Skip Gondola Lines : 6h Luxury Vehicle & Local Guide Excursions

Nicos is super knowledgeable and knows Santorini very well. We saw all the sights on our list and then some. A wonderful day to remember forever!

I wish I could split my stars into 2 separate parts of the tour. First the good! Our guide Yannis was wonderful!! So kind, knowledgeable and patient. He took us to hidden spots around the island and even helped take us in a side entrance to take our amazing blue dome pictures. For this part of the tour 5 stars all the way!!! Highly recommend Yannis! Now for the bad. The water taxi from the port to the other side of the island was truly terrifying. Beware, it is a VERY small boat. All 8 of us had to cram in the cab because the seas were so treacherous. There were no life jackets or flotation devices that we could see. Our only instruction was get in. Getting on and off the boat was extremely dangerous. I can't believe Viator uses this service. Just beware you will be taking a chance with your lives if you get on this "water taxi".

We had a wonderful experience. George, our guide, was knowledgeable and helpful. He took us to the most beautiful places in Santorini. It was a perfect day!

Mary was a terrific guide and showed us everything we were hoping to see! Thank you for an amazing day!

We had one day in port with a cruise ship and from the very first moment, Katerina was so helpful and quick with communication and the guide, Dimitris was fantastic. We travelled with family: 2 adults, 1.5yr old, 4yr old. This is a must-do experience, highly recommend, one of the absolute highlights of our trip, in fact all our family trips! * we did the water taxi option, were helped from the moment of arrival with our tender; the water taxi rides were absolutely glorious, what an experience! Arriving in Oia was breathtaking, worth it for that alone * we were met by our guide Dimitris right at the boat and helped in every way from the first minute on. He was extremely nice, kind AND knowledgeable and made a fantastic itinerary for us, including all the main sights and even finding time to visit a winery (which was my dream!) and I could even get my Pandora charm in Fira! * in addition to all the sights, we could somehow still find time to spend time on the black sand beach, at a fantastic beach club * somehow, Dimitris scheduled our drive in a way that we practically never encountered any crowds. This includes Oia and Imerovigli, which were super peaceful and nice. Judging from everyone else's experience on the boat, we had a completely magical experience! * we were worried about a long tour with two small kids, but the driver was absolutely fantastic making sure that the kids were also fine and even helped us with the baby! * the payment was very simple and fast: just needed to book a deposit and then pay before the tour. No hassle, simple payment link. Overall, we HIGHLY recommend this tour operator. Everything was above expectations, there is nothing to fault. The communication, service, itinerary, everything was 12 points out of 10! Without doubt this is the best way to experience Santorini from a cruise ship. Thank you Dimitris and Katerina for giving us such a lovely day in beautiful Santorini! We will 100% be back!

We booked the Skip Cable Car Lines 6-hour private shore excursion because my 88-year-old mother uses a folding wheelchair and needs assistance. Nicolas made the day work for us. The morning was a bit stressful because we weren't sure where to meet at the dock, but the instructions we got from the office in real time worked out, and the water taxi crew helped us aboard with the wheelchair. The ride was beautiful, and Nicolas was waiting at Ammoudi Bay and helped us up to his vehicle. Nicolas is deeply knowledgeable about Santorini's agriculture, volcanic soil, and history, and he clearly loves the island. He arrived without a separate driver, so he had to drop us off, park, and meet up with us again, and he handled that smoothly. In Oia he took us to a flat stretch of road so we could avoid stairs, and we had a lovely walk with shops, gelato, and endless views. He met us at the church, where he kindly offered to stay with my MIL in her wheelchair so we could go get the photo of the blue domes. We neglected to tell him she has memory issues, and she became anxious during the 15 minutes we were gone. Nicolas communicated with us clearly and handled it very well. After Oie, he drove us right up to Skaros Rock and the Three Bells of Fira, took great photos of us, shared grapes, and took us to a delicious family-run lunch spot. Where the company missed: Our original request, which included skipping the cable car lines and reserving an accessible table at a winery, didn't make it to Nicolas. He had to call the office to sort it out, and he did, arranging the winery and the return taxi. He also told us honestly that our chosen winery has uneven stairs that would be hard for my mother, though he confirmed it was a good winery with amazing views. Flexibility: We later decided to skip the winery because my MIL was tired, and to take the cable car back instead. Nicolas and the office were flexible and helpful, and he explained how to get through with the wheelchair and got us as close as he could. Feedback for Nicolas: He is passionate about food, health, and sustainable living, and he loves sharing his knowledge and perspective. If you'd like some quiet moments to take in the scenery, let him know and he’s happy to give it. Building in a few pauses on his own would make a great experience even better. Recommendation: We recommend this company. Just confirm your special requests directly with your guide at the start of the day.

