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Fira Archaeology

Our most recommended Fira Archaeology

Santorini: Akrotiri Prehistoric City Ticket with Audio Guide

1. Santorini: Akrotiri Prehistoric City Ticket with Audio Guide

Experience the prehistoric site of Akrotiri at your own pace with a skip-the-line e-ticket and a captivating self-guided audio tour on your smartphone. Travel back in time to experience the curious, spine-chilling history of the site of Akrotiri, frozen in time by the eruption of the Santorini volcano. Put on your headphones and explore the layout of the prehistoric town, once buried under ashes, through the power of storytelling. Learn historical information about its affluent residences, known as Xeste, and little-known stories and anecdotes about the daily lives of its inhabitants. The content of the tour is the result of in-depth research, distilled into brief original stories that will make your visit both engaging and educational. The audio tour can be used repeatedly and at any time, before or after your visit. This is an unmissable opportunity to gain valuable insights into the archaeology of a prehistoric residential space that has been literally frozen in time, providing a snapshot of life just before its residents decided to flee the increasing fury of the neighboring volcano. As a result, you will relate to your surroundings in an entirely original way.

Santorini: Akrotiri Prehistoric City Private Guided Tour

2. Santorini: Akrotiri Prehistoric City Private Guided Tour

Explore the archaeological site of Akrotiri, a settlement on Santorini on a private tour. See the paved streets, the remains of high-building complexes, and more with a guide. Stroll through the city and discover public buildings and astonishingly well-preserved decorations and murals. Hear about the tragic events that buried the city after a volcanic eruption, and learn why it is being well-preserved.  You will also see some of the famous artwork, including pottery, furniture, and frescoes from the Bronze Age. Learn about the life of the people 4,000 years ago while admiring the historical area. 

Santorini: Traditional Sightseeing Bus Tour with Oia Sunset

3. Santorini: Traditional Sightseeing Bus Tour with Oia Sunset

Explore Santorini on a full day sightseeing tour by bus. Learn about the island's history and visit traditional villages. Stop at volcanic beaches and experience an Oia sunset. Tour Itinerary • Akrotiri excavation site: guided tour in this Minoan Bronze Age settlement buried by volcanic ash in the 17th century BC • Emporio village: Explore this quaint village with hilltop windmills, fortified medieval castles and centuries-old churches • Perissa Beach: Enjoy free time for lunch and a swim at the island's most popular black sand beach • Santorini Winery: Tour a traditional winery and taste Santorini’s distinctive wines • Profitis Ilias: Visit the island’s highest peak and admire views from the agricultural plains to the hilltop village of Oia • Oia sunset: Enjoy free time to experience a Santorini sunset at the most-photographed place in Greece

Private Group Visit to Akrotiri & 3 Wineries with Tastings

4. Private Group Visit to Akrotiri & 3 Wineries with Tastings

Uncover the fascinating past of Santorini on a 5-hour guided tour. Explore the excavations at Akrotiri, a prehistoric Bronze Age city. During the Minoan volcanic eruption some 3,600 years ago the city was frozen in time by volcanic ash. On this tour that’s priced for a group of up to 4 persons, you will admire the elaborate drainage system, the sophisticated multi-storied buildings, magnificent wall paintings, and excavated furniture and vessels. Discover evidence of winemaking that has been estimated to date back to the 3rd millennium BC, making Santorini one of the oldest wine-making regions in the world. Visit 3 of the island’s wineries and learn about Santorini’s unique viticulture traditions. Taste a selection of 12 different wine styles from across Santorini and Greece – including Assyrtiko, Nykteri, and the sublimely sweet Vinsanto wine.

Santorini: Private Highlights Tour by Minibus

5. Santorini: Private Highlights Tour by Minibus

Enjoy the first stop of the tour at Santorini Caldera and learn all about the details of its formation. Then, continue through the scenic countryside to the village of Oia, the most photographed location in Santorini. Explore the village of Imerovigli, situated on a higher cliff with an incredible view. Make a short stop in Firostefani to see the famous Blue Dome Church, the subject of so many Santorini postcards. Explore the peak of Prophet Ilias, the island’s highest mountain, standing 2,000 feet above sea level. Discover the village of Megalochori or Pyrgos and chose one of them. Take an optional stop at Akrotiri Archaeological Site if you want to explore the excavations. Also, you can choose an optional winery and visit Estate Argyros or Venetsanos Winery, to taste the local wine. Admire the panoramic views, swim at the picturesque red or black sandy beaches, and relax over lunch at the seaside restaurant.

