28, 2024
- kellymckivigan0 contributionsPerfect DayKostas provided a comprehensive 6 hour trip for our family. His is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about Greek history. We can’t thank you enough for a Santorini experience we will never, ever forget. We truly hope to see you again some day!Written July 7, 2024
- 508debbyq0 contributionsAmazing tour of SantoriniWe were so blessed to arrange a private tour of Santorini with Kostos. Nicoletta was such a big help with taking care of the details in order to make our day go smoothly! The day started with a lot of confusion on our ship and we actually arrived on the island 90 minutes earlier than expected. Kostos was able to meet us early and to get the driver to arrive earlier. This really helped us to avoid a lot of the crowds as there were several cruise ships in port at the same time. We had been given a list of places to go and see and Kostos made it easy to take our time in the places we really enjoyed and to move a little quicker thru the parts we could see from the bus. He took us to a restaurant by the black sand beach that was wonderful. The service was great and the food was really good. We had time to dip our toes in the water and run across the hot black sand - he warned us... We had 3 children with our group of 14 and Kostos was great with them. We all had a wonderful time and would love to visit Santorini again.Written July 6, 2024
- davidgO4131RN0 contributionsGreat private personalised tourJust returned from an amazing trip on Santorini. Our guide Kostas is engaging and knowledgeable about Santorini from its history to the present day. Kostas arrived on time and tailored the tour to our requests, starting with Akrotiri where he informed us of the history of the site, current theories of the civilisation who built and occupied the site and what may have happened to them. From Akrotiri we had planned to go to one winery but due to the weather it was not possible to get the views from there, so Kostas managed to arrange another winery at short notice, a small producer who uses amphoras to ferment the wine. Our last stop was Oia for a walk around the town, not forgetting the sunset, before returning us to our hotel in time for an evening meal. If you want a private personalised tour I would definitely recommend touring with Kostas.Written June 16, 2024
- CherylBaer0 contributionsWonderful tour with KostasA fantastic tour! After asking us just a few questions about what we wanted to see and do, Kostas took us on an informative and fun tour. We were able to see so much in such a short time. HIs knowledge and stories really made the things come to life for us. I would definitely recommend any tour with Kostas!Written June 10, 2024
- eahavila0 contributionsA Perfect Santorini Day with the Perfect GuideKostas provided us with the perfect day on Santorini. He was in constant contact with us before we even left the ship as well as until we met him near the top of the cablecar. Our group of 4 had a great time with Kostas. He took us to see all the major sites but managed to keep the mount of time in crowded areas at a minimum. He was very open to suggestions but had a wealth of ideas and information to share. He took us to areas that most of the visitors don't go to as well. We were extremely fortunate to spend a wonderful day on Santorini and create memories to last a lifetime with our friends. Be sure to book him far in advance as I am sure he is highly sought after.Written June 8, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
38 reviews
Excellent
37
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Chris M
Seattle, WA29 contributions
We are 2 couples from the US on a cruise who had 1 day to see Santorini. We hired Kostas based on a recommendation by Rick Steves. I’d echo the comments of the last review before mine. We felt like we couldn’t have had a better experience. We learned more about the history and culture of this island in 6 hours with Kostas than we could have any other way.
Kostas efficiently and comfortably drove us to all the famous photo op spots and expertly took or helped us take great pictures. It was hot and humid, and at one point I was wondering if we should have chosen the 4 hour vs. 6 hour tour. However, the highlight for us was the Akrotiri archaeological museum and the drive through the beach area in the south part of the island. I think most people want to see Oia, which is beautiful, but miss out if they don’t see Akrotiri with a guide like Kostas. He gave so much more meaning to the site than if we’d simply gone on our own.
My only regret is that we didn’t think to take a picture of us with Kostas!
Kostas efficiently and comfortably drove us to all the famous photo op spots and expertly took or helped us take great pictures. It was hot and humid, and at one point I was wondering if we should have chosen the 4 hour vs. 6 hour tour. However, the highlight for us was the Akrotiri archaeological museum and the drive through the beach area in the south part of the island. I think most people want to see Oia, which is beautiful, but miss out if they don’t see Akrotiri with a guide like Kostas. He gave so much more meaning to the site than if we’d simply gone on our own.
My only regret is that we didn’t think to take a picture of us with Kostas!
Written September 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rod G
Salem, OR129 contributions
We contacted Kostas about a private tour for 3 of us, he responded very quickly and discussed some options, we wanted to do a highlight tour, along with a visit to the ruins of Akrotiri. He wasn’t available for the day, but connected us with one of his colleagues, Efi. We arranged to meet Efi at a local restaurant, Metaxi Mas (awesome) and she showed up right on schedule and found us at our table. We made our way to her can and spent the next 5 hours on a wonderful sight seeing tour. She took us to all the main photo stops, and we spent a quality hour at the Akrotiri archeological site, where we got to meet Kostas. I would highly recommend contacting Kostas if you want a great, local, knowledgeable guide.
Written September 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan
4 contributions
Jul 2022
We had a mixed day on Santorini, not the fault of our tour guides, but due to the difficulty getting on and off the island. We arrived to Santorini by cruise ship and needed to take a tender to the tiny port. There was a long delay getting a tender and getting to the port. Once at the small port, you can either take the cable car up to the town of Fira (an hours long wait) or walk up 672 steps or take a donkey (also very long wait). We ended up taking a small local ferry to a small port near Oia. We met our guide Alex there. By then we had lost hours of the day. Kostas had messaged me earlier in the day that he had a family health emergency and Alex would be our guide but he would still see us at Akrotiri. Alex did the best he could to show us around in the time we had, and Kostas was terrific when showing us Akrotiri. If you are staying on the island, or arriving some other way than cruise ship, I would definitely recommend this tour. If arriving by cruise ship, I would not recommend. Again, no fault of our tour guides, just the logistics of getting onto the island.
