Add dates

Profítis Ilías, Santorini

Profítis Ilías, Santorini: Our most recommended tours and activities

Santorini: Top Sights Day Trip, Wine Tasting, & Oia Sunset

1. Santorini: Top Sights Day Trip, Wine Tasting, & Oia Sunset

Embark on a full-day guided tour of Santorini's highlights. Visit the iconic blue-domed churches of Oia, admire the views from Profitis Ilias, and relax on the shores of Perissa Beach before some well-deserved wine tasting. After pickup from your hotel, board the luxury coach and drive to Profitis Ilias, the highest point on the island. Take in an incredible panorama of the entire island of Santorini, and the stunning deep blue color of the Aegean Sea while learning about the island´s fascinating volcanic history. Wander around the courtyard of the 18th-century monastery that sits on top of the mountain. Then visit the Saint Nektarios chapel and enjoy the tranquility of your surroundings. Continue to the village of Pyrgos, a hidden gem of Santorini. Wander through its winding alleys and immerse yourself in its traditional atmosphere. See typical houses, blue-domed churches, and quaint shops. Walk up to its imposing castle for beautiful vistas of the surrounding area. The next stop is Emporio, where you will join a guided walk and visit the small Venetian fortress. Feel like you’re on the set of Mamma Mia as you discover the many doorways, windows, alleys, and arches of this picturesque medieval village. Continue to Perissa Beach, also known as Black Beach. Here, there will be plenty of free time to go swimming in the sea or have lunch at one of the Greek tavernas facing the beach. Take the opportunity to taste local Santorinian wine, one of the most famous products of the island. Learn about the winemaking process and enjoy a private wine tasting session of 3 wines made of local grape varieties. In the early evening, arrive at the cliff-top village of Oia with its famous blue-domed churches. Once at the bustling castle area, enjoy some free time to take some photos, shop, or have a relaxing drink. Finally, watch an incredible sunset before meeting up with your coach at the parking lot. Board the bus for a relaxing evening journey with drop-off back at your hotel.

Santorini: Traditional Sightseeing Bus Tour with Oia Sunset

2. Santorini: Traditional Sightseeing Bus Tour with Oia Sunset

Explore Santorini on a full day sightseeing tour by bus. Learn about the island's history and visit traditional villages. Stop at volcanic beaches and experience an Oia sunset. Tour Itinerary • Akrotiri excavation site: guided tour in this Minoan Bronze Age settlement buried by volcanic ash in the 17th century BC • Emporio village: Explore this quaint village with hilltop windmills, fortified medieval castles and centuries-old churches • Perissa Beach: Enjoy free time for lunch and a swim at the island's most popular black sand beach • Santorini Winery: Tour a traditional winery and taste Santorini’s distinctive wines • Profitis Ilias: Visit the island’s highest peak and admire views from the agricultural plains to the hilltop village of Oia • Oia sunset: Enjoy free time to experience a Santorini sunset at the most-photographed place in Greece

Santorini: Half-Day Private Sightseeing Tour

3. Santorini: Half-Day Private Sightseeing Tour

Start your Santorini adventure by meeting your friendly guide at your accommodation in Santorini, or at the meeting point near the cruise ship arrivals terminal (exit of the cable car station in Fira). After a quick meet and greet with your driver you will hop inside a fully air-conditioned, comfortable vehicle and set off on your journey.  Begin your day of exploration with a visit to one of the island's most popular and beautiful villages, Oia. Stroll through narrow passageways, enjoy a spot of shopping in the village's fashion streets, discover the castle of Oia and let yourself be seduced by the breathtaking view. Leaving Oia, your next stop will be Firostefani and Imerovigli, two beautiful villages connected to each other. From here you will have incredible panoramic views of the volcano, the rock of Skaros and the amazing blue dome. Take a stop and stroll around the traditional village of Megalochori. Visit a Traditional Greek cafe and taste a greek coffee or a refreshment. End your day with a visit to the highest point of Santorini, the mountain of prophet Elias. Keep in mind that if you book the private option the itinerary is completely flexible and can be customized to match your interests in the best way. The tour ends by getting dropped off at your initial point of pick-up, alternatively, a different location can be arranged. 