Santorini - 5 Hours Most Attractive Sightseing Island Tour

6. Santorini - 5 Hours Most Attractive Sightseing Island Tour

You will be collected early in the morning from your hotel on Santorini Island and driven in a luxury, modern, minivan with WiFi and air conditioning to the most attractive sightseeing spots on the island.  Augmented reality maps will be provided for free to passengers in order to give you the opportunity to get more information via your mobile phone about the sites. Your first stop is the Akrotiri Archaeological Site and museum in Akrotiri where you can feel the atmosphere of the island's volcanic eruption days and also see ancient ruins.  Then you will drive to the nearby Red Beach which is popular because of its amazing pure and volcanic red rocks formation. Here you can take some time to swim and relax. Then, you will head to Black Beach in Perissa to swim, relax, or have a meal at one of the seafront bars. Next up, enjoy a wine tasting in Venetsanos Winery. You will have the opportunity to try some of the most excellent local wines in quality and flavor, such as Vinsanto, Nichteri, and Assyrtiko. End the tour with stops in Pyrgos and Oia, the most traditional villages in Santorini.  Here, you'll have enough time to explore and admire the Cycladic architecture and Greek hospitality, walk in the narrow pathways next to blue and white old and traditional houses, go shopping, or relax and admire the breathtaking views of the island of Caldera.

Archaeological Bus Tour To Akrotiri Excavations & Red Beach

7. Archaeological Bus Tour To Akrotiri Excavations & Red Beach

Discover the sights of Santorini on this guided tour in an airconditioned vehicle. Be picked up from centrally-located meeting points on Santorini. Visit sights like Akrotiri, the Prophet Elias Monastery, and the black volcanic sand beach of Perivolos.  Start with the breath-taking views at the Prophet Elias Monastery and visit this picturesque monastery. Then head to Megalochori village, an extremely charming traditional settlement that was almost abandoned after a major earthquake. Continue to Akrotiri Excavations where were preserved by volcanic ash. Purchase a ticket to uncover these well-preserved pieces of history on your own. Have free time at the Red Beach to simply enjoy the colorful formations or visit Akrotiri Bay where you can buy lunch. Make your way to the black sand Perivolos beach for swimming, exploring the area, or purchasing fresh-cooked fish from a local tavern. The last stop is one of the most popular wineries in Santorini, for a wine tasting experience.

Santorini: Akrotiri Prehistoric City Guided Walking Tour

8. Santorini: Akrotiri Prehistoric City Guided Walking Tour

Meet your guide, a licensed archaeologist, at the entrance of Akrotiri Prehistoric City. Get assistance in buying the entry ticket and embark together with a group on a guided tour through Akrotiri Prehistoric City.  In the 16th century BC, a volcanic eruption destroyed all life on the island. Most of it collapsed beneath the waves and remained undiscovered until the excavations began in 1967, led by Professor Spyros Marintos. He uncovered the evidence of a city with houses, streets, squares and workshops, all of which had been covered under a thick blanket of pumice for almost 3,500 years.  Marvel at the well-preserved buildings and passageway in the excavated area. See the beautiful pottery, the roads, and squares of a city 3,500 years old. Explore the two and three-story houses, which were once decorated with wall paintings and get an insight into the ancient civilization of Santorini.  After the guided tour you are free to walk around the site at your own pace.

