sunset wine tour santorini

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Santorini Sunset Wine Tour

TOUR DESCRIPTION

Taste the celebrated wines of Santorini and admire the charming landscapes during sunset time as you move between three of the most distinctive island wineries on a 4-hour Santorini sunset wine tour.

Learn about the island’s unique viticulture, which is amongst the first to produce wine in the Mediterranean, and explore the cellars of each winery to see where the wine is bottled and matured.

Sample some of the top wine vintages each estate has to showcase served alongside local cheese and snacks and enjoy views of the iconic Santorini’s sunset during wine tastings at the final winery visit.

• Explore the crème de la crème wine estates of Santorini
• Taste a selection of 12 different wines in three celebrated wineries
• Enjoy delicious platters of cheese from small Greek producers
• Listen to expert advice about Greek wines, food pairing, and wine-tasting
• Enjoy personalized attention and hear interesting facts about wine from your wine expert guide
• Experience a wine-tasting session during sunset time at a hill-top winery on the volcanic cliffs
• Take part in one-of-a-kind-experience, ideal for all individuals who enjoy wine, regardless amount of knowledge
• Hotel / Airbnb pickup & drop-off

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Hotel / Airbnb pickup and drop-off.
• Transportation by air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz minivan.
• Visits at three renowned wineries featured in respected wine magazines such as Wine Spectator & Robert Parker.
• Wine tasting of 12 different wine styles from Santorini and Greece.
• English-speaking wine expert guide/sommelier.
• Local cheese and snacks to eat alongside wine tastings.
• Admissions and tasting fees at the wineries.

NOT INCLUDED

• Gratuities (optional)

WATCH OUR VIDEO

SUNSET TOUR ROUTE: MAY 15 TO OCTOBER 27

• Anhydrous Winery
• Gavalas Winery, or Hatzidakis Winery, or Gaia Winery
• Santo Winery (Sunset views, Greek cheeses & tapas)

TASTING INFORMATION

The wines served during the tour are mainly whites and dessert wines, as these are the kind of wines the island of Santorini produces. This is a gentle note for guests who only drink red wine.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This is a small group (shared) tour, that can accommodate up to 8-10 people.
• Operated as private, the tour can accommodate larger groups upon request.
• Duration 4 hours approx. The exact duration may vary.
• Departs from Monday to Saturday at 15:30-16:30 pm approx. (start time may vary depending on pickup location and seasonality).
• Available from May 15 to October 27.

PICKUP INFORMATION

Parts of Santorini are built on a slope, in case your hotel/ Airbnb is inaccessible by car due to landscape, pedestrianized areas, or any other restrictions, your pickup will be set at a nearby meeting point location within walking distance from your accommodation that will be advised after your booking.

TOUR TIME-TABLE

The tour operator reserves the right to alter/shift the time frame of the tour due to unforeseen circumstances, weather conditions, and slots/ tables available at the tasting rooms of the wineries that day. Your tour might start at a little later or prior time in a continuous effort to provide a better service and to secure a smoother experience for all of our guests.

PAYMENT INFORMATION

Our e-commerce website accepts payments with all major credit cards and PayPal, the booking process is seamless – it should only take a moment to book any of our experiences online. In case you are trying to book one of our experiences through our website and your transaction is not successful you may try booking by using a different card, pay with PayPal, or get in touch with your bank/credit card issuer to describe the situation and kindly ask them to release any restriction they might have placed on your card or our website. From our experience, we have noticed that there are times that overseas banks/credit card companies place a short of security on overseas web transactions, as a measure of extra protection for the cardholder.

Again, if the problem persists please try using a different card or select the Pay with PayPal option on our website. Even if you do not have a PayPal account, PayPal acts similarly to a credit card and pulls up a credit card processor to enter your card number. Payments with PayPal seem to work well in such cases where credit cards fail.

CANCELLATION POLICY

• If you cancel more than 3 days(73 hours or more) in advance of your scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee and a 100 percent refund is being processed back to the original form of payment.
• If you cancel within 72 hours of the scheduled departure or NON-SHOW, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
• In addition, no changes / reschedules are possible 72 hours or less before the tour start time.

For your convenience and to avoid any confusion, please make sure that your traveling plans/traveling arrangements are by the tour you have booked. To read all our booking terms and conditions please click here:  cancellation policy

• 2024 Tripadvisor Top-Rated Operator
• Free Cancellation up to 3 days before travel
• 98% excellent reviews on Tripadvisor and Google
• All major cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal accepted
• Live Support in English with WhatsApp

Book and pay securely

967 REVIEWS

If you like wine, you must do a tasting in Greece

We had an amazing wine tour with Elena, who was one of the best part of the tour. She was so personable, knowledgeable and an overall a great time. The winery’s we visited we very cool and scenic. Our favorite was Santo wines mostly because of the most beautiful sun set!! Overall highly recommend the tour and ask for Elena!

An amazing Wine tour!

We were fortunate to experience a semi-private tour with Santorini Adventures – Sunset Wine tour. There were 8 of us and we had a blast, Marina was our guide and she was the best (the wine was pretty good as well). It’s well worth whatever we paid and would do it again in a heartbeat. Cheers to the team at Santorini Adventure – Sunset Wine Tours! (BTW – the last stop is amazing!!!!)

Highly recommend this wine tour

Penny was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and great person. We really enjoyed a variety of wines in theee different wineries. From white to rose to red and sparkling – all fab. Highly recommend this tour

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Santorini Wine Tours & Wineries

Greece › Santorini › Wineries & Wine Tours Updated: February 1, 2024 By Santorini Dave

The view of the Santorini caldera from Venetsanos winery on the Sunset Wine Tasting Tour .

See Also Where to Stay in Santorini Best Hotels in Santorini Best Things To Do in Santorini Magnificent Santorini entices over two million tourists annually to marvel at its astonishing geography, with sheer rocky cliffs soaring high above its gorgeous blue-purple caldera in the Aegean Sea. The caldera is the result of a massive volcanic eruption in 1600 BC that covered the island in volcanic debris; to this day, Santorini’s soil is made up of of volcanic ash, sand, and pumice stone. The combination of the island’s volcanic soil, intense sun, and extreme wind produces grape varieties that are very distinctive. Grapevines on Santorini are also uniquely cultivated in accordance with an age-old pruning system, which protects the grapes and helps them to flourish amid the island’s severe conditions. Santorini is home to some of the oldest vineyards in the world, containing ancient indigenous vines. Wine tasting at Sigalas Winery near Oia. Over the last decade, Santorini’s wines have gained worldwide recognition, and their superior quality is now undeniable. Santorini is ranked Greece’s #1 wine destination and is sometimes called “the wine island,” boasting twenty wineries and counting. Santorini Wineries and Wine Tours Highly recommended: A Santorini wine tour that visits multiple wineries. Pictured: Gavalas Winery . Many Santorini wineries offer tours and tastings, but if you want to visit multiple wineries, book a wine tour. While it’s possible to visit wineries on your own, a tour makes getting from one to the next much quicker and easier. (Most wineries are small and hard to find if you don’t know the island well, and most tours include hotel pick up and drop off.) Plus, drinking and driving is very uncool. Wine tours are incredibly popular on Santorini and they fill up quickly – so book early. Santorini boat tours don’t sell out as early as wine tours do, so book your wine tour first. Most wine tours run from March to November. Best Santorini Winery Tours: Santorini Small Group Wine Tour • Santorini Private Wine Tour Best Wine Tours with Sunset: Santorini Wine Tasting • Santorini Sunset Wine Tour The Santorini wineries with the best caldera views are Santo and Venetsanos . Most wine tours will visit one or both of them.

Most Santorini wine tours visit one of the two wineries with sweeping Caldera views – Santo and Venetsanos. This is Santo Wines outside of Pyrgos.

The Best Wine Tours in Santorini 1. Small Group Santorini Wine Tour A great small-group tour that visits three traditional wineries and vineyards scattered around Santorini. Hotel pick up and drop off makes it all super easy. Will usually visit Santo Winery or Venetsanos (both with great caldera views – Santo is pictured above) or Gavalas (my favorite) and 2 others. Starts at 3:30pm and lasts a little over four hours. 2. Santorini Private Wine Tour This is a private wine tour for serious wine lovers. The intimacy and attention to detail are definitely worth the splurge, but maybe not for everyone. Most people do the tour as a couple, but it can accommodate a group of up to 6. Starts at 10am or 4pm, with the evening tour enjoying a sunset view from either Santo or Venetsanos Winery. 3. Santorini Sunset Wine Tasting A wonderful small group tour in the early evening; visit 3 wineries and have 12 tastings. Starts at 4pm and usually finishes at Venetsanos Winery (pictured above) for fantastic caldera views at sunset. Fully Booked Wine Tours It’s common for the above tours to sell out in June, July, August, and September. If so, these tours are also excellent: • Half-Day Wine Adventure Tour • Santorini Sunset Wine Tour

