Our island is known not only for its unusual architecture – white cities right on the edge of the steep black walls of the volcano crater. The Santorini sunsets are no less famous – some people come to us just for them. But what if you look at all this beauty from the air?
With this in mind, we offer helicopter tours in Santorini in the evening closer to sunset. Depending on the season, the sunset occurs at different times. For example, the approximate time of sunset in Santorini this week is 20:09.
This helicopter ride lasts about 20 minutes. Twenty minutes may not seem like much, but during this aerial sightseeing tour you will see almost all of Santorini’s key sights from the air:
The schematic route of this evening evening helicopter tour is shown on the map in the slideshow of photos above.
On this sunset aerial sightseeing tour we offer a twin-engine Airbus AS 355N helicopter. It is a rather large helicopter with a spacious comfortable cabin and large windows. In addition to the pilot, the helicopter can comfortably accommodate five passengers – perfect for large families and groups of friends!
This helicopter has two rows of seats: the first has two seats for the pilot and passenger, while the second (much wider) has four passenger seats at once.
Another great feature of this helicopter is that it has special windows in the front cockpit floor (at the feet of the pilot and the passenger sitting next to him). You can literally look straight down through these windows. If you plan to take photos or record videos during your helicopter ride in Santorini, we suggest you to take a seat next to the pilot: the panoramic windows and the glazing in the floor will help you take even more interesting photos.
The side doors also provide the widest possible view if you sit in the second row by the window. The experience is particularly thrilling when the helicopter tilts when turning and you see an island, the sea or vertical cliffs directly below you. If you sit in the second row in the centre seat, however, you can look forward through the pilot’s panoramic windows as well as the rear side windows.
During the helicopter tour, you can communicate both with each other and with the pilot. For this purpose, there are special headsets in the cabin – headphones with a microphone. The helicopter cabin is equipped with headsets for all participants in the flight.
In 2024 the price of a twenty-minute sunset aerial sightseeing tour in an Airbus AS 355N helicopter is 1100 euro. This is the price for a helicopter ride (private flight) and it does not depend on the number of people in your group.
We can arrange it! First of all, check out a sightseeing tour in a similar Airbus AS 355N helicopter, but with one and a half times longer route.
We can arrange it! First of all, check out a sightseeing tour with a similar route, but in a small four-seat helicopter.
Sometimes there are discounts on this trip and it is sold cheaper for our subscribers – follow us on Facebook!
You can book a 20-minute sightseeing helicopter tour to fly over Santorini before sunset in an Airbus AS 355N helicopter online (see “How to book excursions in Santorini”).
Please note that in order to process documents for an aerial excursion over Santorini, our managers will need some additional information about all participants: name and surname (as in the passport or ID), passport or ID number, date of birth and citizenship. If you already have this information, you can write it in the comments field when placing an order. Also don’t forget to take your passports or ID with you – we can check them before boarding the helicopter.
In 2024, a twenty-minute sunset aerial tour in an Airbus AS 355N helicopter takes place from 20/05 to 10/10. Available days – everyday.
Please note that the tour schedule is subject to change. Changes are extremely rare and usually associated with weather conditions on the island or in the sea. For example, it can be a strong wind, thunderstorm, rain or other force majeure situations. We always try to inform in advance about all changes.
Helicopter tours in Santorini are very popular – sometimes flight bookings start weeks or even months in advance. Please take this into account when planning your holiday on our island.
Program at the beginning of the season
ATTENTION: at the very beginning of the summer season (01.04 — 15.05) the program may be changed (rescheduling of dates, times or languages of accompanying). Please check the details you are interested in with the customer care managers before purchasing.
Please read Cancellation and Refund policy.
In case there are less than 24 hours left before the aerial trip, please book only after agreeing with the manager on availability.
Please note that in order to process documents for an aerial excursion over Santorini, our managers will need some additional information about all participants: name and surname (as in the passport or ID), passport or ID number, date of birth and citizenship. If you already have this information, you can write it in the comments field when placing an order.
You will receive your tickets by email or WhatsApp – whichever is more convenient for you.
Please keep all documents and tickets until the end of the aerial tour!
The Santorini helicopter tour does not include transfers from and to hotels and villas – you can drive to the helipad if you have a rental car. If you wish, we can additionally organize a transfer for you by any type of transport (car or minibus of economy or premium class). Please let us know in advance.
Passport or ID (original or at least a photo on your phone or tablet). Before boarding the helicopter, we can check your documents.
If there is a possibility of motion sickness in transport, then we recommend taking the appropriate pills.
There are no limitations on participation in this aerial tour. If there is a possibility of motion sickness, then we recommend taking the appropriate pills.
There are few seats in helicopters, so there are usually just the pilot and you in the cabin. If you wish (and there will be one free seat in the helicopter), then for an additional fee we can offer you a guide who will tell you all the information about the sights during the helicopter aerial tour over Santorini.
Helicopters don’t have a lot of seats, so it’s usually just the pilot and you in the cabin. If you wish (and there will be one free seat in the helicopter), then for an additional fee we can offer you a professional photographer who will take pictures for you both in flight and when boarding the helicopter.
All helicopters for sightseeing flights in Santorini are provided and maintained by an Austrian company which has been in the passenger transport business for decades.
All pilots have years of experience both on islands and offshore as well as in mountainous terrain.
Your safety is guaranteed by an experienced team with a very attentive attitude from weather monitoring to helicopter fleet control and maintenance.
The Airbus AS 355N is a very stable helicopter with two powerful engines. Even strong gusts of wind will not cause any serious rocking. In windy conditions the helicopter may shake or vibrate slightly on take-off and landing, but during the flight it behaves absolutely smoothly.
Our team keeps a very close eye on the weather conditions on the island. If the weather is unsuitable for your helicopter flight in Santorini, we will inform you, cancel your flight and reschedule your aerial excursion to a suitable date and time with better weather conditions. If, however, the weather does not improve, we will refund you fully.
Yes, of course. If your hotel has its own helipad, then (for a fee, usually due to hotel policy) our helicopters can land there. However, this is dependent on the hotel and in our experience it is not always available at all times: some hotels do not always maintain their helipads, some hotels do not allow helicopters to land or take off from their helipads at certain times, e.g. early in the morning or late in the evening, etc. You can contact our managers for such details and they will be happy to help arrange everything.
The following is an approximate schedule. The order is a request for the desired departure time. The exact time will be specified in the information provided with your order.
| Flight schedule | |
|---|---|
| 20 minutes | Total duration of the helicopter tour over Santorini |
| 3 minutes | Flight along the caldera cliffs above Thira and north to the village of Oia |
| 2 minutes | Flying over the village of Oia. Turn to the south |
| 10 minutes | Flying south over the volcano and the island of Nea Kameni |
| 2 minutes | Turning north over the Red Beach |
| 3 minutes | Flying over the Akrotiri Peninsula and returning to the helipad |