Santorini: Private Customizable Car Tour with a Local Guide

4. Santorini: Private Customizable Car Tour with a Local Guide

Your tour starts as your local expert picks you up from your hotel or meeting place in Fira. After settling on a final list of stops, you will embark on your Greek experience in comfort and safety as you travel to Oia Village for a little souvenir shopping. Your party will have ample opportunity to capture pictures of some of the most photogenic places in Santorini on your journey.  Take in the stark, ancient ruins dotting the hillside and capture photos of sailboats. See many old castles and churches and the whitewashed homes of Santorini residents.  Your local expert will take you by some of the most stunning churches in Pyrgos before reaching the pinnacle of Santorini, the Profitis Ilias Monastery. Here, see the island and the sea from an awe-inspiring 360-degree view. Experience a safe and enjoyable tour that exceeds your idea of learning about Greece.  A short walk through Megalochori Village gives you time to stretch your legs and traverse the rich, culture and heritage of the island. Learn local secrets and fun treasures about Greece that only a local can provide. Stop off for a refreshing swim at one of the black, sandy beaches of Perivolos or Perissa Beach where you will see why the area is unique.  This is a tailored shore excursion and you can add other options to your tour, including an exploration of the Akrotiri prehistoric city that was covered by volcanic ash more than 2,000 years ago.

Fira: Traditional Villages Guided Day Trip with Oia Sunset

5. Fira: Traditional Villages Guided Day Trip with Oia Sunset

Take a break from Santorini’s black sand beaches on a full-day tour of its Minoan excavations, traditional villages, ancient capital and buried settlements. End the day at Oia and watch the sunset from the island’s northernmost tip. Following a pick-up from your hotel, transfer by air-conditioned coach to the archeological site of Akrotiri. Explore an ancient city that was frozen in time after a volcanic eruption 3,600 years ago. Step inside with your guide and learn about the Minoan city before the devastating event occurred. Gaze in awe at the ruins of multi-storied buildings that date back to the 16th century, and admire the intricately designed drainage system that hints at a talented civilization far more advanced than its time suggests.  Stroll along the main street, lined with old stores and warehouses from the ancient city. Learn about the traditional ceramic artifacts, such as pithoi (earthenware jugs). After that, continue towards Perissa Beach and enjoy free time to have lunch and relax at one of the longest black sandy beaches in the Cyclades and the most popular beach of Santorini.  Next stop at Emporio Village where you can explore one of the oldest and most authentic traditional villages of Santorini, built like a small labyrinth and visit its medieval fortress (15th century).  Continue toward Santorini Winery. Taste Santorini’s distinctive wines and learn about one of the oldest vineyards in Europe while admiring the spectacular view of the volcano.  Stop at Profitis Ilias Mountain next where you will finish your tour with a short stop at the highest peak of Santorini (567 meters) to admire the striking panoramic view of the entire island. Meet your guide again in the early evening for the transfer to Oia, a quintessential Greek village that’s known for its sugar cube houses and blue-domed churches.  Join the legions who flock to Oia to watch the sunset, and stroll down streets nestled into the side of the cliffs overlooking the spectacular caldera. Follow your guide to the ruins of a Venetian castle, known as the Kastro of Oia, and gaze down from the village and caldera to the sea. Return to the coach for the transfer back to your hotel.

Private Half-Day Tour in Santorini

6. Private Half-Day Tour in Santorini

Start from the north part of Santorini Island, where the spectacular villages of Oia, Firostefani and Imerovigli are located. Experience the endless panoramic views of Caldera, Thirasia Island and the volcanic islands Palea and Nea Kameni.  Have the opportunity to take pictures of white houses and blue domed churches whilst there. Later on, head toward the traditional settlement of Megalochori, where you will be able to explore it, walking through the traditional alleys and being able to see the local houses and architecture.  Finally, stop at the unique Red Beach, which is full of red iron volcanic lava rocks, and the famous 2.5-mile-long Black Sand Beach.

Santorini 2-Day Combo: Volcano Boat Cruise & Island Bus Tour

7. Santorini 2-Day Combo: Volcano Boat Cruise & Island Bus Tour

Explore the highlights of the volcanic island of Santorini with a cruise to the three islands of the caldera as well as a popular sightseeing bus tour on the second day. Start your first day by setting sail for the lava islet of Nea Kameni. Once there, walk an ascending path to the crater of the still active volcano to enjoy incredible sights for 1.5 hours. Return to the boat to sail to the second lava islet, Palea Kameni. Jump off the boat and dive in the islet's hot springs, with green sulfur waters and warm therapeutic mud. The last stop of the day is the traditional island of Thirassia for 1.5 hours of free time. On your second day, take a bus tour around the entire island. Visit the archaeological site of Akrotiri. Walk in the Emborio village, swim at the Perissa beach, and taste local wine at an awarded winery. Marvel at the views from the Profitis Ilias mountain top. Experience the famous sunset hour in Oia Village.