The Best Santorini Wineries Most of the island’s wineries are located in the center of the island, south of Fira, between the ferry port and the airport. Of the twenty wineries on the island, fifteen are open to the public for tours and wine tasting. 1. Gavalas Winery – Megalochori My favorite winery on Santorini. Small, friendly, intimate, and family-run for five generations. Their flagship wine is their Santorini Assyrtiko in its famous blue bottle – a high-quality classic. This wine is one of the few white wines that contains tannins. Gavalas has also made efforts to focus on several rare grape varieties, such as Katsano and Gaidouria. Their Gavalas Katsano is produced in small amounts and is a blend of these two grapes exhibiting floral and herbal aromas combined with honey and lime flavors. There is no restaurant onsite, but there is a good taverna nearby. Gavalas can be somewhat hard to find if you’re driving on your own. 2. Venetsanos Winery – Megalochori One of the most well-known and oldest wineries on the island, with spectacular views of the caldera, volcanic cliffs, and Santorini’s famous sunset. This winery was built in 1947, closed in 1974, and reopened in 2014 after renovating and modernizing its wine-making equipment. Venetsanos has recently introduced an Assyrtiko-Aidani Orange wine with apricot, peach, grapefruit, apple, and pear aromas. Its cliffside location means that it is somewhat exposed to the winds, and the outdoor terrace may be closed if it’s an especially windy day. Of the two caldera view wineries, Venetsanos offers similar views as Santo but is a bit smaller, with a little more charm. 3. Domaine Sigalas – Oia A small, scenic winery in Baxedes near Oia, a 10-minute walk from a bus stop on the Fira-Oia bus route. Sigalas offers award-winning wines and good views of the sunset year-round. The founder, Paris Sigalas, has operated the winery since the early 1990s. Their 40 hectacres of vineyards produce 200,000 bottles a year. They are open for small tours, wine tastings, and the option to pair any of their wines with excellent food. Tastings are held both in their tasting room indoors and outside on their beautiful patio overlooking their vineyards. 4. Santo Wines – Pyrgos Large and modern winery with amazing caldera views. They are the largest wine producer in the Cyclades island group, and one of the most well-known wineries on the island, producing 50% of Santorini’s total wine production. They maintain a privately owned organic vineyard and feature four organic wines: 100% Assyrtiko, 100% Athiri, 100% Aidani, and 100% Mavrotragano. They also produce Santorini’s only sparkling white Assyrtiko wine. Santo has an onsite wine tourism center open all year round, and offers the most comprehensive tours of any one winery. Their sun-drenched restaurant and patio are ideal spots to watch the sunset. It can be a busy place in the peak summer season, but their seating area is expansive and there is a huge onsite parking lot. (Santo is a popular stop on many wine tours.) Santo Wines is a cooperative that was founded in 1911. In addition to their wide selection of wines, they also maintain a large shop selling Santorini tomatoes, fava, capers, caper leaves, and sweet preserves. 5. Art Space Winery – Exo Gonia This small and unique winery is a spellbinding blend of modern winery, art gallery, and museum within a centuries-old wine cave. The owner guides you around the property and explains its history with a thick Greek accent. Very cool. Art Space’s main varieties are: Assyrtiko, Aidani, and Mavrotragano. Although Art Space is not certified organic, organic grapes are used to make their wines. Santori Winery Overview Our videographer discusses Santorini wine and wineries with Master of Wine Yiannis Karakasis in Athens. (He literally wrote the book on the topic.)

More Great Santorini Wineries Anhydrous – Fira This winery’s restaurant and tasting room are located a short 10-minute walk from the main square in Fira. Anhydrous Winery derives its name from “Anydros,” which means waterless in ancient Greek, as the vineyards are hydrated only by the island’s sea mist. Cement egg-shaped tanks are used to age their Anhydrous Icon wine (one of their five varieties of wine). These cement tanks help to keep the temperature more evenly regulated. Their Anhydrous Restaurant is beautiful and features an open-air patio with lots of shade. Cooking lessons are also available. An onsite spa offers both face and body treatments using their exclusive cosmetics made from grapes. Their cosmetics are available for purchase at the winery. Argyros Estate – Episkopi Gonia Beautiful and modern winery that is the largest single-owner vineyard on the island. Voted in the top 50 of the world’s best vineyards and wine destinations. Argyros is considered to have one of Santorini’s best Vinsanto wines (sweet wine); their Monsignori vineyard has two hundred-year-old vines from when their ancestors made Vinsanto for the church. The winery does follow some organic practices, and their use of herbicides is low, though they are not a certified organic grower. Artemis Karamolegos – Exo Gonia A charming modern winery that’s been a family-run operation for three generations. Their vines grow in six villages on Santorini, providing a wide selection of the best terroirs on the island. Their red grape Mavrotragano is one of their newest plantings and is wire-trained (not the traditional kouloura basket-trained vines) to allow more sunlight to reach the branches. Prior to their cultivation, Mavrotragano was near extinction on Santorini. Their restaurant, Aroma Avlis, features fresh seafood and vegetarian options. Boutari – Megalochori A beautiful dome winery that was built in 1989. Boutari is one of the most awarded and historical wine producers in Greece. The winery is small, focusing on Assyrtiko, Athiri, and Aidani grapes. Their onsite indoor restaurant serves traditional local food such as fava, tomato fritters, and traditional pork sausage. Boutari Winery is not open on Sundays. Canava Chrissou & Tselepos – Pyrgos The newest winery on Santorini; at the time of this writing, the winery is not open to the public for tours or tastings. This winery produces three white varieties, and eighty percent of its total production is exported to the USA, Canada, and China. Canava Roussos – Episkopi Gonia Traditional and charming, this is the island’s oldest winery, having been founded in 1836. It has been a family-run operation for over six generations. Aged Nykteri wine and Vinsanto wine are their specialty. Their outdoor theater hosts musical performances and concerts. Gaia – Perivolia Gaia Winery is beachside on Santorini’s east coast, with a rustic wine-tasting patio directly on the water. Their wine collection features an exceptional offering and a novel approach to wine aging. Their Assyrtiko variety wine named Gaia Thalassitis Submerged is bottled and then aged underwater in an environment that is entirely free of oxygen and light. Every year, roughly 500 bottles are put in a crate and then submerged 20 meters underwater off the east coast of Santorini for four years. The results have been very successful. The wine is vibrant, takes on a smoky aroma, and has a rounder quality. Additionally, the wine bottle is very distinctive – complete with barnacles attached. Not surprisingly, Gaia Thalassitis Submerged is their most expensive wine. Gaia Wines’ total yearly production is 120,000 bottles. Their wine Gaia Thalassitis (the non-submerged variety) is a classic expression of Santorini Assyrtiko. The winery has no restaurant, but meat and cheese platters are available. Hatzidakis – Pyrgos The only certified organic wine producer on the island of Santorini, the winery is located down a narrow and windy road, overlooking its expansive vineyard near the village of Pyrgos. Hatzidakis Winery’s philosophy from vine to wine is simplicity with limited intervention. The new winery mimics a traditional canava (an underground cave winery); its reception area, tasting room, and wine tours are all inside of caves, built into the side of a hill. The caves have very tall ceilings, which sets the stage for some interesting acoustics and where sounds tend to echo. Note: The cave’s ambient temperature is also noticeably cooler, being underground, so bring a sweater. Koutsoyannopoulos Winery and Museum – Vothonas This modern winery sits atop its wine museum. The museum, presenting the history of Greek wine and the life of Santorininan vine-growerssince the 1600s, is set in an atmospheric 300-meter-long cave and tunnnel complex, 8 meters underground. It is an excellent place to learn more about the island’s wine-making processes, and also an excellent choice to visit if children are joining. There is no restaurant onsite. Vassaltis – Vourvoulos An ultra-modern winery that opened in 2016 and offers tours around its vineyard, production area, and in their cellar where the tastings take place. They also offer four lunch and dinner menu options (pre-booking required), including pairing menus. The winery specializes in producing wines made from the Assyrtiko, Athiri, Aidani, Mantilaria, and Mavrotragano grapes. Mikra Thira – Thirassia The first and only winery located on Thirassia, a tiny island 11 km west of Santorini – with a population of approximately 300. Accessible via a scenic ten-minute ferry ride from Oia, this modern winery has a bright tasting room and sunny patio with views of Folegandros, Ios, and Sikinos. Mikra Thira currently produces three dry white wines, all designated as PDO Santorini. Wine tours and tastings are available by appointment. How to Get to Thirassia: There is a small foot-passenger ferry that runs three to four times a day in the summer and takes about 10 minutes. The ferry departs from the Ammoudi port in Oia to Riva port on the island of Thirassia. Private water taxis are also available for hire.

Wineries and vineyards are scattered all around the Santorini landscape.

Getting To Santorini Wineries Santorini buses from Fira to Akrotiri or Perissa will stop a short walk from Santo Winery , Venetsanos , Gavalas , and Boutari . (If coming from Oia, Imerovigli, or another village you’ll need to bus to Fira and then switch buses.) Buses from Fira to Kamari will stop a short walk from the Koutsoyannopoulos Wine Museum , Artemis Karamolegos Winery , Canava Roussos , Argyros Winery , and Art Space Winery . (If coming from Oia, Imerovigli, or another village you’ll need to bus to Fira and then switch buses.) Buses from Fira to Oia will stop a moderate walk from Vassaltis Vineyards and Domaine Sigalas Winery . Getting a Santorini taxi to and from wineries is possible, but in practice, a pretty big hassle. Best Restaurant for Santorini Wines Oia Vineyart is a hidden gem, tucked away in an old captain’s house in Oia’s quieter back streets, and the only restaurant/wine bar in Santorini offering wine from every winery on the island. The food – elevated gastronomy, locally sourced – is excellent; wines can be ordered by the glass, bottle, or in tasting flights (€35 for 6 different wines). They also maintain a deli shop selling local cheeses, cured meats and fish, and produce; perfect for a self-catered picnic or light meal. A worthwhile stop for anyone passionate (or simply curious) about Santorini’s local food and wines.

Santorini Wines

Barrels of Santorini’s famed Vinsanto wine at Hatzidakis Winery .

Santorini has plenty of quality options for wine lovers. The three most celebrated wines produced on the island are the crisp white Assyrtiko , the sweeter dessert wine Vinsanto , and the traditional white Nykteri . These wines use the Assyrtiko grape, which is indigenous to Santorini. Assyrtiko Assyrtiko (pronounced a-SEER-tee-ko) is considered the finest white wine in Greece, and Santorini’s Assyrtiko is the island’s best and most prolific wine. It’s also the most famous Greek white wine worldwide, and its fame is due to Santorini’s remarkable quality. Assyrtiko is a crisp, light, dry white with a hint of citrus fruits (lemon, lime, or grapefruit) and is slightly bitter. It has a definite saltiness and mineral taste. Assyrtiko is similar to a Sauvignon Blanc.