Dimitris and Katerina gave us the most memorable tour we will never forget. Lunch in Oia was so amazing and great views and Dimitris was incredibly knowledgeable about the island

If you want to go to Santorini, and enjoy a flexible day that you can build to avoid large crowds on the island, this is simply the best option. It is reliable, with great communication, and an efficient way to get the most out of this beautiful island.

I was so disappointed in this tour. I booked it because it had great reviews but unfortunately our experience was not even close to earning 5 stars. Communication with the tour operator was terrible and Viator really didn't help much. Because this tour was customizable I had some questions. After three attempts of contacting the tour operator and zero replies I finally contacted Viator's customer service. They reached out to the tour operator on my behalf but that also took more than one attempt to get any reply. I finally got a reply from the tour operator just confirming my reservation but completely ignoring my questions. I replied again with my questions and received no reply. I should have cancelled the tour at that stage but we were so close to our cruise departure date that I decided to keep it as booked. If you are looking for an Instagram worthy tour then you will probably love this tour. That's basically all it is. They just move you from different locations to just take photos of the beautiful scenery. They make it sound like you will explore the villages but that is incorrect. It's a quick stop for a photo and then move on to the next one. Our guide, George, seemed completely disinterested and provided very minimal information. We booked numerous tours at all our port stops and on all of the others, the tour guide gave you facts and history about the location and culture. We left Santorini knowing as little about it as we did when we arrived, which is sad. During the tour we said we wouldn't mind a light lunch and ended up at an overpriced beach restaurant that the guide clearly has an arrangement with since he ordered something not on the menu and didn't have to pay for his food. We would have preferred a more local/traditional place to experience the culture more. Unfortunately, this tour for our group was just not worth the price they charged. For the price I would have expected much better service. I sincerely wish I had booked elsewhere.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazing Santorini Tour with Nicholas White and Katherina K! We had an absolutely amazing experience touring Santorini with Nicholas White! From the very beginning, Nicholas brought the history of the island to life in such an interesting and engaging way. What impressed us most was how he included our daughter throughout the tour. He kept her interested with fascinating stories about Socrates, the Greek gods, Greek mythology, and the incredible history of Santorini. He has a wonderful way of explaining things that makes learning fun for both adults and children. Nicholas took us to some truly spectacular places with breathtaking views that we would never have appreciated in the same way without his knowledge. Along the way, we also learned about different fruits, plants, leaves, local traditions, and so much more. We would also like to thank Katherina K for helping plan the timing of our water taxi transportation and arranging the perfect restaurant where we could relax and spend time by the beach. Her thoughtful planning made the entire experience smooth, enjoyable, and stress-free. The time absolutely flew by because we were enjoying ourselves so much! It was the perfect combination of history, culture, beautiful scenery, beach time, and fun. Nicholas is knowledgeable, passionate, personable, and wonderful with families, while Katherina was incredibly helpful in organizing all the details. This was definitely one of the highlights of our time in Santorini. I highly recommend Nicholas White and Katherina K to anyone visiting the island, especially families with children. One of the best tours we have ever had!

We had an absolutely wonderful experience with this tour company in Santorini! We were a group of 24 people, and everything was handled so smoothly from start to finish. We had initially booked only the transfer from the Old Port to Oia, which was excellent. The water taxi and bus combination was convenient, comfortable, and very well organized. The itinerary went exactly as planned, and everything was right on schedule. The day before our trip, they suggested adding a stop at Perivolos Beach for a very affordable additional fee. This was honestly the best add-on to our trip! We loved having the opportunity to enjoy the beach, and the transportation was provided in a large, super-comfortable bus, which was perfect for our group. The entire crew was so kind, welcoming, and professional. A special shout-out to George, both Katerinas, Lucas (our water taxi captain) and his crew, as well as our amazing bus driver, who was incredibly skilled navigating the narrow, winding roads up and down the mountain. We always felt safe and well taken care of. From the moment we made our booking, communication was excellent, and the payment options were very convenient. They were also incredibly helpful in suggesting ideas and recommendations for things to do around Santorini. We truly had a fantastic experience and would highly recommend this company, especially for larger groups. They went above and beyond to make our day in Santorini easy, comfortable, and memorable. Thank you for making our Santorini experience so special! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Amazing tour and tour guide. Had such an amazing time discovering and enjoying the sights of Santorini

I can’t even express how much YOU NEED TO USE THIS COMPANY!!! If you are traveling to Santorini or even maybe other Greek islands, this needs to be the company you go with! We wanted to see the island, not just take some instagram picture you have to wait 2 hours for. We saw the beauty of the island, learned the history and geography while eating great food and seeing ever part of the island. There is so much more than just the blue domes! Sakis, our guide, was incredible and SO FUN! We left wanting more and wanting to come back for a visit in the future. You will be so glad you chose them for a private tour! We came on a cruise ship and were so glad to skip the crowds going up the hill. 10/10 recommend!

