Santorini is, namely, one of the world’s most divine islands! Therefore, you should put it on your bucket list. Our Santorini Transportation Guide will make things even easier for you by showing you how to get to Santorini and how to move around the island.
Booking Santorini Flights, Ferries, and Hotels
- The earlier you can book Santorini hotels and flights, the better (minimum four months in advance). With Ferries, you have more time. Large ferries rarely sell out, but smaller catamarans occasionally do.
- Skyscanner has been our favorite site for finding cheap flights. Nevertheless, an effortless Google search with origin and destination now gives precise results.
We use FerryScanner and FerryHopper.com, which are the most helpful ways to explore ferry timetables and book tickets for ferries in Greece. - We usually book our rooms via Booking.com or Airbnb.
Flights to and from Santorini during the high season. ©
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How to get to Santorini
Direct flights
Santorini’s high season usually lasts from March till the beginning of November. During this time, you can fly directly to Santorini from European cities (including Paris, Lyon, London, Dublin, Prague, Amsterdam, Milan, Rome, Frankfurt, and Naples). But what if these flights are unavailable? In that case, you may need to fly to Santorini through Athens.
Note: Check out the Flights From website to find the nearest airport to Santorini.
Indirect
It would be best to fly to Athens first from somewhere other than Europe (USA, Canada, etc.). The Greek capital is linked to the USA, the UK, and Canada by direct flights.
The three-letter code for Athens International Airport is ATH, while the code for Santorini Airport is JTR.
Indirect means that there will be one stop at Athen airport, or you will switch to a ferry ride in Athens.
How to get to Santorini from Athens
As mentioned earlier, two options exist to reach Santorini Island from Athens. One is by airplane through Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos,” and the other is by ferryboat from Piraeus Port and Rafina Port. There are also connections between Santorini and other Greek islands, allowing you to visit and admire all the gorgeous must-see sites!
The quickest way to reach Santorini from Athens is by airplane, taking around 40 minutes. However, this option is pricier than by ferry. The Santorini Airport is in the Kamari village, five kilometers from Fira Town.
Athinios is the main Port of Santorini and lies around ten kilometers from Fira. You can reach it by taking the ferryboat, which takes eight hours, or the High-Speed ferry, where the trip lasts about five hours and is a little more expensive. The departures are regular, and the journey is pleasant. You can always find a bus to the capital or take a taxi. And ultimately, there are car-and-motorbike-rental services in the Port.
©Santorini Dave
How to get to Santorini from the other islands?
From Mykonos
What about if you are on Mykonos and want to do some island hopping? No problem! With many available daily routes, you can get to Santorini by ferry in about 2-3 hours.
Ferry tickets cost around 67-90 Euros. Try to visit Ferryscanner or FerryHopper to check and book the trips.
Reminder: There are no direct flights from Mykonos to Santorini.
From Crete
The best way to travel to Santorini from Crete is by ferry, as there are no direct flights between the two islands. The ferry from Crete leaves from the Port of Heraklion. It takes 2-2.5 hours, depending on the type of vessel you choose (high-speed or conventional).
From Naxos
There are usually up to 6 daily ferry crossings from Naxos to Santorini in summer. The ferry trip lasts from 1 hr 20 min to 2 hr 50 min, and the tickets start at 31 euros per person.
From the airport to your accommodation
Hotel Pickup
If your hotel offers free pickup and dropoff, be sure to take advantage. Most will charge you. But it’s a good choice if it’s near the taxi fare.
Taxi
One of the easiest and quickest ways to move around the island is by taxi. They are available 24/7 outside the arrivals gate at the airport. Remember that you may have to wait for them during the high season. That’s the reason why hotel pickup remains the most convenient choice.
©Sanotrini Dave
Bus
Taking the bus from the airport is the cheapest option at any time of the year. There are some other factors that you should consider, though. The buses are regular in the high season but not so much in the winter. You should check out the KTEL site for their schedules. Also, it would be best if you changed buses at Fira central bus station to go anywhere other than the capital Fira.
Airport- Private Transfers
Pre-booked private transfers are the most accessible mode to enter Fira and the rest of the island. Welcome Pickups is a convenient and reliable service with rates similar to a taxi. However, they are also the most expensive. If you have pre-booked with Welcome Pickups, there’s no need to worry about having cash to pay a fare. Your driver will be waiting for you at the airport, holding a sign with your name on it. Make sure you find reasonable prices and book in advance.
©Ferries in Greece
How do you go from Athinios Port to your hotel?
If you arrive by ferry, you will dock at Athinios Port. From that point, going to any village you prefer is convenient!
By Bus
Regardless of the time you arrive at Athinios Port, you will find a bus that can take you to Fira Town in approximately 20 minutes. However, if your goal differs from Fira, you must change buses at Fira Central bus station. Buses in Fira depart for Athinios Port one hour before a ferryboat leaves. As buses are very regular, this should be no problem, too. We strongly recommend opting for this option. At least for us, it is the best.
By Taxi
Taxi is a comfortable way to reach Santorini’s main towns from the Port, but there is often a long queue. So, consider arranging a ride in advance. Finding a cab is usually problematic, so tourists prefer taking a bus.
By Rental Car
You can also roam around in a rental car. However, it’s better to take a bus or taxi or use a hotel transfer service to reach Fira or Oia from the ferry port before renting a car.
Getting Around in Santorini
After arriving in Santorini, you have multiple options for getting around on the island and reaching your destination, including using the hotel’s pickup service or taking a taxi, bus, or airport transfer.
Santorini transportation guide -Final Words
Getting to and around Santorini is pretty straightforward, so we believe you should have no problems. Plus, it is a small island and easy to navigate. But if you have any other suggestions or questions, please ask us in the comments below.
Note: You can find more helpful articles like this on our Travel Resources page.
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Feature photo credits: Mother Earth travels