Santorini is small, but it doesn’t feel small when you’re standing at a bus stop in August or circling Oia for a parking space. Getting around Santorini comes down to one decision: where you’re based. Stay in or near Fira and the public buses will take you almost everywhere for EUR 2.20 to 2.80 a ride. Stay anywhere else and you’ll want a rental car for at least a day or two. Taxis are few, ATVs are more fun than they are practical, and the most beautiful journey on the island, along the caldera rim, is done on foot.
Quick answer: Use the KTEL buses, which run from the Fira hub to Oia, Kamari, Perissa, Akrotiri, the airport and more for EUR 2.20 to 2.80 (fare table updated May 19, 2026); on the summer timetable, Fira-Oia buses run every 30 minutes from 08:30 to 21:00. Rent a car for beach, winery and south-coast days, book taxis and transfers well ahead, and walk between Fira, Firostefani and Imerovigli.
Last updated October 7, 2026. We checked bus fares and timetables against KTEL Santorini’s own site, and the 2026 road and port restrictions against Civil Protection notices, in September and October 2026. Where official sources disagree, as they do on driving permits, we say so.
- What changed: KTEL launched a new website with an updated fare table on May 19, 2026, and Greece’s new Road Traffic Code, fully in force since September 2025, brought much bigger fines, reported at EUR 350 and a 30-day license removal for riding without a helmet or using a phone while driving.
- What it costs: buses EUR 2.20 for most routes, EUR 2.70 to Perissa and Athinios port, EUR 2.80 to Vlychada and on the night fare (00:30-05:00). The cable car between Fira and the Old Port is EUR 10 one way (2026 price list).
- Season: the summer bus timetable (updated May 18, 2026) was still the one on KTEL’s site on October 1; its winter timetable hadn’t been posted yet, so expect fewer buses from late autumn.
- The trap: the 2026 Civil Protection measures, in force until March 31, 2027, close the road down to Ammoudi to private vehicles, control traffic at Athinios port and fence off a restricted zone at Fira’s Old Port.
- Driving permits: if you hold a US license, carry an International Driving Permit; the US State Department says Greek law requires one.
On this page: Options compared | Is it easy? | Buses | Rental cars | ATVs | Scooters and e-bikes | Taxis and transfers | Walking | Boats | Sample days | Travel times | Which option for your trip | At night | What’s changed | FAQ
Getting Around Santorini at a Glance
Every way of getting around in Santorini, side by side. Prices are dated where they are published; rental prices swing too much by season and day to quote, so get an all-in quote before you commit.
| Option | Cost (dated) | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| KTEL bus | EUR 2.20-2.80 a ride (May 19, 2026 table) | Fira-based trips to Oia, the beaches, Akrotiri and the airport | Almost every trip runs through Fira; crowded at sunset; fewer buses off-season |
| Rental car | Varies by season; get an all-in quote | Beaches, wineries, inland villages, families | Parking in Oia and Fira; narrow roads; summer traffic |
| ATV or quad | Varies; usually priced near a small car | Short hops for confident riders | Helmet fines (EUR 350 reported), sun, safety, no luggage space |
| Scooter | Varies | Experienced riders with the right license | Traffic, wind, gravel; insurance limits |
| Taxi | Agree the fare first | Late nights, ports, the airport | Too few cabs in summer; book ahead |
| Uber | Taxi rates | Hailing a licensed taxi through the app | It calls the same taxis, so it doesn’t add cars |
| Private transfer | Set price per vehicle | Arrivals, departures, sunset dinners | Book days ahead in summer |
| Walking | Free | Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli and the caldera path | Heat, steps and little shade |
| Boats | Per trip | Red Beach and a few beach hops | Weather and season |
Is It Easy to Get Around Santorini?
Easier than most Greek islands, harder than the size suggests. The road distances are short: on KTEL’s official table, Fira to Oia is 11.8 km, Fira to Kamari 7.3 km, Fira to Megalochori 10.7 km, Fira to Akrotiri village 15.1 km, Fira to Athinios port 18 km, and Fira to Perissa and Perivolos 20.4 km. One main road runs along the island’s spine, with the caldera villages strung along the cliff on the west side and the beach towns on the flatter east and south coasts.
The difficulty is everything else. Fira is the hub, so most bus trips between two other villages mean changing there. Oia and Fira are mostly pedestrian at their centers, with parking at the edges. In summer the main road fills with rental cars, quads, coaches, delivery trucks and buses, and the hour before sunset turns the road to Oia into a slow parade. Add the 2026 restrictions at Ammoudi, Athinios and Fira’s Old Port, and the honest answer is this: it’s easy if you plan around Fira and the clock, and frustrating if you don’t.
For most visitors, Santorini transportation works best as a mix: buses for the main routes, a car for one or two days of exploring, taxis or transfers for arrivals and late nights, and your own feet for the caldera.
The Santorini Bus (KTEL): Routes, Fares and Timetable
The public buses are run by KTEL Santorini, which says it has linked the island’s villages since 1988 and runs a fleet of 23 buses. They’re cheap, reasonably frequent on the main routes and the default way to travel if you’re staying in Fira. The Santorini bus system has one quirk you need to understand before anything else: almost every route starts and ends at the Fira bus station. To get from Oia to Perissa, you ride to Fira and change.
