The BEST Wine Tours in Santorini, Greece
If you’re planning a trip to Santorini, Greece, you MUST book a wine tour or visit a winery! Santorini is a volcanic island, which means it has volcanic soil and creates a unique type of wine you won’t get anywhere else! Because of this, wine tours are one of the best things to do in Santorini!
If you are a wine lover visiting Santorini, you’re in luck! There are plenty of wineries to visit around the island of Santorini and a wide range of wine tours you can book on your trip. One of my favorite parts of my trip to Santorini was touring a winery, learning about how they grow the grapes in the volcanic soil, and experiencing a wine tasting while watching the sunset over the caldera!
In this travel guide, I’ll go over all the wineries in Santorini and the best wine tours you can book on your trip! I’ll also tell you all the important information you’ll need to know when planning a trip to Santorini.
When to visit Santorini
The best months to visit Santorini are April – October. April and May are the beginning of tourism season in Santorini and when the island starts to open up after the winter months. It is important to know that if you visit in April and early May, a lot of things such as hotels and restaurants start to close.
The high summer season starts in June and ends early September. This is when the weather is warm but prices are higher and you can expect more crowds.
If you want to avoid the summer crowds and prices but still have warmer weather, September and early October is a great time to visit.
How to get to Santorini
There are 2 different ways to get to Santorini, but first, you will have to fly into Athens if you are coming from a US city.
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Santorini by Ferry:
Once you arrive in Athens, you will need to arrange transportation to Santorini. The cheapest way to do that is by booking a ferry. Although cheaper, the ferry from Athens to Santorini is long and takes several hours.
If you are traveling to Santorini from another Greek Island, taking the ferry will also be your best option. Ferries between islands are much quicker than the ferry from Athens to Santorini.
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Santorini by Plane:
The quickest way to get to Santorini from Athens is by plane. This option is more expensive, but the flight is short and worth it in my opinion so you have more time to explore all the best things to do in Santorini!
If you are coming from another city in Europe, you most likely will be able to find flights directly from that city to Santorini.
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Where to Stay in Santorini
Best hotels in Oia:
Canaves Oia Suites, Allure Breeze Suites, Mystique by Marriott, Andronis Luxury Suites, The Saint Hotel, Olvos Luxury Suites
Also Read: Best Things to do in Oia
Best hotels in Fira:
Villa Bordeaux, Athina Luxury Suites
What to pack for a trip to Santorini
If you’re planning a trip to Santorini this summer, here’s everything I would recommend packing for your trip to be prepared!
Mini Backpack: I always like to throw a mini backpack in my suitcase when I’m going to a destination that I know requires a lot of exploring. When in Santorini, you could be gone from your hotel all day, and having a mini backpack will be helpful to have everything you may need throughout the day!
Melatonin: Traveling with melatonin on my trip to Greece was a lifesaver! The time change can be difficult to adjust to, and you may need some extra help falling asleep at night while your body adjusts.
Plug Adapter: One thing you may not think to bring if it’s your first time in Europe is an adapter! Their outlets are different than ours in the US, so you phone chargers, curling irons, etc. will not work without an adapter!
Comfortable Walking Shoes: Traveling to Santorini requires a lot of walking. Not only that, but you’ll be walking on uneven streets, and there are A LOT of stairs! Make sure you pack some cute but comfortable walking shoes so you can explore all day long. You can find my favorite travel shoes here.
Light Jacket: One thing about Santorini, it is very windy! You’ll definitely want to make sure you have a light jacket to throw on at night, especially if you are traveling in April or May.
Filtered Water Bottle: The water in Santorini is not the best. I always travel with a filtered water bottle for extra protection from any water contamination while traveling! You can buy filtered water from the store to fill up your water bottle and carry it around with you while you’re out exploring the island during the day! If you are traveling from June to August, its extra important to stay hydrated in the summer heat.
Now, let’s talk about all the best Santorini Wineries and Wine Tours!
Best Wineries in Santorini
Santo Wines
Santo Wines is by far the best winery you can visit on your trip to Santorini, Greece. The winery sits at the top of the caldera and overlooks the entire island of Santorini.
One of the best things about Santorini is the views from around the island and the dramatic cliffs. Santo Wines offers probably one of the best views I saw on my entire trip to the Greek Islands.
Most wine tours will end with a stop for a sunset tasting at Santo Wines, or you can book a tasting directly on their website! When I was in Santorini, I booked a tour of Santo Winery with a 5 wine tasting at sunset directly through the winery!
Estate Argyros
Estate Argyros is the largest private owner of vineyards in Santorini, making it a must-visit winery on your trip! You can book a tour of the winery directly on their website, which includes a tour of Estate Argyros and a tasting of 4 different wines, including their signature wine called Vinsanto. You’ll also get to experience walking on the volcanic soil and and receive a platter of cheeses and local bites.
