Guided: pickup, helmet & training included
Self-drive: cheaper, full-day freedom
If you have never driven a quad, you're nervous about Santorini's narrow cliff roads, or you only have a half-day, book a guided small-group tour. You get a training run, a guide who routes around the Fira and Oia traffic, and fuel, helmet, hotel pickup and a wine stop all bundled — the things first-timers most often underestimate. The top-rated guided option holds 4.9 from 200+ reviews precisely because it removes that friction.
Choose a self-drive rental only if you're already comfortable on a quad or scooter, want a full day rather than a half-day, and prefer to set your own route and pace. It's cheaper per day (more so over multiple days), but you plan the route, find fuel and parking, and ride the busy stretches yourself. A common middle path: do a guided tour first to learn the roads, then rent later to revisit your favourites. Still unsure either is for you? See our honest "is it worth it?" verdict.
Beyond guided vs self-drive ATVs, many visitors add a catamaran sunset cruise from the Old Port below Fira, a guided wine-tasting tour in Megalochori and Pyrgos Kallistis, or a boat excursion to the Nea Kameni volcano and the Palea Kameni hot springs.
Price, training, routing, logistics, freedom and who each suits — the short answer per row.
| What matters | Guided small-group tour | Self-drive rental |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | €65–€95 per person (bundled) | €25–€60/day (fuel/extras on top) |
| Training | Safety briefing + training lap included | Keys and a map — you're on your own |
| Routing | Guide uses quiet back roads, knows photo stops | You plan it and ride the busy stretches |
| Logistics | Fuel, helmet, hotel pickup, wine stop handled | You fuel up, park and plan the day |
| Freedom & time | Fixed ~3.5-hour route and timing | Full day, go anywhere, set your own pace |
| Best for | First-timers, nervous riders, couples, cruisers | Confident riders wanting a full, flexible day |
Short version: never ridden a quad, or short on time? Book guided. Experienced and want a full day of freedom? Rent self-drive — and consider doing both, guided first to learn the roads.
The highest-reviewed guided option — check live dates and prices on the right.
Why we recommend it: it's the highest-reviewed ATV tour on the island (4.9 from 200+ reviews), runs in small groups on 450/550cc quads, and bundles exactly what a self-drive rental leaves to you — training, a guide, fuel, helmet and hotel pickup.
You ride the south-island loop from Perissa: Emporio's Venetian Kasteli, the windmills and vineyards of Megalochori with a wine-cellar tasting, a caldera viewpoint, a hidden cave chapel and an off-road descent to Vlychada. Guides "Alex" and "Pablo" are named again and again in reviews for keeping nervous riders relaxed.
Morning and late-afternoon departures; cruise passengers meet in front of McDonald's in Fira. Check live dates and book on the right.
Training, routing, logistics and photos — the gap between the €25–€60 rental and the €65–€95 tour.
A rental looks cheaper until you add fuel, route-planning and the stress of the busy roads. Here's what tips most first-timers toward guided.
Guided tours start with a safety briefing and a training lap, so you're comfortable on the quad before a public road. A walk-up rental hands you the keys and a map.
Guides know which lanes dodge the Fira and Oia traffic and where it's safe to stop — the difference between a relaxed ride and white-knuckling the busy stretches.
Hotel pickup, fuel, helmet, water and a wine stop are bundled into the tour price. With a rental you fuel up, find parking and plan the day yourself.
On the featured tour a photographer follows the group and shares the pictures afterwards — hard to manage when you're the one driving.
Recent verified reviews from travellers who booked the guided option.
"One of my favorite experiences in Santorini! Hotel pickup, ATV training, and an incredible route through beaches, villages, vineyards and scenic dirt roads. Our guides, Alex and Pablo, were knowledgeable and patient."Jacqueline · United States · June 2026
"I loved the scenery, and how patient and helpful the guides are. This tour is a fantastic way to see the island before exploring on your own. 10/10 recommend!"Latrina · United States · June 2026
"What an amazing tour with wonderful hosts. One of the main guides, Alex, went above and beyond when we got into a traffic concern. The whole tour was perfectly orchestrated as they worked as a team."Gary W · United States · June 2026
"Had a great day, would definitely recommend. The guys were fun and professional, with safety at the forefront throughout. A nice little stop off for snacks and a drink at a local cafe."Jacqueline · United Kingdom · June 2026
Rating reflects 229 verified GetYourGuide reviews of the featured guided ATV-Quad Experience Tour as of June 2026.