Written July 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Companion63454443382
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Couples
One of the absolute best days/ best private tours we've ever done. Kostas is such a warm friendly character with incredible stories and deep passionate knowledge about his island. He knew all the ways to avoid crowds and the heat and had everything timed out perfectly to get us everything we wanted during a port day. The lunch spot he took us to was hands-down the best food we had our entire trip. An amazing gem on the south shore with incredible vibes. LOVED every part of this day. Thank you Kostas!!
Written September 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sabbia P
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Couples
We experienced a fabulous private tour showcasing the following areas :
Blue dome in Firostefani
Guided visit to Akrotiri
Megalochori village
Lunch at a local restaurant
A drive all along the black sand beaches of Perissa & Perivolos
Kosta gave us a comprehensive tour of the areas that showed us spectacular views, gave us insight into the culture of local people and ate delicious food at local restaurants by the black beach. The tour of Akrotini , significant archaeological sight was speechless - we learned so much. He took us Venetsanos winery the views were breathtaking , carved in nature by the sea . Kosta is very knowledgeable , passionate guide with a great sense of humor . highly recommend him.
Blue dome in Firostefani
Guided visit to Akrotiri
Megalochori village
Lunch at a local restaurant
A drive all along the black sand beaches of Perissa & Perivolos
Kosta gave us a comprehensive tour of the areas that showed us spectacular views, gave us insight into the culture of local people and ate delicious food at local restaurants by the black beach. The tour of Akrotini , significant archaeological sight was speechless - we learned so much. He took us Venetsanos winery the views were breathtaking , carved in nature by the sea . Kosta is very knowledgeable , passionate guide with a great sense of humor . highly recommend him.
Written October 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheDane_10
Irving, TX27 contributions
Sep 2024 • Family
As Kostas himself was unavailable, we booked a full 8-hour tour on which Alex drove and guided us. Alex was a wonderful guide: personable, knowledgeable, energetic, and anxious to accomodate our little family group of four. While, even in September, we found Santorini (and particularly Oia) to be quite crowded, Alex led us to places and through experiences we are not likely to forget.
Written October 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandy O
Mountain View, CA28 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
My husband and I enjoyed our afternoon with Kostas. As a local, Kostas introduced us to Santorini beyond Oia and Fira. From the time we booked the trip, Kostas and his team worked with us to craft a visit that allowed us to explore the rich history and ruins of Akrotiri along with the cultural bounty of the famous Santorini wines. Kostas brought the Akrotiri ruins to light, helping us envision the vibrant community buried in the ruins.
Kostas shared with us some of the beautiful views, providing the history of the island, and showed a local's view of Santorini. We ended the evening at a winery with a caldera view and delicious Greek food and wines. Kostas treated us like honored guests to his home.
Kostas shared with us some of the beautiful views, providing the history of the island, and showed a local's view of Santorini. We ended the evening at a winery with a caldera view and delicious Greek food and wines. Kostas treated us like honored guests to his home.
Written May 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marla Steiner
Sarasota, FL47 contributions
A private guided tour may seem luxurious but, when time is limited, it’s the best way to get to know the island beyond Fira. Kostas speaks perfect English and has years of experience guiding tours. He makes every minute interesting, fun and memorable. If you are an archeology buff, the Akrotiri site is unmatched. Kostas also showed us the many sides of Santorini from vineyards and small villages to volcanic rock beaches, cave houses and churches, all while regaling us with stories about culture, customs and fun facts! Kostas is full of life and we count ourselves lucky to have met him! Book now and look forward to this special experience. Thank you Kostas!
Written May 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marla, Larry, thank you for your kind words!!! It was my pleasure to share with you my love for the island and knowledge about Santorini. I look forward to seeing you again soon!!!!
Written May 30, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Renée G
Amsterdam, Netherlands4 contributions
Jul 2021
We had a wonderful experience touring with Kostas! We enjoyed the custom made tour for two very much. Kostas is a very knowledgeable guide. He told us a lot about the history of ancient Thira and modern Santorini. He is very passionate about Greek and Minoian civilization. We've rarely met a guide with his kind of expertise and ability to share his knowledge. Highly recommended.
Written July 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda P
Enterprise, AL49 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Our guide Alex was wonderful. He was very professional and knowledgeable, while still being flexible and friendly. Our itinerary was changed by our cruise company, necessitating a change of tour schedule. The company accommodated us - even though our tour ended up being on their Easter. Despite this, Alex was not hurried, and even found us a place for an amazing lunch even with the holiday crowds. This tour company was wonderful to work with, highly recommend.
Written May 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
is village of Oia included in the itinerary? can you adjust the tour to our interests?thanks
Written June 6, 2018
Yes the village of Oia is included. Not to be missed and the entire trip can be customized to suit your needs.
Written July 7, 2018
Doree H
Los Angeles, California
Hello, I am interested in the Santorini Highlights tour with Akrotiri however I have problems walking up and down hills and stairs. Is this a suitable tour for me? Also Is there any way to return to ship other than by cable car in Fira which sounds like a strenuous climb?
Thank you, Doree Hager
Written April 23, 2018
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