Pyrgos is also close to Santo Wines, which is one of Santorinis best-known wineries, who make reds, whites, ross and Vinsanto dessert wine. You can also use Uber App for ordering a ride, and the advantage of Uber over taxis in Santorini is getting a trip estimate and being able to read past customers reviews. Many vineyards offer tours and tastings, and some even have restaurants where visitors can enjoy a meal with a view of the caldera. Island Hopping Essentials Best Time to Visit the Greek Islands Best Beaches in Greece Best Greek Islands Best Places To Go in Greece Greek Islands with Kids Flights to Greece Greek Ferries Paros or Naxos? Learn how you can say Thank You - at no cost to you. Fira is the main town of Santorini, and it offers plenty of things to see and do. Its essential to plan and allow enough time to get to and from the port. If your debit card has a monthly spending limit, this deposit could greatly affect your ability to withdraw cash during your entire trip. However, as we mentioned earlier, Uber is not really cheaper than taxis. First time Santorini: top tips for your first trip - Lonely Planet Islands without using a car : GreeceTravel - Reddit | Greece | Santorini Renting A Car In Santorini, Greece: 2023 Ultimate Guide + Tips By Mal 15 Jun 2023 Interested in renting a car in Santorini? The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Its important to read the insurance policy thoroughly, even the tedious fine print, to ensure you understand any restrictions or conditions that may void your claim in case of an accident. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. Tickets are purchased on the bus. While very few countries allow visitors to rent a car with just a U.S. license, more than 150 countries accept the IDP. There are stations in the main tows and around the airport. If youve really enjoyed our guides, you can buy us a virtual coffee here. You can keep your attention sharp. As of now, Uber Santorini can only be accessed through UberTaxi. The ride from the cruise ship to the shore can take 10 to 30 minutes. twitter facebook . There is no direct bus to Santorini airport. Volcanic activity on Santorini also created the two islands of Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni, which you can see in the middle of the caldera. Mykonos or Santorini? These travelers get off the ship first. For the cable car, there are typically two types of tickets available a one-way ticket and a round-trip ticket. The most beautiful places in Greece: Santorini, Crete, and more. Rent a Vehicle. All of these, or any combination of these, options are viable internal travel options for most visitors. Over the centuries, Santorini was inhabited by a series of different civilizations, including the Minoans, the Greeks, the Romans, and the Byzantines. #1 inBest Cheap European Honeymoon Destinations, #7 inBest Places to Visit in November 2023. You can reach Thirassia by ferry from the port of Ammoudi below Oia. Choosing the best way to see Santorini After that, you will ride your ATV back to Perissa, where the tour ends. Instead, they anchor off the coast, and a tender boat gets you safely into the port. If you choose to purchase through these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Ios-Santorini ferry: in high season, there are 4 daily ferries from Ios to Santorini. If you plan to rent a vehicle for only 2-3 days, renting a car will always be more affordable than renting an ATV. Santorini: Getting Around - Tripadvisor You also need to be sure you get back to the tender boats in the port in time to be back on board your ship for a prompt departure. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Learn how to replace a boring sky, remove objects from the background and more.Access the training by subscribing below! We only use it as a last resort because we believe they dont offer a good value for money. We advise against using your debit card for the rental deposit, even though some rental companies may allow it. Santorini is only 17km in length and 5km wide, so technically you could explore most of the island in a single morning if you wanted to. There are no tours of Megalochori village, but you can visit the Venetsanos Winery on the edge of the village as part of a half-day wine tour*. Athens Airport Rental Car Greece Travel Agencies We really do not recommend this option. Whether youre planning a romantic road trip or an epic adventure with friends, renting a car in Santorini makes it easy for you to see all the best sights that this beautiful island has to offer. Santorini is stunning and there are beautiful sights dotted around the island. In 2020 I quit the corporate financial world and moved to Bali against all