Seeing Santorini from the water is something a lot of visitors never actually do — and it's the best view there is. If you've decided to get out on a boat (and you should), here's exactly what the day looks like: the stops, the swimming, and the parts most people don't realise are coming. For help choosing morning or sunset or which type of boat, we've got separate guides — this one is about what you'll actually see.
Boat Tours
What to Expect on a Santorini Catamaran Tour
The stops, the swimming and the parts most people don't realise are coming.
Last updated: July 2026
The stops: what you'll actually see
Most catamaran cruises follow a similar route around the island's best spots — and several of them can't be reached any other way:
- Red Beach — a stop of around 30 minutes to swim, snorkel and take photos of the dramatic red volcanic cliffs.
- White Beach — one of the island's most striking beaches, and completely inaccessible without a boat or catamaran. This is the stop most visitors never get to see, and one of the best reasons to do a cruise at all.
- The Faros lighthouse — you'll sail past the lighthouse at the southern tip of the island.
- The volcano hot springs — swim in the naturally heated volcanic waters, usually a highlight of the whole trip.
What's included on board
Most catamaran tours include lunch or dinner with drinks, snorkelling equipment, and — depending on the tour — hotel pickup and drop-off. On that last point, a local rule: always pick a tour with hotel pickup. Santorini's ports are below the cliffs on narrow, hard-to-find roads, and pickup turns a potentially stressful morning into a door-to-door day. It's the single thing most worth filtering for when you book.
Catamaran vs volcano boat tour — they're not the same
Worth knowing before you book: these are two different products.
A catamaran cruise is the full experience above — the coloured beaches, White Beach, the hot springs, and a proper meal with drinks on a comfortable boat, usually 4–5 hours.
A volcano boat tour is more focused on the volcano itself: you get snacks and a welcome drink, start from the Old Port, sail out to the volcano to explore on foot, and stop at the hot springs for a swim. If your main goal is hiking the volcano, that's the one; if you want the beaches and the full day on the water, take the catamaran.
Should you go private?
A private tour is worth it in two situations: if you're a group of more than four, or if you're on your honeymoon. You explore the island from the sea on your own schedule, with more space and a more romantic, comfortable pace — a private sunset cruise is one of the most special things couples do here. There are full-day private options too.
The short version
A catamaran with hotel pickup gets you Red Beach, White Beach, the Faros lighthouse and the volcano hot springs, plus a meal and drinks — around 4–5 hours on the water. Decide morning or sunset, compare boat types and prices, and go private if you're a bigger group or celebrating. Book a couple of days ahead in summer.
Good To Know
Frequently asked questions
A typical cruise stops at Red Beach (a swim and snorkel stop), White Beach (only reachable by boat), sails past the Faros lighthouse, and anchors at the volcano hot springs for a swim in the naturally heated water — with lunch or dinner and drinks on board.
No — White Beach is not accessible by road. A catamaran or boat tour is the only way to reach it, which is one of the best reasons to do a cruise.
They're naturally heated volcanic waters in the caldera where boats anchor so you can swim. The warm, mineral-rich water is a highlight of most catamaran and boat tours.
A catamaran cruise covers the beaches, White Beach, the hot springs and a full meal over 4–5 hours. A volcano boat tour is more focused: snacks and a welcome drink, starting from the Old Port, out to the volcano to explore on foot with a hot-springs swim.
Most catamaran and boat tours run around 4–5 hours, with full-day options also available.
Yes if you're a group of more than four or on your honeymoon — you get more space, your own schedule and a more romantic pace. A private sunset cruise is especially popular with couples.
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