Santorini Volcano, Thirassia and Oia Sunset Tour (12 Hours)

The long day, hour by hour

Plan on 12 hours door to door. The day runs in five parts, and only one of them is in Oia. The sunset sets the finish: in Santorini it falls around 20:36 in mid-July and 19:27 in mid-September, so on a summer date you are back late. One reviewer calls it a long day that was worth it. If 12 hours is too much, the volcano and hot springs tour has a 4-hour afternoon sunset cruise that covers the volcano and the springs.

• Bus to Athinios Port — From your pickup point, time by email
• Nea Kameni — Climb to the crater (€5 cash)
• Hot springs — Swim stop near Palea Kameni or Nea Kameni, depending on conditions
• Thirassia — Free time: beach, lunch, or the walk up to Manolas
• Under Oia's cliffs — Photo stop from the boat, then back to Athinios
• Oia by bus — Free time and the sunset from land, then the bus home

The volcano climb and the hot springs

The first stop is Nea Kameni, where you climb to the crater for the view across the caldera. Two of the 10 recent reviewers call the climb challenging, and one says it may not suit anyone with limited mobility. Bring €5 in cash for the entrance fee; the listing does not include it. The hot springs swim comes next. The listing says the boat may approach springs near either Nea Kameni or Palea Kameni, depending on weather. One reviewer wished the boat had gone closer to the warm water. See Nea Kameni volcano and Santorini hot springs.

Free time on Thirassia

Thirassia, the island that was part of Santorini before the great eruption, is the longest stop. One reviewer puts it at a couple of hours. You can swim from the beach, eat at a taverna, or climb to Manolas, the old village on the cliff top with its spiral stairs. Lunch is not included, so bring cash or a card for the taverna. Reviews of the crew's restaurant tips are mixed: one reviewer calls the suggested place perfect, another calls theirs dire. Read Thirassia before you go and pick your own.

Oia by boat, then Oia on land

You see Oia twice. First from the sea, when the boat sails under its cliffs before turning back to Athinios. Then from land, when the bus drives you up to the village for free time and the sunset. Oia is crowded at sunset; one reviewer calls it manic. Another watched from near the car park so as not to miss the bus, which is a fair trade if your legs are tired. The sunset is from land here, not from a boat. If you want it from the water, a sunset catamaran cruise does that from $88.

What you pay on the day

The $64 ticket covers the bus, the boat and an English-speaking escort. Everything else is extra. The volcano entrance fee is €5 per person in cash. The bar on board sells drinks, sandwiches and coffee, and the listing says it takes cash only. Lunch on Thirassia is at your own cost. Four of the 10 recent reviewers call the day good value even so. Bring swimwear and a towel.

When it runs

This is a seasonal trip. On 27 October 2026, the listing's next available date was 27 April 2027, so plan it for the spring-to-autumn season. One reviewer checked the cruise-ship calendar and booked a day with few ships docked at Fira, which kept the crowds down. The best time for a Santorini boat trip covers the months in more detail.