Getting Around in Santorini can be tricky in many cases but if you know the tips I am giving you below you won’t have any issues. You have plenty of options as you can rent a car, a motorbike, a quad, take a taxi or even take the local bus (UBER does work in Santorini and in Athens). So, this is how to get around Santorini.
Depending on what your budget is, you can do the following to get around Santorini:
- Rent a car
- Use the local Santorini Bus
- Take a local taxi (by UBER or the FREENOW Apps)
- Rent a quad
- Rent a motorbike
- UBER and LYFT do not exist in Santorini (but only in Athens)
- Use a private transfer taxi after coordinating with your hotel (they can give you all the details)
To get a feel of the local buses in Santorini you can watch my video from the Santorini Local Bus Central Station at Fira:
Riding an ATV is the funnest option to get around on the island for many people but it can be more unsafe and potentially dangerous as they are not that stable.
You can always stay at your hotel in Santorini and spend the whole day by the pool relaxing, but obviously if you really want to explore the island and see its beauty, then you definitely need to move around.
This is the bus station at Imerovigli town. Looks cute right…? Imerovigli is in my opinion the best place to stay in Santorini.
HOW TO GET AROUND SANTORINI
- Best Way to Get Around Santorini: rent a car
- Santorini buses: The bus ticket costs 2.00-2.50 euros (depending on your destination) – check Santorini Buses Timetables here
- Best Website to Rent A Car in Santorini : RentalCars
- UBER and Lyft do not exist in Santorini (it’s only available in Athens )
- The longest drive on the island is about 40mins
- All local Buses have Fira town as the main hub. All buses depart from and finish their route there.
- From Fira to the Airport is a 10 mins drive. The taxi shouldn’t charge you more than 20 euros for such a route
- From Athinios Ferry Port to Fira is a 20 mins drive and the taxi should charge you about 15-20 euros
- There are no taxi meters in the taxis and fares are fixed. So, always ask in advance what the price will be. If you want to call a taxi then you need to call : +30 22860 22555
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How can you get from the Airport / Port to your Hotel in Santorini ?
That’s the first thing you have to worry about but to be honest most of the hotels in Santorini can normally come and pick you up from the airport or the ferries port.
Always check with your hotel if they offer such a service.
Be careful though because some hotels charge a lot to come and pick your from the airport.
Bear in mind this is literally a 10 mins drive and any taxi shouldn’t charge you more than 30 euros in any case.
So if a hotel asks for anything more than that then avoid it and just take any taxi from the airport (or the port).
The only problem with that is that there will normally about 8-10 taxis (maximum) at the airport waiting for travellers and this is definitely not enough. So you have to hurry up, otherwise you may have to wait up to 30mins for a taxi to come back from another route.
Some of the most premium hotels may offer that for free.
It’s also good to know that there is no UBER or Lyft in Santorini !
Santorini Car Rental Tips
The best way to get around Santorini is by car. I keep on telling everyone who asks me that it’s only by having your own means of transportation you would be able to explore the island and not waste too much time on waiting for the bus.
Where can you rent a car for Santorini?
If you are visiting Santorini in any month other than May, June, July, August, September I strongly suggest that you book well in advance online eventhough there are tens of car rental places on the island.
The best and safest website to rent a car for Santorini is: RentalCars.Com
You should definitely book a car online before you arrive to avoid the risk of not having one (especially in the high season).
How is Driving in Santorini?
In Santorini we drive on the right side of the road. Like the USA.
You do need an international driver’s license if you have a non-EU (European) license but everyone on the island is pretty flexible about it and you won’t have any issues with any driver’s license to be honest, no matter where it’s coming from.
Yes, Santorini streets can be narrow but it’s nothing scary to be honest, if you have some driving experience.
It is true though that in the summer months of July, August and September you have to be slightly more careful as there is more people and cars on the island.
Also, be careful of the hundreds of quad bikes that may come out of nowhere…
This is how driving in Santorini looks like:https://www.youtube.com/embed/AukTQtjixjI?feature=oembed&start&end&wmode=opaque&loop=0&controls=1&mute=0&rel=0&modestbranding=0
Why Renting A Car is the Best Way To Get Around Santorini?
By having your own car you can explore the island in the best possible way without worrying about timings.
That’s very important if you only have 2-3 days on the island and it’s also very important if you are going home (or hotel) late after a night out (be careful about drinking though as police are carrying out alcohol tests on every corner during the summernights).
Having a car is also giving you the opportunity to go to some places that the buses don’t go.
Santorini is a relatively small island so you won’t have to worry about driving hundreds of kilometres every day.
The longest drive you would probably do is about 20 kilometres for about 30-35 mins…and that’s it!
I’d also say that renting a car in Santorini is also a much safer option from a quad bike or an ATV and it is probably cheaper after all than taking a taxi all the time.
