Santorini Boat Tours Compared
Seven Santorini boat tours sit on this page, priced from $33 to $267 per person, sorted into three groups: catamaran tours, caldera cruises, and sailing and rentals. I have ordered them by how closely each one matches a standard caldera cruise, starting with the catamarans most travelers book first, then the shorter and longer caldera cruises, and ending with the traditional sailboat and the self-drive rental, since both swap the usual group format for something different. Each group below names every boat in it, states its real price and duration, and tells you which one I would pick and why.
- Operators compared
- 13
- Bookable online
- 7
- Departure areas
- 4
- Cheapest online
- $33.38
Book online
Which Santorini catamaran cruise is the best fit?
The busiest and most complete option wins for most first-time visitors. Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise costs $122 for five to six hours, the only one of the three with a full Greek meal and open bar plus stops at Red Beach, White Beach, and the hot springs. Santorini Catamaran BBQ and Hot Springs Cruise costs $118 for five hours and keeps the group smaller, anchoring at a quieter stretch of the hot springs. Santorini Platinum Catamaran Cruise costs $94 for five hours and adds a stop at Thirasia Island with sunset sparkling wine. I would book the Day Cruise first unless a smaller group or Thirasia matters more to you.
★ Top pick Catamaran Tours
Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise
Most popular, meal + open bar included
✓ Free cancellation available
Catamaran Tours
Santorini Catamaran BBQ and Hot Springs Cruise
Small-group BBQ cruise, 4 swim stops
✓ Free cancellation available
Catamaran Tours
Santorini Platinum Catamaran Cruise
Top-rated, includes a stop at Thirasia Island
✓ Free cancellation available
Which caldera cruise fits a shorter or a longer day?
The shorter cruise covers the volcano and the hot springs in an afternoon, while the longer one turns those same two stops into a full day with a second island. Santorini Volcano and Sunset Caldera Cruise costs $33 for three hours from Athinios Port, with onboard audio commentary and a self-guided volcano walk, though it skips food and hotel pickup. Santorini 1-Day Boat Trip: Volcano, Thirassia and Oia Sunset costs $63 for about twelve hours, adds free time on Thirassia island, and ends with a land-based sunset in Oia Village. I would take the short cruise if an afternoon is all you can spare, and the full day trip if you want Thirassia and Oia in one outing.
Caldera Cruises
Santorini 1-Day Boat Trip: Volcano, Thirassia and Oia Sunset
Full-day island hop, ends with Oia sunset
✓ Free cancellation available
Caldera Cruises
Santorini Volcano and Sunset Caldera Cruise
Budget afternoon cruise + hot springs
✓ Free cancellation available
Should you book a sailboat cruise or drive your own boat?
A sailboat cruise still follows a set route with a crew, while the rental hands you the wheel with no itinerary at all. Santorini Dream Catcher Sailing Cruise costs $139 for about five hours out of Vlihada Marina, reaching private bays only accessible by boat plus a hot springs stop and a BBQ lunch with drinks. Santorini No-License Private Boat Rental costs $267 for five to seven hours near Ammoudi Bay, needs only a car license, and lets you set your own stops and pace instead of following a crew. I would pick the Dream Catcher for a crewed day at a lower price, and the rental if privacy and control over your route matter more than cost.
Sailing & Rentals
Santorini No-License Private Boat Rental
Private self-drive boat for couples
✓ Free cancellation available
Sailing & Rentals
Santorini Dream Catcher Sailing Cruise
Secluded bays, BBQ lunch included
✓ Free cancellation available
Check dates for the top pick
Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise: From $122.4 · 5 to 6 hours.
What does this comparison table actually measure?
Every price below is the lowest published per-person fare I found on 2026-10-31, except the no-license rental, which is priced for the whole boat rather than per person. Duration is each operator's own published figure, so a listed five hours means the boat is typically back by then, not exactly. None of these seven products sell on a multi-day validity window the way a hop-on hop-off pass does. Every one is a fixed-date, fixed-time booking, so you pick a specific sailing rather than a window you can use whenever you like.
