How To Get From Athens To Santorini

How to get to Santorini

Santorini is a small island of the Aegean Sea, Greece. It is located on its southern part and belongs to Cyclades, a group of Greek islands. Hence, the most common and comfortable way to enter the island is by going through Athens, the capital city of Greece.

You can take a plane from Athens to Santorini. You can easily get a direct flight to Athens from the USA, the UK and Canada. The code of Athens' International Airport is ATH while that of Santorini's airport is JTR.

During the summer season, charters from various European cities have direct flights to Santorini. The charters start from multiple cities, including Paris, London, Prague, Amsterdam, Milan, Romo, Frankfurt, and Naples.

Please note that these flights are not available every day so if none meets with your schedule, your resort will be to travel to Santorini through Athens.

First Time in Santorini: Things to Know before Visiting Learn more →

How to get to Santorini from Athens

There are two ways to access Santorini from Athens, the capital of Greece. You can travel either by plane (Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos") or by ferryboat (Piraeus Port). There are also links between Santorini and other Greek islands.

The flight is the quickest, easiest and most direct way as it lasts more or less 40 minutes and you can book your tickets in advance. It is more expensive, of course, than the ferry. The National Airport of Santorini is situated on the east side of the island, in Kamari village, at a distance of 5 kilometers from the capital Fira. To get to Fira you can take a taxi or a bus from the station outside the airport and from the capital, there are connections to the rest of the settlements. Additionally, there is the option of a charter flight half-yearly and some European airlines provide direct flights to Santorini.

From the port of Piraeus in Athens, which is connected to the airport by a bus line, you can take the ferryboat which takes 8 hours or the High-Speed ferry where the trip lasts about 5 hours and is a little more expensive. The departures are frequent and the journey is enjoyable as the ferries have comfortable areas with TVs, restaurants and cafes and decks from where you can relish the Aegean Sea and gaze the breathtaking view of the caldera as you reach Santorini. Athinios is the main port of Santorini and lies approximately 10 kilometers away from Fira. You can always find a bus from the port to the capital or you can take a taxi for a more convenient transfer. Lastly, along with the port, there are some car and motorbike rental services.

Does Santorini have access to/from other islands in Greece?

Since Santorini is one of the most popular islands in Greece, many ferries are available to connect the island with other islands in Greece.

You may use daily ferries and speedboats by SeaJets to commute between Santorini and Mykonos. Traveling to Santorini to/from Crete is also made easy by daily ferries that take you from Heraklion port by Minoan lines.

Daily ferries by Blue Star Ferries also help you reach Santorini from Paros or Naxos and the other way around. Moreover, Hellenic Seaways and SeaJets also offer daily ferries with high-speed boats to help you commute between Santorini and Ios.

Blue Star ferries travel between Santorini and Rhodes twice a week. Usually, it is the Blue Star 1 or Blue Star 2 boat that accommodates Santorini visitors. You can also take the weekly ferry ride to travel from Anafi to Santorini or vice versa.

Traveling by ferries to Santorini is always a fun and exciting experience. Generally, the SeaJets, Hellenic Seaways, and Minoan Lines ferries only work in the high season. In the Low season, a ferry of Blue Star runs daily to take passengers from Santorini to Athens and vice versa.

That being said, flying to Santorini is the fastest and most convenient. However, direct flights to Santorini from other Greek islands are quite rare. Some summers or perhaps from year to year, you may find direct flights from Mykonos, Rhodes, or Heraklion (Crete) to Santorini.

How to get from the airport to Fira and the rest of Santorini

Hotel Pickup ‒ First of all, you should verify if the hotel of your preference provides free pickup from the airport. Most hotels will probably charge you for this service but again you ought to consider this option as it constitutes the most convenient and untroubled way for your transfer. Check which hotels offer Free Airport Shuttle and which ones offer Airport Shuttle upon request.

Taxi ‒ The easiest and quickest way to get to Fira or any other settlement from the airport is by taxi. Taxi rates vary according to the season, and are increased during the night, between 01:00 and 05:00. Most of the times it is cheaper than the hotel pickup but remember to ask the taxi driver beforehand. Keep in mind that during the high tourist season you may have to wait in a long queue and share a taxi with strangers. That's the reason why the hotel pickup remains the most convenient choice. Taxis are available 24/7 outside the arrivals gate at the airport.

Bus ‒ Taking the bus from the airport is definitely the most inexpensive option at any time of the year. There are some other factors that you should consider, though. Santorini has got a good local bus network but the schedules differ from summer to winter. There are frequent itineraries during the high season but the bus service doesn't run on a regular basis during winter. You can always find the bus schedule outside the airport. Also, notice that if you want to go anywhere else rather than the capital Fira, you will have to change buses at Fira as it is the main bus station.

Airport Transfer ‒ For those who do not wish to take a bus or a taxi from the airport, in order to avoid queues, delays and troubles there are airport transfer services. You can choose between shared minivan and bus rides, and private transfers with a driver. Of course these high-quality, reliable and comfortable transfers cost more than the conventional ones. Make sure you find reasonable prices and book in advance.

How to Commute between the Ferry Port and Your Destination in Santorini

If you take a ferry, you will arrive at the Athinios port. From there, it is easy to travel to the town of your choice.

Here are a few ways how you can get to and from the ferry port in Santorini:

By Bus

Regardless of the time, you arrive at the ferry port, you will find a bus there. If your destination is not Fira, you will have to go to Fira before you take another bus from there to reach your desired location.

The bus from the port will help you reach Fira in just 20 minutes and drop you at the station. Santorini buses are all air-conditioned, well-maintained, and spacious.

The bus in Fira leaves for the port an hour before a ferry leaves and arrives.

By Taxi

You will easily find a taxi waiting at the ferry port if you arrive in the daytime. However, you should consider arranging a ride in advance if your arrival is scheduled for the night.

You will reach Fira from the port in 10-15 minutes by taxi. Please note that it can be challenging to find a taxi going to the port. This is why people prefer taking a bus.

Hotel Transfer

You must check if your hotel offers transportation service from the ferry port to the hotel. It might be free or it may cost the same as a taxi or perhaps a bit more than that. Alternatively, you can book a reliable shuttle service with us for highly affordable prices and make the most of your journey!

By Rental Car

You can roam around in a rental car as well. It's better to take a bus, taxi, or use a hotel transfer service to reach Fira or Oia from the ferry port before taking a rental car.

By Cruise Ships

In case you travel by Santorini cruise, you will be accommodated in a boat to reach the Old Port, which is located right below Fira village.

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.

Read this guide for more information on how to move around on this beautiful island in Greece! →