Our island is known for its unusual architecture: dark volcanic rock was the basis for the snow-white houses. A classic Santorini bus tour is a full day excursion that will take you to some of the most picturesque villages on the island. Megalochori, Emporio, Perissa, Firostefani, Imerovigli are all waiting for you and, of course, Oia – where you will arrive just in time to see the sun set.
On this tour you will be able to see the following sights:
This Santorini bus tour lasts most of the day, allowing you to discover the authentic villages of the island, the amazing landscapes of the caldera and of course the volcanic beaches.
The first stop on the route is the village of Megalochori, where you can walk through the narrow streets and enjoy the atmosphere of a traditional village. After the walk, the group will head to the Red Beach, which is famous for its dark maroon volcanic rocks, red sand and crystal clear waters. The next stops on the route are the villages of Emporio and Perissa with its huge black volcanic beach, where plenty of free time has been scheduled.
The second half of the day begins with ride to the highest point of the island, the Peak of Ilias the Prophet. You can literally see the whole of our island from here! Have you had a look around? We’ll head to the west coast, where we’ll spend the rest of the day.
The first stop will be the village of Firostefani, where the view of the volcano’s caldera is always spectacular. In fact, it is a suburb of Thira. It has a magnificent view of both the capital of our island and the sea. Here, almost in the centre of the island, is one of the most famous viewpoints from which you can admire the incredible beauty of the landscape of the entire caldera.
Did you take the photos? Let’s move on – to the village of Imerovigli. It is located at the highest point of the caldera, giving a kind of total visual control over the whole area.
The “Traditional villages of Santorini” bus tour ends with its most precious moment – an evening trip to the village of Oia in time to see the sun go down. Approximate sunset time in Santorini this week – 17:28.
In 2025 price of the bus excursion to the traditional villages of Santorini is:
Prices may be lower in low season, on certain days with discounts, if you book early or for a large group.
There is a shortened version – Evening tour from the south coast of Santorini to the north, meeting the sunset in Oia.
Please note the Santorini sightseeing tour – in addition to a long journey around the island, it also includes a stop at one of the best wineries in the area.
Travelling with a large family or group? Contact us in advance and we will do our best to give you the most favourable offer.
Sometimes there are discounts on this trip and it is sold cheaper for our subscribers – follow us on Facebook!
In 2025 a tour of the traditional villages of Santorini is runs from 01/04 to 31/10. Available days – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.
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.
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 trip, please book only after agreeing with the manager on availability.
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 trip!
It depends on the location of your hotel or villa. Some cities of Santorini are famous for their narrow streets, which are not so easy to walk even on foot. So in some cases you will need to walk to the main road, some nearest square or parking place, where a car or a tour bus can pick you up. If your hotel has good road access, then the transfer will be able to pick you up directly from the hotel.
After placing an order, you will receive detailed information about the place and time of the meeting, as well as all the necessary documents. Please read them carefully beforehand.
Santorini has a lot of sun and almost no shade during the spring and summer. You will definitely need some sun protection: sunscreen, glasses, hat and so on. If there is a possibility of nausea in transport, then we recommend taking the appropriate pills. You may want to buy something during your trip or to have lunch in one of the taverns, so consider taking some cash with you for these extra expenses.
This tour includes short walks through villages and towns with a guide, and there will be time to rest in the middle of the day. There will be no difficult and long hikes on the route.
It is not recommended to take very young children with you in case they get motion sickness on the bus. It is not advisable to bring a stroller with you. It may also be difficult to participate in the tour in a wheelchair due to the uneven terrain in most areas.
The bus tour of Santorini’s traditional villages starts around 11:00, so you will be able to have breakfast in your hotel.
We plan a trip to Black Beach at lunch time where there are many traditional Santorinian tavernas to suit all tastes. Lunch costs an average of 15-20 euros per person, depending on your choice of food.
Yes, you will be accompanied by a professional English-speaking guide.
Yes, you will be able to see almost all of the most important sights of Santorini!
The main language of the tour is English.
The following is an approximate schedule. The exact time will be specified in the information provided with your order.
During the year the sunset occurs at different times, so the total length of the tour may vary from month to month.
| Tour schedule | |
|---|---|
| 11:00 - 11:30 | Departure from the hotel |
| 11:30 - 12:00 | Walking tour in the village of Megalochori |
| 12:30 - 13:00 | A visit to the Red Beach, time for pictures |
| 13:40 - 14:00 | Walking tour in the village of Emporio |
| 14:00 - 15:40 | Perissa village and Black beach, time for lunch and swimming |
| 16:00 - 17:20 | The summit and monastery of Prophet Elias |
| 17:40 - 18:00 | Viewpoint "Blue Dome" in Firostefani |
| 18:00 - 18:50 | Imerovigli village |
| 19:30 - 21:00 | Oia village with sunset |
| 21:30 - 22:30 | Returning to hotels |
| Duration and travel time | |
|---|---|
| Up to 20 minutes | Transfer by bus from the hotels |
| Up to 30 minutes | Transfer by bus between sights |
| 30 - 90 minutes | Time to visit each of the sights on the route |