Travel guides · Exploring the island
How to get around Santorini: a local transport guide
A beach afternoon, a village walk and an airport departure need different plans. Choose your transport around where you’re staying, what you’re carrying and how much time you have.
What is the best way to get around Santorini?
For many visitors, a combination works well: walk around the village where you’re staying, use a bus when its route and timetable fit, and arrange a transfer for journeys with luggage or a firm departure time. A rental car or private tour can suit a day with several stops.
Start with your accommodation’s exact location. Being close to a village on a map does not necessarily mean an easy walk to its bus stop or centre.
Swipe the table to compare all columns →
| Option | Useful for | Check before choosing |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Nearby sights and village lanes | Steps, heat and the actual walking route |
| KTEL bus | Budget journeys on scheduled routes | Connections, the last return and luggage arrangements |
| Taxi or app ride | A direct journey when a vehicle is available | Fare, pickup time and passenger capacity |
| Private transfer | Arrivals, departures and planned journeys | Confirmed pickup, vehicle and total price |
| Rental car | Independent days exploring several places | Parking, licence, insurance and fuel |
| Scooter or quad | Experienced riders travelling light | Vehicle-specific licence, cover and riding conditions |
| Cable car | Old Port–Fira journeys | Operating conditions, queues and ticket cost |
| Hotel shuttle | Journeys your accommodation offers | Whether it runs, its schedule and any charge |
Public buses: plan the return as well as the outward trip
KTEL buses are a budget-friendly option when you can work around a timetable. Fira is a main connection point; for a journey between other villages, check whether you need to change there.
The operator’s fare list, updated 19 May 2026, lists standard fares of €2.20 for Fira–Oia and Fira–Kamari, and €2.70 for Fira–Perissa/Perivolos. These are individual route fares; connections and night services can change the total.
Check the current KTEL routes and departures for your travel date. Confirm the stop, any connection and the last return before setting off. With large bags, ask the crew where to store them and keep access areas clear.
Taxis and Uber: check the fare and availability
A taxi can be convenient for a direct journey. The airport’s official information places its taxi rank in front of the departures building. Confirm your destination, fare arrangements, payment method and luggage needs before travelling. Allow for a wait during busy periods.
Uber is available in Santorini, with the ride categories shown in the app depending on availability. It can be more expensive than a regular taxi, and rides are not always available, especially during high demand. Check the selected vehicle and pickup estimate. Our airport guide explains the Uber options in more detail.
Rental cars, scooters and quads: consider the whole day
A rental car gives you flexibility for several villages, beaches or inland stops. Before booking, ask your accommodation about parking and compare the full rental cost, including insurance, excess, fuel, deposits and collection or return arrangements.
For scooters and quads, driving experience matters as much as the daily price. Confirm that your licence permits the exact vehicle and that your insurance covers its use. Wear a helmet and choose another option if the roads, weather or vehicle feel beyond your experience. The UK government’s Greece travel advice highlights quad-bike risks and insurance limitations.
If wine tasting is part of your day, arrange a driver or explore our private Santorini wine tour.
Walking and the last few metres to your hotel
Walking is a good way to enjoy village lanes and nearby viewpoints. Treat the longer Fira–Oia caldera walk as a planned hike, with suitable footwear, water, weather checks and time for breaks. A short driving distance can still be a difficult walk, particularly where there is no suitable pedestrian route.
Some caldera accommodation is reached by steps or pedestrian paths. A driver can stop where road access allows, but the final part may be on foot. Ask your hotel for its vehicle meeting point, luggage assistance and any accessibility details. Also ask whether it offers a shuttle; confirm the schedule and charge rather than assuming one is included.
Airport, ferry port and cruise arrivals need different plans
Landing at Santorini Airport
The airport confirms a bus connection with Fira. Compare it with a taxi or pre-arranged pickup around your landing time and accommodation. Blue Santorini monitors delayed flights and adjusts transfers to the updated estimated arrival time. See our airport arrival guide or arrange an airport transfer.
Arriving by ferry at Athinios
Athinios Ferry Port has road access. For a pre-arranged pickup, send the ferry details, arrival date, passengers and luggage, then follow the meeting instructions in your confirmation. See our Athinios port transfers.
Coming ashore from a cruise ship
If your ship tenders you to the Old Port below Fira, the arrival process is different. For a Blue Santorini cruise excursion, the meeting point is at the upper end of the cable car in Fira. Follow your ship’s instructions and leave time for tendering, queues and the journey back.
The cable car’s published price list, checked on 6 September 2026, shows €10 for a regular one-way ticket and a €5 luggage charge. Recheck prices and operation before travel. Our cruise guest shore excursion page explains the tour and meeting arrangements.
Build a transport plan around your stay
A village stay
Walk to nearby places, check bus connections for day trips and arrange arrival and departure journeys separately.
A day exploring
Choose a rental car for independence or a private tour for an itinerary with a driver. Discuss your stops and pace.
A family or group
Compare the total for everyone. Count suitcases as well as passengers, and request any child seats before confirmation.
A transfer takes you between places; a tour adds time for visits and stops. Browse our private Santorini tours if you want to explore, or use our transfer booking page for a particular journey.
Helpful details
Getting around Santorini: common questions
Can I visit Santorini without renting a car?
Yes. Choose accommodation with practical walking access and bus connections, then arrange transfers for journeys the timetable does not cover. Check the exact hotel location before deciding.
What is a budget-friendly way to travel?
Walking for suitable local journeys and KTEL buses for scheduled routes can keep costs down. Add up any connecting bus journeys and check the return timetable.
Do I need to reserve a transfer in advance?
Advance booking lets the team check availability, vehicle size and your meeting point. It is useful for airport or ferry journeys, groups and trips with a firm departure time. Your reservation is confirmed by the team; sending a request alone does not confirm it.
Can a driver collect us at the Old Port?
For Blue Santorini cruise excursions, we meet guests at the upper end of the cable car in Fira. Athinios Ferry Port is a separate location with road pickup. Check which arrival point your booking uses.
Will a transfer take us to the hotel door?
Where road access allows. Some properties have a final walk or steps, so confirm the nearest practical vehicle-access point and luggage assistance with your accommodation.
Written by the Blue Santorini team, operated by Blue Feather Santorini. Transport information and the linked official fare lists checked on 6 September 2026. Fares, schedules and availability can change; confirm the details for your travel date. See our booking guide for how requests and confirmations work.