odds. Note: Public transport details start from Santorinis capital Fira, so if youre staying elsewhere on the island you may need to get the bus to Fira first. Some have carparks before entering the village. Learn how you can say Thank You - at no cost to you. A lot of people rent ATV/Quad and think rules don't apply to them, Like on other islands or in the mountains, locals have a tendency to drive fast - just pull to the side as soon as you can to let them overtake, Some spots can become quite busy and you will have to be patient, 40 scenic locations and photo stops to consider for your itinerary, Planning tips to make the most of your time, 90+ photos to help you select where to go. When youre taking full insurance cover with Discover Cars, your deposit is also protected in case something happened to the car. Beautiful Oia is Santorinis picture-perfect spot with its pastel-painted houses, windmills and domed churches spilling down the hillside. The Akrotiri archaeological site is open to the public and gives a fascinating insight into what life was like for the Minoans. Book your rental car at the best rate here: Here are the most important logistics regarding the car rent in Santorini. Buses run from Firas bus station to Perissa, with both regular and faster express services. During this section, youll see Akrotiri and the lighthouse before reaching Palea Kameni. One of Santorinis lesser-known spots, the hillside village of Megalochori was once the haunt of pirates who plundered the seas around Santorini. Santorini is known for its unique and beautiful souvenirs, and there are many options for travelers to bring back a piece of the island with them. Discover Cars provides a budget-friendly and extensive policy that guarantees worry-free driving. The buses provide transportation to all major tourist spots on the island, as well as the airport and port. There isn't a traffic light on the entire . We have spent quite some time on Santorini, and exploring the island in our rental car was the highlight of your trip. We recommend booking the rental in advance with a pickup point at the airport. To avoid any complications, we recommend getting an International Drivers Permit as a precautionary measure. Enjoy a scenic ride to the shore and see the island from a different perspective. Hey, thanks for visiting my blog! This day tour* departs from Athinios Port and stops in Palea Kameni, Nea Kameni and Thirassia with an optional Oia add-on. The KTEL transportation company operates buses from Fira to areas all over the main island, Thira. You can find a spot on the cliffs overlooking the sea and watch as the sun slowly sets over the horizon, painting the sky with shades of orange, pink, and purple. With a 5-star rating and an affordable price, this tour offers great value for money. There are now long steep roads or fast roads, this is where you have the largest choices of rental companies and cars. I will be spending time in Milos before, so beach isn't a top priority. You can either apply for an IDP over the counter at any Post Office or online. Once in Ios theres a bus which connects the port to the main town Chora (which is up a steep hill) and Mylopotas Beach, which costs 1.80 one way. There is another port, Athinios, however this is used mostly for tender boats that bring in cruise guests who have booked a shore excursion with the cruise line. How to get around Santorini - Everything you need to know The cost of these tours can vary depending on the tour company and the length of the excursion but typically range from 40-60 per person. All the rest are considered to be individual travelers and disembark only at the old port of Fira. This is an average of the marks given by actual customers. To give you an idea, the deposit we had to provide for the car hire Santorini for only 2 days was 800. Renting A Car In Santorini Greece: Logistics, Hiring A Car In Santorini: Practical Tips, How To Get Around Without A Rental Car In Santorini, 19 Amazing Oia Hotels With Caldera View That Will Blow Your Mind, 23 Incredible Fira Hotels With Private Pools, 27 Romantic Imerovigli Hotels With Private Pools, Flying Dress Santorini: Review Of The Unforgettable Photoshoot Experience, Magical Bruges at Christmas A Guide to Visiting Bruges Christmas Market, 29 UK Staycation Ideas to Inspire You to Travel Locally, Renting A Car In Paros: The Ultimate Guide + Tips (2023), Ferry To Paros From Mykonos 2023 Prices & Tips, Hotel pickup and drop-off from most island locations. Signage is generally poor with the exception of the aforementioned. This is because the rental shop will withdraw the deposit money directly from your card instead of just blocking it, like in the case of using a credit card. During