What are the Pros and Cons of renting a car in Santorini?
Pros:
– You are more independent and you can go anywhere
– You can take it directly from the airport upon your arrival
– You can see the whole of the island in one day if you want!
Cons:
– It can be more expensive
– You might be scared to drive through the narrow streets of Santorini
– You might have to worry about parking (especially at the top attractions during the high season)
Santorini Local Buses Tips
Taking the bus in Santorini is obviously the cheapest way to move around as with around 2 euros you can go pretty much to all the big towns and main attractions.
CLICK HERE TO CHECK the updated Santorini Bus Timeschedule.
You can take the bus to pretty much every major town or attraction (including Oia) but the thing is that you don’t get a bus whenever you want it and things can get pretty busy and chaotic during the hot summer months of July, August and September.
Where can the local Santorini buses take you?
From the timetable here you can see that there is a bus from Fira to Akrotiri, Perissa, Kamari, Airport, Oia, Imerovigli and Athinios port.
Here are roughly all the destinations that the local bus can take you along with the approximate time that it takes to get there:
How much does the Santorini bus cost?
A single ticket cost anything from 1.80 euros to 2.50 euros depending where you are going. You can buy a ticket from the driver inside the bus and you should always pay by cash. Cards are not accepted unfortunately. (FOR THE MOST UP TO DATE PRICES ALWAYS ASK THE BUS DRIVER)
What are the pros and cons of taking the bus in Santorini?
Pros:
– You don’t have to worry about driving
– It’s by far the cheapest way to get around Santorini (with 2 euros you can visit any major town)
Cons:
– Buses only go from and to Fira
– The bus stop may not be very close to where you want to go (especially for your arrival where you might be carrying your luggage)
– For some areas the bus is not that frequent and if you are visiting only for 2-3 days you may waste time waiting for it
– The bus might be full (especially during July/August/September) and you may have to wait the next one
– There isn’t a bus for every town area (if you are visiting wineries there isn’t always a bus that can take you there)
Santorini Taxis Tips
Getting a taxi in Santorini is another way of moving around on the island.
But to be honest if you are going to use a taxi for every place you want to visit then you are probably better of by renting a car as it can become very expensive during the high season as prices sky-rocket.
This is all you need to know about taxis in Santorini:
- The TAXIs are of grey/silver colour and usually they are a MERCEDES brand (not sure why…)
- There is no UBER or Lyft in Santorini
- The main taxi hub is at Fira. A taxi hub in greek is also called a “taxi piatsa”.
- If you want to call a taxi then you have to call +30 22860 22555
- You should not pay more than 25 euros for any ride, anytime on the island!
- Always ask/agree the fare with the driver before you get onto the taxi
- You may have to wait some time till your taxi arrives if you are on the other side of the island (all taxis use Fira as their basis)
- After 00:00 midnight you will be charged more (normally double)
- It can be very difficult to find a taxi (even if you call) after midnight during July-August
- All drivers speak english very well
- Bear in mind that there is a limited amount of taxis on the island
- There are some taxis always waiting for travellers at the Airport and at the Athinios main Port but you have to be quick…
- You shouldn’t pay more than 30 euros from the Airport to Fira (it’s literally a 10 mins drive)
There are many ATV or motorbike rental shops on the island and you won’t have any issues finding a vehicle, as long as you book it well in advance.
CONCLUSION
In my honest opinion, the best way to get around Santorini is by renting a car. It will give you the flexibility and the opportunity to explore the island in a much better way without wasting time and money elsewhere. Taking the bus is the most affordable option and taking the taxi can also be a good option if you don’t want to drive and you want to go somewhere quickly. It may cost you more though. Many people rent a quad nowadays, but it is a less safe option and it can actually be on the same price range as renting a car, so i am not sure if it’s smart at the end of the day (yes it can be fun for a few hours but for your main means of transportation, I am not so sure…)
The choice is yours!
Thank you for this info! I am planning my first trip to Greece. This is very helpful!
I am glad it helps you! Let me know if you need any other info.
This has been EXTREMELY helpful! Thank you so much for all of the honest, straightforward, insightful information. I have saved the page to use while we are traveling.
Anytime!
Hello Pavlos, Thank you for this helpful site. I had some questions about Luggage. Can the smaller cars handle larger luggage’s? I see there are no SUV/Jeeps like in the USA. Any advise will be helpful.
Also can you say a little about parking on the island? What is the charge? Are there enough spaces? Street parking? safety? etc.? Also how about in the Fira area where it’s busy. Where can I park there?