Vinsanto Vinsanto is a dessert wine and Santorini’s oldest wine. Vinsanto is highly regarded and is extremely sweet with a dense taste and smells more like red wine, even though it’s made with the prominent white grape variety. Vinsanto has a thick, syrupy consistency and a golden color; if allowed to age, it can turn an amber color. Vinsanto is made from late-harvest white grapes that have been dried in the sun for ten days (an ancient technique dating back to 700 BC) and then aged in oak for two or more years. This production method is complex and produces very small yields. Sometimes the wines are aged for decades, and it has the potential to age for a century. The longer the wine has aged, the more bold the flavor. Old vintages are extremely rare and expensive. Vinsanto must always contain at least 51% Assyrtiko grapes and is commonly blended with Aidiani and/or Athiri grapes. Only a handful of wineries on the island of Santorini produce Vinsanto. Although they are both sweet dessert wines, Santorini’s Vinsanto (“wine from Santorini”) is unrelated to the Italian Vin Santo (“holy wine”). They are produced using different grapes and methods. Nykteri Nykteri (pronounced nith-terry) is the most unique dry white from Santorini. The wine is made from overripe grapes and then barrel-aged for at least three months. The grapes were traditionally harvested at night, hence the name Nykteri, derived from the Greek term “harvested at night.” Today, there is no requirement for the grapes to be harvested at night. There are various styles of Nykteri wine, ranging from a discreetly oaked flavor to a more full-bodied style with flavors of nuts and honey. Santorini Grape Varieties

There are approximately 40 local grape varieties currently grown on Santorini, although not all are cultivated. Over a hundred years ago, there was much more diversity, and the island’s winemakers cultivated close to 60 different grape varieties. In recent years, producers have focused primarily on the top five varieties: Assyrtiko (white) Mandilaria (red) Aidani (white) Athiri (white) Mavrotragano (red) The top grape, by a long stretch, is the white grape Assyrtiko , whose plantings account for 75-80 percent of Santorini’s vineyards. The next most common is the red grape Mandilaria , which accounts for about 10 percent and is typically blended with Mavrotragano . Aidani and Athiri , both whites, make up the remaining 5-10 percent; apart from a selection of rare grape varieties like Platani , Katsano , and Gaidouria . Santorini White Grapes Assyrtiko Assyrtiko (pronounced a-SEER-tee-ko) is a white Greek grape, grown all over the country and indigenous to the island of Santorini. Assyrtiko grapes have transparent yellow-gold skin, are highly acidic with fruity flavors, and produce a high alcohol content wine. Assyrtiko vines are mostly disease-resistant and do well in drought conditions. Its bark is exceptionally hard, which helps protect it from the extreme summer winds. Some vineyards in Santorini have 70-80 year old Assyrtiko vines that produce sparingly. Although the grape yields from these vines tend to be low, they are some of the highest-quality grapes grown on the island. Aidani Aidani (pronounced eye-AH-nee) is an ancient white Greek grape variety found mainly on the islands of Santorini and Rhodes. Aidani is lower in sugar and acidity than Assyrtiko, with more floral aromas. Aidani is seldom used on its own and is often mixed with grapes having a high alcoholic content and acidity, such as Assyrtiko or Athiri, which helps to tame the boldness of these grapes and produces a smoother, softer wine when fermented. Although Aidani is a robust, drought-resistant variety of grape with thick skin, it’s more demanding to grow. Aidani grapes ripen at different times, so the grape harvesters have to pick some grapes first, then pass through the vineyard a second time to collect the remaining grapes. Additionally, Aidani ripens late, so it must be harvested last – which is not easy when it’s planted alongside other types. Athiri Athiri (pronounced ah-THEE-ree) is grown exclusively in Greece, and is known for its fruity flavors with hints of citrus like lemon, grapefruit, and nectarines. It is primarily used for blending with the dominant Assyrtiko. Athiri’s acidity is much lower than Assyrtiko, and the grapes are thin-skinned, with a golden-green appearance. Athiri grapes are generally easy to grow and therefore produce high yields. Santorini Red Grapes Mandilaria is the most widely planted red grape variety on Santorini. While Mavrotragano is an ‘exotic’ grape variety that’s making a comeback after it was near extinction on Santorini around 2008. Mandilaria Mandilaria (pronounced Man-dee-LAR-ya) is a black-skinned red grape, also known as Amorghiano (on Rhodes), and the most widely planted red grape variety on Santorini – though growers tend to produce small yields. Mandilaria grapes have very thick skins full of tannins, which account for the most intense colorations in Greek wine, and are high in antioxidants. Wines from this variety have a low alcohol content, however, and typically lack intense flavor and aroma, so Mandilaria is frequently used in blends. Mavrotragano Mavrotragano (pronounced Ma-vro-TRA-ga-no) means “black and crunchy” in Greek. Producing a small fruit with high sugar levels, Mavrotragano grapes produce spicy, deeply colored, full-bodied red wines that are similar to a Syrah. Most producers on the island feature a 100% dry Mavrotragano, although in very small quantities. Mavrotragano was traditionally used to make sweet wines, but came close to extinction on Santorini a couple of decades back. In the 1970s, most of the island’s Mavrotragano plantings were replaced with Assyrtiko, the dominant and more lucrative variety. Since its low point around 2008, however, this little grape has been making a comeback, returning in very limited plantings cultivated by a few of Santorini’s most dedicated growers. For this reason, Mavrotragano is considered ‘exotic’ — a rare variety covering only one percent of the total plantings on Santorini. Excessive alcohol levels in this variety can be problematic if winemakers are not careful. Another challenge with this grape is that fully ripe bunches often include underripe green berries. Winemakers in Santorini continue to experiment with growing techniques to maximize this grape’s potential in wines and wine blends. Rare Varieties Once upon a time, the island’s vineyards grew over sixty varieties, however most of these varieties are no longer grown. Platani , Katsano , and Gaidouria grapes continue to be cultivated in very small amounts, and a few wineries are producing some unique blends using these fruits. Wines made with Katsano and Gaidouria do not have the pronounced acidity of Assyrtiko, but retain the salty mineral taste.

The Small Group Santorini Wine Tour visits multiple wineries, including Venetsanos – one of my favorites.

Santorini Grape Growing Conditions

Grapevines at the Argyros Estate vineyards in Episkopi Gonia.

Soil Santorini’s soil, formed from the island’s major volcanic eruption in 1653 BC, is a mix of volcanic rock, ash, sand, pumice, and lava fragments, known locally as “aspa.” This composition makes the soil acidic with a low pH, influencing the mineral taste of the local wines. The soil, light and crumbly, retains little moisture and is not suitable for tilling. Its appearance resembles a blend of sand and lunar pebbles in red, black, or white. Vine roots here can extend up to 20 meters deep, seeking nutrients from the volcanic ash embedded deep in the soil. Intense Sun & Wind Summer in the Cyclades, including Santorini, is typically very sunny with very few cloudy days. The region experiences strong northern Meltemi winds from May to September, which can challenge wine production by risking grape damage. However, these tough conditions are also thought to enhance grape quality, producing better juice and superior wines. Rain & Sea Mist Santorini experiences minimal rainfall from April to September, with almost none in summer. Grape vines are irrigated only in their first one or two years; thereafter, they rely on moisture from the volcanic soil. At night, sea mist from the caldera blankets the island, supplying essential moisture to the vineyards. The island’s unique, porous, pumice-rich soil effectively absorbs and then gradually releases this moisture to the vines, providing an optimal amount of water for the grape crops.

What is Terrior? The vineyard at Hatzidakis Winery in Pyrgos. Terroir (pronounced teh-waar), derived from the Latin terra meaning soil or land, refers to the natural environment of a vineyard, including soil, climate, rainfall, and terrain. It’s the concept that the specific location where wine grapes are grown imparts a unique flavor to the wine, creating a distinct “personality” that cannot be replicated elsewhere, even with the same grape variety and winemaking methods. Essentially, terroir embodies the “taste of a place.” While primarily associated with wine, terroir also applies to other soil-grown foods like olives, tomatoes, and hops, where the growth region contributes to their distinctiveness.

Santorini’s Unique Growing Style

The traditional kouloura-trained grapevine on Santorini resembles a living basket. This vine is at Argyros Estate winery .

In Santorini, vines are grown low to the ground and are not supported by wire trellising, as is common in most vineyards throughout the world. In order to provide necessary protection from the island’s harsh conditions, local growers have adopted special training systems for the vines: Kouloura (Basket) Method The most common method, where grape-bearing branches are carefully woven by hand into a circular, wreath-like shape. This living ‘basket’ shelters the grapes from strong winds, intense sun, and dry climate, while also trapping humidity. Typically, trapping the humidity is generally not a good wine-making practice, but it is beneficial in Santorini’s extremely arid environment. Kladeftiko (Small Ring) Method In this method, vines are shaped like goblets with pruned branches forming a spur at a lower point and longer canes trained into a circle higher up. In spring, the ring will grow shoots and bear fruit, parallel to the trunk. This age-old practice creates a taller trunk which facilitates better aeration, as the grapes are off the ground, unlike in the kouloura method. However, they are also more exposed, which makes this method suitable only in wind-protected areas. Additionally, terraced landscaping and traditional Greek dry-stone walls are used to enhance cultivation and reduce water loss. Harvesting In Santorini, grape harvesting is time-consuming and labor-intensive; mainly done while crouching, as the vines are low to the ground. Vines are widely spaced in the vineyard to optimize the absorption of scarce nutrients. Harvesting is always manual or assisted by donkeys, with no machinery involved. Santorini grape harvest. Wine Classifications – PDO and PGI

PDO stands for Protected Designation of Origin. Greece has more than 100 products that have been registered as PDO, including wine, cheese, olive oil, honey, and more. When a wine is labeled as “PDO,” this indicates that the wine comes from a specific area, is produced from designated varieties, and is made using that location’s traditional wine-making techniques. The PDO Santorini classification guarantees the wine will be made using at least 85% Assyrtiko grapes, with the remaining percentage made up of Aidani and/or Athiri grapes, all grown in the PDO zone of Santorini. All stages of the wine production must take place within the Santorini zone, including grape cultivation, fermentation, and bottling and labeling. The designated PDO Santorini zone consists of Santorini (Thira) and its closest neighboring island, Thirassia. PGI stands for Protected Geographical Indication. When a wine is labeled as “PGI,” this indicates that at least 80% of its grapes have been grown in that particular zone. The rules regarding production are much more relaxed than the PDO designation, and only one stage of the overall production must take place within the specified zone. The PGI Cyclades Islands zone includes all of the Cycladic islands located in the Aegean Sea. Grapes used to produce PGI Cyclades Islands wines must be planted at altitudes exceeding 30 meters. Most wine made in the Cyclades Islands PGI zone comes from either Santorini or Paros. Santorini Hotels for Wine Lovers

The wine cellar at Akra Suites in Imerovigli.

Hotels of Note Akra Suites (Imerovigli): Charming wine cellar for tastings. Anatoli Hotel (Fira): Set in former winery and distillery. Angel Luxury Suites (Fira): Attached to a popular wine bar. Atrina Canava 1894 (Oia): Set in a former wine cave. Canaves Ena (Oia): Wine tastings offered on site. Charisma Suites (Oia): Offers a sunset champagne event every night, free for guests. Heliotopos (Imerovigli): Popular wine bar for sunset viewing. Katikies Garden (Fira): Their centuries-old canava formerly used to store the pope’s wine, 3 wine cellars currently on site. Katikies Kirini (Oia): Offers daily sunset wine tastings. Kapari Natural Resort (Imerovigli): Wine-themed restaurant on site. Nous (Mesariá): Offers wine from every winery on the island. Perivolas (Oia): Hotel restaurant is in an old wine canava. The Vasilicos (Imerovigli): Same owners as Vassaltis Vineyards; wine tastings, pairings, & tours offered. Vedema (Megalochori): Located in the heart of the wine country, offers tastings in their cellar. Santorini Wine History

The underground cave museum at Koutsoyannopoulos Winery is full of artifacts, photographs, and dioramas that illustrate the history of viticulture on the island of Santorini.

