Santorini, Greece

by Travel with Elders |

on November 7, 2017

The cruise port in Santorini is at Fira old port, to get to Fira town from old port there are 3 options 1) Take the cable car ($6 Euro one way) – This is the most recommended option, however, be aware that the lines may get long during busy port days, so get there early. The capacity is around 40 people per run, it is estimated that the cable car can move about 1200 people per hour, so depends on how many cruise ships are in port that day, the line could take hours 2) Ride a donkey – this is not recommended for safety and humanity reasons. 3) Walk up the Donkey Road – 588 steps winding up the hill to Fira town, the steps are wide and not too steep but the road is shared with Donkeys so beware of donkey poop along the way. Also, the steps can be slippery when wet, so use caution when walking up or down the steps.

If you are going to Oia, local bus to Oia will take about 30 minute from Fira bus terminal. Tickets are $1 Euro (in 2017) and 1.6 Euro ( in 2023), you pay for the ticket with cash on the bus.

Another option to Oia is to take a water bus directly from Fira old port. The water bus is about $15 euros and includes transport from Fira old port to Oia port, a shuttle bus from Oia port up to Oia town (please confirm with the water bus company if this is included or you have to climb the 281 steep steps up to Oia) and a shuttle bus back to Fira town. There is no water bus that returns from Oia to Fira, the shuttle bus will drop you at Fira town, you can then take the cable car or walk down back to Fira old port.

All prices quoted above are November 2017 prices.

Transportation

Bus

It is easy to get around the island of Santorini by Bus. The bus all leaves from the central bus station in Fira. For more information see this post with bus map and video.

Bus schedule are posted at the bus station with price, here’s the posted schedule for April, 2023. Schedule can change daily.

Cable Car

From Fira port there is a cable car that takes you to the town of Fira

Places We Go

Oia

The town with the iconic blue dome white houses of Santorini. during our trip in 2017, we were on the early tender boat and took the cable car to Fira then head to the bus station for the bus to Oia. When we got to Oia it was before most of the other tours have arrived and it was quiet and peaceful.

Fira

Fira has a lot of shops for shopping and we walked the 588 steps down to the port. The road/steps is shared with donkeys and if you are sensitive to animal smells, it may not be pleasant.

Akrotiri

Akrotiri Archaeological Site – the prehistoric settlement of Akrotiri on the island of Santorini is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Aegean and Greece. In prehistory it was a well connected Minoan port town, with connections to mainland Greece and as far afield as Egypt and Syria. As the town was covered in ash following a volcanic eruption on the island in the 16th century BC, preservation of the settlement is exceptional.

We took the bus from Fira to Akrotiri, the Archaeological site is across the street from the bus station.

Tip – we visited the Archaeological site first then walked to the red beach. When we returned we just missed the bus going back to Fira so had to wait at the bus station. It would be better to go to Red beach first then visit the Archaeological Site and can time the bus time better.

Red Beach

Red beach is about a 15 min walk from Akrotiri archaeological site.

Skaros Rock

Highly recommend hiking the Skaros Rock if you have time. The view is amazing (especially in spring with the wild flowers). We took the bus from Fira to Imerovigli then hiked the Skaros Rock and walked back to Fira. We didn’t know this but were lucky that we made the right decision with the one way bus to Imerovigli as the walk to Fira is mostly downhill and the walk from Fira to Imerovigli is mostly uphill.