Santorini is a popular destination because there are so many fantastic things to see and do around the island of Thira.

A cruise around the island and into the caldera is the best way to truly appreciate the stunning volcanic scenery of the Santorini Caldera.

There are a wide variety of Santorini boat tours & cruises to choose from.  Visit the active volcano at the center of the caldera and swim in the hot springs. Relax on a catamaran and snorkel in the warm waters in a peaceful cove off the coast of Thira.

The kind of cruise you choose is entirely up to your personal interests and taste. I’ve selected 7 top-rated Santorini boat trips that I believe are the best.

Best Boat Tours From Santorini

	Santorini Volcano & Thirassia Sunset Dinner Cruise	Santorini 5-Hour Small Group Catamaran Cruise	Santorini Luxury Sunset Cruise
Departure:	Hotel pick-up	Hotel pick-up	Hotel pick-up
Start:	Around 2:00 PM	10:00 AM or 3:00 PM	3:00 PM
Duration:	6 hours	5 hours	5 hours
Includes:	Cruise, buffet dinner, wine, and swim in a hot spring	Cruise, Greek barbecue buffet, unlimited local wines or soft drinks, snorkeling equipment	Catamaran cruise, lunch & dessert, open bar & snorkeling equipment
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Be sure to see our other Greece boat tour reviews: Boat Trips From Athens, Boat Trips From Mykonos, Boat Trips From Corfu.

Quick Answer: The 7 Best Rated Santorini Boat Trips For 2024

1. Santorini Volcano & Thirassia Sunset Dinner Cruise
2. 5-Hour Small Group Catamaran Cruise From Santorini
3. Luxury Sunset Cruise From Santorini
4. Romantic Sunset Cruise With King Thiras In The Caldera
5. Santorini 5-Hour Luxury Catamaran Lunch & Sunset Cruise
6. Santorini Sunset Fishing Trip With Dinner & Drinks
7. Catamaran Cruise With Lunch & Open Bar From Santorini

We have reviewed the top rated boat tours from Santorini providing overviews and highlighting the details of each. We also make recommendations on staying in Santorini in our guide section.

Santorini Boat Tour Reviews

1. Santorini Volcano & Thirassia Sunset Dinner Cruise

Santorini is world-famous for its stunning sunset views, and observing this from a cruise ship is a unique experience you should have at least once in your life.

But your cruise doesn’t start with the sunset. Before then, you’ll climb to the top of an active volcano on Nea Kameni Island and see the volcanic fumes rise from sulfur vents.

And, if you’re feeling brave, you can swim in a hot spring on the nearby island of Palea Kameni.

The boat will also sail to Thirasia Island, the other inhabited island of the Santorini Caldera. There the ship will anchor offshore while you enjoy a buffet dinner or chicken rolls, pork rolls, baked potato, and rice.

Sip local wine as you admire the views across the caldera. At the end of the day, enjoy sailing into the sunset as your ship returns to Santorini.

Ensure that you take a good quality camera along, because this cruise will leave you with memories that last a lifetime.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

Other Experiences You May Enjoy:

2. Santorini: 5-Hour Small Group Catamaran Cruise

If you enjoy small group cruises, superb scenery, Greek food, and snorkeling, this the best Santorini catamaran tour for you.

Santorini is blessed with many excellent beaches, and your cruise will begin with two of the most famous: Red Beach and White Beach.

Named for the color of their cliffs and sand, both are great places to enjoy swimming and snorkeling with the equipment provided.

Next, you’ll sail past Akrotiri lighthouse, which is one of the oldest lighthouses in Greece built by the French in 1892. Below the lighthouse, you can admire the sea caves and beautiful rock formations of the southern coastline of Santorini.

Your crew will prepare a delicious buffet lunch together with a Greek Salad and mezes. While admiring the landscape around the caldera, you can enjoy unlimited wine or soft drinks.

