Getting around Santorini...
This Getting Around Santorini Page is from the Simply Santorini website – an insiders guide to getting the most from Thira - the honeymoon island. Santorini hotels, resorts, romantic locations, beaches, history, sunsets & much more… Car Rental in Santorini
Car rental in Santorini is probably the best way to explore this beautiful Greek island. Santorini is small in comparison to some Greek Islands and you can travel around the entire island in just a day. Top of most peoples ‘Must See’ lists when they're getting around Santorini are the sights of Akrotiri, Ancient Thira, the sunset viewed from Oia and the vineyards producing wonderful Santorini wines.
Also see our Driving in Santorini page for helpful hints and tips about getting around Santorini safely. Quad Bikes, Motorbikes & Scooters in Santorini It's a romantic Greek island image of hiring a scooter, having your lover riding pillion, getting off the beaten track and exploring secluded beaches, hidden coves and hideaway locations. But….. …we hate to sound like fussy over protective parents but you really must take care! Many visitors with no previous experience of riding a quad bike, scooter or motorbike readily drive helmetless and often shirtless around the roads of Santorini. Visit Fira, Oia, Kamari and Perissa in July or August and you’ll see quite a few bikini clad girls and shirtless boys happily riding scooters and quad bikes. But each summer on Santorini there are the inevitable accidents. So if you must hire a bike or rent a scooter in Santorini, wear a helmet at all times. Try also to wear long trousers and a jacket giving at least a little protection if you skid off the dirt track roads.
The buses in Santorini are an experience not to be missed. The buses are quite infrequent and run about once every hour or so but they are punctual. Extra buses are laid on during the summer months to the resorts with some routes as frequent as one every half hour. The fares are extremely cheap too. For example buses travelling from Fira to Perissa cost just €1,90. Fares from Kamari to the Port (Athinios) are currently €1,90 and from Karterados to Akrotiri (Beach) cost €1,60 per person. So getting around Santorini need not be expensive. Usually on the front of the bus the destination is displayed in Greek and English. The bus station in Fira is found at the lower end of the town square. All buses start their trips from Fira and there is no direct bus route from one side of the island to the other. So changing buses at Fira bus station is needed. Buses start early in the morning around 7.00am and the majority make their last trips around 9.00pm. There are some extra late night buses laid on at the height of the season in July and August to the holiday resorts from Fira. But if you want a late night in town you may need to get a taxi back to your resort in May, June, September and October. Click here for current Santorini Bus Timetables Taxis in Santorini It is compulsory for Taxi drivers in Santorini to make and receive a minimum of 3 mobile phone calls per trip. Smoking is optional but drinking Café Frappe is compulsory. Dangling worry beads and religious icons from the rear view mirror are also obligatory. Speeds should not dip below 60 miles an hour. Only joking! Seriously, Taxis in Santorini are a great way of getting around. Generally the cars are well maintained, newish Mercedes and completely road worthy.
As the island is quite small you shouldn't need to pay anymore than €20 for any journey. You'll find a taxi rank at the town square in Fira. The tourist resorts have one or two taxis too at small Taxi ranks. If you cannot find one after a night out and you find you’ve missed the last bus then just ask the staff at the Kafenion, Taverna or Bar to order a taxi for you. One thing to note about Taxis in Santorini and Greece is that you may have to share your cab with strangers who may be going your way. Don’t expect to share the fare though. The Taxi driver will charge you and also the strangers the full fare even if you are going to exactly the same destination! We've been packed like sardines – luggage and all and had to pay full fare for the same trip shared with others. Still that's what makes getting around Santorini interesting! You'll most likely need a good map of Santorini and a Santorini guide book to explore the island fully. Here's our suggestion of the best around:
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