I booked this tour after watching Sebi on YouTube. We are a group of 6 traveling for first time together, so lots of pressure LOL. Worked with Katerina who was a delight to work with and put up with all my questions and even a last, last minute change. Pick up at the dock was easy and it was SO nice knowing we were not having to deal that 2 hour long line for the cable car. Giannis met us at Armoudi Bay to start our tour after the short boat trip with awesome views. Nice comfortable , clean van. Giannis was an excellent guide. He listened to what our priorities were, took us to places we would have never seen on the ship excursion , and made the day extremely enjoyable. Great recommendation for lunch as well! All 6 of us loved the tour, and would highly recommend it to make the most out of your day on Santorini!

This was an absolutely fabulous experience. Very well run by a great couple. Tour guide George was fantastic. We were able to see many parts of the island, and not just the tourist spots.

We booked the Stress Free – Luxury Private Tour: Cruise Port Pick Up Included with VIP Transfers & Tours in Santorini, and it was truly one of the highlights of our entire trip. From the very beginning, Katerina was wonderful to work with and made the entire experience incredibly easy. We were visiting Santorini on a cruise, and the water taxi they arranged was such a fantastic way to begin and end our day. Beyond the convenience, seeing Santorini from the water—with the enormous cliffs rising above you—is an experience in itself and gives you a completely different perspective of this extraordinary island. Our guide, George, was absolutely amazing and could not have been a better fit for us. We started with Oia and its famous views, but what made the day truly special was everything George showed us beyond the most heavily visited areas. He quickly understood what we enjoyed and took us off the beaten path to experience a side of Santorini we never would have discovered on our own. We explored the beautiful village of Megalochori, wandered through its charming town square and traditional streets, visited one of the fascinating cave houses, saw the black-sand beaches, stopped in smaller and much more accessible villages with spectacular views, and discovered the relaxed beachside areas with their charming restaurants. It felt like we were seeing the Santorini beyond the postcards. What really set George apart, though, was that he didn’t simply drive us from one attraction to another. We had wonderful conversations throughout the day about Santorini, its history, culture, and everyday life. He was knowledgeable, engaging, funny, and genuinely interested in making the tour fit us rather than following a predetermined itinerary. If you are arriving in Santorini on a cruise, I cannot recommend this tour enough. Katerina made everything seamless, the water taxi was a wonderful addition to the experience, and George gave us a day we will never forget. We arrived wanting to see Santorini; thanks to them, we left feeling like we had actually experienced it. Absolutely five stars.

We had an awesome day with George! Saw all the sites, great meal, some shopping, black beach. He was a good, safe driver. 5/5 would recommend! And do the water taxi even though extra $$

We booked this tour to avoid the crowds we had read so much about in Santourini. And it absolutely delivered that. We were met at the old port of Fira by a water taxi and from there on everything could not have gone smoother. Nikos was our guide and driver. We felt very comfortable. It felt more like having a friend show us his island. He knew all the best spots and was able to guide us to a place to take the famous blue domed picture without the huge lines that had already formed. During the tour he was able to adjust the schedule according to our interests which was great. In terms of expectation management I will say that the tour does not start at 08:30 even if you select that option. The water taxi does not operate before 09:00. In our case we did not leave the port before 09:30. This has minimal impact on the tour itself, but using the water taxi is not equal to no waiting time. But we do feel the tour itself compensated for the delayed start.

Thank you to Katerina and Yannis for going above and beyond during our excursion. Katerina suggested taking a water taxi instead of the extremely long cable car lines, which was a lifesaver. As first-time Mediterranean cruisers, we would not recommend relying on the cable cars—wait times were 2–4 hours in the heat, with frustrated crowds. When we saw the situation firsthand, we immediately called Katerina and Yannis, who quickly helped us find a better way back to the ship. This level of service made all the difference. Santorini is beautiful, but the cable car system can be overwhelming, especially for families and older travelers. We truly appreciated their guidance and support.

