What to Wear on a Santorini ATV Tour

What to wear on a Santorini ATV tour

Santorini’s quad routes are dusty, sunny, and open to the wind, and most tours run about four to five hours including stops — long enough that the right clothing makes a real difference to your day. Get it right and you’ll be comfortable from the first viewpoint to the last beach stop; get it wrong and you’ll spend the ride too hot, too dusty, or wishing you’d packed a swimsuit. Here’s exactly what to wear and bring before you book your ATV tour.

The essentials — what to wear

Three things matter most on a volcanic-track ride: closed-toe shoes, clothes you don’t mind getting dusty, and sun protection.

Item	Why it matters
Closed-toe shoes	Protect your feet on a quad; sandals and flip-flops are a bad idea
Comfortable, dusty-OK clothes	Volcanic tracks throw up fine dust that settles on everything
Sunglasses	Cut glare and keep dust and wind out of your eyes
Sunscreen	The sun is strong and exposure on an open quad is constant
A light layer	Wind chill on the move, cooler air on morning and sunset rides
Swimsuit (under clothes)	For the beach stop if one’s on your route

Closed-toe shoes are non-negotiable. Trainers or sturdy walking shoes are ideal — you want your feet protected and able to grip. Leave the sandals and flip-flops at the hotel.

Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dusty. Santorini’s off-road tracks are volcanic and fine dust gets everywhere, so this is not the ride for white linen or your nicest outfit. Comfortable, breathable layers you can wash later are perfect.

Don’t skip eye protection and sunscreen. Sunglasses do double duty against glare and against wind-blown dust, and because you’re exposed the entire ride, sun protection matters even on a shorter loop or an overcast day.

What to bring with you

A small amount of kit goes a long way:

A swimsuit, worn under your clothes, if a beach stop is on your route — Santorini’s volcanic beaches are a highlight worth a dip.
A light jacket or layer. Riding generates wind chill, and morning and sunset departures can feel cool even in warm months.
Your physical driving licence if you’re the one driving — bring the actual card, not a phone photo. (See our licence and age requirements guide for the full rules.)
A phone or small camera for the caldera viewpoints, ideally on a strap or in a zipped pocket.
A little cash for anything you buy at the stops.

You won’t need to overpack — water is included on the featured tour, and a helmet is provided, so you don’t bring your own.

What’s already provided

It helps to know what you don’t need to carry. The featured tour is all-inclusive, so the safety and refreshment basics are handled:

Helmet — provided, and you wear it at all times (it’s a legal requirement on Greek roads, not just tour policy).
Bottled water — included.
A snack and a stop for coffee, juice, or a tasting of local Santorini wine.
Fuel and the quad itself (450–550cc) — included.

That means your job is simply to dress for dust and sun and turn up ready to ride.

Dressing for the season

What you layer depends on when you visit. In spring and autumn (April–June, September–October), days are mild and a light jacket is genuinely useful, especially on the morning and sunset rides when the air is cooler. In peak summer (July–August), the priority flips to staying cool and protected — lightweight breathable clothing, extra sunscreen, and plenty of water against highs that often sit around the high 20s Celsius. For a full month-by-month breakdown, see our best time for a Santorini ATV tour guide.

Whatever the season, the sunset (afternoon) departure tends to cool down toward the end of the ride, so a packable layer earns its place in any month.

Common what-to-wear mistakes

A few easy missteps come up again and again — all avoidable:

Sandals or flip-flops. The single most common mistake. They offer no protection and can slip off the footrests; you may not be allowed to ride in them.
Your best outfit. Volcanic dust does not brush off white linen kindly. Save the photo-shoot clothes for Oia at sunset, not the quad.
A loose, flappy dress or scarf. Anything that catches the wind is uncomfortable and can be a hazard on a moving vehicle. Keep layers fitted.
Skipping the morning layer in summer. Even in July, the early ride and the sunset finish feel cooler than midday; a thin packable layer fixes it.
A bag you have to hold. You need both hands for the quad. Use zipped pockets or a small secured cross-body, and leave bulky bags at the hotel.
Forgetting the swimsuit. If a beach stop is on the route, there’s nowhere convenient to buy one — wear it under your clothes from the start.

A quick pre-ride checklist

Closed-toe shoes on your feet.
Dusty-OK clothes — nothing precious.
Sunglasses + sunscreen on, always.
Swimsuit underneath if there’s a beach stop.
Light layer packed for wind chill.
Physical driving licence if you’re driving.
Phone/camera secured, and a little cash.

Tick those off and you’re set for a comfortable ride from the first caldera overlook to the last beach.

Ready to Book?

Dressed for dust and ready to roll? The featured Santorini ATV-Quad Experience Tour is rated 4.89/5 by 226 riders and includes the quad, helmet, fuel, a local lead guide, hotel pickup, bottled water, and a snack or wine stop — with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Check availability and book your ride.