Santorini Local Breweries Tour

Beer lovers, this tour is dangerously fun. I love that you stop at two Santorini breweries and get 6 beer tastings at each stop, with food pairings built in.

You will also get a guide who actually knows how the breweries work. In the single best review I saw, the guide Tasos had a strong rapport with both spots, which showed up as smooth service and a great, friendly pace.

One thing to consider: this is very beer-focused, and there is no lunch included. If you want a big hit of sightseeing instead of beer education, this may feel more like a tasting schedule than a tour of the island.

Key highlights before you go

• Two breweries, one 3-hour session with tastings that add up quickly
• 12 beer tastings total (6 at each brewery) plus a platter at each stop
• AC vehicle and refreshments included, so you start tasting without stress
• Small group size (max 6), which usually means more talking time with staff
• Guide Tasos connection factor, based on a standout guest review, for smoother brewery visits

Two breweries in 3 hours: what the experience feels like

This is a car tour built around one simple theme: local beer. You ride to both breweries, learn how they make it, then taste your way through a set of beers at each location. The whole thing runs about 3 hours, so you are not committing a half-day, but you still get enough time to feel like you actually did something beyond a quick stop for a drink.

What makes this work well for real travelers is the structure. Instead of wandering around a brewery shop, you get guided access to production stories and tasting flights, plus food pairings. And because the group is capped at 6 travelers, it tends to feel more like a small tasting night than a cattle-call excursion.

If you are the type who enjoys craft beer, this is a nice way to spend time on Santorini without chasing the same sunset viewpoints everyone does. It also avoids a common vacation problem: trying to squeeze in too many activities. You focus on two stops, each with a purpose.

Pickup, timing, and the practical flow of the morning

The tour starts at 11:30 am. Pickup is offered, and you travel in an air-conditioned vehicle, with bottled water and refreshments included during the trip (mineral water plus orange juice or other refreshments). That matters in Santorini, where heat can turn a short day out into a sweaty scramble.

The flow is simple:

1) You meet, hop into the AC ride, and head to the first brewery.

2) You taste, learn, and move on.

3) You do the same at the second brewery, finishing with full beer-fueled memories.

One practical tip: since lunch is not included, I would plan for a proper meal after. If you show up hungry, the food on the platter helps, but I would still treat this as a tasting experience, not a meal replacement.

You should also be aware this experience runs only with good weather. If weather cancels it, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.

Santorini Brewing Company in Exo Gonia and the Donkey beer story

Your first stop is Santorini Brewing Company, located in Exo Gonia. This brewery was founded in 2011, and it is described as the first and oldest brewery on the island. That gives the visit a different feel than a brand-new tasting room. You are not just sampling today’s beers, you are hearing how the place got started and why it matters locally.

A big part of this stop is the setup for tasting. You do not just pour you a drink and disappear. At SBC, you can expect information about:

• the history of the place
• the beer production process
• a tasting of 6 beers

And yes, the famous connection here is the beer called Donkey, often referred to as the Donkey of Santorini. That is the kind of local brand identity I like to understand while I taste, because it turns a beer into a story you can remember later.

What I like about starting here is pacing. The older brewery gives you context, so by the time you reach the second stop, you are better able to compare styles and approaches. You can also use this first tasting to figure out which flavors you want more of later, instead of guessing.

Possible drawback: because this is an educational stop plus tasting, you might want to arrive ready to pay attention. If you are in pure party mode and want only casual sips, you might find the learning part a little more structured than you expected.

Ftelos Brewery: big on ingredients, food pairings, and beer expertise

The second stop is Ftelos Brewery Santorini, a modern visitable brewery. It sits on the main road from Fira to Pyrgos village, so it is easy to picture how it fits into the island’s routes. The property is nearly 4,800 square meters, which is a fancy way of saying this is not a tiny backroom operation. It includes production facilities, two beer-themed restaurants, and two tapas bars.

The brewery has an identity built into its packaging too. Ftelos named its first bottled beer Blue Monkey beer, and that kind of detail helps the tasting feel like you are sampling a local brand with a personality, not just ordering from a generic beer menu.

Here is what you can expect at Ftelos:

• a welcome from a beer expert
• tasting of 6 beers
• a platter of selected delicacies alongside the tasting
• explanations of quality specifications and ingredients for each beer served

I especially like the ingredient focus. Santorini is not known only for sunsets and volcanic views. It has local ingredients and specific growing conditions, and breweries here often reflect that in what they brew. When staff explain the quality specs and ingredients behind each beer, you start tasting with more intention, not just preference.

Food is part of the design at this stop. You get a platter matched to your tasting moment, which means you can slow down, reset your palate, and keep enjoying the next pours. Since there is no lunch included overall, this platter is a real practical win.