Gavalas Winery
Gavalas Winery is a boutique winery on Santorini owned by the Gavalas Family and is one of the oldest wineries on Santorini. The winery is located in the traditional village of Megalochori and is great if you want a more local experience!
Wine tastings at Gavalas Winery are available from April to October and can be booked on their website. You will be able to tour the winery and learn about the history, tradition, and winemaking as well as select from packages of ten different wines for tasting!
Artemis Karamolegos Winery
Artemis Karamolegos Winery is a winery and restaurant on Santorini. It is known for its wide range of Assyrtiko wines which are authentic to the volcanic soil of Santorini. Tours can be booked on their website where you will learn about the winemaking and tour the winery. You can also pair the tour with a food and wine pairing where you can experience wine and Mediterranean cuisine. They also have cooking classes available!
Venetsanos Winery
Venetsanos Winery is the first industrial winery on the island of Santorini! They have two tour and tasting options available on their website. A lunch wine tasting or a wine tasting with a museum winery tour.
This winery is located right over the port of Athinios and overlooks the caldera. Just like Santo Wines, this a great spot to visit for a sunset wine tasting!
Best Wine Tours in Santorini
If you want to book a tour in Santorini to visit multiple wineries, below are some of the best ones!
Santorini Family Farm Food & Wine Tour with Cooking Class
Cost: $144 USD per person
Rating: 5 stars
Time: 4.5 hours
On this tour, you will visit a traditional settlement and farm on Santorini where you can try local crops such as tomatoes, fava beans, and eggplants. You will also visit two different wineries where you’ll get to taste volcanic wines and enjoy views of the caldera.
Santorini Sunset Wine Tour with Santo Winery Views
Cost: $204 USD per person
Rating: 5 stars
Time: 4 hours
On this Santorini wineries tour, you will visit 3 Santorini wineries. This is a small group half day tour where you will try 12 different Santorini wines across the 3 different wineries. The wines will include an assortment of white wines, dessert wines, and more. You will also receive cheese, charcuterie, local bites, and sunset at Santo Wines.
Santorini Wine Adventure Tours with 12 Wine Tastings, Tapas, and Sunset
Cost: $180 USD per person
Rating: 5 Stars
Time: 4 hours
On this Santorini wine tour, you will spend a half day touring 3 wine estates around the island. You will receive 12 wines to taste plus snacks and cheese. You can also choose to upgrade to a sunset tour to enjoy a sunset tasting at one of the best wineries in Santorini Greece, Santo Wines.
Santorini Wine Stories: Sunset Tour with Tasting & Dinner
Cost: $207 USD per person
Rating: 5 stars
Time: 5 hours
This is a small group, half day wine tour with hotel pick up. On this tour you will visit three Santorini wineries where you’ll get 10 wines to taste and learn about the volcanic soil and how it makes the wine unique. You will walk through the Santorini vineyards, taste 10 wines, as well as enjoy cheese and snacks. At the end of the tour, you will enjoy dinner with a Greek culinary experience.
Final Thoughts
A wine tour is truly one of the most unique experiences you can have in Santorini, Greece. You’ll spend the day walking through vineyards with volcanic soil and sipping Assyrtiko while watching the sunset over the caldera. Visiting Santorini wineries adds a whole new level to your trip beyond the famous views and whitewashed villages. Whether you choose to visit a single winery or book a guided Santorini wine tour to experience several, itās the perfect way to learn about the islandās culture, taste unique local wines, and create some of the best memories you’ll have on your trip to Santorini. If youāre planning your itinerary, make sure a Santorini winery visit is at the top of your list! It will definitely end up being one of the highlights of your trip.
FAQ
Is Santorini walkable?
Yes, depending on where you are in Santorini, it is walkable! Oia and Fira are both walkable villages and there is even a hike you can do between the two. If you are visiting a winery, you will likely need to grab an uber or taxi from your location.
What should I do in four hours in Santorini?
Four hours is the perfect amount of time to take a wine tour or visit a winery in Santorini! Most wine tours available in Santorini are around 4 hours for a half day tour. If you need some more ideas on how to spend a few hours in Santorini, read about all the best things to do in Santorini!
Can you swim in Oia Santorini?
Yes, there is a swimming area in Oia! You will just need to walk down the steps or take a taxi to Ammoudi Bay, the follow the path past the restaurants to the swimming area!
Is it worth speding two weeks in Santorini or should I visit two different islands?
If you have two weeks in Greece, I would definitely visit 2-3 islands! Santorini is not very big, and you really only need a few days. I would say anywhere from 4-5 days is enough time in Santorini. Mykonos is another popular island to visit in Greece and an easy ferry ride from Santorini!
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