Car Hire in Santorini
Renting a car in Santorini is one of the best choices; it gives the possibility to explore the length and breadth of the island without depending on vehicles.
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The beautiful island of Santorini is accustomed to tourism. This is also evident in the transport, both for getting to the island and for getting around. There is a wide choice of flights and ferries to get to Santorini, while the local buses are well organised and make it easy to move around the island.
Those who want more freedom can hire a car, moped or quad bike: the offer is varied, with many models and prices.
There are also more unusual means of transport, such as the donkey or the cable car, which may not be the quickest and most efficient solutions but are fascinating experiences to see the enchanting island of Santorini from a different perspective.
Santorini is not a very large island so in theory, experienced people could even get around it on foot! The summer temperatures and climbs, however, advise against this option except for a few leisurely strolls: better to use the bus, operated by the public transport company KTEL.
The local buses of Santorini connect all the main localities, including the beaches, to Fira (also called Thira), the capital of the island. There are about a dozen bus lines: with a direct bus or at most a change in Fira you can go almost everywhere. There are also a couple of night runs.
The price of tickets varies depending on the journey, usually between 1.80 and 2.50 euro.
The disadvantage of travelling by bus is being tied to fixed timetables. Plan your day by consulting the timetables on the official website to avoid having to wait hours in the sun.
For timetables and routes, refer to the official KTEL website.
A much more convenient solution, which does not tie you to any timetable, is the taxi. Be careful not to abuse it, however, as taxis in Santorini are rather expensive and at some times even scarce.
The boat remains the best means of admiring the island’s coastline. You can join one of the many boat excursions organised by local tour operators or rent a dinghy or sailboat. Like everything in Santorini, prices are not cheap. If you opt for DIY, keep in mind that sailing in the waters around Santorini is not for beginners.
Two alternative means of getting around Santorini are the mule and the cable-car. The former will take you to places inaccessible to buses, cars and scooters; the latter connects the port of Thira, from where cruise ships depart, and the main town. It is a vertiginous descent (or ascent), an experience not to be missed by all cable-car lovers.
Many tourists want total freedom and therefore choose to rent a car or scooter. There are several rental companies on the island and it is possible to book online before arrival. Driving on the island is a bit tricky due to the steep climbs and narrow streets and parking spaces are very scarce, which is why the majority of tourists prefer the scooter.
The easiest way to get to Santorini is to take a direct flight. During the summer months there are many flights available from low-cost airlines and if you book in advance you will be able to find a good deal and save considerably compared to arriving by ferry.
There is only one airport on the island, it is small but modern and equipped with all essential services. It is about 7 km from Fira, a town to which it is connected by direct buses. The bus journey time from the airport to the centre is 20 minutes. The fare is the city fare.
A taxi ride from the airport in Fira to the centre will cost you approximately EUR 40.00.
Getting to Santorini by sea is ideal for island hopping, i.e. visiting several islands in the course of a single holiday. The best-connected islands are Ios, Paros and Naxos, but with a ferry from Santorini you can go as far as Crete.
There are three ports on the island: the one from which ferries of all companies depart and arrive is the port of Atninios, located on the east coast of the island. From the harbour, direct buses leave for Fira, from where it is possible to reach all the main places on the island by another bus.
The port is about 10 km from the airport, but there are no direct buses. To get from one to the other, one has to change buses in Fira or take a taxi (the cost is about EUR 30.00) or a private transfer.
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