The iconic and picturesque caldera of Santorini was formed following a massive volcanic eruption around 1600 BC. The eruption left the island, engulfed in volcanic debris, lifeless and barren for three centuries until settlers arrived around 1300 BC. These settlers introduced vine cultivation in the volcanic soil. From 500 AD to 1500 AD, Santorini’s sweet wines, traded as “vin Santo” (wine from Santorini), gained popularity, leading to the contemporary name “Vinsanto” for these wines. During this era, the island’s dry Assyrtiko wines were far less favored than the celebrated Vinsanto. In the late 1800s, phylloxera (pronounced fi-lok-SUH-ruh), a tiny aphid that is devastating to vine roots, ravaged vineyards across Europe, including in Greece – but spared Santorini due to its unique volcanic and sandy soil, which lacks the clay necessary for the pest’s proliferation. As a result, Santorini’s vineyards, some centuries old, have maintained their natural root systems. Some of the island’s vines are believed to be over three hundred years old. In the late 19th Century, European wine crops were decimated by phylloxera insects. Santorinian vineyards were immune to this blight, however, as the tiny pest cannot survive in the island’s volcanic soil. While phylloxera was controlled in Europe by early 1900s, Greece’s wine industry suffered due to World Wars, leading to a total collapse of commercial wine production in the Cyclades. Santorini’s vineyards essentially became dormant. However, by the early 1950s, grape vines were flourishing all over Santorini, with over 4,000 hectares used for this purpose. Since the heyday of the 1950’s, however, Santorini’s vineyards have steadily dwindled; dropping to about 2,000 hectares in 1980, and then to merely 1,100 in 2023. This reduction is attributed to tourism-driven development, the challenge of finding vineyard labor due to high living costs, and the profitability of selling land to developers. Since the 1950’s, Santorini’s tradition of wine production has been threatened by modern day tourism. By the late 1980s, there were only six wineries on Santorini: Santo, Venetsanos, Koutsoyannopoulos, Canava Roussos, Boutari, and Markezinis — which no longer exists as a winery, having since been converted to cave-style accommodations. Since the turn of the century, however, Santorini’s wine industry has seen remarkable growth, with the development of new wineries and the modernization of some traditional canaves or underground wineries. Over the last forty years, the island’s total number of wineries has grown by over 200%. As of 2023, Santorini hosts twenty wineries, which is encouraging growth amid concerns that mass tourism might threaten the wine industry’s future. Books on Santorini Wine & Wineries The Wines of Santorini by Yiannis Karakasis is a joy to read and wonderfully informative about every last detail regarding Santorini wines. It’s a little tricky to find but if you get the chance do grab a copy. More recommended books on wine and viticulture Volcanoes and Wine: From Pompeii to Napa , by Charles Frankel The World Atlas of Wine , by Jancis Robinson Wine Folly: The Master Guide , by by Madeline Puckette & Justin Hammack Read More Where to Stay in Santorini Best Hotels in Santorini Best Things to Do in Santorini Santorini Museums Maps of Santorini Best Santorini Boat Tours Best Santorini Private Tours Complete Santorini Travel Guide Best Tours on Mykonos Best Tours on Crete

About Santorini Dave

Thanks for all the great information. Can we get from Santo Winery to our cruise ship if we leave Santo at sunset? The itinerary says 10:00 pm for the cruise ship to leave. Thanks!

The time of sunset varies by time of year. I trust you’ve looked this up. So, by what time should you leave Santo Wines? If you were getting in a taxi to head back to Fira at 8:00pm I think you’d make your cruise’s departure. But there are many variables. How long does it take to get a taxi to arrive at Santo? How long is the line at the cable car? Personally, I would visit Santo through the day and then return to Fira and watch the sunset from one of the bars just a short walk from the cable car. I hope that helps.

If we want to do our own tour of the wineries, like Santos, Venetsanos and Boutari, how would be the easiest way to get there and visit all 3. Will we need to use taxi or is there buses? Thanks

There are bus stops pretty close to all 3 of these wineries. So getting to any one of them and then returning from any one of them is fairly easy. However, getting between them is much more of a hassle. And calling for a taxi can be a long wait, if they come at all. If you wanted to visit more than one winery it’s best to do a tour or to hire a driver for the day.

Wonderful website with tons of great info! Thank you!

Just returned from Santorini and loved the visit at Estate Argyros. Wines and hospitality were both top notch! From there it was an easy drive over to Metaxy Mas for lunch. I think the whites at Argyros are among the best on the Santorini.

John Osgood

Thanks John. Glad it was helpful.

Sadly, all wine tours are sold out for our visit in 3 weeks. We have decided to spend our time doing a boat tour, hike, and Akrotiri but would like to visit at least one winery. Which would you choose for a quick one-hour stop: Venetsanos or Santo Winery. Thanks.

Both have great views but Venetsanos has a little more charm. Santo has a better (larger) wine shop – if you’re looking to take some wine home (or get it shipped).

Your site is helpful. Are there any wine tours in the off season? We are visiting in February and can’t find any availability. Thanks.

There are combo sightseeing and wine tours ( like this one ) available in February.

My problem: No availability left for Wine Tours.

Hi Dave, Love your website and has been super helpful planning my trip. I just booked a solo trip to Greece and will be staying in Fira for 2 and half days. I would love to do a wine tour but it appears that everything is either totally booked up already or requires multiple people to take part. Are there any wine tours that allow solo travelers that are still available to book and if I wanted to plan a DIY tour what would your recommendation be? (Time of day, vineyards to see, walking or renting a driver for a few hours). Lastly if I were to do a DIY tour stopping at 3 vineyards for tasting what would that estimated cost be? Thanks!!

Yes, wine tours get fully booked earlier and earlier every year.

For a DIY wine tour I’d start at Venetsanos Winery (buses go nearby on their way to Akrotiri or Perissa). Then walk to Gavalas Winery in Megalochori. It’s less than a 15 minute walk and it’s a little tricky because of the lack of sidewalks but still pretty easy and doable. If that sounds unappealing you could call a taxi but you might be waiting a while. Those are two of my favorite wineries in Santorini. If you needed a third keep walking (sort of south and west) to Boutari about another 10 minutes south of Gavalas. Then bus back to Fira. As for costs it’s very hard to say as each winery offers a wide range of tastings.

Thanks for all the information on wine tours! Regarding to answer on a DIY tour, I wanted to follow-up to your answer to a previous poster. We’ll be staying in Megalachori, and are interested in doing our own mini-tour starting at Gavalas, and then walking to either Venetsanos or Boutari (which both seem to be semi-close?). Which would you recommend, and about how far is the walk?

Thank you! Danielle

Go to Venetsanos for the views (awesome) and setting. Go to Boutari for the wine. Not that there’s a huge difference in quality but Venetsanos does get more people interested primarily in the views. Boutari is sort of ugly and attracts more serious connoisseurs. As to walking, it’s a little tricky but doable and not far (walking along the busy road is more of the problem). If possible scope out both places beforehand (in a car, if you have one) which will make finding them on foot easier.

We would like to book for a tour online for November, but I can’t for some reason. Are the tours full or closed for the season?

If so can we do it in the island? Or do you recommend just walk in the winery? Our plan is on November 14-18.

Thank you Mark

This private wine tour of Santorini will typically have availability in November.

We’d like to visit a winery near Oia during our visit in December. I see Sigalas is within a short drive of Oia. Is it open in December and will we be able to visit?

Sigalas usually closes in early December. But if you contact them they’ll open up, give you a quick tour around the grounds, and let you taste and buy some wines. Send them an email at [email protected] or call Panayiota at +30 6982 877912.

Hi Dave, many thanks for all of the useful information your site provides. It’s been incredibly helpful for planning my trip over the last few months! I will be staying in Santorini for 6 days, what are the benefits of doing a wine tour as opposed to visiting on your own? We have rented a car for our stay. Look forward to hearing from you!

The biggest advantage is you can enjoy the wine without having to worry about drinking too much. The pours are usually generous and it’s not hard to feel tipsy after a winery or definitely two. Also, finding the wineries can be a challenge. And the tours offer good info on the winers, wineries, and how the grapes are grown that you wouldn’t get without the tour. But can you do it yourself? For sure.

Dave, you’re a legend. Thanks a million for all this info. My wife and I are going to Santorini in a couple weeks and would like to do a wine tour. We prefer red wines to the dessert-ey whites but I’m noticing there are mostly white wines that are popular. Do you recommend any wineries or wine tours that have mostly reds? Thanks in advance.

The best wines on Santorini are whites so I’d encourage you to focus on them even if your tastes tend in a different direction. If you do want to try some reds then Gavalas Winery has the best red wines in Santorini.

After reading your review on Santo Winery and seeing the views, we are hoping to select a sunset tour that includes this winery. However, on the linked “Santorini Half-day Wine Tour” above from GetYourGuide, it does not specify which wineries will be visited. Are you fairly certain that Santo Winery is usually on that tour route? I messaged GetYourGuide about a week ago to check but have not received a response.

Although it was not listed on your website, I also reached out to Santorini Wine Tours to see what tour route they take. Unfortunately they do not visit Santo but instead visit Venetsanos, which they say has equivalent views?

What are your thoughts on this? We just want to make sure we sign up for the best sunset tour option! Ashlee Hansen

No tour will absolutely guarantee which wineries they will visit as it can always change. The Santo winery or Venetsanos is consistently the final visit on the sunset version of the Half Day Tour. Venetsanos is great and has gorgeous sunset views (similar to Santo).

Hi Santorini Dave,

I will be in Santorini on my honeymoon for 3 nights September 29 – Oct 1, during that time it will be my (soon-to-be) husband’s birthday (Sept 30). I want to plan a wine tour with dinner reservations afterward to celebrate (or something like that). What do you recommend?

The wine tours on Santorini are really well done and well worth doing. Most will drop you back at your hotel (or really any place along the caldera) so you’re free to pick from the best restaurants on the island .

Thanks for this site. It’s great! I’m wondering if you have any tips on a do-it-yourself wine tour? I plan to rent scooters for exploring the island, but I wouldn’t want to do this while drinking at several wineries. Is it possible to do this via taxi? Or, are they too expensive and hard to order? Is there an area with a bunch in walking distance? We are staying in Finikia if that makes a difference.

