- Updated on: 2024-11-22
If you’ve ever dreamed of flying, Santorini makes it literally an obsession. The vertical black cliffs invite you to spread your wings and soar towards the sea and sky, and as you walk the streets of Fira and Oia, you can’t help but think, “I wish I could see all this beauty from a bird’s eye view!
If you don’t have your own wings, but would like to see our island from the air, then a helicopter tour of Santorini is perfect for you. So let’s get ready for your flight!
Helicopter rental in Santorini in 2024
We live in a very beautiful place, but Santorini is a very small island and a 20 minute helicopter flight will allow you to see most of it. During the 30-minute flight you will literally see the whole island, make a circle over the caldera, the volcano, see Fira and Oia from the air and see the magical colourful beaches of the island.
In 2024, we can offer aerial tours over the island and helicopter rentals in Santorini.
Helicopter excursion in Santorini: flights over the volcano’s caldera
Sightseeing in Santorini can be quite tiring, especially during the summer months when our island gets very hot and very crowded! A great alternative is an aerial tour over Santorini, which offers sightseeing by helicopter:
During the helicopter tour you will not only enjoy the beautiful views of our island, but you will also be able to take some great photos 🙂
Santorini is beautiful, but the view from a helicopter window is something else entirely!
Santorinika Travel Agency, from personal experience of living on the island
In 2024 we offer several options for aerial tours in Santorini, operated by helicopters of different models and sizes – for your choice.
Each flight can be either a group option, with other travellers on board, or completely individual, where you hire a helicopter exclusively for yourself and fly with your family or friends. Need an extra guide or photographer? Just say the word and we will arrange it!
How long will we actually fly?
This year we are offering 20 and 30 minute sightseeing flights over Santorini. If you want more – no problem, we can even do a 1 hour flight over the island!
Please note that some companies calculate the flight time from the moment the helicopter engine starts until it is switched off. On average these processes take about 7-10 minutes, so the actual flight time may be less than stated.
This is not our practice. When you book a helicopter flight in Santorini with us, the actual flight time is what you have paid for – from take off to landing. All technical procedures are considered outside the time of your flight, do not take up your time and are free of charge to you.
Choosing a helicopter in Santorini: exploring the island’s aerial park in the 2024
We have several types of helicopters in our fleet: the Robinson R44, which can carry four people, and the larger and more spacious Bell 206 and Airbus AS 355N, which can carry up to six people. We have experienced pilots who have been flying in Santorini and its neighbouring islands for over 15 years!
Robinson R44
It is a small lightweight, multi-purpose, four-seat commercial helicopter manufactured by the American company Robinson Helicopter:
It has a closed cockpit with two rows of seats for the pilot and three passengers (one in front next to the pilot and two in the back). This helicopter is familiar to many people because of its wide range of uses: it is used to train future pilots, as an air taxi and, of course, it is perfectly suitable for small sightseeing flights.
The cockpit of this helicopter is not the most spacious, but it offers excellent visibility for all the passengers.
Main characteristics of the Robinson R44 helicopter:
- Crew: 1 pilot;
- Passenger carrying capacity: 3 passengers;
- Length: 12 meters;
- Height: 3 meters;
- Diameter of the main propeller: 10 meters;
- Maximum speed: 240 km/h;
- Maximum total weight allowance: 350 kilograms;
- Practical flight range: 650 km.
The only significant disadvantage of this helicopter is in windy weather. The small size of the helicopter makes it sensitive to the rather strong gusts of wind that can sometimes occur on our island. Our pilots only take the helicopter into the air when the weather is suitable, so there is no danger – it may shake a little during take off and landing. It’s just something to keep in mind.
In Santorini, the Robinson 44 helicopter offers sightseeing flights of 20 and 30 minutes. This helicopter can also fly to neighbouring islands.
The price of renting a Robinson R44 helicopter in Santorini starts from 850 euro.
Airbus AS 355N
The Airbus AS 355N, also known as the Eurocopter, is a much larger multi-purpose helicopter. It was produced by the French company Aerospatiale, which later became part of Airbus. In fact, it is now the real Airbus of the helicopter world 🙂
Main characteristics of the Airbus AS 355N helicopter:
- Crew: 1 or 2 pilots;
- Passenger carrying capacity: 4 or 5 passengers;
- Length: 13 meters;
- Height: 3 meters;
- Diameter of the main propeller: 11 meters;
- Maximum speed: 290 km/h;
- Maximum total weight allowance: 560 kilograms;
- Practical flight range: 660 km.
