Ferries to Santorini

Port of Athinios

When reference is made to the port of Santorini, this generally means the port of Athinios, where both ferries to other Greek islands and to Athens and cruise ships arrive and depart. It is sometimes referred to as ‘New Port‘ to distinguish it from the port of Fira.

It is located in the central part of the west coast, the part facing the caldera. It is a small port with only one quay, overlooked by the imposing cliffs of Santorini. In the summer months it becomes one of the busiest in Greece and its quay is jammed with people and vehicles at all hours.

Given the inevitable confusion, in order not to risk missing the ferry, it is advisable to arrive at the port at least an hour before the ship departs.

Connections from Athinios port

The port of Athinios is connected by buses to the island’s capital, Fira, which is only 8 km away. Buses to Fira leave from the square on the pier and take about twenty minutes to arrive at their destination, traffic permitting.

Bus times to/from the port of Santorini generally coincide with ferry departures and arrivals, but it is good to enquire in advance as they change frequently.

There are no direct buses from the harbour to Oia or bus connections from the harbour to Santorini airport: you have to take a bus to Fira and once at the terminus change for your destination. There are direct buses from Fira to all the most important tourist resorts on the island, but the frequency of services varies from route to route.

A more convenient alternative to the bus is the taxi: there are always some waiting for passengers so you generally do not need to book one. Taxis and private transfers are the best option if you are arriving in Santorini by plane and need to make a day trip to the port to catch a ferry to another island.

There are a few car rental agencies at the port of Athinios, but it is advisable to book before departure as online rates are usually cheaper.

Port of Fira

The port of Fira is the ‘Old Port’ of the island, built well before Santorini became one of the most visited islands in the world. It remains a very active harbour, but unlike Athinios it is not a passenger ferry port: no confusion, therefore, if you arrive in Santorini by boat your port of arrival can only be Athinios.

Connections from the old port of Fira

Boat excursions depart from Fira, especially the popular caldera boat trips with stops at the nearby islands of Nea Kameni and Thirasia.

It is not possible to reach the harbour of Fira by car or bus because the only ‘road’ to get there is a steep flight of steps from the town centre. Doing it downhill is all in all easy, the walk being 15-20 minutes; doing it uphill, however, or perhaps in a hurry because the boat trip departure time is approaching, can be very tiring.

A more comfortable and enjoyable alternative is to reach the port of Fira by mule: you will find donkeys waiting for tourists at the entrance to the steps. Another option for those who do not want to walk is to take the cable-car, which also leaves from the centre of Fira, a short distance from the steps.

Reaching the harbour of Fira by cable-car is fascinating because you can enjoy spectacular views; however, if you suffer from vertigo it is probably best to avoid it because you might not like to travel over 200 metres in a small cabin attached to a cable. Another disadvantage of the cable car is the price, which is not exactly cheap.