Santorini Port Guide

Are you visiting Santorini on a Cruise Ship? We have visited Santorini port by cruise ship, and it can be quite hard to navigate. Greece is a highly popular destination, boasting beautiful villages and stunning views. So whether you are deciding to book an excursion or want to navigate the port of Santorini on your own, here is Everything You Need to know about visiting the cruise ports of Santorini when your ship docks.

Ports are Santorini

The Greek island of Santorini has two ports, Athinios Port and the Old Port of Fira. Ships coming into these ports will be tendered due to the size of the port. There are two different ways of getting on to the island. Depending on whether you book a tour or want to go ashore on your own.

Doing an Excursion in Santorini Port

If you book an excursion with your cruise ship you’ll be taken off by tender at designated time into the Athenia port. From here you will board a coach to complete your excursion. However on return you’ll be taken to the top of the Old port of Fira from here you’ll be given cable car tickets to make your own way down the hill. Or will have to make your own way down the hill by foot. Once at the foot of Fira you will take a tender back to your ship.

Doing Santorini Without An Excursion

If you want to do Santorini from a cruise ship with an excursion you’ll be taken by tender to the Old port of Fera by Tender boat. Bear in mind you will need a timed ticket from your cruise ship as it can take a few hours to get everyone off of the ship. It can take up two hours to three hours to actually get off of the ship onto a tender which means you may not get into the port until quite late in the afternoon.

Once at the foothill of Fira from here you can take a cable car to the top or you can walk up the steps. There are donkeys and Mules here which I would not recommend, it is extremely hot weather for the donkeys and not particularly safe. Walking up can take 30 to 40 minutes on foot and it is quite slippery. Leave plenty of rime to get back. Last tenders are 30 minutes before ships departure and there can be up to 2 hour or more wait for the cable car.

My editing partner Sarah Christie took a tender to the Old Port of Fira and it was so busy she turned around and got back on the ship!

Is It Easy To Go Ashore In Santorini And Is It Worth Getting Off The Cruise Ship In Santorini?

In our opinion it is not particularly easy to get on shore and off shore at Santorini ports. Santorini is an extremely busy port with sometimes up to four or five or even six cruise ships tendered at one time. This makes the port extremely busy and sometimes very hard to get back onto the ship.

If your coach dropped you off in the port of Fira, it can take up to an hour and a half to walk back onto the ship. Sometimes the cable car wait is two hours and it is extremely crowded. The walk back down to the ship if not using the cable car can be quite treacherous. Stones are very slippery. I myself slipped a few times, thankfully I didn’t fall over but some people did have injuries on the route down.

You can also take a boat trip from the bottom of the hill side to the old town of Oia. You can take the water taxi to Oia, 30 euro each. Takes you to the port of Oia, also included in the ticket price is the bus that from the port ( a walk of around 5-8 minutes up hill to the bus) that will leave you near the city center of Oia. It runs Every hour 15/16/17/18/19 and last one at 20 ( 8pm ) The number 19 bus that will take you to Fira. From there is a 10 minutes to the cable car. The Cable car ticket is 6 euro, not included.

Mykonos however is a much easier port to navigate.

What Is The Walk Like Down The Hill Back In The Old Port Of Santorini To The Cruise Ship?

While you’re walking down mules are walking up. This also means that you have to negotiate quite a lot of donkey poo and a bit of a smell in the summer heat. Stones are very slippery and there is no hand rail just a low wall. On each corner turn you have to walk on the outside where the steps are wider. Also once you get to the bottom of the hill after about 30 to 40 minutes of walking, you’ll be greeted with rather long queue for the tender.

You will need to take this into consideration if you want to visit Santorini by cruise ship. I personally loved Santorini when I was up on the mountain even though it was very busy and getting a photograph was very hard.

If you want to visit Santorini may be advisable to do independently for a few days and stay in some of the quieter areas. The hill is definitely something I would not want to approach again later on in the evening. It was extremely dark people using their phones to try and see down the hill.

How Many Ships Will Be Port Tended In Santorini?

You can check how many ships are in port by checking the cruise mapper site. There could be a range of cruise ships from two ships up to six ships on very busy days, this means it is extremely hard to do Santorini on foot by yourself. 

Things to do in Santorini When You Eventually Get to the Top

Having said that Santorini is one of the most picturesque islands in Greece. It offers a variety of activities and attractions and is on many peoples bucket list’s. Here are some of the top things to do in Santorini cruise port by taxi, walking or by organised tour.