| Tour or ticket | Duration | Best for | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise Catamaran Tours 5 to 6 hours | 5 to 6 hours | Most popular, meal + open bar included | 122.4USD per person | Check availabilityDetails → |
| Santorini No-License Private Boat Rental Sailing & Rentals 5 to 7 hours | 5 to 7 hours | Private self-drive boat for couples | 267.06USD per person | Check availabilityDetails → |
| Santorini Catamaran BBQ and Hot Springs Cruise Catamaran Tours 5 hours | 5 hours | Small-group BBQ cruise, 4 swim stops | 118.51USD per person | Check availabilityDetails → |
| Santorini 1-Day Boat Trip: Volcano, Thirassia and Oia Sunset Caldera Cruises 12 hours | 12 hours | Full-day island hop, ends with Oia sunset | 63.43USD per person | Check availabilityDetails → |
| Santorini Platinum Catamaran Cruise Catamaran Tours 5 hours | 5 hours | Top-rated, includes a stop at Thirasia Island | 94.58USD per person | Check availabilityDetails → |
| Santorini Dream Catcher Sailing Cruise Sailing & Rentals 5 hours | 5 hours | Secluded bays, BBQ lunch included | 139.09USD per person | Check availabilityDetails → |
| Santorini Volcano and Sunset Caldera Cruise Caldera Cruises 3 hours | 3 hours | Budget afternoon cruise + hot springs | 33.38USD per person | Check availabilityDetails → |
Prices checked: 2026-10-31 · prices may vary
Compare
Santorini boat tour companies, compared by Google reviews
Thirteen boat tour companies run from four points around Santorini: Fira and the old port, Vlychada in the south, Oia in the north, and Perissa on the southeast coast. Vista Yachting Santorini leads on Google reviews, 3,964 of them with a perfect 5.0 rating, ahead of SPIRIDAKOS Sailing Cruises and Caldera Yachting Santorini. What splits them is simple: five of the thirteen supply a boat you can book right here on this site, while the rest take bookings only through their own websites. I would start with a matched operator first, since you can see its exact price and duration before contacting anyone.
Click a column heading to re-sort.
| What they run | Book online | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vista Yachting Santorini Fira and the old port: the busiest departure point | Fira and the old port: the busiest departure point | Catamaran cruises and day tours around the caldera | 5.0 3,964 reviews | Santorini Platinum Catamaran Cruise |
| Renieris Santorini Sailing Center Fira and the old port: the busiest departure point | Fira and the old port: the busiest departure point | Sailing club and yacht charters from Fira | 5.0 1,271 reviews | Direct only |
| Angel Sailing Santorini Vlychada port: the quieter south-coast option | Vlychada port: the quieter south-coast option | Cruise agency running caldera tours from Vlychada | 5.0 571 reviews | Direct only |
| Santorini Yachting Cruises Fira and the old port: the busiest departure point | Fira and the old port: the busiest departure point | Catamaran day cruises around the Santorini caldera | 4.9 748 reviews | Santorini Platinum Catamaran Cruise |
| Santorini Sailing Cruise Fira and the old port: the busiest departure point | Fira and the old port: the busiest departure point | Catamaran and sailing cruises with BBQ lunch stops | 5.0 306 reviews | Santorini Catamaran BBQ and Hot Springs CruiseSantorini Dream Catcher Sailing Cruise |
| Rent a Boat Santorini SeaBreeze Boat Rental Perissa: the southeast-coast option | Perissa: the southeast-coast option | Boat rental and tours from Perissa | 4.9 574 reviews | Direct only |
| Santosails Santorini Catamaran & Yachts Luxury Cruises Vlychada port: the quieter south-coast option | Vlychada port: the quieter south-coast option | Catamaran and luxury yacht cruises from Vlychada | 5.0 264 reviews | Direct only |
| Saint Yachting Santorini Oia: departures from the island's north | Oia: departures from the island's north | Boat tours and cruises based in Oia | 5.0 236 reviews | Direct only |
| Boat Rental in Santorini Vlychada port: the quieter south-coast option | Vlychada port: the quieter south-coast option | Boat rental, cruises and tours from Vlychada | 4.9 433 reviews | Direct only |
| SPIRIDAKOS Sailing Cruises Fira and the old port: the busiest departure point | Fira and the old port: the busiest departure point | Cruise agency running sailing trips from Fira | 4.8 2,077 reviews | Direct only |
| Caldera Yachting Santorini Fira and the old port: the busiest departure point | Fira and the old port: the busiest departure point | Yacht broker and catamaran cruises from Fira | 4.8 1,436 reviews | Direct only |
| Santorini Sailing Fira and the old port: the busiest departure point | Fira and the old port: the busiest departure point | Catamaran and sailing cruises from Firostefani | 4.7 227 reviews | Santorini Catamaran BBQ and Hot Springs CruiseSantorini Dream Catcher Sailing Cruise |
| Sunset Oia Sailing Cruises Oia: departures from the island's north | Oia: departures from the island's north | Catamaran day cruise departing from Oia | 4.5 721 reviews | Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise |
Google ratings and review counts as captured 31 October 2026; they change daily. They are Google's numbers, shown without stars or review markup.