This is a noticeably larger helicopter, which has a positive effect on take-off and landing stability in windy conditions. Compared to the smaller Robinson, it holds the wind much better and can cope with strong gusts. It also has a more spacious cabin, as the helicopter is originally designed for six seats (pilot + five passengers) and has large luggage compartments for travelling between islands.
Sightseeing flights over Santorini are often taken as a group, without a guide, and tickets are available to everyone. It is also possible to take a completely private flight, where the helicopter is hired entirely for you – and only you. For example, on this flight we had a family with two young children, so they were comfortably seated in separate second row seats…
…, and I acted as a guide in the seat next to the pilot:
If you are on vacation with us as a couple and want an individual flight – the entire helicopter is exclusively yours! There will be even more free space:
The Airbus AS 355N not only operates 20 and 30 minute sightseeing flights over Santorini, but also flies from Santorini to Mykonos, Koufonisi, Schinoussa, Crete and other Greek islands.
Airbus AS 355N helicopter rental in Santorini starts from 1050 euro.
Helicopter tours in Santorini: flights over the island, caldera and volcano
Our island is full of interesting places, surrounding landscapes and interesting angles that are definitely worth seeing. We have a number of helicopter sightseeing itineraries, but during any helicopter tour of Santorini you can enjoy the beautiful views of Fira, Imerovigli, Oia, the steep cliffs of the island, the caldera and the volcano, and if you wish you can take an English speaking guide or photographer with you on the flight.
Aerial tour “All of Santorini”
This is the main route of the helicopter tour – it includes everything that is important on our island! The heliport is located in the centre of the island, so as soon as you take off you will see the whole of Santorini in the palm of your hand! The route will take you over all the important places: the villages of Exo Gonia and Pyrgos, then you will fly to the Caldera and head towards the capital city of Thira.
Next you will reach the old Port, Imerovigli and the beautiful town of Oia, where the helicopter will turn around and the sightseeing flight will continue over the mouth of the Santorini volcano and the island of Nea Kameni.
The return to the island will be from the north side with a flyover over the white and red beaches and the village of Akrotiri.
The “All of Santorini” aerial tour lasts approximately 20 minutes of flight time and takes place from morning until sunset. The flight route is shown on the map:
Day flights: All of Santorini by Robinson R44
A 20-minute private helicopter tour over Santorini and the volcano's caldera. The flight is performed in a small Robinson R44 helicopter.
Schedule: everyday.
20 minutes
Helicopter tour
Private tour
Day Flights: All of Santorini by Airbus AS 355N
A 20-minute helicopter tour over Santorini and the volcano's caldera. The flight is performed in a large Airbus AS 355N helicopter.
Schedule: everyday.
20 minutes
Helicopter tour
Private tour
Speaking of sunsets! The sunset in Santorini can also be seen from a helicopter. Instead of a thousand words, here is a photo taken during one of the flights:
Evening flights: All of Santorini by Robinson R44
A 20-minute private sunset helicopter tour over Santorini and the volcano's caldera. The flight is performed in a small Robinson R44 helicopter.
Schedule: everyday.
20 minutes
Helicopter tour
Private tour
Sunset
Evening flights: All of Santorini by Airbus AS 355N
A 20-minute private sunset helicopter tour over Santorini and the volcano's caldera. The flight is performed in a large Airbus AS 355N helicopter.
Schedule: everyday.
20 minutes
Helicopter tour
Private tour
Sunset
Aerial tour “All of Santorini and Thirasia”
This is a more intense and longer flight. Firstly, the itinerary of the air tour absolutely includes all the sights from the first flight and you will also see Santorini first, the sheer cliffs, the towns in the center of the island and on the west coast.
Secondly, the journey is almost doubled by the addition of a large fly-by of the island of Thirasia, the opposite side of the island of Santorini, once a single ancient volcano.
The “All of Santorini and Thirasia” tour also starts from the centre of the island. The first part of the route up to the town of Oia will be similar, and at Oia the pilot will turn west, so that you can not only fly over Santorini in a helicopter, but also see the island of Thirasia from the air, flying around it from all sides. There it is – on the horizon, right in front of you:
As well as Thirasia, the helicopter will also fly over the islands of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni. The colours are very different in the evening:
Above them, it will also make a full circle and then return to the route of the first tour: you will also see the south coast of our island, the White Beach and the Red Beach and the area of Akrotiri.
