Ahh Santorini, is there any other place that inspires thoughts of a luxurious getaway, a relaxing island lifestyle, and a charming town of humble yet happy people? Probably not a lot, right? There's just something so special about this Greek island, whether it'd be the famous whitewashed towns or the stunning coasts along its edges. Staying here seems like the ultimate dream, doesn't it? However, if you don't know how to get around here, how will you ever enjoy the island as best as you can? This is why it's important to know more about Santorini's public transport.
How to Get To Santorini
First things first, how do you get to Santorini in the first place? Well, just like other Greek islands like
Crete, Paros, and more, your main options are to either fly there on a plane or to take a ferry. For the former, the easiest way is to depart from Athens, the country's capital, as this is the only other place in Greece that has direct flights to
Santorini National Airport. But if you're coming from other European cities like Paris, Milan, Prague, Frankfurt, and more, they offer direct charter flights to the Cyclades island as well. But if you're coming from the other islands nearby, it's better to take one of the daily ferries that travel to Santorini instead.
Renting A Car in Santorini
Now, when you've reached Santorini, you'll then have to explore the different options to get around here. One of the most convenient is renting a car. This isn't to say that the island's other public transport systems lack efficiency in any way, but won't it be a lot easier for you if you can drive your vehicle here? But if you're concerned with how much it'd cost for you to rent a car in Santorini, you'd be surprised at how affordable it actually is. During the high tourist season, the common rate is around €35.00 per day and during the low season, it's €25.00 per day. Not bad, right?
Source: Flickr.com/ Neil Jennings
The Buses in Santorini
The
KTEL buses in Santorini are the island's main public transport system. The central bus station on the island is located in Fira (also known as Thira), the main city of Santorini. It's here that most of the buses depart and travel throughout all
the towns on the island, mostly stopping in each one. Since they usually run from 7:00 am in the morning to 10:00 pm (though the high tourist season often extends the buses' operation hours) at night, you won't find a bus that will directly travel from one side of the island to the other. As for the prices, though it depends on your destination, they usually cost around €1.80 to €2.50 per ride.
Taking a Taxi
Another main option is to take a taxi instead. Just like the KTEL buses, most taxis on the island start in Fira. The central stop for most cabs in Santorini is located by the city's main square. However, over the years, various spots within the different towns have become common stops for taxis as well. And if you want to call a taxi yourself, just dial the main taxi phone number (+302286022555) to get one. As for the common prices, of course, they will depend on how far your destination is from your current location. But for the most part, they'd cost around a minimum of €4.00 up to a maximum of €25.00 per ride.
Traveling by Cable Car
If you're in Fira, another way to get around is to take a cable car. Yep! There's actually one in Santorini. But it's exclusive to the main city of Fira and it only travels from the Fira town proper down to the Fira harbor below and back. As it is not as efficient as the other public transport systems, locals rarely use it to travel between the two places. It has, however, become a popular tourist attraction in Fira. Only by riding the cable car will passengers get to see different views of Fira and the other parts of the island.
Driving a Motorbike
If you prefer a more adventurous way to get around Santorini, you can always rent a motorbike instead. It's no secret that the Cyclades island doesn't have the smoothest roads to travel on. In fact, Santorini is notorious for its bumpy pathways, rocky trails, and the like. And because of this, even when you rent a car or take a bus or taxi, your travels can often be unpleasant. At least, by renting and riding a motorbike, you get to navigate such roads with a little more control. Furthermore, renting a motorbike is way cheaper compared to renting a car.
You might also be curious if you can use a transportation app to help you travel throughout Santorini. The answer is yes but only when it comes to GPS or journey-planning programs. Unfortunately, the more popular ride-hailing apps like
Uber and
Lyft do not operate in Santorini. So you can book a ride using an app to get to where you need to be. You can, however, rely on apps like
Moovit or
Citymapper to help you break down the various public transport options you can choose from. They'll also show the different routes to take, how long you'll be in transit, how much you'll spend, and more!
Despite how easy life in Santorini may seem, it can get really complicated if you're not as well-versed with the island's public transport as you should. Know more about the different ways to get around here! This will help you more than you probably realize!
Only when you've gotten well-acquainted with Santorini's public transport will you be able to get back to your
luxury home on the island quicker than you expect!
