Santorini, Greece
Clifftop villages above a flooded volcano, blue domes in Oia, volcanic wines and black sand beaches. Here’s how to plan a tender day on the most famous island in Greece.
The caldera views
Santorini is what’s left of a volcano that erupted about 3,600 years ago. The sea flooded the crater, and today the villages of Fira, Imerovigli and Oia sit along its rim, more than 1,000 feet above the water. Beyond the famous views there’s real depth here: the Bronze Age town of Akrotiri, wineries working vines in volcanic soil and black and red sand beaches on the island’s quieter south and east coasts.
It’s also one of the busiest ports in the Mediterranean, which is why planning matters more here than almost anywhere. The island caps daily cruise visitors, every ship tenders and the way up from the Old Port can involve a long wait. Below are the excursions we’d book, what to know about Royal Caribbean’s new beach club and the details that keep the day on time.
Which pier you’ll dock at
Every ship anchors and tenders here. Under 2026 port rules, most guests land at the Old Port, and Athinios is reserved for a smaller share on ship-sold tours.
Old Port (Fira)
Most guests tender to the small Old Port at the foot of the cliffs, about 720 feet below Fira. The way up is the cable car, a ride of a few minutes that costs extra, or nearly 600 steep steps. On busy days the line for the cable car can be long in both directions, so plan your return well before the last tender. Many independent tours meet you at the top in Fira.
Used by: Azamara, Celebrity, Explora Journeys, Holland America, MSC, Norwegian, Ponant, Princess, Regent, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Royal Caribbean, Silversea, Viking, Virgin Voyages and Windstar.
Athinios port
Santorini’s main ferry port, farther south along the caldera. Ships tender guests here for some cruise line excursions, including Royal Caribbean’s Royal Beach Club Santorini, so your tour skips the cable car and starts right at the landing. It isn’t a place to explore on your own.
Used by: guests on ship-sold tours from any line. Check your tour details for your landing.
Royal Beach Club Santorini
Royal Caribbean opened Royal Beach Club Santorini, its first beach club in Europe, on April 27, 2026. It’s set on a black sand beach at Vlychada on the island’s south coast, away from the caldera crowds, in a renovated existing beach club rather than a new build. There’s no pool; the draw is the beach, the Aegean views and a generous Greek buffet.
Unlike the Caribbean beach clubs, it’s sold as a shore excursion, not a day pass. The main version, Ultimate Santorini Day, tenders you to Athinios, then pairs about three and a half hours at the club with about 90 minutes in Oia and 75 minutes in Fira. Versions with wine or olive oil tastings, and a beach-club-only option of about three hours, are also offered. Book in the Royal Caribbean app or cruise planner once your cruise is booked.
Used by: Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Silversea guests, booked through the cruise line.
- Shore Excursion (extra charge). Booked as a Royal Caribbean shore excursion, not part of your cruise fare. Your excursion covers transfers from the ship, the hot and cold Greek buffet, Greek frozen yogurt, draft beer, house wine, soft drinks, drip coffee and water, plus loungers, umbrellas, towels, changing huts and Wi-Fi.
- Cocktails and Espresso (extra charge). Cocktails, spirits and espresso drinks are paid for on site.
- Good to know. Route order and times vary by ship and departure, and the whole day runs on a set schedule.
Excursions we’d book
Hand-picked shore excursions from local operators, bookable through our partner Project Expedition. Every tour here carries Project Expedition’s Back to Ship Guarantee. Prices are per person and can change; check the live price when you book.
6 Hours - Explore Santorini By Private Vehicle
Six hours with a private driver-guide, built around what you want to see: Oia and Imerovigli, the Three Bells of Fira, Profitis Ilias monastery and lunch with a view. The most-reviewed tour on the island.
View on Project ExpeditionSantorini: 4hr Small Group Shore Excursion with Minimum Walking
A small-group tour designed for minimal walking, with the view from Profitis Ilias, the black sand at Monolithos, the blue domes of Firostefani and time in Oia. Ages 12 and up.