The tastings: 12 beers total and how to get the most out of them

Across both breweries, you are tasting 6 beers per brewery, for 12 beer tastings total. That is a lot in 3 hours, but it is managed with structure and timing, plus the included food. The food and water/refreshments also help keep your pace comfortable.

How I would approach it if you want the best experience:

• Start by deciding what you actually like, not what you think you should like. The guide and staff explanations are there to help you name the flavors you enjoy.
• Pace yourself during the platters. Eat a little, then taste again. It makes the differences in each beer clearer.
• If you want to remember anything later, pick one beer at each stop that you liked most and pay attention to the ingredient or quality detail connected to it.

Because you are getting explanations plus tasting flights, this tour is also great if you are curious but not super knowledgeable. You do not need to be a craft beer critic. You just need a willingness to learn a few taste terms and listen.

Drinks, food, and what is included versus what you must plan

Your included goodies are the kind that make the experience feel cared for rather than rushed:

• air-conditioned vehicle
• bottled water
• refreshments during the trip (mineral water and orange juice or other refreshment)
• beer tastings at both breweries, with 6 beers per brewery
• a platter of selected delicacies for each attendant at each brewery

So you are not going thirsty, and you are not tasting on an empty stomach. That said, there is an explicit note that lunch is not included. I would plan your day around that. If you usually eat a late lunch on vacation, just know you may want to schedule it after this tour so you are not hunting for food right after your last tasting.

Also, if you prefer non-alcoholic drinks, you should know the tour includes water and other refreshments, but the core experience is the beer tastings. This is a good choice if beer is the main event for you.

Price and value at $179.59 per person

At $179.59 per person, this tour is not a bargain-basement activity. But it is priced like an experience, not like a quick tasting stop.

Here is why the value can feel fair:

• You get transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• Tastings include 12 beers total across two dedicated breweries.
• Each stop includes a platter of selected delicacies, which turns this from pure drinking into a food-and-beer experience.
• You also get staff time: history and production process at the first brewery, plus ingredient and quality-spec explanations at the second.

If you would normally pay separately for beer tastings, then add in food and a guided brewery visit, the cost starts to look more reasonable. The real question is simple: do you want a structured beer education plus tastings, or would you rather spend the day doing open-ended exploring and grabbing a drink when you find it?

If you are a beer fan, structured tastings at two breweries are exactly what you want. If you are lukewarm about beer, the price might feel steep for the amount of time you spend focusing on alcohol rather than sights.

Small group size, smooth service, and why Tasos matters

The tour has a maximum of 6 travelers. I like this because it usually changes the vibe. You are more likely to ask questions, get answers, and actually interact with staff instead of waiting your turn.

One review I saw highlighted the guide by name, Tasos, calling him an amazing tour guide and crediting his working relationship with the breweries. The result, in that guest’s words, was first-rate service at both stops and beer that was excellent at each brewery. Even if you do not know Tasos from a previous visit, that kind of connection matters on brewery tours. It can mean smoother timing, better communication, and staff who are ready for your group rather than figuring things out on the fly.

This kind of tour also suits couples. The review was from a husband-and-wife pair, and the small group setup fits that dynamic well. It is also a good fit for solo travelers who want a social outing without being stuck in a huge crowd.

Who this tour is best for

This is a strong match if:

• you love beer and want to taste multiple styles in a short time
• you want a guided visit rather than hunting down breweries on your own
• you like the idea of local brands like the Donkey of Santorini and Blue Monkey beer
• you enjoy learning how beer is made and what goes into it, not just drinking it

You might think twice if:

• beer is not a priority for you
• you want a lunch included or a full sightseeing schedule
• you prefer flexible stops over a timed tasting experience

Should you book this Santorini Local Breweries Tour?

I think you should book it if beer is one of your top vacation interests. The combination is hard to beat in 3 hours: two breweries, 12 tastings total, and food pairings at both stops, plus an air-conditioned ride and refreshments. That is a very practical, very drinkable plan.

If you only want one or two beers, or you are not interested in the learning part, you may find it a bit intense. But for craft beer lovers, it offers a focused way to experience Santorini beyond postcards.

My simple decision rule:

• Book if you want tasting flights with context and you are okay with skipping lunch for later.
• Skip if your ideal day is mainly walking, swimming, or doing major sights at a relaxed pace.

FAQ

How long is the Santorini Local Breweries Tour?

The tour lasts about 3 hours.

What time does the tour start?

It starts at 11:30 am.

Is pickup included?

Pickup is offered, and you travel in an air-conditioned vehicle.

How many beers will I taste?

You can expect beer tastings of 6 beers per brewery, for a total of 12 beers.

Is food included, or is it only beer?

Food is included in the form of a platter of selected delicacies at each brewery. Lunch is not included.

How many people are in the group?

The tour has a maximum of 6 travelers.

What is the cancellation policy, especially for weather?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. The tour requires good weather, and if it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.