And if you’ve chosen the evening cruise, you can enjoy a fantastic sunset over the Aegean Sea.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

3. Santorini: Luxury Sunset Cruise

This is a fantastic, all-inclusive cruise around the Santorini Caldera and Santorini Island’s southern coast. You’ll see the Red, Black, and White Beaches and the two small islands in the center of the caldera, Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni.

When the catamaran sails along the southern coastline, you’ll pass Akrotiri lighthouse, a 128-year-old lighthouse original built by the French.

Get your camera ready for the stunning rocky landscape with breathtaking cliffs and romantic sea caves.

Anchoring near Palea Kameni, you’ll have the opportunity to swim in a cove filled with hot spring water heated to between 86⁰F and 95⁰F by the active volcano below.

You can use the snorkeling equipment provided to explore the underwater volcanic formations.

Finally, the catamaran will anchor off the coast of Thirassia Island. There the crew will prepare a delicious dinner for you complete with dessert and wine.

As the sun sets over the Aegean Sea, you can sip drinks from the open bar and admire the beauty of nature.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

4. Romantic Sunset Cruise With King Thiras In The Caldera

This is the best sunset cruise in Santorini for anyone fascinated by the great age of sail. You’ll cruise around Santorini Island aboard a genuine wooden sailboat.

After sailing from Athinios, your sailing ship will take you around the Santorini caldera to admire the amazing landscape of this giant active volcano.

Aboard ship, the crew will prepare you a tasty buffet dinner. While you enjoy your food, the captain will select a tranquil position within the caldera from where you can watch a beautiful sunset over the Aegean Sea.

This boat tour from Santorini offers amazing value for money for anybody who simply wants to enjoy a meal and a sunset aboard a romantic sailboat. You’ll enjoy the atmosphere and the stunning scenery.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

5. Santorini: 5-Hour Luxury Catamaran Lunch & Sunset Cruise

On this great scenic tour, you have the choice between joining an early cruise with lunch or a late cruise with dinner and a fantastic sunset.

The cruise includes a stop at the famous White Beach where the cliffs, pebbles, and sand are… white. This makes a sharp contrast with many of the other black sand beaches or the nearby Red Beach.

Anchored off the White Beach, you can swim or snorkel in the beautiful blue water of the Aegean Sea. You’ll also sail into the caldera to explore the small islands of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni in the center.

At Palea Kameni, you can swim in the hot spring cove heated by volcanic activity deep underground. The mineral-rich, orange-tinged water is believed to be therapeutic.

This cruise also includes tasty mezes, a gourmet Greek meal, and dessert. If you’ve chosen the later sunset cruise, you can sip local wine while watching the sun go down over the Aegean Sea.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

6. Santorini Sunset Fishing Trip With Dinner & Drinks

This is by far my favorite Santorini cruise. As part of a small group on a traditional fishing boat, you observe or help the crew lift shrimp nets filled with local marine life, like shrimp, squid and octopus, then the crew teaches you how to prepare and cook it.

With enthusiastic local experts, you’ll learn lots about local marine life and the traditions among the local fishermen. You’ll also get to see the stunning landscape of the caldera and watch the sunset over the Aegean Sea.

Using the snorkeling equipment provided, you can dive under the waves into the crystal-clear water and see the marine life in its natural setting. Alternatively, you can sunbathe in the remaining daylight on the deck.

If you want to fish some more, you can use the fishing rods and live bait provided. You get to eat what you’ve cooked while sipping unlimited local drinks.

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

7. Santorini: Catamaran Cruise With Lunch & Open Bar

If you want to tour all the unique beaches and landmarks on the south coast of Santorini, this is a great tour for you. You’ll visit the Red Beach at Akrotiri, sail past Akrotiri lighthouse, view the White Beach and stop at Mesa Pigadia Beach.

During the Red Beach stop, you’ll have the opportunity to swim in the warm Aegean Sea or snorkel beneath the waves with the equipment provided.

The vivid colors of the wild red cliffs, red pebbles, and red sand make this one of the most popular beaches to visit.

Entering the central caldera, you’ll sail to the tiny island of Palea Kameni. Here you’ll see the famous hot springs heated by continuing volcanic activity.