Thanks for your help,

Santorini is loaded with wineries but they are fairly spread out. If you did want to do a self-guided walking tour I would visit the 3 following wineries: Gavalas (in the village of Megalochori), Venetsanos (on the caldera), and Santo Winery (on the caldera). Start by taking a bus from Fira (or wherever you’re staying) to Megalochori – they’ll run about every 30 to 60 minutes. Then find the Gavalas winery (a little tricky but it’s a small village so not too hard). Then walk north and towards the caldera to find Venetsanos. Then further north (and back towards Fira) to get to Santo. You’re now north of the ferry port so there will be plenty of buses running from the main road back to Fira. These 3 wineries are great but the walk between them is not really along the caldera, provides few views, and has stretches on a busy road. So, do it to save money but don’t be expecting a beautiful walk between the wineries.

Hi Dave, Your site has been so helpful in planning our Honeymoon in Santorini! We definitely want to take one of the wine tours. Aside from time of day, is there a real difference between the half day wine tour and the sunset wine tour you suggested on this page? We can’t decide which would be better since they seem so similar… would love your insight! Lilach

Go with the half-day tour (it has two times for you to choose from, so the evening tour will have sunset views). I listed the other tour primarily because my first choice often gets sold out.

Hi Dave, Do you know which 3 wineries the Santorini half day small group wine tour visits? Nicole

Gavalas, Santo, and Boutari are the most commonly visited but can change because of the season or schedule. All are good – and the smaller wineries are often the most memorable.

I was thinking of doing the 5 hour boat tour: red beach/white beach/bbq/hotsprings.

I am going May 21-24. Do you recommend me going on the day one 10AM-3PM, or the sunset one 3PM-8PM. I would think watching the sunset is amazing but afraid once it reaches -7-8, it would be too windy. I don’t mind doing the morning but I just want to make the right choice.

What do you think? Darlene

I would do the sunset one as watching the sun set from below the Oia cliffs is really unique. Though swimming will be better (and they’ll be more of it) on the daytime tour. It can be windy anytime so don’t plan around that.

I’m going to Herakleion for 5 days second week of September, thinking of taking the ferry over to Santorini for 1 day. Which day of the week is best to go over (I grew up in Italy so I’m thinking it might be like there when on Sundays everything is closed, but Saturday are overly crowded) and ideas of best tours to make the most of our time there. I liked the photography tour but none of us are photographers, unless using Instagram, are you obliged to take professional pictures? Elena Metta

There are no guarantees but Wednesday and Thursday are typically the busiest days as those are the most popular days for cruise ship stops. Cruise ships will often leave Athens on the weekend and then return the following weekend giving them a port stop in Santorini mid-week. Sunday and Monday are the best bets for a “quiet” day. The photography tour is great for everyone from beginner to pro.

Hello Dave, Your website is the most useful and helpful site I’ve ever come across while vacation planning. My significant other and I will be visiting Santorini (only for 4 days) from March 31-April 4th. We’re very limited on tours, and As per your recommendation I was interested in the 5 hour sunset catamaran tour. But noticed it includes swimming, snorkelling, and hot springs. Will the weather or water actually be warm enough during those dates to conduct those activities?

Thank you for ALL your efforts and advice.

There will be hot springs swimming as that water is warmish (not hot). The boat stops about 100 meters from the hot springs and the sea water from the boat to the hot springs is chilly. Bring a big warm towel. The “swimming/snorkeling” will probably be ignored but they’re not the highlights of the tour in any case.

Hi we will be going to Santorini / Mykonos in May, we will be on a cruise ship, the 2 islands are the ones I Really want to visit, and see the sunset on Oia. Mykonos we are only there from 7:00 to 14:00, Santorini arrival 7:00 to 19:00. Can you recommend a private Santorini shore tour for 2 senior ladies, (we are not rickety), would be much appreciated. Regards Dianne.

I would do either the half-day wine tour or the Santorini photography tour . Both are excellent. If you did decide to do a caldera boat tour be sure not to do one that takes in the sunset as you won’t have time to get back to your ship.

We will only be in Fira for 3 nights so unfortunately won’t have time to do a wine tour (we should have stayed longer but plans have been finalized). Is there anywhere in or near Fira to walk to a winery or at least enjoy a good selection of wines?

No wineries within walking distance of Fira but there is the Assyrtico wine bar/restaurant on the main pathway in Fira. Lots of good wine.

We’re a group of 4 visiting Santorini at mid-October. Would you recommend booking tours in advance?

You’ll likely be fine not booking and buying after you arrive – but you just never know. If it’s a tour you’re set on then I’d book in advance. Wine tours are small and can easily fill up with one group booking. Boat tours have more capacity and are easier left until after arrival.

We have 2 full days on Santorini. On the first day we’ll walk the foot path from Fira to Oia and explore the towns along the way. On the second day we’ll do either a wine tour of the Santorini wineries or a boat tour of the caldera with sunset and volcano walk. Which would you recommend? Which tour will have better food?

Both tours are great fun but the volcano/caldera/sunset boat tour is the one to do if you only have one day. You can do good wine tours in lots of places but there’s only one caldera like this. The food on the boat tour is adequate (far better than it has to be) but not as good as it would be on the wine tour – but still, do the boat tour.

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Santorini Sunset Wine Experience: Wineries Visit & Wine Tasting

Taste the nectar of Santorini  by setting on a wine-tasting quest in some of the most renowned local wineries , while enjoying the iconic, world-famous Santrorinian sunset !

Set on a trip around the unique landscape of Santorini and visit 3 different local wineries . Explore the local viticulture and vineyards, and taste some of the award-winning wines Santorini has to offer . Round up your experience at the last stop of the tour and gaze at the magnificent sunset of Santorini at an idyllic location right at the edge of Santorini’s caldera. A feast both for your taste buds and your eyes, this  Santorini sunset wine experience will be the highlight of your Greek trip!

Visits to three Estate wineries, and expert guidance and wine presentation by our experienced sommelier or wine expert

Information about the unique viticulture and indigenous grape varietals of Santorini

Wine pairing with delectable Cycladic cheese and local bites

An informative booklet and Wine Certificate as a memento

Santorini is known for its production of internationally-renowned wines, due to its particular terrain, viticulture, and geology. After being picked-up by our driver in a luxury vehicle, set on a 4,5-hour wine tasting tour to 3 different award-winning local wineries and taste the richness of the Therian land , under the guidance of our experienced  wine experts.

Immerse yourself in the viticulture of Santorini and learn about the local grape varieties and the rich wine culture of the island. Let your palate and heart be captivated by the authentic spirit of Santorini as you get served Cycladic cheese and local bites to accompany the delicious wine.

At the end of the tour, you will receive an informative booklet and   a Wine Certificate . Suitable for all visitors, this tour offers an entertaining and informative experience that will deepen your appreciation of the island's wine heritage. Join us and share the feelings that the exquisite tastes of Santorini wines evoke.

• Hotel pick up/drop off with a luxury minivan
• Services of a fluent English-speaking local sommelier
• Admission fees at all wineries
• VAT & all taxes
• Any additional orders or purchases you wish to make
• This is a semi-private tour, that can accommodate up to 8 people. We can accommodate larger groups upon request (private tour).
• Duration is 4 hours approx. Exact duration may vary.
• Tour departs from Monday to Saturday at 15:30-16:30 pm approx. (start time may vary depending pickup location and seasonality).

WELCOME TO THE WINEWAYS EXPERIENCE IN SANTORINI!

Our Tours Wineways

THE WINEWAYS EXPERIENCES

• Santorini Wine Tasting Tour

THE ULTIMATE WINEWAYS EXPERIENCE

3 WINERIES + LIGHT BITES

Enjoy the ultimate Wineways experience with our Santorini Wine Tasting Tour which includes visits to 3 award-winning Santorini wineries with a certified English speaking wine guide.

You will get to know about the island’s unique volcanic soil and ancient cultivation methods which have been passed down through the centuries to produce Santorini’s exquisite wines.

Enjoy a day of delicious wine tasting, as well as a selection of cheeses and local bites.

Time : Tour commences at 10:00 – 11:00 am

Duration : Approximately 3.5 – 4 hours

• Cork & Fork

WINE & DINE IN SANTORINI

2 WINERIES + LUNCH

In this exclusive tour you will have the opportunity to visit 2 award-winning Santorini wineries and enjoy a traditional Santorinian lunch, accompanied by a certified English-speaking wine guide.

You will be visiting Faros Market, situated in beautiful Akrotiri, a local farm and winery where Maria and her family cultivate their own organic products. There you will explore their old wine cellar, equipped with oak barrels and traditional machinery, and enjoy the Wineways lunch; a rich selection of local delicacies, from farm-to-table.

You will also get to visit the vines and try 3 local and organic wine varieties – assyrtiko, nykteri, and vinsanto.

Time : Tour commences at 10:00 11:00 am

You can find the full menu here .

Santorini Afternoon or Sunset Wine Tours

2 WINERIES + LIGHT BITES

Enjoy a relaxed Wineways experience with our Santorini Afternoon Tasting Tour which includes visits to 2 award-winning Santorini wineries with a certified English speaking wine guide.

You will get to know about the island’s unique volcanic soil and the ancient cultivation methods that have been passed down through the centuries and are still used to produce Santorini’s fine wines.

You will get to taste some of Santorini’s fine wines. Cheese and local bites are also included.

Sunset Tours depend on availability of the Wineries.

Time : Afternoon Tour commences at 14:30 – 15:00 pm

Sunset Tour commences at 17:00 – 17:30 pm (depending on the time of sunset)

Duration : Approximately 2.5 – 3 hours

Wineways Private Island Tours

YOUR OWN WINEWAYS

If you are looking for something different from our classic tours, Wineways offers you the choice to create an Island Tour tailored to your needs with an English speaking guide.

This private excursion can include an itinerary of one or more wineries, Santorini’s villages (Pyrgos, Megalochori), Akrotiri’s lighthouse etc., making sure that your day is catered perfectly to your taste.

The duration and the price will depend on the itinerary and will be decided upon discussion. Usually, the duration of those tours is 4 – 5 hours .

Contact us for more details and to organize your Tour.

More Details on the Tours

When : Daily, from April 15th until October 31st

Guests : small groups up to 8 people (possibility for more on request)

Languages : English, Greek

Transportation : Pick-up & drop off included

Payment : made upon tour completion either by Cash or Credit Card

Due to covid-19, all our tours are private for couples, friends, and families

Payment Methods

Payment can be made via credit, debit and prepaid cards.