the tour, we had the opportunity to taste various wines and learn about the islands history of winemaking, which was super fun! For these routes, expect to pay anywhere between 10 euros to 20 euros ($11.19 to $22.37), depending on your final destination. How To Get Around On Santorini - Answerpost.quest If youre looking to get around Santorini, self-driving is faster compared to taking the bus. Just down from the Akrotiri archaeological site, you can take a water taxi to the nearby Red, White, and Black beaches - find the pier here on Google Maps. For instance, if you are situated in the scenic Imerovigli, you can easily walk to the nearby capital town of Fira, which is two kilometres away and takes around 25 minutes. We recommend booking full insurance coverage for your rental car online beforehand, as it is almost always cheaper than obtaining it at the rental agency. Or you can take a sunset cruise* to the islands which also includes dinner and a glass of wine. Santorini is one of the most popular destinations for cruise ships in the Mediterranean, and its not hard to see why. Majorroutes, such as those from the ferry ports to Fira, from Oia to Fira, or travel to certain towns from the airports have fixed rates. Oia. Find out more about pick-up points and timetables in our short guide to Perissa. Most Santorini tours include a stop in Oia. If you want to go beyond Thirassia to other, farther away Greek Isles, stick to Athinios. Akrotiri was forgotten about until the 1860s when quarry workers dug down and found some of its ancient artefacts. Oia is located on the northern tip of Santorini. This is our favorite way to see the island when arriving on a cruise ship tender boat in the port: start at the port with a boat ride to reach Oia, then take a local bus to Fira in the afternoon, and finally use the cable car to get back down to the port to your tender boat. This means that you can request a ride normally through the Uber App, but the vehicle that arrives will be a taxi licensed locally, which will follow local taxi regulations and fares. This article will explore how to visit Santorini without booking a shore excursion. And dont miss a famous Oia sunset, though the town is the most popular place on the island to watch the sun go down so it can get very busy. You can hire a motorbike or car for maximum flexibility, although parking the . There are also several churches, museums, and galleries in Fira, where you can learn more about the history and culture of Santorini. Sailings get very busy in summer so book in advance. Catch the regular bus towards Perissa (not the express bus which doesnt stop in Pyrgos) and it takes around 10 minutes. Cheap eats in Santorini! The ferry takes around 10 minutes to reach Rivas, Thirassias new port. However, if youre on a budget, the bus is an affordable option, especially for solo travellers. Overall, driving in Santorini is fairly simple and will allow you to fully experience all the wonders this enchanting island has to offer. There are sections of the road where there are potholes, especially after rain or during winter months. Bad weather conditions like rain or wind can make it unpleasant to ride on an open ATV. It is not unusual to wait for the cable car for around 2 hours. Map of day trips in Santorini. We invite you to comment below if you found the article helpful or need us to cover an angle we missed. Santorini from ancient times to modern day, How to use the water taxi or boat from the port to Oia, Where to buy tickets for the cable car or boat ride, Tickets for the cable car from the Old Port to Fira, Tickets for a boat ride from the Old Port to Ammoudi Bay, Oia and bus to Oia village, Essential items to bring with you on a visit to Santorini island, The best souvenirs to bring home from Santorini, Visiting vineyards on Santorini and wine-tasting experiences. Just make sure to keep an eye out for mopeds these tiny motorized bikes are allowed on both the street and the sidewalk. Riding a mule is a traditional and unique experience, but it can also be uncomfortable. Book the exact same wine tour we took here: Santorini boasts a trustworthy and extensive bus network consisting of 23 coach-style buses operated by KTEL. Booking in advance will ensure that you will have a bigger choice of cars, including cars that are the best value for money. And the ash has helped preserve original features like frescoes and clay pots. We chased sunsets, parked at vantage points and visited some beautiful and quiet beaches. For instance, the most basic ATV starts at 301 for a week in August, whereas a low-end buggy costs 875. However, many cruise guests who arrive at the port of Santorini feel overwhelmed by the crowds and the queues.