Santorini Private Half-Day Instagram Tour

8. Santorini Private Half-Day Instagram Tour

Join a private guided excursion to the most beautiful locations around the island of Santorini. Come across picturesque villages and sceneries and snap incredible photos to show family back home or post on your social media. Choose between a daytime or evening tour. Start out with a visit to Oia and wander through the village's charming narrow paths. Admire the blue-domed chapels and the traditional white-washed houses built right into the rocks. Allow your guide to help you locate all of the photographic hot spots in the area. Continue to Firostefani, a village next to the capital of Fira. Snap pictures of the famous Blue Dome Church with the volcano in the background, often included in Santorini postcards. Head up to Prophet Elias Monastery, the highest point of the island, for even better photos from a vantage point. Move on to the south part of the island and stop at the Akrotiri Lighthouse, built in 1892. Relish in the endless blue of the Aegean Sea. Explore the mindblowing Red Beach and take in the volcanic landscape. Finally, visit Santo Winery to enjoy a glass of wine and a world-class view.

Santorini: Half or Full-Day Private Island Tour

9. Santorini: Half or Full-Day Private Island Tour

Get picked up from a location of your choice on Santorini and meet your private driver/guide. Decide with your guide which sights you would like to see on this fully-customizable tour. The below itinerary is just offered as an example.  First, stop in the traditional village of Firostefani famous for its blue-domed churches. See and learn about the geological formation of the island, and the genesis, and history of Santorini.  Continue through the scenic countryside to the village of Oia, the most photographed location in Santorini. Next, head to Profitis Ilias, which is the highest hill in Santorini. From its top at 567 m, enjoy the panoramic view of the Aegean Sea. There, you are able to visit the Monastery of Profitis Ilias and a Greek Orthodox chapel, listen to the sounds of Byzantine music and get a taste of their hand-made products.  Alternatively, opt to visit the ancient ruins of Akrotiri, an ancient Minoan village that was buried by the island’s colossal volcanic eruption. Don't miss the chance to see the incredible, well-preserved remnants of the settlement for yourself. Afterward, head to Red Beach, named for its distinctively colored sand. On your way to the south, stop to explore the famous black beaches and its nice viewpoint. Take many beautiful pictures of this unique landscape. Lastly, wind your tour down with an indulgent stop at a local winery. Santorini has produced its own wine since ancient times, and sampling its product is the perfect way to get a taste of the island's history.

Santorini: Guided Wine Tour with Pickup and Snacks

10. Santorini: Guided Wine Tour with Pickup and Snacks

Discover Santorini's wine culture on this guided tour. Visit 3 different wineries, marvel at the rock-carved chambers of the historic Art Space Winery and Museum, and get views of the Santorini caldera from Venetsanos Winery. Begin with a hotel pickup and head into the Santorini countryside. Learn about the long history of wine cultivation on Santorini, beginning with the Venetian occupation of the island. Your first stop is Argyros Winery, one of the largest vineyards on the island. Discover how the volcanic soil affects the taste of the wine as you tour the winery and enjoy a wine tasting. Next, head to the Art Space Winery Museum Art Gallery. Explore this fascinating art center and winery, with chambers carved out of pumice rock in Exo Gonia, Santorini. See paintings and sculptures on display from contemporary Greek artists as you tour the winery and taste the wines. Continue to your last stop, Venetsanos Winery. This winery sits above the port of Athinios, overlooking the magnificent caldera of Santorini. The Venetsanos family has produced wine here since 1947 by the Venetsanos family. Tour the Venetsanos winery and finish with a delicious wine tasting. Upgrade your experience to include a 5-course-meal carefully paired with each wine tasting. Enjoy homemade smoked sea bass, an eggplant spread, fennel salad, grilled octopus and tabouleh, orzo with cuttlefish, and a brownie. Vegetarians can enjoy a delicious meat-free alternative menu.

Available activities

42 activities found
Sort by:
Page 1 of 3

Other Sightseeing Options in Profítis Ilías, Santorini

Want to discover all there is to do in Profítis Ilías, Santorini? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Profítis Ilías, Santorini

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 1,500 reviews

Although it rained and we did not realise that Santorini shuts down in the winter months we were able to explore the island without any crowds. Arthur took us to all the historic famous locations for some of the most unbelievable photos. Our visit to the winery and the tasting of the Santorini wines was fabulous. Lunch at the Black Sand beach was wonderful and we were grateful the Sun began to shine through.

The value of the trip is amazing ! Our tour guide, Elisa, is very knowledgeable about the island and proud of her job. Recommended to someone looking to learn about tour some great points around the island.

It was fantasctic. A very nice experice. We've seen places that otherwise we couldn't have seen. it was a great day.

Tour was very good. It has several places of interest around the island and the tour guide was very knowledgeable.

The tour guide explained in deep detail about life in Santorini. The best tour ever