Explore Fira

Explore Fira Town and wander through the charming streets, enjoy the stunning views of the caldera, and explore the local shops and restaurants. It will quite bust when cruise are in port but it has amazing views from top of the hillside.

There is also a Museum of Prehistoric Thera where you can Discover artefacts from the ancient Minoan civilisation.

Visit the Town of Oia

Visit Oia which is renowned for its breathtaking sunsets. Find a good spot and watch the sun dip below the horizon. It is a slightly more upmarket area of Santorini and prices can be expensive. The settlement dates back to the 15th century and is home to the ruins of a Venetian castle. It can get very busy as its blue domed churches make the most glorious backdrop for photos.

Walk down to the picturesque Amoudi Bay. You can walk down to this small, picturesque bay down 300 steps for a seafood meal and a swim.

Discover the Beaches of Santorini

There are many beaches to explore with all different types of sand from sandy beaches to volcanic rock and pebbles, try these beaches:

• Red Beach: Famous for its striking red volcanic sand and cliffs.
• Perissa Beach: Known for its black sand and vibrant beach bars.
• Kamari Beach: Another black sand beach with plenty of amenities and water sports.

Try a Wine Tasting in Santorini

Santorini has lots of wine and beer tasting opertunities here are some of the best! We personally loved the Ftelos Brewery in Santorini with its excellent choice of malt beers and wines. Here some other popular choices.

• Santo Wines: Visit this winery for a tour and tasting, enjoying spectacular views of the caldera.
• Ftelos Brewery Santorini: Try there Blue Monkey Lager
• Venetsanos Winery: Offers unique wine tasting experiences and views.

Explore Ancient Sites

There are lots of archaeological sites in Santorini such as of Akrotiri, where you can take a day trip to this fascinating ancient Minoan city. Here are some ancient sites worth visiting on the island:

• Ancient Thera: An archaeological site with ruins from different historical periods, located on a mountain ridge.
• Akrotiri Archaeological Site: A well-preserved Minoan Bronze Age settlement that was buried by a volcanic eruption much like the ancient Pompeii.

Take a Boat Tour

Being an island there are so many choices for boat trips here are a few favorites in the area:

• Caldera Tour: Take a boat trip around the caldera, visit the volcanic islands, and swim in hot springs.
• Sunset Cruise: Enjoy a romantic cruise with dinner and stunning views of the sunset.

Explore Santorini’s Many Churches

Santorini has beautiful white washed churches with blue domed roofs and there are many to see. Here are some of the best churches in Santorini:

• Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral
• The Catholic Cathedral Church of St. John the Baptist
• Panagia ton Eisodion
• Panagia Sergena
• Panagia Matrona
• St. Gerasimos Christian Church
• Panagia Theoskepasti Chapel
• Profitis Ilias Monastery
• Agios Nikolaos Monastery
• Panagia Platsani

Relax in a Cave Hotel

If you go to Santorini on your own you will undoubtably see much more from the island. The many Carved cave house’s make the perfect place to stay. With small boutique hotels and wonderful views it is a no brainier!

Visit More of the Pretty Villages in Santorini

Unforgettable Experiences in Santorini! Explore the island with curated tours & activities

• Pyrgos Village: The largest preserved picturesque village on Santorini with traditional Cycladic architecture and a medieval castle.
• Megalochori Village: A charming village with narrow alleys, historic mansions, and traditional tavernas.
• Thirassia Island: A quieter, less touristy island with beautiful landscapes and traditional Greek charm and an abandoned cave village.
• Emporio Village: Explore the medieval Kasteli and the Ventetian castle and ruined tower of Nimborio.

Have a Relaxing Lunch

Eating in Santorini is a feast for the senses, with every meal infused with the island’s charm. From fresh seafood caught that very morning, to sun-ripened tomatoes, creamy fava, and local wines grown in volcanic soil, food here is as much about atmosphere as taste. Traditional tavernas spill out onto cobbled lanes, offering grilled meats and meze plates, while beachside restaurants serve dishes with the Aegean just a few steps away. Santorini’s dining scene also embraces international flavours, blending its laid-back island vibe with global cuisine. One evening, we chose something different and enjoyed sushi at Ola in Santorini, relaxing in the Bliss Lounge with amazing views.