Travel Information

Nearly every travel path to Santorini requires a stop in Athens. While there are some international flights directly to Santorini airport from larger European cities such as London and Frankfurt during the summer, these are infrequent compared to the flights from Athens. Travellers from USA, Canada, Australia and other non-European countries that wish to come to Santorini, must get a connecting flight in Athens or another European country that has charter flights to the Greek island.

Getting to Santorini by air

Santorini can be reached from most international airports via Athens. There are daily flights. The flying time from Athens to Santorini is 30-40 minutes. Nearly all international scheduled flights arriving in Athens allow adequate time for making the connecting flight to Santorini. During the summer period there are numerous charter flights from different European Cities.

Usefull information for Airlines flying to and from Santorini:

RyanAir
Aegean Airlines

For more flight information please contact Santorini Airport or official website of Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority

Note: It is recommended that you reserve a taxi to take you to the town center. Taxis are usually available at the airport but you can book a taxi through the Santorini Airport website via the link Airport Taxi Bookings. Minimum charges start at €2 but the price depends on destination and what time of the night it is. If you share a taxi, the taxi driver considers each separate party as a second tariff. Note that there is an extra charge for luggage or having a taxi collect you from your hotel. It is advisable to establish the fare before you get into the taxi.

Getting to Santorini by sea

Another way to reach the island is by a regular ferry boat service from the port of Piraeus and almost all the Cycladic islands (during summer). Every day there are ferries connecting Santorini with Piraeus. Travelling time varies depending on the ferry and the ports of call.

Usefull information for Ferries to and from Santorini:

Blue Star Ferries
Ventouris Sea Lines
Sea Jets
Hellenic Seaways

For more information please contact Santorini Port

Transportation

Taxi

Taxis will take you to most places on the island. If you are at Fira town, there is a taxi stand at the main square or you may call a taxi.

Santorini's buses (KTEL)

KTEL buses carry out daily bus routes to almost all destinations. There are frequent buses (KTEL) that go to all the villages of the island. All the KTEL buses go to the main bus station at Fira. The tickets are issued on the bus, and the cost can vary per person per route.

For more information click here

On foot

Of course, depending on where you stay, you may have the chance to walk to many destinations! There are trails to follow where cars are not allowed.

Cable car

The cable car travels from Fira harbour up to Fira town and vice versa. Click here for information on timetable.


General Info

  • The voltage on the island is 220 volts/50Hz. Socket outlets are of 2 pin-type. Plugs are 2 pronged and rounded.
  • The official language is Greek. The most common foreign languages learned by Greeks are English, German, French and Italian.
  • Postal service is ELTA. The main postal offices in Santorini are located in Fira, Emporio and Oia. Courier services are also available.
  • There is one International Airport, also known as Thira Airport and it is located on the East.
  • For any health problems you may visit the Santorini Medical Center in Fira (Tel.: 0030 -2286360300-4).
  • There are pharmacies in Fira, Messaria, Emporeio, Oia, Imerovigli, Pyrgos and Kamari where you can find medicines and advice for minor problems.
  • Santorini has two ports. Athinios port that is for ferry and commercial boats and the Old port that is only for cruise ships.
  • Banks in Santorini open for the public from 08:30 to 14:30 midday from Monday to Thursday and from 08:00 to 14:00 on Friday. ATMs are available in almost all villages. Most outlets accept Visa and MasterCards as well as debit cards of internationally recognised networks.
  • Greece is on Eastern European Standard Time (EET) which means it is +2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
  • Telephone Prefix to Santorini : +30 22860 xxxxx
  • The local mobile phone operators (Vodafone, Wind, Cosmote) use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators. Public phone card booths are available all over the island and cards can be bought from kiosks, mini markets and OTE.
  • Free wireless Internet access is available in main points in Fira, Oia, Messaria, Imerovigli, Exo Gonia, Pyrgos, Karterados and Akrotiri.
  • Since the 1st of January 2002, the Euro (EUR) is the currency of Greece.

Visa Requirements

As Greece is a member state of the European Union and a part of the Schengen Treaty, a Schengen visa is needed when you are visiting one or several of the countries of the Schengen Area (i.e. Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia , Slovenia , Spain, Sweden, Switzerland). UAE citizens, holders of ordinary or service passports need a visa to visit Greece but UAE citizens, holders of diplomatic or special passports, do not need a visa to visit Greece.

Click here to see whether a visa is required to visit Greece

For further details, please consult the Hellenic Republic - Ministry Of Foreign Affairs.

Map of Santorini