Santorini cruise port guide

Arrival & Getting Ashore

Getting to the centre: From the Old Port (Skala) tender landing, head up to Fira's upper cable-car station on the caldera rim.

• Walk: possible if you're fit, but the stair route is steep, unshaded and hard going, and you share it with mule trains.
• Public transport: Old Port–Fira cable car: €10 one way (general admission); about 3 minutes plus queues and tender. Planned closure: 1 Dec 2026–15 Apr 2027; earlier reopening only if announced.

Prices checked 2026-09-08. Sources: Santorini Cable Car, Cable-car price list, Celebrity Cruises port information.

Orientation, not a walking route

Planned cable-car closure: public service is scheduled to stop from 1 December 2026 through 15 April 2027 for maintenance and upgrades; an earlier reopening would be announced by the operator (notice checked 2026-10-15). For a call during that period, ask your cruise line how you'll get ashore, reach town and return to the ship before planning the day. Check the operator's notice for updates.

Ships anchor in the caldera and boats take passengers ashore. The port names two landing points, the Old Port below Fira and Athinios, but its information doesn't say who lands where, so follow your ship's instructions.

Landing below Fira: when it is running, the cable car is the easy way up. The ride is short, but allow for the queue, boarding and, on the way back, the tender out to the ship. Going back down by cable car needs another single ticket.

The Karavolades stairs are a tough climb, especially in the heat. Check that the route is open before setting off, including during the cable-car works. Wear shoes with grip, carry water, and give the mule trains room to pass. Follow barriers or port instructions on the day.

Landing at Athinios: this is the ferry port, with roads, buses and taxis. Meet your transport where your arrangements say, and come back to the landing you were given. The cable car only serves the Old Port, so it won't help you from here.

About this port

Cruise ships anchor in Santorini's caldera and bring you ashore by boat, and where that boat lands shapes your day. From the Old Port below Fira, the cable car reaches town in about three minutes when operating, plus the queue. From Athinios, you're on the road instead. The cable car is scheduled to close from 1 December 2026 through 15 April 2027, so agree your landing, town journey and return with your cruise line for a call during that period. After that, the choice is Fira on the caldera rim, a trip out to Oia, or the Bronze Age settlement at Akrotiri.

Getting Around

Fira is the hub for the island's buses, including the route to Oia, so check both journeys before you leave town. Taxis are limited and waits can be long at busy times, so don't count on picking one up for the trip back from somewhere far.

Getting back: for any trip beyond Fira, start from the time you need to be on board and count back. Allow for the road journey, the trip down from Fira if you're returning through the Old Port, and the tender queue. Being back in Fira isn't the same as being back on the ship.

Things to Do

Fira or Oia: on a short call, Fira on its own makes a good day on the caldera rim. Oia means a road trip each way, so if you go, make it the main event; Fira, Oia and an archaeological site won't all fit comfortably.

Akrotiri: a Bronze Age settlement preserved under volcanic deposits, with multi-storey buildings now protected by a modern shelter. It's a very different outing from the caldera villages. Plan your transport around the site's admission and the landing you'll return to.

Getting back to your ship

Getting back: for any trip beyond Fira, start from the time you need to be on board and count back. Allow for the road journey, the trip down from Fira if you're returning through the Old Port, and the tender queue. Being back in Fira isn't the same as being back on the ship.

Practical Information

If getting into the tender boat is hard for you, ask your cruise line about help with boarding. Check the steps and slopes on any walking route against what you can manage, carry water, and leave time to rest without eating into your margin for getting back.

Greece uses the euro (€), and Greek is its official EU language. In an emergency, call 112; it's free.

Frequently asked

How much is the cable car from Santorini's cruise port to Fira? When the cable car is running, general admission is €10 one way. Coming back down needs another single ticket. Public service is scheduled to stop from 1 December 2026 through 15 April 2027.

How long does it take to reach Fira from Santorini's Old Port? When the cable car is running, the ride takes about 3 minutes, plus the queue, boarding and the tender. For the planned 1 December 2026 through 15 April 2027 closure, ask your cruise line how you will reach town and return to the ship.

Can you walk from Santorini's cruise tender landing to Fira? The stairs are an option only if they're open and you can manage a steep, unshaded climb shared with mule trains. Follow barriers or port instructions, and check your ship's arrangements before relying on the stairs during the cable-car works.

Do cruise ships dock or tender in Santorini? They tender from an anchorage in the caldera. The Old Port below Fira and Athinios lead to different onward transport, so use the landing your ship gives you.