We are a family of 5 including 2 teeagers. The teens do not like sun and heat, nor do they like a lot of walking and waiting in long lines. When I contacted VIP Transfer and Tours in Santorini, the staff did a good job of recommending us the VIP private tour with a nice Mercedes Vito van. Our trip was 15:30-20:30, perfect to avoid daytime heat. The driver Jan (Giannis) also served as tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable about this island. The itinerary was flexible and tailored for our needs. The tour is wonderful. Family is happy. Highly recommended.

This tour was amazing! We took a water taxi to Athinios Port where our driver, George, was waiting for us. Even though it was a really busy day, he took us to some awesome hidden spots and little gems away from the crowds. George shared interesting history and made the whole day feel fun and easy. He also took photos of us throughout the tour, which was such a nice bonus! This ended up being our favorite tour of the whole trip. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a great experience!

We really enjoyed our tour with Yannis. He is an exceptional guide with vast knowledge of Santorini. I highly recommend!

We had an amazing tour with Giannis and it far exceed our expectations! Despite the heat and the crowds, Giannis was able to efficiently show us Santorini and give us an summary of history and facts on each of our stops. We had adults and small children in our group and everyone stayed engaged and entertained. Highly recommend!

We has a great day on Santorini and got to see all highlights!

This was a first class experience. Our guide, Demetrios, was not only knowledgeable about the island and its’ traditions and culture, but he was also able to take us to hidden places to avoid the crowds and get wonderful pictures.

I definitely recommend this company and tour. First, the communication was great. Everything went smoothly and on time. Our guide Paulina was excellent. Friendly. Knowledgeable and fun. This was a great way to see Santorini at our pace without feeling like we had to rush from place to place.

Our guide was Paulina. She was awesome and knowledgeable . We completely took the day at our pace. Very nice way to see the parts of Santorini that we wanted to see. Very comfortable car/van. We stopped and had drinks and hung out at the beach for a bit. Definitely recommend this!

Fantastic day. Skipped the cable car ride up with a water taxi to Oia to meet our driver. He fashioned an itinerary for us to see all the sights and get pictures along the way. He was very informative and personable. Lunch in a quiet beach side restaurant where we picked our own fish out from the morning catch. We can’t recommend this enough!

Amazing tour!! It was easy getting in contact with the company and they made what we wanted to see happen! Nick White was our guide, he took great care of us and taught us and gave us the real experience of Santorini we were searching for. 10/10

We had an amazing day in Santorini with Giannis! After our water taxi transfer to Ammoudi Bay, he was there waiting for us and made us feel welcome right away. He took us to some of the most beautiful spots on the island and shared information about each place along the way. Giannis was friendly, patient, professional, and an excellent driver. He made the day fun and relaxing, and we shared many laughs throughout the tour. Thank you for helping create such wonderful memories in Santorini. We highly recommend Giannis to anyone visiting the island!

So glad we booked this private tour! We arrived in Santorini by cruise ship, and this just took all the guess work and worry out of our day! Everything was communicated clearly and in advance, and we were checked on several times during the day. George, our guide, was absolute perfection! He knew all the places for the best views, best pictures, best shopping, and best food! Don’t waste your day in port standing in line for the gondola. This was definitely the way to go!

Such a fantastic way to see Santorini! Saw all parts of the island and able to tailor our experience to exactly what we wanted. Highly recommend!

Excellent service from beginning to end. Communication from the provider was great. There was never any confusion on what to do or where to be. Our guide, Nikos, was waiting when we arrived at the new port. His knowledge of the area and personal connections allowed him to make any adjustments or recommendations as the tour went on. He was able to guide us through areas to avoid or lessen the impact of all the crowds in Oia and Fira. He also showed us places we never would have found on our own. Katerina, Popi, and Captain Loukas also deserve credit for a great experience. Thanks to all. We highly recommend this tour!l

Communication was proactive and thoughtful. Katerina was very responsive and leading up to our day in Santorini, she guided us with detailed information. Our driver and tour guide, George, was incredibly knowledgeable. It was a well balanced experience of both historical culture and main attractions. We loved the hidden gems and all the beautiful sites we visited. We were so lucky, as timing was impeccable everywhere we went!! George was also our personal photographer, and we have so many amazing photos to let us remember and cherish forever. Thank you!!

Such a great day! Don’t question, just book! We skipped all the huge lines by taking a water taxi to where a driver could pick us up. Then we spent the day seeing the best of the island! We had time to shop, have lunch, and still get back to the cruise ship! Our guide, George, was fantastic. He shared stories, history, Greek culture, and the best views of the villages and sea with us. Also, it was so great to have someone to take pictures of our group! That’s something I hadn’t considered, but I’m so glad he encouraged us!

