See Village
Oia
North tip, about 6.5 miles by road from Fira
The municipality calls Oia world-famous for the sunsets from its castle. Its lanes hold cave houses, captains' mansions and the Santorini Maritime Museum.
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Cyclades · Greece
Santorini
White cliff towns above a flooded volcano.
Oia's domes and windmill, the cliff-top lanes of Fira and the Akrotiri ruins sit on one island. Boats run from Fira Bay to the volcano on Nea Kameni and the hot springs on Palia Kameni.
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Four Ways to Spend a Day in Santorini
Unwind Beach
Kamari Beach
East coast, about 6.4 miles by road from Athinios
Kamari has two 2026 Blue Flag sites, and Perissa, further south, has one. The KTEL bus from Fira costs €2.20 to Kamari and €2.70 to Perissa.
See the 2026 Blue Flag List (opens a new tab)
Taste Wine
Santo Wines
Pyrgos, about 2.7 miles by road from Athinios
The winery runs tours, wine tastings, olive oil tastings, a restaurant and a deli shop. It says Wine Enthusiast named it the best place on Santorini to taste wine over the caldera.
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Explore Ruins
Akrotiri Archaeological Site
South coast, about 6.1 miles by road from Athinios
The Ministry of Culture runs this prehistoric site; entry is €20 (€10 reduced). It opens 08:30–15:30 on Mondays and Thursdays and 08:00–18:00 on other days from 16 to 31 October.
See Hours and Prices (opens a new tab)Skip the excursion desk
Tours & Tickets in Santorini
Getting Around Santorini
Ships anchor in the caldera and tender passengers to Fira Bay (the Old Port, below Fira) or to Athinios, the ferry port. Which one you reach sets your route; the Port Fund agreed a new split between the two on 13 October 2026 and has not yet published it.
Getting to Santorini
Santorini is mainly a port of call, with a few sailings that start here.
If you do one thing here
Ride the Cable Car to Fira
If your ship lands at Fira Bay, the climb up the caldera cliff starts your day. The 14 communities of Santorini own the cable car, and its ticket income pays for their development works. The operator also pays the muleteers a share of each fare to keep the donkey tradition alive.
The official shop sells tickets online at €10. If wind or a strike stops the line there is no refund; the ticket stays valid until 31 December of that year.
Buy Cable Car Tickets (opens a new tab)
Cable Car Timetable (opens a new tab)Cable Car Prices (opens a new tab)
Safety and Weather
Official crime data covers the Cyclades group of islands, not Santorini alone.
- CrimeIn 2024, police in the Cyclades group recorded about 36% less theft per resident than the Greek average (387 against 607 per 100,000). Assault was about 63% higher (112 against 69). Theft, burglary, robbery and assault together were about 30% lower: 578 against 824. These rates count residents, not summer visitors.
- Walking to townFrom Fira Bay, Fira is about 720 feet up the cliff: 587 steps or the 3-minute cable car. Athinios is at sea level about 2.4 miles from Fira in a straight line and about 8 miles by road, so take the bus, a taxi or a tour.
- The beachSeven beaches in the Thira municipality hold 2026 Blue Flags: Kamari (two sites), Perissa, Perivolos, Vlychada, Monolithos and Agios Georgios.
- WeatherAverage highs are 85°F (30°C) in July and August and 74°F (23°C) in October. The cable car operator can stop the line in strong wind.
Crime figures: Eurostat police-recorded offences, 2024, region EL422 (Andros, Thira, Kea, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Syros, Tinos) against Greece; the percentages are our maths. Distances: OpenStreetMap car routes, labelled “by road”; the Athinios–Fira straight line is labelled. Weather: Hellenic National Meteorological Service, Santorini station, monthly mean highs 1991 to 2020.
Make it part of your voyage
Cruises From Santorini
MSC, Costa, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Princess call here most often, and a few cruises start here.
Santorini FAQ
Where do cruise ships dock in Santorini?
They do not dock. Ships anchor in the caldera and tender passengers to Fira Bay (the Old Port) or to Athinios. The Port Fund shares landings between the two and agreed a new split with the cruise industry on 13 October 2026; it has not yet published the details.
How far is Santorini from the cruise port?
At Fira Bay, Fira stands about 720 feet above the pier: 3 minutes by cable car. Athinios is about 8 miles from Fira by road, a bus ride of about 20 minutes.
Is there a Santorini cruise port schedule?
Yes. The Port Fund publishes a monthly list of arrivals 12 months ahead, with arrival and departure times and an estimate of passengers. It does not show where each ship lands. Its policy aims for no more than 8,000 cruise visitors a day in 2025 and 2026, but the estimates in its own list pass 8,000 on some days.
How do I get from the Santorini cruise port to Fira?
From Fira Bay, take the cable car (€10 one way), climb the 587 steps or ride a donkey. From Athinios, take the KTEL bus (about 20 minutes, €2.70) or a taxi.
How do I get from the Santorini port to Oia?
Go via Fira. KTEL buses leave Fira for Oia at 07:00, 08:30 and 09:30, then every 30 minutes from 10:00 to 21:00, for €2.20. Oia is about 6.5 miles from Fira by road.
Is Santorini walkable from the cruise port?
Not from the water. Fira Bay is below a cliff, and Athinios is about 8 miles from Fira. Once in Fira, the Museum of Prehistoric Thera is about 0.3 miles from the cable car's top station.
How much are taxis in Santorini?
The municipality says fares are fixed for common routes but taxis have no meters, so confirm the price before you get in. Taxis are few, with long waits in peak season. The Port Fund lists +30 22860 22555 for taxis.
What excursions leave from the Santorini cruise port?
Most boats for volcano and island trips leave from Fira Bay. The trip lands on Nea Kameni, with a trail to the 417-foot summit, and swims at the hot springs on Palia Kameni. Ship excursion coaches leave from Athinios.
What can I do in Santorini from a cruise ship?
Visit Oia, swim at Kamari or Perissa, taste wine at Santo Wines near Athinios, or see the ruins at Akrotiri. Boats from Fira Bay also run to the volcano on Nea Kameni.
Can you see Santorini in a day?
You can see the highlights. Fira is 3 minutes up the cable car from Fira Bay. Oia is about 6.5 miles from Fira by road, with a bus every 30 minutes for most of the day. Santo Wines is about 2.7 miles and Akrotiri about 6.1 miles from Athinios by road.
Are there beaches near the Santorini cruise port?
Kamari is about 6.4 miles and Perissa about 6.6 miles from Athinios by road. Both have 2026 Blue Flags. The KTEL bus from Fira costs €2.20 to Kamari and €2.70 to Perissa.
Is Santorini safe?
In 2024, police in the Cyclades group recorded about 30% less theft, burglary, robbery and assault combined than the Greek average per resident. Assault alone was about 63% higher. The figures cover nine islands, not Santorini alone.
Photos: Santorini: Dietmar Rabich (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Oia: Moataz1997 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Kamari: Michelle Maria (CC BY 3.0) · Santo Wines: Votpuske (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Akrotiri: Joyofmuseums (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Cable car: Norbert Nagel (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Cruise ship in port: Iantomferry (CC BY 3.0). Cropped for display.