What to do in Santorini on a Cruise Stopover
August 25, 2023
Santorini is a volcanic island located in the Aegean Sea, Greece. It is known for its picture-perfect landscapes with its whitewashed houses, blue domes, and spectacular sunsets. If you have a cruise stopover in Santorini, there are plenty of things to see and do. Since time is limited, we won't be able to do everything the island has to offer.
The first thing to know is how to get to Fira from the port. You have three options:
How to Get to Fira from the Cruise Terminal
Take the Fira Cable Car
The quickest and the option we chose to get to Fira was to use the cable car. In less than 10 minutes, you'll be in Fira, and it costs €6. Tickets can be purchased online or at the ticket office, and they accept cash and debit/credit cards. There's no advantage to buying tickets in advance, as the same line for boarding the cable car is the same line to purchase tickets.
If you visit during the high season, there may be long lines. Our recommendation is to depart from the cruise ship very early to make the most of your day and avoid the crowds. Keep in mind that Santorini doesn't have a cruise terminal, so the only way to get there is via the famous "Tenders." These are small boats that can carry more than 50 people (depending on the ship) to the port. Cruise ships distribute free tickets to board these "Tenders" on the morning of arrival in Santorini. In our case, they started distributing the tickets at 6:00 AM, and the first "Tender" departed at 7:30 AM. It's first-come, first-served, so our recommendation is to arrive a little before 6:00 AM to be among the first to disembark from the cruise ship. However, this can vary from one cruise to another, so pay attention to their instructions.
Ride a Donkey to Fira
Please do not do this! You have the option to ride the famous donkeys up the stairs to Fira, at a cost of approximately €10 per person. We do not recommend this, mainly because it seems like mistreatment of the donkeys. The conditions they are in are not optimal, especially when it's hot during the summer.
Hike to Fira
The last option is to hike up. Be prepared for a hike of approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. Be cautious as the steps can be a bit slippery. But it's entirely doable. What we did was take the cable car up and then hike down.
Things to Do in Santorini
Visit Oia
Once you arrive in Fira, our recommendation is to go to the bus terminal and head to Oia. The journey takes about 40 minutes or less and costs €1.6 per person for the trip. It's important to have cash or coins.
Oia is the most picturesque village in Santorini. It is situated at the top of a cliff, overlooking the Aegean Sea and the caldera. The village is full of whitewashed houses, Byzantine churches, and souvenir shops.
In the morning, there are very few people in Oia, so you can take excellent photos. On your way back to Fira, you'll see the crowds just arriving in Oia, but you'll already have your sightseeing done.
Explore Fira
To return to Fira, you can do the same, go to the Oia bus terminal and head towards Fira. The bus cost is €1.6 as well.
Fira is the capital of Santorini. It is situated on the caldera, overlooking the Aegean Sea. The town is full of restaurants, bars, shops, and hotels.
By exploring the towns of Fira and Oia, you'll have more than enough for your cruise stopover day. It's better not to tempt fate and return to the cruise ship early. You can plan to visit Santorini for a few days on another occasion to explore the entire island.
