Boat Rental Santorini

Boat rental Santorini is a small corner of the market: out of 16 boat trips on GetYourGuide, only two are self-drive rentals. Both say no licence is required, both are new and have just two reviews each, and they cost $337 and $281. I’ll go through what the listings say and where I’d be careful. If you would rather have a crew, my comparison of boat tours in Santorini covers the other 14 trips. Prices are in US dollars from the listings, checked in October 2026, and booking links are affiliate links.

My pick for boat rental Santorini wide, if you want to drive yourself: the Santorini Water Sports rental at $281. It is cheaper, lasts an hour longer, includes fuel and hotel pickup, and gives you a briefing and a map of swim spots. The Extreme Water Sports boat at $337 lists full insurance and taxes, and describes its boat in detail, so it suits you if you want to know exactly what you are renting. I haven’t driven either, and with two reviews each I can’t judge the operators.

SANTORINI WATER SPORTS

Boat rental without a license+10minutes of jet ski

• ★ 5.0 (2 reviews)
• 5 hours
• Free cancellation

My pick: My pick for a first self-drive: $281, five hours, fuel and hotel pickup included, plus a briefing and a swim-spot map.

from

$281

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Boat Rental Santorini Greece

Boat rental Santorini Greece style means a bareboat charter: the boat comes without a skipper or crew. The Extreme Water Sports description explains that you navigate yourself and are responsible for everyone on board. Its boat is a Blue Water 170, 5 m (17 ft) long and 2.17 m wide, with a 30 hp Yamaha engine and a 60 litre fuel tank. It is small and slow, and the listing says boats like this are limited in the distance you can travel. That matters in Santorini, where the caldera cliffs are tall and the sea can be rough when the wind picks up.

You do not pay for fuel up front. The listing says fuel is paid at the end of the rental, according to consumption, and that you need a credit card for the deposit and must sign a liability release. If you damage the boat you are responsible for the repair. The operator lists full insurance and all taxes as included, but I’d still read the deposit terms on the booking page, because the listing doesn’t state the amount.

Extreme Water Sports Santorini

Half-Day Boat Rental, No License Required

• ★ 5.0 (2 reviews)
• 4 hours
• Free cancellation

My pick: Half-day self-drive with a GPS plotter and full insurance, $337, only two reviews so far.

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$337

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Boat Hire Santorini

Boat hire Santorini visitors can book through this platform comes with fewer features than a full charter company, and it comes with a built-in bonus: swimming and snorkeling gear. Both rentals include snorkeling equipment, and I find that useful, as the coastline has colored volcanic beaches and rocky coves. The Visit Greece page describes the island’s beaches with black, red and white sand on visitgreece.gr, and a small boat from a Santorini boat rental lets you stop at a beach that tour boats only pass.

The Santorini Water Sports rental adds a cooler, a chart plotter, a depth meter, waterproof phone cases, a bimini top for shade, a first aid kit and life jackets. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, which is rare for a rental. The package begins with a mini-lesson on boat handling and safety rules and a map of the best swim spots, and the day starts with a 10-minute jet ski ride. The description says the boat is rented for four hours in one place and five hours in another, so I’d confirm the exact length before paying. A skipper is available on request for an extra charge.

SANTORINI WATER SPORTS

Boat rental without a license+10minutes of jet ski

• ★ 5.0 (2 reviews)
• 5 hours
• Free cancellation

My pick: Boat plus ten minutes of jet ski, with hotel pickup, fuel and a cooler included: $281.

from

$281

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Yacht Rental Santorini

Yacht rental Santorini searches, like boat rental Santorini searches, mostly lead to crewed charters, and my data has none that you drive yourself. What I do have are three private catamarans: SantoriniYachtingClub at $129, Sail Away at $943 and Caldera Yachting at $1,122, rated 4.9 or 5.0. All come with a crew. The Sail Away listing names a captain and a crew member, and includes fuel, taxes, port fees and insurance. If you want a yacht for a group, the private boat tour page compares all three, and the catamaran page shows the shared alternatives.

For self-drive, I’d stay realistic. A 5 m boat with a 30 hp engine is a day boat, not a yacht. It is fun for a swim stop and a picnic, and not designed for a long crossing. If you need to cover more water, choose a crewed trip instead.

Compared: Two Boat Rentals

Rental	Operator	Price	Duration	Boat	Rating	Cancellation
Half-Day Boat Rental, No License Required	Extreme Water Sports Santorini	$337	4 hours	Blue Water 170, 5 m, 30 hp	5.0 (2)	Free up to 24 hours
Boat Rental Without a License plus 10 Minutes of Jet Ski	Santorini Water Sports	$281	5 hours	Small boat plus jet ski	5.0 (2)	Free up to 24 hours

What I’d Check Before You Rent

A boat rental Santorini style adds responsibility, so here is what I’d look at before paying for either listing.

1. Rules for no-licence boats. Both listings say none is required, and the first says basic boating skills are needed. Ask the operator about engine and area limits on the day.
2. The deposit and damage terms. Extreme Water Sports mentions a deposit, a liability release and repair costs. Santorini Water Sports doesn’t spell this out in the listing.
3. The weather. Neither listing describes a weather policy. A small boat is the first to be cancelled when the wind picks up, so ask what happens, and look at the Hellenic National Meteorological Service forecast at hnms.gr.
4. Where it starts. The Extreme Water Sports meeting point is only a map link, and the Santorini Water Sports link points to coordinates on the south-east side of the island. Open both and compare with your hotel.
5. Reviews. With two reviews each, there is very little evidence. The Santorini Water Sports snippets mention friendly staff and a wonderful excursion without a licence.

Is a Rental Better Than a Tour?

A boat rental Santorini visitors book gives you freedom and costs $281 or $337 for the whole boat. A tour gives you a crew, a meal and a route. A Vista Yachting or Sunset Oia catamaran costs $67 to $95 as listed and includes lunch or dinner, drinks and snorkeling gear, and the guests do not have to navigate. If there are four of you, the rental may be cheaper per person, though the listings don’t say how many people fit, so check the capacity.

For a boat rental Santorini day, I’d rent if I wanted to find a quiet cove and stay as long as the fuel and the time allow. I’d book a tour if I wanted to see the caldera and the hot springs, which are too far for a 30 hp day boat. My page on snorkeling in Santorini covers where the swim stops are, and the sunset cruise page is the better choice for an evening on the water.

How I’d Choose a Boat Rental in Santorini

My short checklist for any boat rental Santorini offers:

1. Choose Santorini Water Sports if you want the lower price, fuel and hotel pickup included, and a jet ski ride.
2. Choose Extreme Water Sports if you want a named boat, full insurance and a four-hour half day.
3. Choose a crewed trip instead of a boat rental in Santorini if you want the caldera, because the small rental boats are built for the coast.
4. Book with free cancellation: both listings allow it up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund.

If a boat rental in Santorini is not for you, or for the other 14 boat trips, return to my guide to boat tours in Santorini, or start from the home page.