I don’t believe you will have any issues carrying your luggage as the cars can normally accommodate anything as they are regular sedans. The main reasons ypu won’t find SUVs in Santorini is that streets are very narrow!! Also, bear in mind that some hotels usually have mini vans to get you to and from the airport. In regards to parking, I am not going to lie to you: it can be extremely difficult for Fira, Oia and Pyrgos in the hot season (June-October). You may have to park well outside the main town and then you may have already to walk 10-20 mins to reach the center of the town. There are no available parking areas with paid bays but only just street parking, whenever you find an available spot. There is a dedicated prking area in Oia though and it can cost up to 20 euros for 4 hours which is pretty expensive (these charges change every year and they really depend on… how many people are visiting the island…).
Hi Pavlos, thanks for this detailed guide! What about e-bikes? Google Maps doesn’t show cycling routes unfortunately. To cycle from Fira to the south areas (Pyrgos, Akrotiri, Perivolos and Kamari), will it be difficult? Thank you!
Hi Kelli,
Unfortunately Google Maps is not that up to date on cycling routes in Greece but they definitely exist. The island is pretty small so distances are not a problem. However, uphills might be an issue as the Santorini (and Greece overall) is very mountainous with lots of uphillls and downhills. Also, if you visit the island in July, August or September I would highly advise you to be extremely careful as you would be cycling next to lots of cars and ATVs in narrow roads on top extreme hot temperatures (that can go up to 40 degrees Celsius in some cases…). It can be dangerous and exhausting, even for an e-bike.
Hi, What bus do I need to catch to go from Thira to Pyrgos?
Pyrgos is not listed as a destination in the bus timetable.
There are frequent buses to Pyrgos village from Fira. If you go to the main bus station at Fira you should be able to find all the timetables. It’s also the bus that goes to Exo Gonia. The drive from Fira to Pyrgos is 10mins.
Hi, is there any place to rent a 4 seater buggy (side by side) for the day? I have looked around online, but all I see are 2 person buggies available.
I am really not sure about that to be honest. You have to contact the rental companies directly.
Hi Pavlos,
Are there any tips for travelling around Santorini with young children please? Can you take pushchairs on the bus? Are child fares the same price as adults? Do you need to use car seats in taxis?
Thanks,
Hi TOm,
Things are very relaxed in regards to child seats in Greece in general.
However, (being a father myself) the best thing you can do is to rent your own car to move around the island…
It’s honetly going to be the best option.
Rental Car companies do have car seats for children.
Children younger than 12 years I believe they travel for free on the local bus but I am not 100% sure so you may hvae to ask the driver itself.
But as I said, the best thing you can do is basically rent your own car… it’s going to make your life a million times easier while on the island.
Hi Pavlos,
I appreciate your page so much! Is Uber now available? I’m staying in Pyrgos and I noticed a bus ride there is not as frequent. I’m wondering if taxi is my best option?
Hi Cris,
Yes, indeed.
Taxis are the best options if you don’t want to wait for hours for the local bus…
Hi Pavlos,
My family of 5 (all adults) will be arriving by cruise ship to the Old Port August 9th.
Can you recommend a route for us to get to Vlichada? We will be renting a boat for the afternoon.
Can a taxi fit 5 people? Should we rent a car? Take the bus?
Thank You!
Hi Margaret,
My adivce is always to rent a car because it gives you the flexibility to do whatever you want to do while on the island.
If you want to get to Vlychada Google Maps is your friend as the route that suggests is pretty accurate. A taxi is probably not going to fit 5 people as well so you may need to take 2 taxis or waste time waiting for the bus to Vlychada that is not that frequent unfortunately…
Where on the island can I hire a car and driver to take me around?
Hello! thanks for all the helpful information. Is it easy to get a taxi from Oia to Fira at night – after 22:00?
Sure! There are always taxis (especially in September) waiting at the airport. But you have to be quick though…
We will be in Santorini in late September
Hi,
Can we pay for 3 bus tickets in 1 transaction, or does each family member have to pay for their own ticket separately?
Thanks!
You can pay for all of them together but every person must have his/her own ticket.
Do taxis take Visa credit cards?
Thanks again!
They mostly do but some of them may require cash so you should ask before you get in the taxi, to make sure. It’s generally not a bad idea to have some cash with you anywhere in Greece as sometimes the card machine may be “broken”…
Thank you for the quick reply!
Hi Pavlos, My wife and I have been to Santorini 5 times, this June is our last. The only place we want to go to is Akrotiri archeological site. I rented a car, saw the requirement for an International License, I called rentalcar.com / Sunbird and the woman said there is no way they will rent a car without it. Can I book a taxi ahead of time from the top of the tram in Fira? I’m desperate. James
Hi James,
The top of the cable is literally 10 mins walk time from the main bus station at Fira and also the main central taxi station which is next to each other pretty much. I highly advise you to walk there and either take a taxi or even the bus depending on how much time you have. It’s very easy and nothing to worry about.