What does the fare actually buy, and what doesn't it cover?
Every fare buys the boat itself: a seat or the whole vessel, the crew where one is included, and whatever swim stops and safety gear the listing names. Four of the seven add a meal and an open bar inside that same fare. None of the seven include the volcano entry fee at Nea Kameni, which two of the cheaper cruises collect separately in cash, and none include gratuities for the crew. Add-ons like pickup, the premium seafood upgrade, or fuel on the self-drive rental are selected and paid at checkout, not folded into the headline price you see on this page.
- Free cancellation available
- Secure booking
- No hidden fees: pay at GetYourGuide checkout
Which tour?
How do you choose between all seven options?
Start from how much time you actually have on the island, not from price. With only an afternoon free, the three-hour Volcano and Sunset Caldera Cruise covers the volcano and hot springs without eating your whole day. With a half day to spare, any of the three catamaran tours adds a meal and more swim stops for a few hours more. With a full day and nothing else planned, the twelve-hour Thirassia and Oia trip or the no-license rental both earn their extra hours, the first by adding a second island and a land sunset, the second by handing you full control over the route.
Most reviewed operator
Vista Yachting Santorini has more Google reviews than any other operator on this page, 3,964 of them at a perfect 5.0 rating. It supplies the Santorini Platinum Catamaran Cruise, 5 hours from $94.58, with a stop at Thirasia Island. If a long track record of reviews matters most to you, I would book this one first.
Cheapest way on the water
The Santorini Volcano and Sunset Caldera Cruise is the cheapest boat tour on this site, $33.38 for 3 hours out of Athinios Port, covering the volcano and the hot springs without a full day. It skips the meal and the hotel pickup that the catamaran cruises include. I would pick this one if price and time are both tight.
Most included in one fare
The Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise packs in the most for one price: a full Greek meal, an open bar, and stops at Red Beach, White Beach, and the hot springs, all for $122.40 over 5 to 6 hours. It is supplied by Sunset Oia Sailing Cruises, which carries a 4.5 rating from 721 reviews. I would book this one for the fullest day on the water.
Longest day out
The Santorini 1-Day Boat Trip: Volcano, Thirassia and Oia Sunset runs 12 hours for $63.43, the longest day of any product on this page, adding free time on Thirassia island before a land-based sunset in Oia Village. I would take this one over a half-day cruise if you want to see two islands instead of one.
Private and self-paced
The Santorini No-License Private Boat Rental hands you a brand-new boat near Ammoudi for 5 to 7 hours, no boating license needed, just a car license. At $267.06 it costs more than a shared seat, but that price covers the whole boat rather than one person, so it can work out cheaper per head for a group of four or more. I would pick this one for privacy over a shared cruise.
Same boat, two bookings
The Santorini Catamaran BBQ and Hot Springs Cruise is supplied by two operators on this list, Santorini Sailing Cruise and Santorini Sailing, at the same $118.51 price for 5 hours. Santorini Sailing Cruise carries the higher rating of the two, a perfect 5.0 against 4.7. I would book through whichever storefront shows the departure time you want, since the boat and route are the same.
Operators
The Santorini boat operators, by departure area
Fira and the old port: the busiest departure point
Vista Yachting Santorini
Catamaran cruises and day tours around the caldera · Boat tour agency
Vista Yachting Santorini leads every operator on this page with 3,964 Google reviews and a perfect 5.0 rating, more than any other boat company here. It supplies the Santorini Platinum Catamaran Cruise, 5 hours from $94.58, with a stop at Thirasia Island and sunset sparkling wine. If you want the single most reviewed operator on the water, I would book here first.
Epar.Od. Firon-Ormou Perissis, Thira 847 00, Greece
WebsiteGoogle MapsAlso bookable here: Santorini Platinum Catamaran Cruise →
Renieris Santorini Sailing Center
Sailing club and yacht charters from Fira · Tour agency
Renieris Santorini Sailing Center carries a perfect 5.0 rating across 1,271 Google reviews, the fourth highest review count of any operator on this page. It runs as a dedicated sailing and yacht club out of Fira rather than a single catamaran brand. I would call ahead if a smaller, sailing-focused outfit suits you better than a big group cruise.
Epar.Od. Firon-Ias, Thira 847 00, Greece
Santorini Yachting Cruises
Catamaran day cruises around the Santorini caldera · Boat tour agency
Santorini Yachting Cruises holds a 4.9 rating from 748 Google reviews and supplies the same Santorini Platinum Catamaran Cruise listed on this site, 5 hours from $94.58 with a stop at Thirasia Island. It shares that product with Vista Yachting Santorini, so the two effectively sell the same cruise through different storefronts. I would compare both before picking a departure time.
25is Martiou Θηρα, Thira 847 00, Greece
WebsiteGoogle MapsAlso bookable here: Santorini Platinum Catamaran Cruise →
Santorini Sailing Cruise
Catamaran and sailing cruises with BBQ lunch stops · Boat tour agency
Santorini Sailing Cruise, also listed on Google as Sirigos Yachting, holds a perfect 5.0 rating from 306 Google reviews and supplies two of this site's boats: the Santorini Catamaran BBQ and Hot Springs Cruise at $118.51 for 5 hours, and the Santorini Dream Catcher Sailing Cruise at $139.09 for about 5 hours. That makes it the only operator here matched to two separate products. I would start with the BBQ cruise for the lower price.
Thira 847 00, Greece
WebsiteGoogle MapsAlso bookable here: Santorini Catamaran BBQ and Hot Springs Cruise →Also bookable here: Santorini Dream Catcher Sailing Cruise →
SPIRIDAKOS Sailing Cruises
Cruise agency running sailing trips from Fira · Cruise agency
SPIRIDAKOS Sailing Cruises has the second-highest review count of any operator on this page, 2,077 Google reviews, with a 4.8 rating, right behind Vista Yachting Santorini. It operates from the 25is Martiou street area near Fira's old port, listed as a cruise agency. I would put it on a short list alongside Vista Yachting if a long, heavily reviewed track record matters most to you.
25is Martiou, Thira 847 00, Greece
Caldera Yachting Santorini
Yacht broker and catamaran cruises from Fira · Boat tour agency
Caldera Yachting Santorini has the third-highest review count on this page, 1,436 Google reviews, with a 4.8 rating, and is also registered as a yacht broker. That broker listing suggests it can arrange private charters as well as standard group cruises from its Fira address. I would ask about a private charter here if a shared boat is not what you want.
25is Martiou, Thira 847 00, Greece
Santorini Sailing
Catamaran and sailing cruises from Firostefani · Boat tour agency
Santorini Sailing, based in Firostefani just outside Fira, holds a 4.7 rating from 227 Google reviews and is matched to the same two products as Santorini Sailing Cruise above: the Santorini Catamaran BBQ and Hot Springs Cruise and the Santorini Dream Catcher Sailing Cruise. With the lower rating of the two, I would read Santorini Sailing Cruise's reviews first before choosing between them.
Agios Gerasimos, Firostefani 847 00, Greece
WebsiteGoogle MapsAlso bookable here: Santorini Catamaran BBQ and Hot Springs Cruise →Also bookable here: Santorini Dream Catcher Sailing Cruise →
Vlychada port: the quieter south-coast option
Angel Sailing Santorini
Cruise agency running caldera tours from Vlychada · Cruise agency
Angel Sailing Santorini operates out of Vlychada port on the island's south coast, away from the busier Fira harbor, with a perfect 5.0 rating from 571 Google reviews. Its Google listing shows it open 24 hours and categorized as a cruise agency rather than a single fixed product. I would look here if Vlychada's quieter departure point fits your plans better than Fira.
Vlychada, Vlichada 847 03, Greece
Santosails Santorini Catamaran & Yachts Luxury Cruises
Catamaran and luxury yacht cruises from Vlychada · Boat tour agency
Santosails Santorini Catamaran & Yachts Luxury Cruises runs from Vlychada port with a perfect 5.0 rating across 264 Google reviews. Its name and boat-tour category point toward catamaran and yacht charters rather than a fixed day-cruise listing. I would ask it directly about private charter options if a shared seat on a group catamaran is not what you are looking for.
Vlychada port, Santorini 847 00, Greece
Boat Rental in Santorini
Boat rental, cruises and tours from Vlychada · Boat rental service
Boat Rental in Santorini, also listed as Blue Waves Cruises Santorini, works from the Vlychada port area with a 4.9 rating from 433 Google reviews. Its categories span boat rental, cruises, sightseeing tours, and tour operation, and its listing shows it open 24 hours. I would check this one if you want a Vlychada-based option beyond Angel Sailing or Santosails.
port, Vlichada 847 03, Greece
Oia: departures from the island's north
Saint Yachting Santorini
Boat tours and cruises based in Oia · Boat tour agency
Saint Yachting Santorini is based in Oia itself, at the island's northern tip, with a perfect 5.0 rating from 236 Google reviews. Its Google listing covers boat tours, cruises, and sightseeing trips, running from morning into the evening most days of the week. I would consider it for a cruise that starts and ends closer to Oia than to Fira or Vlychada.
Oía 847 00, Greece
Sunset Oia Sailing Cruises
Catamaran day cruise departing from Oia · Boat tour agency
Sunset Oia Sailing Cruises, based in Oia, supplies this site's most popular boat, the Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise, 5 to 6 hours from $122.40 with a full Greek meal and open bar. It carries a 4.5 rating from 721 Google reviews, the lowest rating among the matched operators here but still a sizeable review count. I would read a few recent reviews before booking given the lower score.
Oía 847 02, Greece
WebsiteGoogle MapsAlso bookable here: Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise →
Perissa: the southeast-coast option
Rent a Boat Santorini SeaBreeze Boat Rental
Boat rental and tours from Perissa · Boat rental service
Rent a Boat Santorini SeaBreeze Boat Rental works out of Perissa on the southeast coast, the only operator on this list departing from there, with a 4.9 rating from 574 Google reviews. Its Google categories cover both boat rental and boat tours, so it likely runs guided trips as well as self-drive rentals. I would weigh this one if Perissa sits closer to your hotel than Fira or Oia.
Perissa 847 03, Greece
How does booking actually work?
Every listing on this page completes on GetYourGuide, which resells these operators' trips, and this site earns a commission when you book through it. You pick a date and any add-ons, pay online, and get a mobile ticket that scans straight from your phone at the meeting point. Most listings allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, shown at checkout before you pay, so there is rarely a reason to wait and risk a sold-out slot. Checkout shows the operator's live price, which is why every figure on this page carries the date it was checked.
FAQs
Which Santorini boat tour has the smallest group size?
The Santorini Catamaran BBQ and Hot Springs Cruise runs as a small-group sailing, which keeps numbers lower than the Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise and the Platinum Catamaran Cruise. The smaller group also lets the crew anchor at a quieter stretch of the hot springs than the bigger boats use, so it suits travelers who want the usual stops without a crowd.
Does any Santorini boat tour stop at Thirasia or Thirassia island?
Yes, two do. The Santorini Platinum Catamaran Cruise stops at Thirasia for a swim while the crew prepares a Greek meal, and the Santorini 1-Day Boat Trip spends free time there on the beach and in the village of Manola before the bus continues to Oia for sunset. No other cruise on this page visits a second island.
Is there a chance of seeing dolphins on a Santorini boat tour?
On the Santorini Catamaran BBQ and Hot Springs Cruise, yes, there is a real chance of spotting dolphins somewhere along the route past White Beach and the Akrotiri lighthouse, though it is a natural sighting and never guaranteed. No other listing on this page mentions dolphins.
Which Santorini boat tours offer vegan or vegetarian meal options?
The Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise and the Santorini Catamaran BBQ and Hot Springs Cruise both list vegetarian and vegan choices alongside their standard meal. The Santorini Platinum Catamaran Cruise's Greek meal includes a vegetarian ratatouille. The other four products either serve no meal or do not specify a vegetarian option, so ask before booking if that matters.
Does any Santorini boat tour have Wi-Fi onboard?
The Santorini Catamaran BBQ and Hot Springs Cruise is the only one on this page that lists free Wi-Fi onboard, alongside an onboard WC and freshwater shower. None of the other six cruises or the boat rental mention internet access as part of the trip.
Which Santorini boat tour has a fixed departure time instead of a pickup window?
The Santorini Volcano and Sunset Caldera Cruise departs at a fixed 16:30 from gate 5 of Athinios Port, with no hotel pickup. Every other cruise on this page arranges a rolling pickup window from your accommodation instead, so this is the one to plan around if you need a predictable start time.
How long can you keep the no-license boat rental for?
A booked slot on the Santorini No-License Private Boat Rental typically runs five to seven hours, the same window as the longer catamaran cruises, but you set the stops and pace yourself instead of following the boat's route. Fuel for that window is not included and is arranged separately.
Everything else, live
GetYourGuide's full list for Santorini Caldera Cruise, with real-time dates and free cancellation on most options.
See every option on GetYourGuide →