How to Get Around Santorini: The Best Ways to Explore the Island

If you’re planning a trip to Greece’s most famous island, you’re probably wondering how to get around Santorini. From buses and taxis to rental cars and even cable cars, there are several ways to explore the island depending on your budget and travel style.

Getting around Santorini can be straightforward once you know the options. Whether you’re staying in Fira, wandering the iconic streets of Oia, or heading to the beaches in Perissa or Kamari, choosing the right type of transport will make your trip much smoother.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through each way to travel around Santorini, including costs, tips, and what works best for different types of travelers. That way you can focus on soaking up the caldera views without any stress.

How to Get Around Santorini: A Brief Intro & Transportation Options

Before diving into all of the ways to get around the island, let's start with the basics. We're going to first help you get to Santorini, and share a bit about what traveling around this famous Greek island is like.

How to Get to Santorini

There are several options for visiting Santorini, including:

• Flying into Santorini (Thira) National Airport

• Taking a ferry from Athens or nearby islands

• Visiting Santorini on a cruise

Want to learn the details for each option? Don't miss out on our full guide about how to get to Santorini!

What is the Best Base for Exploring Santorini?

The best base for exploring Santorini depends on your itinerary and the transportation options you plan to use.

• Fira is ideal for first-time visitors, with convenient bus connections and plenty of restaurants, shops, and nightlife.

• Oia is perfect for sunset views and luxury stays, though transportation can be limited.

• Kamari or Perissa are good options if you want easy access to the beach and more budget-friendly accommodations, and is best if you have a car.

If you’re relying on public buses or tours, staying in Fira is typically the most convenient choice.

How Hard is it to Get Around Santorini?

Santorini is pretty small, and there are a variety of options for getting around! Public transportation is limited, so you'll want some form of your own transportation, or to sign up for tours to get around most efficiently. Towns themselves are all walkable, so you really only need to worry about getting from one to the next.

Options for Getting Around Santorini

Here are the main ways to get around Santorini:

• Rent a car: Best for exploring hidden gems and having flexibility in your schedule.
• Rent a scooter: A fun alternative of exploring the island, with easier options for parking.
• Public transportation: Ideal for those on a budget, available between main towns.
• Taxis & Ubers: Convenient for traveling outside bus hours or going to spots off-the-beaten-path without a car
• Joining guided tours: Ideal for travelers who prefer someone else to handle logistics and provide local insights.
• Exploring by excursion: Adventurous alternatives to get off the beaten path, like boat tours or ATVs.
• Cable cars: A fun and scenic way to descend from Fira to the old port or to access certain viewpoints.
• Sailing to nearby islands: explore nearby destinations by boat tour or ferry.

How to Get Around Santorini: Comparing Different Transportation Options

Ready to explore Santorini? Let’s break down each method in detail.

 Getting Around Santorini by Car

Renting a car is the best option for those who want to explore at their own pace, or to fully explore all that Santorini has to offer. You can visit remote villages, beaches, wineries, and iconic viewpoints without relying on bus schedules, or paying

Having a car is great for exploring off-the-beaten-path and on your own schedule, but roads are narrow, hilly, and winding in certain areas, so be extra careful. Parking can also be challenging, especially during high season, which is something else to keep in mind.

 Exploring Santorini by Scooter

One of the things that makes renting a car in Santorini a bit more difficult are the narrow winding roads and the parking. Renting a scooter is great way to get around Santorini if you're traveling solo or with one other person. It gives you freedom, and is an exciting way to explore.

You can either do daily rentals for scooters, or you can opt for guided tours if you're looking to hit the highlights with a fun group of travelers.

Public Transportation in Santorini

If you're on a budget or not comfortable driving but want to do things on your own terms, you can rely on the island's public transportation system.

Santorini has a network of public buses that connect the main towns, beaches, and some archaeological sites. Buses are cost-effective but can be crowded in peak season and may run less frequently in smaller villages.

Taxis & Ubers

Taxis are widely available in the main towns of Santorini, and ride share apps like Uber operate occasionally, though less frequently than on the mainland. They are ideal for short trips or when buses are limited, but they are more expensive than public transport.

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Joining Guided Tours

Guided tours are perfect for visitors who want local insight or don’t want to navigate on their own. There are so many great things to do in Santorini, and tours typically have pick up and drop off from both hotels and the cruise port, making them super convenient.

Exploring by Excursion

Santorini offers unique ways to explore beyond conventional transport. Whether your exploring along the water or off-road, here are a few fun transportation alternatives to experiencing the best of Santorini:

• Boat tours: Explore volcanic islands, hot springs, and the caldera.
• Hiking excursions: Fira to Oia is a famous trail with breathtaking views.
• ATV/Quad tours: Great for adventurous travelers looking to explore beaches and villages off the beaten path.

Cable Cars in Santorini

Santorini's towns are built high up on the cliffs, and cable cars are used to connect Fira to the old port. The rides provide stunning views of the caldera and reduce the need to walk steep paths to get down to the port below.

Fira to Old Port Cable Car

Hours: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Price: €6 per person one-way

 Getting to the Other Islands Near Santorini

While Santorini itself is the main destination, you can also explore nearby islands like Thirassia and the volcanic islands of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni.

How to Get to Thirassia

Ferries from Oia or Ammoudi Bay take around 15 minutes and run multiple times per day.

Volcanic Islands and Hot Springs

Most visitors take guided boat tours from Fira to Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni, which include stops at the hot springs and hiking to the volcanic crater.

How to Get Around Santorini Island: FAQ

Now you have all of the information you need for how to get around Santorini island! In case you missed anything, here are a few answers to some frequently asked questions that we've seen across the web.

How to Get Around Santorini: Final Tips & What's Next

Now that you know all of the ways to get around Santorini island, it's time for the final part of our transportation guide, sharing helpful tips for getting around, info for visiting, and some related reads.

Tips for Getting Around Santorini

Here are some final tips for getting around Santorini:

 Other Things to Know About Visiting Santorini

Now that you know how to get around Santorini, here are some other things you'll probably want to know about visiting!

 Getting There: Fira is the airport serving the island, and you can also get ferries from other Greek islands, or visit on a cruise ship.

 Language: The official language of the island is Greek, and English is widely spoken in tourist areas.

 Currency: Santorini uses the euro. Most things can be paid by credit card, though having cash is useful for small purchases.

 Safety: Santorini is really safe, with a welcoming atmosphere for travelers.

 Weather: Santorini has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Summer is the most popular time to visit, while spring and fall offer great weather and fewer crowds.

What's Next?

Now that you know how to get around Santorini, along with some other basic information, we're sure you're ready to explore all that the island has to offer.

Here are some other articles we've written that you can check out:

• The best things to do in Santorini
• Visiting the blue domes of Santorini
• The best photo spots in Santorini
• The best time to visit Santorini

...and more coming each week!

So now that you know how to get around Santorini, you're ready to plan more of your trip! We hope we've answered any questions you may have had so you can continue the planning process properly. If you have any questions though, feel free to reach out!

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Excited about visiting Santorini but don't want the hassle of planning everything? Well, we're here to help! Scratch Your Mapa offers custom travel planning services, that don't only find you affordable flights and great accommodation, but also build you specially-curated itineraries. Want to learn more? Simply send us an email for your free consultation!

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