Our tour guide Vasilis was wonderful! We really enjoyed our day in Santorini with him. Loved Oia! The weather was stormy so the water taxi was very rocky and wet. That really couldn’t be helped and everyone was really great.

Our tour guide Vasilis was wonderful! We had a great day in Santorini with him. The weather was stormy so the water taxi was very rocky and wet but that really couldn’t be helped and everyone was really great.

With a one-day stop in Santorini during our recent cruise, we wanted to make the most of our time here, so we splurged for this tour. The weather that morning prevented the private boat transfer and so the day didn't start as planned and we had to pivot, while communicating with the tour company to rearrange pickup, etc. It was frustrating, but uncontrollable circumstances. Once our tour guide, George, met us after we had to wait for the cable car, it was the most beautiful day. We were able to see so much of this beautiful island. He guided us expertly through the crowds, we enjoyed a wonderful lunch away from the crowds beachside in Perivolos, and saw much more of this beautiful island. VIP Santorini even processed a refund for the private boat transfer within the hour that morning and was available to problem solve and help us have a wonderful experience!

Every cruiser on our ship was jealous of our Santorini experience, especially taking the cable car back to get to the boat. It was a two hour wait buy a tour set us up with the water taxi to come back. They schedule a time the water taxi is there exactly as promised we were back within a half hour unlike most people who did not do the tour had to walk down the steps and so many complaints so thank you thank you for an amazing experience

Other than a little confusion about the meeting place, which was also partially our own fault, this was an excellent tour of this beautiful island. Nikos, our guide, was friendly and very knowledgeable. He let us decide how much walking we could do, and gave us a very thorough tour, with a lot of information.

I cannot recommend this tour highly enough!!! Our guide Katerina was amazing! She catered the entire tour to our preferences and even played our personal paparazzi, taking numerous pictures of our family for us. The scenery was stunningly, beautiful. The only thing to be aware of is that return transportation is not included in the price.

Vasilas was very accommodating and adjusted our tour to our needs and led us to places where we beat the crowds.

Absolutely Amazing Experience – Worth Every Penny! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We had the BEST day in Santorini thanks to VIP Santorini Transfers and Tours and our incredible guide, Vasilis! 🙌 From the moment we were picked up, everything was smooth, professional, and perfectly timed—no waiting in long cable car lines or crowded shuttles. The fact that this was a private 6-hour shore excursion meant we could fully customize our itinerary, and Vasilis was more than happy to help us make the most of it! He took us to all the must-see spots—from the stunning views in Oia, to the black sand beach, to the breathtaking cliffside villages. Along the way, he shared fascinating local history and gave us tips only a local would know. His energy, kindness, and deep love for Santorini made the experience unforgettable. This tour made our time on the island stress-free and super special. Highly, highly recommend booking this if you want a VIP experience that lets you truly enjoy Santorini your way! 💙

Absolutely Amazing Experience – Worth Every Penny! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ We had the BEST day in Santorini thanks to VIP Santorini Transfers and Tours and our incredible guide, Vasilis! 🙌 From the moment we were picked up, everything was smooth, professional, and perfectly timed—no waiting in long cable car lines or crowded shuttles. The fact that this was a private 6-hour shore excursion meant we could fully customize our itinerary, and Vasilis was more than happy to help us make the most of it! He took us to all the must-see spots—from the stunning views in Oia, to the black sand beach, to the breathtaking cliffside villages. Along the way, he shared fascinating local history and gave us tips only a local would know. His energy, kindness, and deep love for Santorini made the experience unforgettable. This tour made our time on the island stress-free and super special. Highly, highly recommend booking this if you want a VIP experience that lets you truly enjoy Santorini your way! 💙

Our tour guide, Angelo, was very accomodating and friendly. He provided lots of informational insight on the places he took us to and made sure to keep us comfortable.

Had a great experience. Alex, was our guide and he was awesome. He was patience, courteous and very informative. I highly recommend taking this tour.

Our private tour was awesome with Paulina who was a complete delight!! We covered so much of the island starting first at OIA to beat the crowds, then making our way to the breathtaking red beach, through the black beaches and stops in beautiful villages, seeing churches and highlights all along the way. Perfect day! We felt like we had a family member showing us Santorini!

Tony our driver was awesome. My sister and I were on a cruise but did not want to be constrained by crowds. With Tony’s expertise, we saw the sights and were gone before the crowds arrived. We enjoyed him and his knowledge of Santorini immensely!

Tony was our tour guide today. He was absolutely brilliant throughout the entire tour, he took into consideration sights we had already seen and substituted those with others that were equally amazing! His knowledge of Santorini is next level and he is not a bad personal photographer either!!