Santorini Traditional Villages and Oia Sunset Tour

9. Santorini Traditional Villages and Oia Sunset Tour

Take a break from Santorini’s black sand beaches on a full-day tour of its Minoan excavations, traditional villages, ancient capital and buried settlements. End the day at Oia and watch the sunset from the island’s northernmost tip. Following a pick-up from your hotel, transfer by air-conditioned coach to the archeological site of Akrotiri. Explore an ancient city that was frozen in time after a volcanic eruption 3,600 years ago. Step inside with your guide and learn about the Minoan city before the devastating event occurred. Gaze in awe at the ruins of multi-storied buildings that date back to the 16th century, and admire the intricately designed drainage system that hints at a talented civilization far more advanced than its time suggests.  Stroll along the main street, lined with old stores and warehouses from the ancient city. Learn about the traditional ceramic artifacts, such as pithoi (earthenware jugs). After that, continue towards Perissa Beach and enjoy free time to have lunch and relax at one of the longest black sandy beaches in the Cyclades and the most popular beach of Santorini.  Next stop at Emporio Village where you can explore one of the oldest and most authentic traditional villages of Santorini, built like a small labyrinth and visit its medieval fortress (15th century).  Continue toward Santorini Winery. Taste Santorini’s distinctive wines and learn about one of the oldest vineyards in Europe while admiring the spectacular view of the volcano.  Stop at Profitis Ilias Mountain next where you will finish your tour with a short stop at the highest peak of Santorini (567 meters) to admire the striking panoramic view of the entire island. Meet your guide again in the early evening for the transfer to Oia, a quintessential Greek village that’s known for its sugar cube houses and blue-domed churches.  Join the legions who flock to Oia to watch the sunset, and stroll down streets nestled into the side of the cliffs overlooking the spectacular caldera. Follow your guide to the ruins of a Venetian castle, known as the Kastro of Oia, and gaze down from the village and caldera to the sea. Return to the coach for the transfer back to your hotel.

Best of Santorini Full-Day Private Guided Tour

10. Best of Santorini Full-Day Private Guided Tour

Spend a day on a private-guided tour exploring Akrotiri Excavations, a prehistoric Bronze Age city, frozen in time by ash that fell during the Minoan volcanic eruption 3,600 years ago. Some speculate this is the origin of the mythical city of Atlantis. Admire the elaborate drainage system, sophisticated multi-storied buildings, magnificent wall painting, and excavated furniture and vessels that show the former settlement's great prosperity. Next, you will head over to admire the Red and Black beaches. The red layer of sand at the Red Beach is a spectacular sight. The Black Beach of Perivolos is the largest beach on Santorini and is covered with a black volcanic pebble. Take in the spectacular views of the Aegean Sea and the nearby islands. Enjoy an optional lunch at a seaside restaurant. Continue your visit at the village of Emporio, the largest village on the Greek island of Santorini. You can look at the historic windmills that have an excellent view of the rest of the island. On the hill above the village Emborio, you will discover both the ruins of Kasteli, a fortress from the Byzantine period and the ruins of Goulas. Then, you will make your way to the peak of Prophet Ilias, the highest mountain that stands some 2,000 feet (600 meters) above the sea. Be amazed by the island vistas around you (360 degrees), and then follow your guide inside the ornate Greek Christian monastery perched at the mountain's summit. From here, you will proceed to the village of Pyrgos, the old capital, where you will take a guided walk along narrow paths to the ruins of the Venetian castle. The next stop is at a traditional Venetsanos Winery, where you will learn the secrets of wine making and enjoy the tastes of the famous local wines. On the way to the northern part of Santorini, you will make a short stop in Firostefani to see the famous Blue Dome Church, the subject of so many Santorini's postcards. You will visit the village of Imerovigli, situated on a higher cliff with an incredible view. In front of the village is an enormous rock called Skaros, which used to be the best spot to look out for pirates. Continue through the beautiful Santorini countryside to the village of Oia. Built in the northern part of the Caldera Rim. Oia is the most photographed location in Santorini, and a place where many artists have found their inspiration in Oia's beauty, the traditional architecture  and the amazing sunset. Enjoy the stunning views of the Caldera, where many dwellings are built into niches of the volcanic rock. You will also have a panoramic view of the rest of Santorini and the Aegean Sea.

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What people are saying about Fira

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 507 reviews

I cannot recommend this tour or our tour guide, Mary, enough. The tour was the perfect balance of local history and culture, and delicious wine. Mary was so knowledgeable and passionate about Santorini; it made our day with her informative, engaging and incredibly fun. We had a fabulous day and would absolutely recommend you spend a day with Mary on your next trip to Santorini! (I will be back whenever she offers a Local Cats of Santorini tour :) )

This was one of our favorite things about our whole vacation! The guide was so knowledgeable and the tour was outstanding. I recommend this to anyone! The history here is so amazing. We will definitely be back!

The experience was fantastic, our tour guide was brilliant. She gave us all the information and historical landmarks. I will recommend it.

Arthur was fantastic! Took us all over the island and answered any questions we had. Took us to spots only the locals know about.

The tour was very nice, the guide gave us very valuable information about the place.