Fira · Central Santorini · The Short Transfer
The island's capital sits closest to the wine country, which makes it the cheapest and quickest place on Santorini to start a three-winery tasting.
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The Experience
Central, well served, and 15 minutes from most of the island's cellars.
The shortest version of the Santorini wine day.
Fira, Firostefani and Imerovigli sit on one stretch of the caldera road, so the collection loop here is far tighter than it is from Oia or the south-coast beaches.
Pyrgos, Megalochori, Exo Gonia and the rim road to Athinios are all a short drive south. Santo Wines is roughly 15 minutes from Fira; Venetsanos a little further down the same road.
The best-value tour from Fira gives a genuine three-quarters of an hour at each estate — a cellar tour as well as the pour, rather than a hurried tasting bar.
Fira has both. The 11:40 departure includes the Koutsoyannopoulos cave wine museum; the 15:40 swaps it for Aroma Avlis and finishes later.
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Same operator, same price, different cellars — plus what happens if you drive.
| Feature | INCLUDES THE MUSEUM 11:40 Morning Departure | 15:40 Afternoon Departure | Taxi or ATV From Fira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wineries visited | Roussos → Koutsoyannopoulos → Venetsanos | Venetsanos → Roussos → Aroma Avlis | Whichever will take a walk-in, if any |
| Cave wine museum | ✓ Koutsoyannopoulos, included | ✗ not on this route | Possible, and you pay separate admission |
| Time at each cellar | 45 minutes, cellar tour plus tasting | 45 minutes, cellar tour plus tasting | However long the tasting room gives a walk-in |
| Cellar temperature | Coolest part of the day | Warmer, and busier on the terraces | Depends entirely when you turn up |
| Price | $145 per person | $145 per person | Tasting fees at each cellar, plus ~$25–$45 per taxi leg |
| Who drives | A licensed driver — everyone tastes | A licensed driver — everyone tastes | You. The limit is 0.05% BAC and the roads are unlit |
| Best for | Anyone who wants the museum, and cooler cellars | Late risers, and people pairing it with a morning beach | Buyers going to one specific estate with a non-drinker aboard |
| Check Availability | View Options |
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MOST REVIEWED WINE TOURThe Practical Base
Not the prettiest base on the island, but comfortably the most efficient one for tasting.
If you are choosing where to stay and wine matters to you, Fira is the answer. It is not the view people book Santorini for — that is Oia and Imerovigli — but it sits in the middle of the island, on the road that runs south into the wine country, and every operator’s pickup loop passes through it.
Shorter transfers. Santo Wines is about fifteen minutes from Fira down the caldera road. Venetsanos, cut into the cliff above Athinios port, is a little further along the same route. Estate Argyros, Art Space and the Koutsoyannopoulos museum are all in the Episkopi–Exo Gonia belt, likewise a short drive. From Oia every one of those is twenty to forty minutes further.
More departures. Because Fira is central, it is the default pickup point. Tours that will not detour to a south-coast beach hotel will collect in Fira.
The cheapest three-winery tasting on the island. The three-winery tour with transfer runs from Fira at $145 — the lowest price in this catalogue for a dedicated tasting, against $174 to $209 for the comparable tours. It is three hours rather than four or five, and it does not end at sunset, which is exactly why it costs less.
This is worth reading twice, because the listing does not shout it:
Only the morning run includes Koutsoyannopoulos, the wine museum dug into a cave, which walks you through what winemaking on the island actually involved before mechanisation. If that appeals, you have to take the earlier departure.
Either way you get Venetsanos, which is the one to see: founded in 1947 as Santorini’s first industrial winery, built over four levels into the cliff face so that gravity — rather than the electricity nobody had — moved the must and wine down through the building.
A question people ask constantly, so: it is roughly a 15-minute drive south towards Pyrgos, and there is no useful public bus that drops you at the gate. The realistic independent options are a taxi each way, an ATV or car, or the local bus to Pyrgos followed by a walk. All three run into the same problem — the tasting is the point, and someone has to drive back.
That is the case for the guided version rather than a marketing line: Greece’s drink-drive limit is 0.05% BAC, and the road back up to Fira after dark is not one to learn on.
Fira’s short transfers mean you can also take a sunset tour without spending an extra hour in a van. The featured small-group sunset tour picks up here and finishes at Santo Wines on the rim.
Guest Reviews
Ratings and review counts are the tour operators' live figures on GetYourGuide and may shift slightly day to day.