Roads, licence rules, engine size, the IDP and a proposed 2026 change — the caveats that matter most when no guide is with you.
Santorini's lanes are narrow, steep and often guardrail-free, and quads roll easily. Per Greek City Times, ATVs were linked to five fatalities and over 660 injuries across Greece in 2024. Without a guide setting the pace, ride well within your limits and pull over for photos.
Greek law treats quads like cars, so you need a full Category B car licence (not a motorcycle one). US and Canadian drivers should carry a Geneva International Driving Permit too; without it you may be unlicensed and your insurance void.
Sub-125/150cc quads are banned from paved roads, so rent 150cc or larger — and 300cc+ if two of you ride the hills. Check brakes before you set off and confirm full insurance (ideally CDW), not just third-party.
Rentals add fuel, and tours add personal insurance, extra food and tips. Budget a little extra either way so the day doesn't surprise you.
Ride morning or late afternoon and avoid the 11:00–15:00 summer heat and the Oia sunset gridlock. The best months are May–June and September–October.
Greek officials have proposed requiring drivers to have held a licence for at least five years before renting a quad. It's a proposal, not law, as of mid-2026 — check the current rule before you travel, especially for self-drive.
Price, safety, licence and who each option suits.
For most first-time visitors, yes. A guided tour includes a safety briefing, training, a planned route, fuel, helmet and usually hotel pickup, and guides use quieter back roads. Self-drive rental is cheaper and more flexible, and suits confident riders comfortable on steep, narrow roads.
A rental is cheaper per day — roughly €25–€60 depending on engine size and season — while guided small-group tours run about €65–€95 per person but bundle fuel, helmet, training, a guide and usually hotel pickup. For a single half-day with no planning, the guided price is close once you add fuel and time.
Yes. Whether you join a guided tour or rent self-drive, you need a full Category B car licence carried as the original card, and US and Canadian visitors should also carry an International Driving Permit.
It can be, but the roads are narrow, steep and often guardrail-free, and ATVs roll easily. Self-drive is best for experienced riders. First-timers are safer on a guided tour with training and back-road routing. Always wear the helmet and rent 150cc or larger.
First-time riders, nervous drivers, couples who want a ready-made route, and cruise passengers on a tight schedule. You get training, a guide, fuel, helmet, hotel pickup and a wine stop without planning anything.
Confident riders who have driven a quad or scooter before, want a full day rather than a half-day, and prefer to set their own route and pace. A multi-day rental lowers the daily rate.
A guided tour adds a safety briefing and training run, a guide who routes around traffic and knows the photo stops, fuel, a wine or coffee stop, and often a guide-photographer. A bare rental gives you the quad and a map.
Many visitors do. A guided tour on the first day teaches you the roads and shows the south-island highlights; a self-drive rental on a later day lets you revisit favourites at your own pace.
If the guided south-island tour isn't quite right, these are well-rated alternatives.
For couples
A side-by-side buggy with seatbelts and a roll cage — the stable, photo-friendly upgrade for two, with a local tour leader.
Featured: Santorini Buggy Highlights Tour · ★ 5.0 · 3.5 hours Check availability
Make a half-day of it
The guided quad route with a sit-down lunch and hotel pickup added — a fuller half-day if you'd rather not plan a meal around the ride.
Featured: ATV Quad Bike Tour with Lunch & Pickup · ★ 4.9 (100+) · 3 hours Check availability
After dark
A shorter, cooler evening ride with drinks and the island lit up — a good fit if midday heat or daytime traffic puts you off.
Featured: Santorini ATV Glow Night Tour + Drinks · ★ 5.0 · 2 hours Check availability
For wine lovers
A guided quad route built around the island's volcanic-soil wines and the Megalochori cellars — sightseeing with the Assyrtiko front and centre.
Featured: Guided ATV Tour with Wine Tasting · ★ 5.0 · 3.5 hours Check availability