The orange-tinted spring water enters a shallow cove off the island’s coast and is believed to provide therapeutic benefits. The spring’s temperature is always between 86⁰F and 95⁰F.

During the Mesa Pigadia Beach stop, you can swim or snorkel some more and then enjoy a delicious barbecue meal. Here you have a chance to relax and sip beverages from the open bar while admiring the stunning volcanic scenery.

Tour Information & Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

FAQs About Santorini Boat Tours

What will I see on a Santorini boat tour?

When you go on a Santorini boat tour, you will see some of the island’s most stunning sights from perspective of the sea.

• Caldera Views: Some of the boat tours have awesome views of the caldera cliffs, a sight that is truly stunning.
• Volcano Hike: A few tours include a hike on the volcano where you can explore the crater and enjoy panoramic views from the top.
• Hot Springs: Take a dip in the warm, sulfur-rich waters of the hot springs, which you can only get to by boat.
• Thirassia: Visit the island of Thirassia and walk around and explore the quaint villages.
• Red and White Beaches: If you go on a private tour you can arrange to stop at the famous Red and White beaches for swimming and snorkeling.
• Sunset Views: If take a sunset tour, you will get to see a spectacular Santorini sunset from the water. If you are lucky, Oia’s cliffs will be the backdrop.

Where do Santorini boat tours leave from?

Santorini boat tours depart from several locations on the island, each departure location will have some unique places they go to. Here are the most common:

• Vlychada Port: Most tours leave from the port of Vlychada. It is located on the southern coast of Santorini.
• Old Port of Fira: Also known as Gialos Port, this is a traditional departure point for tours that include a visit to the volcano and hot springs.
• Ammoudi Port in Oia: The sunset cruises usually depart from here, it is one of the more picturesque ports in Santorini.
• Athinios Port: The largest port in Santorini, Athinios, is a common departure point for various boat tours.

Each port location will give you different tour options with itineraries that can include visits to the volcano, hot springs, Thirassia Island and more.

What other water activities are available in Santorini?

Santorini has a variety of water activities. Here’s are some of the most popular water activities for you to enjoy:

• Jet Skiing: Renting a jet ski and exploring the coastline is a blast!
• Parasailing: Get a bird’s eye view of the island’s stunning landscape from 250 feet.
• Scuba Diving/Snorkeling: Check out the underwater world of Santorini. See the unique volcanic sea bed and marine life.
• Sea Kayaking: Paddle past the volcanic rock formations and enjoy the crystal-clear waters close up from a kayak.
• Windsurfing and Kitesurfing: With the constant Aegean breeze, these activities are perfect for adrenaline seekers.
• Water Skiing and Wakeboarding: Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you can enjoy gliding on the water’s surface.

When is the best time for a boat trip in Santorini?

The best time for a boat trip in Santorini is from late May to early October. You will enjoy the best weather, consistently sunny skies and the Aegean Sea is plenty warm for swimming. The caldera views are particularly fantastic during these months.

Boat tours usually run from 9 or 10 am to 3 pm and include lunch with plenty of opportunities for swimming. Sunset tours generally leave around 3 pm and go until 8 or 9 pm, Many serve dinner and feature less swimming than the day tours however you get to see the breathtaking sunset beneath the Oia cliffs.

Keep in mind the temps can be quite hot in July and August, so if you prefer milder temperatures, consider booking your boat trip in late May, June, early September or October. Just remember that when you decide to go, booking in advance is highly recommended as the tours usually sell out in advance.

Q: How can I book a Santorini Boat Tour?

The easiest and most convenient way to book a Crete Boat Tour is by joining a guided tour that includes transportation, admission fees, and a professional guide. You can choose a full-day tour, a half-day tour or a private tour.

You’ll enjoy a comfortable ride in a modern boat with all the amenities you need, such as sun decks, shaded areas, toilets, bars, and music. You’ll also learn interesting facts and stories about each destination from your knowledgeable guides.