Cards accepted:

Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, American Express and Diners.

Security Protocol

All payments made via card are processed through Alpha Bank’s “Alpha e-Commerce” electronic payment platform that uses TLS 1.2 encryption with 128-bit encryption protocol (Secure Sockets Layer – SSL). Encryption is a way of encoding information until it reaches its intended recipient, who will be able to decode it using the appropriate key.

Cancellation Policy

• 3 days (72 hours) prior to the tour 50% of the amount will be charged
• 1 day (24 hours) prior to the tour the total amount of the reservation will be charged
• No show or late comers will be charged the total amount of the reservation

Request for Tours

• Santorini Sunset & Wine Tour
• Wineways Tailor Made Private Tours

The Island of Santorini

Greece’s trademark island of Santorini is famous for its blue and white architecture, its glorious sunsets, and its place as a top winemaking region of the world.

The Face Behind Wineways

Nikolas Panagiotakis

Nikos, holder of a Level 3 WSPC Certification in Wine Studies, will be your guide. Having lived and worked in New York, Perth, Hawaii, Stockholm, and Athens and with over 20 years of experience in the hospitality and food and beverage sectors, Nikos will offer you exclusive insights into Santorini’s unique winemaking processes, its rich history and premium wine varieties. As your guide, he will be there with you every step of the way to ensure your Wineways experience is a beautiful Santorini memory to take home with you.

Small-Group Sunset Wine Tour with Tapas and Santo Winery Views

• Hotel pickup and drop-off (locations in Santorini)
• 3 traditional wineries in the countryside
• Views of Santorini's sunset
• Transportation with a/c deluxe minivan
• 12 samples of wine
• English-speaking wine expert guide
• Local cheese served alongside wine-tastings
• Tapas platter filled with island specialties at last winery
• Entry/Admission - Anhydrous Winery
• Entry/Admission - Estate Argyros
• Entry/Admission - Santo Wines
• We pick up guests from all Santorini hotels & Airbnb's. If your accommodation is not on the pickup list - don't worry. We will be able to pick you up, please advise manually after completing your booking. If a hotel is inaccessible by car due to restrictions, pickup will be held from a nearby location within a short walking distance. Cruise ship travelers: The meeting point is the "Mcdonalds' Fast-Food Restaurant" in Fira town. Please note that this tour might end later than advertised, cruise travelers might need to depart earlier or miss parts of the tour in case they are on a tight schedule.
• Santorini, Greece
• Oia 847 02, Greece
• Imerovigli 847 00, Greece
• Pyrgos Kallistis 847 00, Greece
• Kamari 847 00, Greece
• Firostefani Central Square, Fira 847 00, Greece
• Akrotiri 847 00, Greece
• Perissa 847 03, Greece
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
• Minimum age is 17years
• In case travelers are not staying in a hotel or haven't booked an accommodation yet, please advise accordingly
• Exact pickup times will be advised after confirmation of booking, by the local opeartor
• The wines served during the tour are mainly whites and dessert wines, as these are the kind of wines the island of Santorini produces.This is a gentle note for guests that only drink red wine.
• Most travelers can participate
• Duration 4 hours approx. The exact duration may vary including Hotel pickup and drop off.
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Similar experiences

• You'll get picked up See departure details
• 1 Anhydrous Winery Stop: 60 minutes - Admission included See details
• 2 Estate Argyros Stop: 60 minutes - Admission included See details
• 3 Santo Wines Stop: 60 minutes - Admission included See details
• You'll return to the starting point

• cwrack12 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent experience. Excellent tour. Guide was wonderful and friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Group size was perfect. Plenty of wine tastings and lovely tapas to pair it with. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend. Read more Written April 24, 2024
• Bethany717828 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great tour Alaina was a wonderful guide, very knowledgeable of the region and the wines. It was a very fun tour, great food and wines. Read more Written April 19, 2024
• cameronmccracken 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Santorini Wine and Food! My wife and I loved this experience from start to finish. Stratos was our guide, and I would highly recommend anyone request him if possible. He was very knowledgeable and professional the entire time. He provides background knowledge on the island and wines of Santorini. Ask him anything and he will be able to answer it. Between experiencing the wineries and the cooking class this experience cannot be beat. Well worth the money and I highly recommend this to anyone going to Santorini for a few days. Read more Written March 23, 2024
• 384mandiem 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great tour! Guide was friendly and knowledgeable, food and tastings we plentiful, and the group was the perfect size. Would recommend this experience! Read more Written January 2, 2024
• r0snellyc 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing wine tour experience in Santorini! We visited Santorini on a girls trip this past November and had a really great time! This wine tour was an amazing and memorable experience. We really enjoyed all of the 3 wineries we visited, each was unique and special in its own way. The wines were really good as well, this wine tour mainly focuses on white wines. Stratos was a great tour guide - and was very knowledgeable, kind, and a great driver! We highly recommend you go on a tour with him, as he was able to answer all of our questions and the whole time we felt like we were on a tour with a friend. I think the tour does a great job at picking out the wineries where they take you and we really enjoyed the wine selections and views at all of the locations. Stratos, thank you so much for making our tour so special and memorable! When we think back on our trip to Santorini - we will definitely think of you and your kindness and knowledge of wine! Read more Written December 18, 2023
• catherynjcooper 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Favorite Santorini Tour This was one of our favorite days in Santorini. Our tour guide, Stratos, was great and we loved all three stops. The wine was unique, tapas were good, and the view at the last stop was amazing! Highly recommend. Read more Written November 28, 2023
• Tahitibeachgirl 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles This is the wine tour you want! This is not your average wine tour by a tour guide. Our tour host, Angelo, was a sommelier who had studied wine making in college. Our tour was not only about the wine of Santorini but went into depth about wine pairings with types of food. Taste the only the wine, then taste with several recommended foods and see how the food can compliment the wine. We also sampled how certain foods detract from the taste of the wine. We learned a great deal and we are not beginners to wine tasting. We learned the unique way that Santorini wine makers grow their grapes vines to survive the environment. Our tour lasted about 5 hours. We had a highly educated wine group and asked a ton of questions which probably added to a little longer tour. We did not feel rushed on our tour to stick to a tight schedule, so the questions were welcomed. There were 9 in our tour group and though we were strangers at the start of the tour, by the end, we all had new friends! I highly recommend THIS TOUR! Read more Written November 15, 2023
• jowD2347LD 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wonderful Experience! Great opportunity to see Thira, learn about their wine making history, and enjoy amazing company, views, wines, and nibbles. Excellent choice of three diverse wineries and Marina was the perfect guide. Do not hesitate - well worth your time and money. Read more Written November 5, 2023
• trisham900 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles 10/10 Winery Tour Our guide Penny was amazing! The whole tour was fun, we learned a lot, and the wine was great. Highly recommend to anyone visiting the island! Read more Written October 31, 2023
• nancylQ4689EQ 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Awesome experience Best wine tour ever! Angelo is the best tour guide. Good information and also super funny with the group. We really enjoyed our time. Highly recommended!!!! Read more Written October 30, 2023
• Traveler26579671088 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Best Wine Tasting Experience Best Wine tasting experience. I highly recommend this tour. Great views, tapas and wine! Our tour guide Elena was soo friendly and informative. Read more Written October 25, 2023
• shanebD3211CA 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Incredible tour This was one of the best tours I've ever been a part of both in Greece and elsewhere that I've traveled. We were -picked up and driven to three separate wineries throughout Santorini by our tour guide, Angelo. He taught us about each wine (tasting about 3-5 per winery) and he taught us so much, from the basics on how to hold the glass, to pick ups specific scents with each wine, food pairings, etc. The wines are almost all white wines (that's due to the region and the grapes that are unique to the area), however, there were a few reds, dessert wines, and champagne even. While my wife and I don't care for most white wines we were impressed with how each were very tasty and none of them left us feeling ill like some do in the states. At each location we were able to have a very tasty food pairings as part of the tour. These are mostly small bites (cheese, crackers, olives, bread, a few other delicious goodies). It was enough food to make you feel more than full with each winery. Our guide Angelo was what separated this experience from good to great. He was knowledgeable, informative, hilarious, entertaining, and kind. He honestly made the experience incredible from beginning to end. My wife and I cannot recommend this tour enough! Read more Written October 25, 2023
• nickbU1551BD 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Eat before this tour! 🍷 The wineries we went to were amazing! Our guide, Angelo, was very knowledgeable and entertaining. He led our group of strangers to become quick friends and enjoy in the art of wine tasting. The final winery for the sunset was gorgeous. Read more Written October 24, 2023
• linacY2428PV 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Best experience in Santorini Best experience with a great range of local wines, incredible food and amazing views. Definitely book the 2pm tour as it finishes with a chance to see the sunset whilst drinking wine and eating tapas. We would highly recommend our tour guide Stratos he was friendly fun and informative! Read more Written October 22, 2023
• christam665 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great wine tastings! Enjoyable! Amazing wine tour!! Dimitri was very knowledgeable about wine & kept us entertained (he wasnt boring at all). The wine was delicious, 12 tastings with good amounts in the pours. I was slighly tipsy by the end. Only thing i'd change was our pick up location could have been right in front of our hotel. There was room for for a car to spot, it was slighly dangerous walking back tipsy on santorini roads. I felt this was done out of convinece for them, our place was very close by & it wasnt necessary to walk 5 minutes. Read more Written October 20, 2023

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Small-Group Sunset Wine Tour with Tapas and Santo Winery Views provided by Santorini Wine Adventure

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Sunset Wine Tour in Santorini

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During the sunset wine tour in Santorini, firtsly you may experience the beauty of Santorini’s sunset while tasting some of the island’s finest volcanic wines during a 4-hour wine tasting tour. During the tour walk through 3 different wineries and taste 12 different types of wine.

This experience in short

As a result enjoy a 4-5 hour Sunset Wine Tour in Santorini’s countryside. Moreover explore the most distinguished wineries of the island. During that find out some of the most famous types of Santorini wines.  In other words, don’t miss the chance to taste Nycteri, Asyrtiko, and Vinsanto, paired with the unique flavors of the island.

During the Sunset Wine Tour in Santorini you will enjoy

• Enjoy a 4-5 hours wine tour which certainly ideal for wine lovers
• In addition to that, travel of course by a comfortable air-conditioned minivan
• During that, you will visit three wineries and enjoy a cellar tour
• Sample up to 12 different wines and consequently learn about the history of cultivation
• To sum up, enjoy the attention and flexibility that only a small group tour provides

Moreover check out this  Half Day Santorini Sightseeing Small Group Tour .