View on Project ExpeditionSantorini: 6hr Small Group Shore Excursion Villages & Wine
Six hours in a small group through quiet Megalochori, Oia’s caldera views and a tasting of volcanic wines at an award-winning winery. Ages 12 and up.
View on Project ExpeditionSantorini: 4hr Private Wheelchair Accessible Tour
A private four-hour tour in a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, with Profitis Ilias, a black sand beach, Firostefani and Oia. Getting ashore depends on your ship’s tender, so talk with your advisor first.
View on Project ExpeditionBest of Santorini: 6-hour Private Tour
A private six-hour day with a driver-guide: Oia, the blue-domed churches at Firostefani, Pyrgos and the ancient site of Akrotiri.
View on Project ExpeditionSmall-Group Tour: Authentic Santorini in Just 5 Hours
Five hours with a local who knows how to beat the crowds in Oia, with the blue domes, viewpoints and village stops along the way.
View on Project ExpeditionThe Back to Ship Guarantee and refunds if your ship skips Santorini are covered by Project Expedition’s shore excursion terms. Your advisor can walk you through them.
Cruise line favorites
Book these in your cruise planner. Ship-sold tours cost a bit more, but the ship waits for you if the tour runs late, and some land at Athinios to skip the cable car.
- Oia & Fira. The classic: time in Oia for the blue domes and caldera views, then Fira. Many versions start from Athinios, which avoids the cable car line.
- Volcano & hot springs. A boat across the caldera to hike the volcanic island of Nea Kameni and swim in the warm springs off Palea Kameni. The hike is on loose, rocky ground.
- Wine tasting. Tastings of crisp Assyrtiko and sweet Vinsanto at wineries with caldera or vineyard views. Usually paired with a village stop.
- Akrotiri & beaches. The covered Bronze Age excavation at Akrotiri plus a black or red sand beach on the south coast.
Exploring without a tour
Prefer to explore at your own pace? These are the highlights to know, wherever your day takes you. Keep an eye on the clock.
Fira & the caldera rim
The island’s main town sits right at the top of the cliff, with cafés, shops and the Orthodox cathedral, plus the clifftop path north toward Firostefani and Imerovigli and views the whole way.
Oia’s blue domes
The village at the northern tip is Santorini’s postcard: white houses, blue domes and the ruins of a Venetian castle. It gets very crowded at midday and sunset.
The south and east coasts
Ancient Akrotiri, the black sand beaches at Perissa, Kamari and Vlychada, and traditional inland villages like Pyrgos and Megalochori show a quieter Santorini.
Before you go ashore
- All-aboard is firm, and so is the last tender. The cable car line down to the Old Port can take a long time in the afternoon. If you book independently, plan to be in line well before the last tender.
- Traveling with mobility needs? Santorini is a tender port with steep clifftop villages. If you or someone in your party has mobility needs, tell your advisor when you book. Our accessibility specialist can help arrange the right support.
- Fewer ships, firmer slots. Santorini caps daily cruise visitors, and in 2026 most guests are directed to the Old Port. Your ship’s times may be shorter or set by the port.
- Greek cruise fee. Greece charges a per-person cruise passenger fee for Santorini and Mykonos, highest from June through September. Your cruise line collects it.
- New in 2026. Royal Caribbean’s Royal Beach Club Santorini opened in April 2026 for Royal Caribbean Group guests, sold as a shore excursion through the cruise line.
Sailing to Santorini
Most Greek Isles and Eastern Mediterranean itineraries call here, sailing from Athens (Piraeus), Rome (Civitavecchia), Ravenna and other Mediterranean ports.Find a cruisePlan with Harr Travel
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We’ll match you with the right Greek Isles sailing and help you plan the day ashore, from the right tour to Royal Beach Club Santorini. There are never any booking or consultation fees.
