Santorini is one of the most popular and beautiful destinations in Greece and the world. The island is famous for its stunning caldera views, romantic sunsets, whitewashed villages, volcanic beaches, and ancient history. But how do you get to this amazing place and what are the best ways to explore it? In this blog post, we will answer these questions and give you some useful tips for your trip to Santorini.
How to get to Santorini by plane?
The easiest and fastest way to get to Santorini is by plane. The island has an international airport (JTR) that receives flights from Athens and other Greek islands, as well as from many European cities during the summer season. You can check the flight schedules and prices on
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and book your tickets online.
The flight time from Athens to Santorini is about 45 minutes, while from other European cities it can range from 2 to 4 hours. The airport is located about 6 km from Fira, the capital of Santorini, and you can get there by taxi, bus, or rental car. A taxi ride costs around 20 euros, while a bus ticket costs 1.80 euros. You can also rent a car at the airport or book it online in advance.
How to get to Santorini by ferry?
Another option to get to Santorini is by ferry. The island has two ports: Athinios (the main port) and Skala (the old port). Athinios receives ferries from Piraeus (the main port of Athens) and other islands of the Cyclades, such as Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Ios, etc. Skala receives cruise ships and excursion boats from nearby islands.
You can check the ferry schedules and prices on
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and book your tickets online. The ferry time from Piraeus to Santorini is about 5 hours with a high-speed ferry and about 8 hours with a conventional ferry. The ferry time from other islands depends on the distance and the type of ferry.
The port of Athinios is located about 10 km from Fira, and you can get there by taxi, bus, or rental car. A taxi ride costs around 25 euros, while a bus ticket costs 2.30 euros. You can also rent a car at the port or book it online in advance.
The port of Skala is located below Fira, and you can get there by cable car, donkey, or foot. The cable car costs 6 euros per person and takes about 3 minutes. The donkey ride costs 5 euros per person and takes about 20 minutes. The walk takes about 30 minutes and involves climbing more than 500 steps.
How to get to Santorini by cruise ship?
If you want to visit Santorini as part of a cruise itinerary, you will arrive at the port of Skala. Cruise ships anchor in the caldera and passengers are transferred by tender boats to the old port. From there, you can take the cable car, donkey, or foot to reach Fira.
Depending on your cruise schedule, you may have a few hours or a full day to explore Santorini. You can join an organized shore excursion offered by your cruise company or arrange your own tour with a local guide or agency. You can also use public transportation or taxis to visit different parts of the island.
How to get around Santorini?
Once you are on the island, you have several options to get around Santorini. You can use public buses, taxis, rental cars, scooters, ATVs, bicycles, or boats.
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Public buses:
Santorini has a reliable and cheap bus network that connects Fira with most villages and beaches of the island. The buses run frequently during the summer season (every 15-30 minutes) and less often during the winter season (every hour). The bus tickets cost between 1.80 and 2.50 euros depending on the destination. You can buy them on board or at the bus station in Fira. You can check the bus timetables and routes on
KTEL Santorini
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Taxis:
Santorini has a limited number of taxis that can be hard to find during peak hours. You can call a taxi from your hotel or restaurant, or hail one on the street. You can also book a taxi online or by phone in advance. The taxi fares are fixed and range from 10 to 35 euros depending on the distance. You can check the taxi rates on
Santorini Taxi
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Rental cars:
Renting a car is a convenient and flexible way to get around Santorini. You can find many car rental agencies on the island, offering a variety of models and prices. You can rent a car at the airport, the port, or your hotel, or book it online in advance. The car rental rates start from 25 euros per day and include insurance and unlimited mileage. You need a valid driver’s license and a credit card to rent a car. You can compare and book car rentals on
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Scooters, ATVs, bicycles:
If you are looking for a more adventurous and fun way to get around Santorini, you can rent a scooter, an ATV, or a bicycle. You can find many rental shops on the island, offering different models and prices. You can rent a scooter or an ATV from 15 euros per day and a bicycle from 10 euros per day. You need a valid driver’s license and a credit card to rent a scooter or an ATV. You can compare and book scooters, ATVs, and bicycles on
Microsoft Bing Travel
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Boats:
Another way to get around Santorini is by boat. You can take a boat tour to see the caldera, the volcano, the hot springs, and the nearby islands. You can also take a boat taxi to reach some beaches that are not accessible by road, such as Red Beach or White Beach. You can find many boat tour operators and boat taxi services on the island, offering different options and prices. You can book a boat tour or a boat taxi online or at the port.
Conclusion
Santorini is an amazing destination that offers something for everyone. Whether you are looking for romance, culture, nature, or adventure, you will find it on this island. But before you go, you need to plan how to get there and how to get around. We hope this blog post has helped you with that and given you some useful tips for your trip to Santorini.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. We would love to hear from you!
Happy travels!