"Steven, our driver, and especially Maria, our guide, were absolutely wonderful. Steven was a very safe and efficient driver, and we always felt in good hands. Maria was fantastic — spending time with her felt like having a few glasses of wine with a friend. She knows so much about Greek culture and wine, and gave us great insights into the wineries and tastings. We really enjoyed our experience and couldn’t recommend them highly enough!"
"I had an amazing experience with Maria as our guide. She was very knowledgeable and made sure we knew important facts before our tour. The wineries we went to were beautiful, and each was unique. So glad we chose this excursion on our trip here :)"
"Great time. Maria is the best tour guide and all of the winery hosts are very knowledgeable. They also have great views and one stop even has a museum."
"Maria was awesome and made this experience wonderful!! She was knowledgable and personal and kept everything running smoothly. Everyone just loved her. She made this experience top notch!! As for the tour we went to 3 different wineries, each with its own character which made each experience fantastic. One was charming and sitting in the pretty vineyard was enchanting. The next was elegant with a museum that was so unbelievable and a must see. Maria was perfect with giving just enough details to make you understand the wine making process. The last place had breathtaking views that were beautiful for pictures. All places have different snacks that were great to pair with the wines. We can’t say enough of how great this was and highly recommend it!!!"
"My sister and I really enjoyed this tour. Maria, our guide, was fabulous. She has a true love for Santorini and a deep knowledge of the area, the wine making process, each winery and wine. Her unique experiences that she shared along the way added a personal touch to our afternoon. Each winery was unique and it was a treat to sample so many different wines! We would highly recommend Maria and this tour to anyone visiting Santorini!"
"My husband and I loved our tour! Maria was so sweet and knowledgeable and it was clear the wineries were carefully selected. We loved learning about the history of the island and the wineries."
"We had a great time on this wine tasting tour. It was just the two of us so felt very private and exclusive. Pick up was easy and well signposted. The transport was excellent and the driver was friendly. Maria was an excellent, friendly and knowledgeable about the winerys, the history of wine and of Santorini itself. The three wineries were all unique with different vibes and lovely wines to offer, we tried 3 at each including white, rose, red and sweet wines, along with snacks and great info about each wine."
"Maria, was our tour guide and she was amazing. She had so much knowledge about the island and the history of the wineries we toured. I loved every aspect of this tour, I wish we had more time with Maria."
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See All ReviewsAssyrtiko, Nykteri and Vinsanto poured where they are grown, on ash that has never seen phylloxera — finishing at the caldera rim for sunset. Hotel pickup and free cancellation included. Starting from $145 per person.
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The shortest transfers on the island, and which departure to take.
Roughly a 15-minute drive south towards Pyrgos. There is no useful public bus to the gate — the realistic independent options are a taxi each way, an ATV or car, or the bus to Pyrgos plus a walk. All of them run into the same problem: somebody has to drive back.
Not in the town. Fira is the island's capital and sits on the caldera rim; the cellars are in the belt south and east of it — Pyrgos, Megalochori, Episkopi, Exo Gonia — and on the rim road down to Athinios. That belt starts about fifteen minutes away, which is why Fira is the most efficient base.
The 11:40 morning run visits Roussos, Koutsoyannopoulos and Venetsanos. The 15:40 afternoon run visits Venetsanos, Roussos and Aroma Avlis. Only the morning includes the Koutsoyannopoulos cave wine museum, so take that one if the museum appeals.
It is three hours rather than four or five, the transfers are shorter because Fira is central, and it does not end at sunset. At $145 it is the lowest-priced dedicated three-winery tasting in this catalogue, against $174 to $209 for the comparable tours.
Forty-five minutes at each of the three, including a guided tour of the cellar as well as the tasting itself. That is longer than several tours costing considerably more, which spend the extra time in transit or waiting for sunset.
The winery cut into the cliff above Athinios port, founded in 1947 and the first industrial winery on the island. It is built over four levels so that gravity moves the must and wine downward through the building — there was no reliable electricity when it was designed.
The best-value Fira tour lists itself as unsuitable for children under 18 and for pregnant women. Under-4s may travel free but without a reserved seat. Other operators vary, so check the specific listing rather than assuming.
The best on the island, if wine is your priority. It is not the view people book Santorini for — that is Oia and Imerovigli — but it is central, every pickup loop passes through it, and it is closest to the cellars.
Yes, and the short transfers mean you spend less of the afternoon in a van than you would from Oia. The featured small-group sunset tour picks up in Fira and finishes at Santo Wines on the rim. See our sunset tours page.
A wine museum dug into a cave, covering what winemaking on Santorini actually involved before mechanisation — the presses, the tools and the working year. It is included on the 11:40 departure only.
Still have questions? Email us at info@santoriniwinetastingtours.com
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