Santorini is considered one of the world’s top travel destinations, where everyone wants to go at least once in their life. The volcano, unforgettable sunsets, a fascinating history, premium wines, traditional food, picturesque cave houses: these are only some of the reasons that drive millions of travellers to the most famous cycladic island every year. Most of the cruises sailing in the Mediterranean will stop in Santorini where thousands of passengers (and you!) will create lasting memories in just a few hours.

Arriving in Santorini by Cruise: Your First Steps on the Island
Cruises dock in the Old Port of Santorini, which is a tendered port, meaning your cruise ship will anchor offshore, and you will be transported to the island via tender boats. The Old Port of Santorini is located beneath Fira, the capital of the island and it’s not accessible to any vehicles, given its position at the bottom of the stunning volcanic cliff.

As you don’t want to miss the opportunity to visit Santorini, ask your cruise company about the disembarkation priority and tender tickets and try to organize your visit to the island at the beginning of your sailing trip. First come, first served is always a golden rule!

Once you arrive at the Old Port you have three options to reach the heart of Fira:

Cable Car: The easiest and quickest way to reach Fira town is by taking the cable car. A short walk from the docking of the tenders, get your tickets (please note you can’t buy tickets for the cable car in advance or online) and hit the top. It’s a short ride (only 2 minutes) but it offers incredible views. Your day in Santorini starts here! Don’t be dissuaded if there is a line, it’s worth it!

Walking: the traditional way of reaching Fira was by climbing the steps you’ll see from the Old Port. It’s a challenging and quite steep walk: we counted the steps for you, they are 588! If you have comfortable shoes and want (really want) to workout, this might be your preferred choice but please don’t do it during midday, the sun can be very harsh.

Donkey Ride: some travellers opt to ride a donkey up to the tough path to Fira. We don’t recommend this option due to animal welfare concerns.
Since everyone wants to visit Santorini and take a picture of its whitewashed houses and blue domes, be prepared to line up and consider that you will realistically reach Fira Town 90 minutes (estimated time) after your cruise ship docks offshore.

If you book a private transfer or a tour with VIP Santorini, your driver/guide will wait for you at the exit of the Cable Car with a welcome sign with your name.

Santorini in a Few Hours: Where to Go and What You can Do
If you are travelling with a cruise ship you will have only some hours to spend in Santorini. If you are wondering if it’s worth the hassle or it’s just an over-hyped destination… In our humble opinion, we encourage you not to miss the opportunity to spend the day in one of the most beautiful islands in the world!

If you are an independent type of traveller, you might want to explore Santorini on your own.

From Fira, you can easily reach Oia, the most famous of the villages, by bus or with a private transfer. You can wander around the charming alleys, walk to the Castle, do some shopping, or enjoy a drink on the caldera. We advise you to visit Oia in the morning hours to avoid the crowds of the sunset chasers.

But if you want to make the most out of your little time on the island, visit as much as you can and learn more about Santorini, a guided tour of the island is what we highly recommend.

You can opt for a semi-private tour of Santorini: thanks to many years of experience, we have created the most valuable itinerary tailor-made for cruise passengers. You will spend 6 hours delving into the history, tradition and local life of Santorini. From Oia to the Black Beach, with a lunch break for traditional food and a secret spot on the caldera, you will embark on a brief but exhaustive excursion that will leave you craving for a second visit to this Greek island.

If you are passionate about wine or art, if you dream of making all your Santorini dreams come true, you can book a tailor-made excursion and your guide will create the itinerary based on your requests and desires.

Whichever of the experiences you choose, Santorini will be the most beautiful stop of your cruise and you will be eager to come back again sometime soon.

Useful Tips to Make Your Day in Santorini Remarkable if You are Travelling by Cruise:
We suggest you check in advance how many cruises will dock in Santorini the day you will be on the island.It can be very crowded in high season and sometimes a bit messy, but it’s understandable, lots of travellers like you will want to spend time on the islands of the beautiful sunsets.

Here are some tips to make your day more enjoyable:
Read your cruise programme in advance and familiarize yourself with the schedule of all the cruises for the day to maximize your time
Visit the most sought after spots (the village of Oia, the Red Beach) in the earliest hours of the day

Allow enough time to get back to your cruise ship. Arrive in Fira town at least 90 minutes before your cruise is due to leave. The queue for the Cable Car can be long. If not, there is always time for some extra

shopping in the capital of Santorini
Book everything you can in advance: your specific transfer, your guided tour, your tickets for historical sites and museums. It will save you a lot of time! “maybe no links here at all there are plenty of links already”

A day in Santorini: A Day to Remember Forever
You will always recall your day in Santorini. From the very first look at the cliffs of the Caldera while approaching the Old Port, to the final live experience of the iconic Blue Domes, to that delicious moussaka… everything will stay with you forever.

Start ‘travelling’ to Santorini now; ask us anything you want to know about our unique island and let’s plan your hassle-free experience.