Finally check out all our small group tours here . Most importantly please be so kind and follow us on our social media.

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Tour Information

Departure time.

Depends on sunset time. Aproximatelly 4 hours before.

What to Expect

Enjoy a 4-5 hour excursion to Santorini’s countryside and explore the most distinguished wineries of the island. Find out some of the most famous types of Santorini wines like Nycteri, Asyrtiko, and Vinsanto, paired with the unique flavors of the island.

Learn about the island’s viticulture history in the cellars of   each winery. Admire the stunning countryside filled with picturesque villages. Experience the world-famous sunset of Santorini at a winery overlooking the caldera cliffs.

There is a unique viticulture environment in Santorini. Grape cultivation   has been practiced on the island since Greek antiquity, and Santorini’s vineyard is the oldest in the Mediterranean. Wines from Santorini were a major export product in the 18th and 19th centuries.Vinsanto, a wine made from sun dried grapes, was traveling to Russia and other European countries. The grapes grow in traditional rolls, giving it a unique taste adored by critics and wine enthusiasts all over the world.

Covid - 19 Safety

• Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
• Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
• Vechicle equipped with eco3 air purifier

Price Includes

• All Fees and Taxes
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Air-conditioned vehicle

Price Excludes

• Gratuities( optional)

Departure & Return Location

Pick up / drop off from / from all  hotels, villas and AirBnB apartments.

Hotel pickups commence approximately 30 minutes prior to departure time, exact pickup time will be advised 48 hours before travel date.

Know Before You Go

Minimum age is 18 years

At the time of booking let the supplier know your hotel name and location; the local partner will email you with the pickup details

Pickup begins approximately 30 minutes prior to the tour departure time and is done from your hotel or the closest point accessible by a vehicle

Cancellation Policy

Cancel 24 hours in advance and get full refund.

Related Tours

Half Day Santorini Sightseeing Small Group Tour

Full day tour of Santorini’s highlights and Venetian castles for small groups

Home » Our Tours » Santorini Wine Tours » Santorini Wine Adventure: Sunset Tour

Santorini Wine Adventure: Sunset Tour

TOUR DESCRIPTION

Taste the celebrated wines of Santorini and admire the charming landscapes during sunset time as you move between three of the most distinctive island wineries on a 4-hour sunset wine-tasting tour.

Learn about the island’s unique viticulture, which is amongst the first to produce wine in the Mediterranean, and explore the cellars of each winery to see where the wine is bottled and matured.

Sample some of the top wine vintages each estate has to showcase served alongside local cheese and snacks and enjoy views of the iconic Santorini’s sunset during wine tastings at the final winery visit.

• Explore the crème de la crème wine estates of Santorini
• Taste a selection of 12 different wines in three celebrated wineries
• Enjoy delicious platters of cheese from small Greek producers
• Listen to expert advice about Greek wines, food pairing, and wine-tasting
• Enjoy personalized attention and hear interesting facts about wine from your wine expert guide
• Experience a wine-tasting session during sunset time at a hill-top winery on the volcanic cliffs
• Take part in a one-of-a-kind experience, ideal for all individuals who enjoy wine, regardless amount of knowledge
• Hotel / Airbnb pickup & drop-off

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Hotel / Airbnb pickup and drop-off.
• Transportation by air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz minivan.
• Visits at three renowned wineries featured in respected wine magazines such as Wine Spectator & Robert Parker.
• Wine tasting of 12 different wine styles from Santorini and Greece.
• English-speaking wine expert guide/sommelier.
• Local cheese and snacks to eat alongside wine tastings.
• Admissions and tasting fees at the wineries.

NOT INCLUDED

• Gratuities (optional)

WATCH OUR VIDEO

SUNSET TOUR ROUTE: May to October

• Avantis (Anhydrous) Winery
• Gavalas Winery, or Hatzidakis Winery, or Gaia Winery
• Santo Winery (Sunset views, Greek cheese & tapas)

TASTING INFORMATION

The wines served during the tour are mainly whites and dessert wines, as these are the kind of wines the island of Santorini produces. This is a gentle note for guests who only drink red wine.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This is a small group (shared) tour, that can accommodate up to 8-10 people.
• Operated as private, the tour can accommodate larger groups upon request.
• Duration 4 hours approx. The exact duration may vary.
• Departs from Monday to Saturday at 15:30-16:30 pm approx. (start time may vary depending on pickup location and seasonality).
• Available from May 15  to October 27.

PICKUP INFORMATION

Parts of Santorini are built on a slope, in case your hotel/ Airbnb is inaccessible by car due to landscape, pedestrianized areas, or any other restrictions, your pickup will be set at a nearby meeting point location within walking distance from your accommodation that will be advised after your booking.

TOUR TIME-TABLE

The tour operator reserves the right to alter/shift the time frame of the tour due to unforeseen circumstances, weather conditions, and slots/ tables available at the tasting rooms of the wineries that day. Your tour might start at a little later or prior time in a continuous effort to provide a better service and to secure a smoother experience for all of our guests.

Payment Information

Our e-commerce website accepts payments with all major credit cards and PayPal, the booking process is seamless – it should only take a moment to book any of our experiences online. In case you are trying to book one of our experiences through our website and your transaction is not successful you may try booking by using a different card, pay with PayPal, or get in touch with your bank/credit card issuer to describe the situation and kindly ask them to release any restriction they might have placed on your card or our website. From our experience, we have noticed that there are times that overseas banks/credit card companies place a short of security on overseas web transactions, as a measure of extra protection for the cardholder.

Again, if the problem persists please try using a different card or select the Pay with PayPal option on our website. Even if you do not have a PayPal account, PayPal acts similarly to a credit card and pulls up a credit card processor to enter your card number. Payments with PayPal seem to work well in such cases where credit cards fail.

CANCELLATION POLICY

• If you cancel more than 3 days(73 hours or more) in advance of your scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee and a 100 percent refund is being processed back to the original form of payment.
• If you cancel within 72 hours of the scheduled departure or NON-SHOW, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
• In addition, no changes / reschedules are possible 72 hours or less before the tour start time.

For your convenience and to avoid any confusion, please make sure that your traveling plans/traveling arrangements are by the tour you have booked. To read all our booking terms and conditions please click here:  cancellation policy.

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• 1. Watch the Sunset
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• 3. Walk on the Caldera
• 4. Visit Volcano and Hot Springs
• 5. Swim in the Black Beach
• 6. Visit Red Beach
• 7. Delish Dinner at Ammoudi
• 8. Visit a Winery on Caldera
• 9. Visit the Charming Prophet Elias Monastery
• 10. Visit Akrotiri Excavations
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If there is an island, where all the wine lovers would have the chance to expand their tasting horizons on wines, that would be the island of Santorini! Winemaking and trading used to be among the main activities of the locals of the past with the wine production having continued up to the present. As the years passed by, several eruptions of the Volcano occurred, which created a soil full of volcanic matter and special ingredients, ideal for the production of high-quality wines. This led to the creation of many wineries over the years, which thanks to geographical factors, maintain healthy vines and produce the best wine in Greece!

Your chance to visit these locations is one of the wine tours that are performed on the island! Carefully selected and some award-winning wineries of Santorini are waiting for you to explore them, and taste the different varieties of wines  paired with a tasteful lunch, learn the history behind the production of the wines by experts, and walk through their neat vineyards. Along the way, you will have the chance to see beautiful locations and admire the stunning view of the Caldera and the famous Volcano!

Choose the wine tour that you prefer and get ready for a unique experience and a journey in history and new flavors! You will not regret it!

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20 Unmissable Things To Do in Santorini

Posted: April 24, 2024 | Last updated: April 24, 2024

Almost three millennia ago, a volcanic eruption formed the now-magnificent caldera named Santorini. Officially known as Thira, this gorgeous slice of land is nothing short of perfection. With white, black, and red sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters stretching for miles, and unreal views, Santorini is a must-visit.

The island of Santorini has a distinct magnetic charm that attracts newlyweds looking for a romantic getaway, adrenaline junkies looking for an adventure, and people looking to be swept away by the beautiful places to destress from their daily life. 

When so many things are packed into one place, it is often overwhelming to plan a vacation. Don’t worry because our guide to the best things to do in Santorini will ease some of that burden.

Enjoy a Sunset in Oia Village

To fully immerse yourself in the Santorini experience, you can’t miss out on a mesmerizing sunset from the highest point of the Oia Castle. Not only can you see the yellow-orange rays dancing in the sky, but you’ll also be able to see volcanic rocks up here.

The Castle of Oia also has breathtaking views of the caldera that will leave you stunned. Additionally, once you’re here, you must visit the Maritime Museum, lined with paintings, art, documents, and more. Below Oia, you can see the Ammoudi Bay as well.

Read also:  Best Greek Islands for Beaches

Look at the Sunset in Imerovigli

The Santorini village of Imerovigli offers an alternative to the jam-packed Oia Village. From here, you can enjoy stunning sunsets that are a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Not only can you enjoy the beautiful Cycladic architecture, but this small village also offers some of the best boat tours to explore the volcanic island.

For adventure seekers, a short hike to the Skaros rock, which leads to the most epic views, is one of the best things to do here.

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Visit the Fira Town

Fira, the capital of Santorini, is home to glorious blue-domed churches with a volcano backdrop, the Old Port with steep cliffs in the surroundings, and the Fira Main Square, packed with bustling life and delicious local cuisine.

This cosmopolitan area is one of the best ways to spend time in Santorini because of its rich history. You can also enjoy a movie at the open-air cinema on the main road to Fira town.

Read also:  Top Must-Visit Greek Islands

See the Caldera Cliffs

An eruption 3,500 years ago created a giant crescent-shaped volcanic crater known as the caldera. Visiting these enigmatic cliffs is one of the most popular activities for tourists since they have their own unique charm. To fully explore the place and immerse yourself, you can take an organized tour on a catamaran and enjoy the stunning view of the area. 

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Explore the Red Beach

Santorini’s beaches are known to be some of its best destinations, with people worldwide coming to enjoy their time. The Red Beach is a unique location with red cliffs and sand pebbles that make it stand out. The striking contrast between the beautiful waters and the area’s color is truly one of the most amazing things to experience.

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Visit the Black Sand Beaches

If you think red beaches are fantastic, Santorini is also home to black beaches like Perivolos Beach, Perissa Beaches, and many more. The black sand is a result of molten lava caused by volcanic ash. Not only can you enjoy the bizarre yet mesmerizing view, but you can also enjoy scuba diving, swimming, and boat trips and have the time of your life. 