The “All of Santorini and Therasia” aerial tour takes about 30 minutes of flight time, during which you will see… almost everything 🙂 The route of this aerial tour is shown on the schematic map below – note the extra part on the left, which covers the island of Thirasia:
Day flights: All of Santorini and Thirasia by Robinson R44
A 30-minute private helicopter tour over Santorini, the volcano's caldera and the island of Thirasia. The flight is performed in a small Robinson R44 helicopter.
Schedule: everyday.
30 minutes
Helicopter tour
Private tour
Day Flights: All of Santorini and Thirasia by Airbus AS 355N
A 30-minute private helicopter tour over Santorini, the volcano's caldera and the island of Thirasia. The flight is performed in a large Airbus AS 355N helicopter.
Schedule: everyday.
30 minutes
Helicopter tour
Private tour
The flights also take place throughout the day, from early morning until sunset. The helicopters are most often busy in the evening: why not enjoy one of our island’s legendary sunsets… while flying over it?
Evening flights: All of Santorini and Thirasia by Robinson R44
A 30-minute private sunset helicopter tour over Santorini, the volcano's caldera and the island of Thirasia. The flight is performed in a small Robinson R44 helicopter.
Schedule: everyday.
30 minutes
Helicopter tour
Private tour
Sunset
Evening flights: All of Santorini and Thirasia by Airbus AS 355N
A 30-minute private sunset helicopter tour over Santorini, the volcano's caldera and the island of Thirasia. The flight is performed in a large Airbus AS 355N helicopter.
Schedule: everyday.
30 minutes
Helicopter tour
Private tour
Sunset
Santorini helicopter rental rates: private flights just for you
Whether you rent a full helicopter or fly on a group excursion, the price is set only depending on the helicopter you choose and the itinerary of the excursion. In the case of a private helicopter rental in Santorini, only you and the pilot will be on board.
In 2024 you can keep the following Santorini helicopter rental rates in mind for private aerial tours on the island:
Robinson R44
Small helicopter, maximum three passengers, price per helicopter:
- “All of Santorini” – 20 minutes, from 850 euro;
- “All of Santorini and Thirasia” – 30 minutes, from 1150 euro.
Airbus AS 355N
Large helicopter, maximum five passengers, price per helicopter:
- “All of Santorini” – 20 minutes, from 1050 euro;
- “All of Santorini and Thirasia” – 30 minutes, from 1550 euro.
If you would like something more, such as a personal English-speaking guide, photographer, a different flight route or even to the neighbouring Greek islands, we will be happy to help you organise flights to suit your requirements.
Price of helicopter tour over Santorini: group flights
Unlike a full helicopter rental, there will be other travelers on board with the pilot and you. Depending on the chosen helicopter, passenger seats can be 3 (Robinson R44) or 5 (Bell 206, Airbus AS 355N). In 2024, reference the following prices for air tours in Santorini in groups:
Group flight: share emotions and... costs!
A 20 minute group helicopter tour of Santorini: fly over the island and the caldera, share the emotions and the cost!
Schedule: Tuesday and Friday.
20 minutes
Group tour
Helicopter tour
Group excursions are performed only in case of group recruitment. It is completely possible to rent a helicopter even for one passenger.
How to rent a helicopter in Santorini and what is included in the price of the flight
Our helipad is located in the central part of the island of Santorini in the airport area. You can rent a helicopter in Santorini either fully for your company or book the necessary number of seats for a group flight with other travellers. In any case, the price of the helicopter rental in Santorini includes:
If required, we can help you organise a suitable transfer from your hotel to the heliport and back: by car, minibus or bus – whatever you need.
By the way, if you hire a helicopter privately, you can have a personal English-speaking guide or photographer on board for an additional fee, so you can get great photos of the stunning views and inside the helicopter – apart from your selfies, of course, which you’ll be taking anyway 🙂
We have adults and children flying with us – that’s the way it is:
Yes, and if the pilot’s seat is still a bit big and the controls are not so easy to reach, we have special child seats for the youngest pilots so that they can fly comfortably and safely with their parents:
Professional pilots work in the air while you relax and enjoy the views.
Book a helicopter in Santorini
Please note that demand for helicopter rides in Santorini is so high that the helicopters sometimes only have time to return to refuel and pick up the next group of travellers. During high season, seats can be sold out weeks in advance.
If you need a helicopter in Santorini for a specific date and time, it is essential to check availability in advance and book a suitable option.
We will be happy to assist you with your Santorini vacation and you can contact us at our office phone number +30 (697) 448-448-3 (we also have WhatsApp). If you are more comfortable communicating by email, you can send a message to manager@santorinika.com or you can use the form below:
