Santorini’s Hidden Gems with Wine Tasting: 6-Hour Private Tour

Santorini’s best-known views are only part of the story. This private tour takes you from Oia and Imerovigli to the island’s summit and southwestern tip, with a six-wine tasting at Art Space along the way.

I like that you get a private vehicle and local driver or guide, so your group can explore without joining strangers. I also like the balance of famous caldera scenery, quieter corners of Imerovigli, and a proper winery visit rather than viewpoints alone.

The main consideration is the pace: six stops in six hours means you will have limited time at each, and the route includes places where a moderate level of fitness is advised. Lunch and refreshments are not included, so plan for those separately.

At a glance

• Six stops in about six hours: The route links Oia, Imerovigli, Profitis Ilias, Art Space, the Heart of Santorini, and Akrotiri Lighthouse.
• Imerovigli gets the longest visit: You have an hour for its white lanes, churches, and views around Skaros Rock.
• The tasting includes six local wines: Art Space is the only stop with admission listed as included.
• A private ride makes the route easier: Air-conditioned transport and bottled water are part of the tour.
• Some costs are separate: Lunch and refreshments are excluded, and admission is not included at Profitis Ilias or the Heart of Santorini.
• Guide names vary: Giannis, Alexis, and Ian are names associated with positive feedback, but the specific guide for your tour is not guaranteed.

A private route through Santorini’s contrasts

This tour makes sense if you want more than a quick stop at Oia. In six hours, you get the island’s classic caldera outlooks, a mountain-top view, a winery visit, and two southern viewpoints, all without having to organize the driving yourself.

The private format is the practical advantage. You travel only with your own party, in an air-conditioned vehicle, with an experienced driver or local expert. That means you can spend your time looking out the window or walking around, not working out how to connect six places by public transport.

The schedule allots about three hours and fifty minutes to the six listed stops. The rest of the six-hour window allows for travel between them, though the exact time on the road will depend on the day and route. Expect a day with several short visits rather than a long stay in one village.

The driver’s local knowledge can add value between stops, too. Feedback names Giannis, Alexis, and Ian, with praise for friendly service, island stories, and helpful explanations. Those names are not a guarantee of who will be assigned, but they give you a sense of the role the driver can play: not just getting you from one viewpoint to the next, but helping make the route feel connected.

Oia’s postcard view, with a short stop

Oia is the picture-book version of Santorini: white buildings on the edge of the caldera and a broad view toward the sea and the famous sunset. Your stop is described as being at the village’s edge, where the view is the main event.

You have 25 minutes here. That is enough for a look, a few photographs, and a brief walk, but not a leisurely wander through the village. If Oia is high on your list, keep that in mind. The tour gives you a taste of it, not an unhurried visit.

The advantage is that Oia is only the opening act. Rather than using most of the tour in the island’s best-known village, you move on to places that offer a different feel and a broader sense of Santorini.

Imerovigli’s lanes, churches, and Skaros Rock

Imerovigli gets an hour, the longest stop on the route. That extra time is useful: you can take in the white lanes and stairways, look for bougainvillea, and visit several points of interest rather than stopping only for a panoramic photo.

The three named sights are Anastasi Orthodox Church, Skaros Rock, and the tucked-away Theoskepasti Church. Together they make this stop more than a viewpoint. You get a village setting, religious architecture, and a dramatic rocky headland in one visit.

A little planning helps here. The tour advises a moderate fitness level, and the mention of staircases and Skaros Rock suggests you should be comfortable walking on foot. You do not need to treat the hour as a race to see every corner. Choose the sights that matter most to you, and wear shoes you can manage on uneven or stepped paths.

I like this stop’s place in the day. Oia gives you the famous image; Imerovigli gives you more time to walk through a village and take in the caldera from another angle, with less emphasis on the headline name.

Santorini from the summit of Profitis Ilias

The road then climbs to the Monastery of Profitis Ilias, near the top of the island’s highest mountain. At about 2,000 feet, or 600 meters, above sea level, this is the tour’s broadest vantage point, with views across Santorini and toward neighboring islands.

You have 35 minutes at the monastery. The short visit is enough to look around and appreciate the height, but this is not a long monastery tour. Admission is not included, so allow for a possible extra cost if you plan to enter or visit areas that require a ticket.

The change in perspective is the point. At the caldera villages, you look across the water from the island’s edge. From the summit, you can take in more of Santorini at once. If you enjoy seeing how a place fits together, this stop offers a useful counterpoint to the close-up village walks.

Six local wines at Art Space

Art Space is the tour’s dedicated winery stop. The tasting includes six varieties of Santorini wine, and admission is included. At 45 minutes, it is long enough to make wine a real part of the day, rather than a quick sample squeezed in between scenic stops.

The tour information does not name the wines or describe the tasting format, so do not count on a specific grape, food pairing, or cellar visit. What you can count on is a chance to taste six local varieties at a winery museum, with the driver or local expert available to help explain the island’s wine culture.

For wine lovers, this is one of the clearest reasons to choose this route over a sightseeing-only drive. It also gives the day a welcome change of pace: after several viewpoints and walks, you sit down for a guided tasting. The tasting is included in the stated price, which matters when comparing the cost with a private tour that only covers transport.

A heart-shaped opening in the rock

The Heart of Santorini is a natural opening in the rock shaped like a heart, framing the Aegean Sea, sky, and volcano. The 35-minute stop is about the view and the unusual shape, not a village visit or a long walk through a historic site.

It has been attracting more attention, so do not assume that a place described as a secret spot will be empty. The tour gives you time to see it and take photographs, but admission is not included. Check whether any fee applies before setting out, and keep a little room in your budget for listed admissions that are separate from the tour price.

This stop is a good example of the route’s mix: some places are major island sights, while others are memorable because of a specific viewpoint or feature. If you like collecting unusual photo stops, this one may be a highlight. If you prefer historical sites or long walks, it may be a shorter pause in a busy day.

Akrotiri Lighthouse at the island’s southwestern tip

The final listed stop is Akrotiri Lighthouse, on Santorini’s southwestern tip. It is known for its views, and the half-hour visit gives you time to take in the sea and the island’s edge before the drive back.

The lighthouse is a scenic stop rather than a long sightseeing visit. Admission is listed as free, which makes it a simple way to end the route without an extra ticket to budget for. As with the other viewpoints, the value is in the setting and the chance to see Santorini from a new direction.

Ending here also rounds out the day geographically. You begin in the north, around Oia and Imerovigli, climb to the island’s summit, then head toward the southwest. That broad sweep is useful if you have limited time on Santorini and want to see more than one part of the island.

What the price buys, and what it does not

At $289.40 per person, this is a substantial spend, especially for a solo traveler or a small party. The value depends on whether you want a private, multi-stop day with a wine tasting, rather than simply transport between villages.

The price includes private air-conditioned transport, bottled water, an experienced driver or local expert, and the tasting of six local wines. Those inclusions combine transportation and an activity in one booking. The private format also means your group is not sharing the vehicle with strangers.

Lunch and refreshments are not included. Admission is not included at Profitis Ilias or the Heart of Santorini, while Art Space admission is included and the Oia, Imerovigli, and lighthouse stops are listed as free. Since the exact extra fees are not stated, confirm them before the tour if you want to budget closely.

Group discounts are offered, which may improve the per-person value for a larger party. The tour does not state the discount amount, so check the total for your group rather than assuming a particular saving. If your priority is an inexpensive way to reach one or two viewpoints, this is probably more than you need. If you want a private driver, a broad route, and a winery tasting in one half-day, the cost is easier to justify.

Pace, walking, and practical planning

Six hours can pass quickly when you have six stops. The schedule offers a good sample of the island, but you should not expect hours of free time in each village. Oia gets 25 minutes, Imerovigli an hour, the mountain monastery 35 minutes, the winery 45 minutes, the Heart of Santorini 35 minutes, and the lighthouse 30 minutes.

A moderate fitness level is recommended. Imerovigli includes lanes and staircases, and the route’s named points include Skaros Rock and Theoskepasti Church. The information does not specify walking distances or surfaces, so ask the operator if you have concerns about stairs or uneven ground.

Pickup is offered, and the tour uses an air-conditioned vehicle. The exact pickup arrangements are not specified, so confirm the meeting details when booking. Bring water even though bottled water is included, and arrange your own lunch or refreshments since neither is part of the tour.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded, and changes within that window are not accepted. The cutoff follows local time.

Is this the right Santorini tour for you?

I would choose this tour if you want one organized day that combines the main caldera scenery with less central stops, and you value having a private vehicle and a local driver or expert. The six-wine tasting makes it especially appealing if wine is part of why you came to Santorini.

It is less suitable if you want a slow day, a long visit in Oia, or a budget tour focused only on transport. The stops are varied, but each is brief, and the price does not cover lunch or every possible admission.

For a group that wants to see several sides of Santorini without planning its own route, the combination is compelling. For a solo traveler or anyone who prefers lingering, compare the total price with a simpler outing before booking.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about six hours and includes six stops around Santorini.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates, and private transportation is included.

What is included in the wine tasting?

The tasting takes place at Art Space and includes six local wine varieties. Admission to Art Space is included.

Are lunch and refreshments included?

No. Lunch and refreshments are not included. Bottled water is included.

Is a particular level of fitness recommended?

Yes. A moderate physical fitness level is recommended.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.