Read also:  Top European Beaches

Swim at the White Beach

Santorini is so diverse that you will even find Lefki Ammos, or the White Beach, here. The best time to visit is during the summer months to fully enjoy the water, white cliffs, and warmth of the place, though it can get a little busy. To see the colorful beaches of Santorini, you can also venture on a cruise ship to hit every spot in one day. 

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Walk on the Vlychada Beach

One of the best beaches in this area is Vlychada Beach, which has cute spots for spectacular pictures. You’ll also find an open bar with delicious beverages and exotic cocktails to chug down as you take in a whiff of fresh air and fully relax. Since this is a popular place, you can even rent sunbeds. People also love to visit the tomato industrial museum when they’re here. 

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Dip Your Toes at Kamari Beach

With crystal-clear water and black sand, Kamari Beach is filled with fun and adrenaline. Though it can get quite packed during high season, the best time to go is early morning. The locals are known to be very friendly and welcoming, which makes the experience even better. Since the water dives deep, keeping children away from it is essential.

Read also:  Top European Beach Destinations

Swim in the Hot Springs

Also known as the Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni, the hot springs are a fun experience for those visiting Santorini for the first time. These waters are known for their therapeutic properties and attract many people worldwide. While they aren’t hot, they’re warmer than typical beach water, and people enjoy jumping off cruise ships into the water below. 

Read also:  Budget European Destinations

Enjoy a Sunset Cruise

What better way to enjoy the late afternoon than to go on a sunset cruise? You can select from various options depending on your budget and needs. There are luxury sunset cruises that offer mouth-watering food and live music, but there are also cruises that are budget-friendly yet still allow you to explore picturesque villages.

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Divulge in Wine Tasting

Santorini’s local culture and rich history include wine making, which is one of the top things to do here, especially for wine lovers. This delicious and crisp nectar can be enjoyed at one of the many wineries here, like Hatzidakis, or you can even go on a wine tour to test various options in one go. 

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Go on a Volcano Hike

One way to experience the essence of this place is to go on a volcano tour or hike to witness views that will leave your mouth hanging wide open. You can venture to the top by taking the 2.6-km loop trail near Nea Kameni, a medium-difficulty hike that takes approximately 50-55 minutes to complete, which isn’t long for trails. 

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Hike from Fira to Oia

Regarded as a spectacular hiking trail in mainland Greece, traveling from Fira to Oia can be great fun. Though it is considered a generally easy path, it does take 3-4 hours, so stamina is critical. But you don’t need to do it in one go.

Enjoy your surroundings, and look at the Ancient Thera. This beaten track will be easy to conquer. 

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Bask in Luxury With the Santorini Helicopter Tour

If you have the money, a helicopter tour is one of the best ways to enjoy the ancient ruins and jaw-dropping cliffs with your friends and family. From the very top, you can enjoy the views and make memories that last a lifetime. You can even book a tour between Mykonos and Santorini.

Read also:  Greece Island Hopping Tips

Ride a Cable Car From Old Port to Fira

The Cable Car serves a dual purpose; it’s both recreational and functional. While there might be plenty of means of transport to travel between Fira and the Port, a cable car only takes four minutes, making it efficient. You can even bring your luggage. However, you can also just ride it for the complete experience. Remember to book your tickets in advance since it does get busy. 

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Explore Ancient Akrotiri

Akrotiri is one of the well-preserved historical sites inhabited by the Minoans in 3000 B.C. However, the entire place was leveled with volcanic ash after the eruption. You can explore the place with a travel guide who will tell you about the ancient stories and take you to the archaeological museum. But that’s not all. You can also climb up the Akrotiri Lighthouse for a romantic getaway.

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Learn About History at the Museum of Prehistoric Thira

Visitors can learn about Santorini and its history by visiting the Museum of Prehistoric Thira. The place is lined with pottery pieces, wall paintings, and artifacts, which help you learn a lot. While the place is small, it packs years and years of history into it, so it’s a must-visit, especially if you’re a history buff.

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Visit the Venetian Castle Ruins

This 13th-century castle has a deep historical significance. It was constructed during the Venetian occupation as a defense tower. Behind it, 200 houses were built to protect the inhabitants. The climb up there can look daunting, but it’s not as bad as it seems, and you also get to enjoy the gorgeous scenic view.

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Enjoy the Top Restaurants With a Sunset View

Head to Petra in Oia for a taste of fine dining and a caldera view. Not only is it reasonably priced, but it also has a 360-degree view of the Pyrgos Village.

You can also visit the Eros Beach Bar, which is much more secluded, making it easier to get some privacy while enjoying the mesmerizing views. The staff is very friendly.

For the most scrumptious meal and a breathtaking view, you should also head to Le Moustache Caldera.

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Gobble Down the Local Cuisine

The most awaited part of any vacation is the delicious, hearty meals from different cultures. Santorini’s best places offer their delectable sfougato, which is their version of an omelet, the Greek delicacy called fava beans, perfectly cooked octopus, tomato keftedes made with an array of vegetables, and much more. You can also find seafood restaurants at Amoudi Bay, selling mouth-watering and juicy fresh marine life. 

Read more:  Best Greek Foods to Try in Greece

Best Time To Visit Santorini

There is shoulder season in Santorini from mid-April to June and September to mid-October, making it the best time to visit.

While the summer months are ideal since Santorini is home to many beaches, these months offer peace, unlike peak seasons, when tourists are jam-packed in every nook and corner. Additionally, this timeframe will cost you much less, and you can enjoy a vacation even with a tight budget. 

Read more:  When To Visit Greece

Stunning Small Towns in Europe to Visit in Your Lifetime

Add these charming European small towns to your bucket list.

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Must-Visit European Cities for Your Bucket List

Turn your wanderlust into reality with our list of must-visit European cities .

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Hidden European Gems

Explore off-the-beaten-path gems in Europe for a truly authentic experience.

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Best Budget-Friendly European Cities

Stretch your travel budget in these cost-effective European cities .

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European Cities for a Spring Getaway

Make your spring unforgettable with these  European city trips .

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Small Towns Across the Globe That Are Straight Out of a Fairy Tale

Step into a world of  beautiful small towns  where cobblestone streets lead to timeless wonders.

• Read more:  Small Towns Out of a Fairy Tale

Read the original thread on 20 Unmissable Things To Do in Santorini .

This article was produced and syndicated by World Wild Schooling .

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Forget Mykonos and Santorini, Syros is the best Greek island. Here are 10 of my favorite things to do there.

• Syros, a short ferry ride from Mykonos, is a luxurious and underrated island to visit in Greece .
• I visit every year , and love spending the day at a beach club and seeing a show at Apollon Theater.
• Belle Époque, Theosis, and Allou Yialou are some of the best places to eat and drink on the island.

Tourists flock to the Greek islands of Mykonos and Santorini every summer. But people are finally starting to catch on to the fact that many popular destinations are overpriced and overcrowded.

Luckily, Greece has over 220 inhabited islands to explore — and just a short ferry ride from Mykonos lies Syros.

My grandmother is from the island, and I visit it every year. It's one of the most underrated and luxurious destinations in Greece.

Here are 10 of my favorite things to do on Syros.

Grab a coffee at Belle Époque in Miaouli Square.

One of Syros' most prominent landmarks is Miaouli Square, located just a few steps away from the harbor in the main city of Ermoupoli.

It's a great place to start exploring the island — people of all ages gather to chat and catch up, kids play, and teens socialize on the steps of the town hall.

I love sitting in one of the many cafés around the plaza, like Belle Époque, and enjoying pastries and Greek coffee while I watch the town go by.

Take a dip at Ciel Syros.

Ciel Syros is a beach bar located near the picturesque neighborhood of Vaporia. But there's no sand there — you can eat and drink on a promenade over the water and dive directly into the sea.

The water here is a beautiful, deep, clear blue, but there are no shallows, so it's only recommended for strong swimmers.

You may occasionally get sprayed by waves while enjoying your drinks, but the atmosphere is always fun, especially on summer afternoons when there are endless parties with Greek music.

Window shop in the streets of Ano Syros.

If you can manage all the steps, walking uphill to Ano Syros from Ermoupoli is a treat.

You'll find a lot of craft, jewelry, clothing, and other shops, as well as cute cafés to explore in this part of the island.

Make sure to arrive in the morning or late afternoon as many stores close for a bit around midday.

Get a cocktail at Theosis.

Theosis Bar is a newer addition to Ano Syros. It's o wned by the same man who operates Kouchico — one of the best cocktail bars in Ermoupoli — and serves carefully curated and crafted drinks.

Instead of tables, people sit around a pedestrianized square on stairs and cushions, making the upscale atmosphere feel more casual and less stuffy.

Catch a show at the Apollon Theater.

Designed as a miniature version of the La Scala opera house in Milan, Apollon Theater hosts shows and performances on the island.

It's also one of the many reasons Syros is considered an island of the arts. Each year, the venue hosts multiple events, including an international film festival .

Spend the day lounging at Ono Concept beach club.

Agathopes Beach has always been popular with families and tourists thanks to its clear, shallow water and golden sand.

With the addition of the elegant Ono Concept beach club, which opened a few years ago, beachgoers can tan on luxurious lounge chairs while enjoying food, coffee, and cocktails.

Tour Chatzakis Winery.

In the northern part of the island, where few tourists (or even locals) venture, there's an amazing winery with a stunning view .

I recommend touring the Chatzakis facility in the evenings. Guests can sample the wines alongside charcuterie and snacks while enjoying a mesmerizing Greek sunset.

Enjoy dinner and a sunset at Allou Yialou.

Syros has become well known for its gastronomy, and Allou Yialou at Kini Beach is one of the best upscale taverna experiences.

Indulge in classic Greek family-style dining featuring plenty of seafood. You can also catch a stunning sunset here as the restaurant faces west.

Stay at one of many converted neoclassical houses.

The architecture in the streets of Ermoupoli is more reminiscent of Venice than the other Greek islands .

Syros has always been known as a very aristocratic island, and some of its old, pastel-colored neoclassical houses have been renovated into boutique hotels.

Check out Aristede Hotel, Villa Selena, or Arion for historic and luxurious accommodations with incredible hospitality.

Go to Loukoumia Leivadaras to try one of the island's specialty sweets.

Syros is famous for its loukoumia, the Greek version of Turkish delight .

The treat is available at many shops across the island, but Loukoumia Leivadaras is one of the most highly rated.

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