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Guide · Santorini

Getting around Santorini

The island has two ways in — the airport and Athinios port — and one hub for everything after that, Fira, where every KTEL line starts.

Airport 10–25 min to Fira·Every line starts in Fira·Athinios port for ferries
From the airport
KTEL, 10–25 min, €2.20
From Athinios port
KTEL or taxi, up the cliff to Fira
One ride
€2.20
Santorini
Santorini · Mariordo, CC BY-SA 4.0

Where to go: five more questions →

Arrive by plane or by ferry, and the first stop is Fira — everything else starts from there. The KTEL bus covers the island with lines that all return to the same station, so transport here is planned as a star, not a grid.

From the airport to Fira

Santorini Airport (JTR) is Santorini airport (JTR) — KTEL bus to Fira, 10–25 min, €2.20, the same fare as any other KTEL ride on the island.

3 daysWhat comes first after arriving, in the three-day plan:Santorini in 3 days →

From Athinios port

Ferries from Piraeus and other islands dock at Athinios, the port below the cliff on the island's south-west side — not in Fira itself. From there a KTEL bus, timed to ferry arrivals, or a taxi runs up to Fira; the road climbs the cliff in switchbacks.

Day tripsFerries onward from here too, to Thirassia and Ios:Day trips from Santorini →
KTEL

Everything from Fira

The station in Fira is the network's only hub — lines to Oia, Kamari, Perissa and Akrotiri start there and return there. There is no connection between two other places: getting from Akrotiri to Kamari means going back through Fira, not straight across. One ride is €2.20; there is no multi-day ticket, none.

Where to stayWhy that changes which part of the island to sleep in:Where to stay in Santorini →

On foot through Fira and Oia

Fira and Oia are covered on foot — the narrow streets along the caldera rim carry no traffic. Moving between the two is only by KTEL or taxi; walking happens inside each town, not between them.

When to goWhen the caldera path is most bearable to walk:The best time to visit Santorini →

To Ancient Thera and Pyrgos

For Ancient Thera and Pyrgos, inland, KTEL only reaches the starting point — Kamari for Ancient Thera, with the rest on foot or by taxi; Pyrgos has its own line from Fira.

Hidden gemsWhat exactly is in those two places:The Santorini away from the caldera →FoodHow to get to restaurants beyond Fira and Oia:What to eat in Santorini →BudgetHow these fares fit into a daily budget:What Santorini costs →MistakesWhat most often goes wrong with transport here:Mistakes everyone makes in Santorini →
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Frequently asked

Before you go

Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.

Does KTEL run direct from the airport to Fira?

Yes, 10–25 min, €2.20 — the same fare as any other ride.

Does the ferry dock in Fira?

No — at Athinios, the port below the cliff; from there it's KTEL bus or taxi up to Fira.

Is there a direct bus from Akrotiri to Kamari?

No — every line starts and ends in Fira, so that route goes through the same station.

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Photo credits and licences (11)

All photographs come from Wikimedia Commons and are used under the licence stated beside each one.