Bus fares (KTEL table updated May 19, 2026)
| From Fira to | Fare | Road distance |
|---|---|---|
| Oia | EUR 2.20 (night EUR 2.80) | 11.8 km |
| Imerovigli and Firostefani | EUR 2.20 | Short hop |
| Kamari, continuing to Monolithos and the airport | EUR 2.20 | 7.3 km to Kamari |
| Megalochori, Emporio, Messaria, Vourvoulos, Exo Gonia | EUR 2.20 | 10.7 km to Megalochori |
| Pyrgos (via Vothonas) | EUR 2.20 | Not listed |
| Akrotiri village, Akrotiri beach and Red Beach stop | EUR 2.20 | 15.1-16.5 km |
| Athinios port | EUR 2.70 | 18 km |
| Perissa and Perivolos | EUR 2.70 | 20.4 km |
| Vlychada | EUR 2.80 | 20.4 km |
The same table lists reduced fares: half price for large families and passengers with disabilities (EUR 1.10 on the Oia route), 25% off for students (EUR 1.70), and a 25% night surcharge from 00:30 to 05:00. Carry small cash and expect to pay on board; check with KTEL whether cards are accepted.
How often the buses run
KTEL’s routes page carries a summer timetable last updated on May 18, 2026. The winter tables hadn’t been posted as of October 1, so the summer times below are the published ones. Expect cuts later in the autumn and check the site the week you travel.
- Fira to Oia: 07:00, then every 30 minutes from 08:30 to 21:00. Buses back from Oia leave from 07:30 to 21:20.
- Fira to Kamari: 07:15, 08:30 and 09:15, then every 30 minutes from 10:00 to 21:00, plus 22:00. Last bus back 22:15.
- Fira to Perissa and Perivolos: 06:30, 07:00 and 08:30, then hourly from 10:00 to 22:00, with some express runs; buses back from 07:45 to 21:30.
- Fira to Akrotiri: 08:30, then hourly from 10:00 to 20:00, each returning 20 minutes later (last return 20:20).
- Fira to Firostefani and Imerovigli: 08:30, 09:15, 10:00, 11:00, 12:30 and 14:00, then hourly to 21:00.
- Fira to the airport: 06:00, 07:15, 08:30 and 09:15, then hourly from 10:00 to 22:00; KTEL advertises the ride as 10 minutes.
- Thin routes: Vlychada has three buses a day (07:00, 10:00 and 14:00), Monolithos five, and Vourvoulos two.
Five rules make the buses work. Get to Fira station early for the Oia buses before sunset, because they fill up and you may wait for the next one. Check the board for the right bay, since several routes leave at once. Watch the last bus back, which is earlier than most visitors assume, especially from Akrotiri and Vlychada. Don’t plan a Perissa-to-Oia day without allowing for the change in Fira. And remember that the airport and Athinios port buses are timed around flights and ferries, which are covered in our guides on how to get to Santorini and the Santorini ferry routes.
Renting a Car: Licenses, Parking and Driving in Santorini
A car turns Santorini from a string of famous viewpoints into an island. With one you can reach the black-sand beaches at Perissa, Perivolos and Vlychada on your own schedule, drive the wine roads around Pyrgos, Megalochori and Exo Gonia, see Akrotiri and the lighthouse in one loop, and watch the sunset from somewhere that isn’t Oia. For most visitors, the smart plan is a Santorini car rental for one or two days in the middle of the trip, not the whole week.
What you need to rent. A valid license, a credit card and, depending on where your license is from, an International Driving Permit. Official advice conflicts by nationality, so here is what the official pages say. The US State Department says Greek law requires US visitors to carry an IDP along with their US license, even if the rental company doesn’t ask for it. The Australian Embassy in Athens says Australian licenses have been recognized without an IDP since November 5, 2021. Many island rental companies ask for an IDP as their own policy regardless. Our advice: if you’re American, get the permit before you fly; everyone else, check your own government’s advice and the rental company’s terms in writing.
Age, insurance and size. Rental companies set their own age rules, and 21 or older with at least a year of driving experience is a common requirement. Take the fullest insurance you can get with a zero or low excess; narrow lanes, stone walls and tight parking make scrapes far more likely than serious crashes. Choose the smallest car that fits your group. A compact is easier on Santorini’s roads and in its parking spaces than any SUV, and automatics sell out first in summer, so book ahead if you need one.
Driving in Santorini. The roads are paved and well signed, but they’re narrow, busy and shared with coaches, buses, delivery trucks, quads and scooters. A few local realities:
- Athinios port: the road down to the ferry port is a steep series of hairpins, and under the 2026 Civil Protection measures traffic there is controlled during ship arrivals and departures to cut congestion. Give yourself extra time if you’re catching a ferry or returning a car at the port.
- Ammoudi: until March 31, 2027, vehicles are turned away at the junction on the Oia ring road and the municipal car park; only supply vehicles (05:00-10:00), the Municipality of Thira’s rotating visitor shuttles and traffic for Thirasia go down. You can still walk down or arrive by sea.
- Sunset traffic: the hour before sunset turns the road to Oia into a slow line of cars and quads hunting for the same few parking spaces. If you’re driving to Oia, arrive by mid-afternoon or don’t drive at all.
- The new fines: Greece’s new Road Traffic Code, fully in force since September 2025, is reported to fine phone use while driving EUR 350 with a 30-day license removal for a first offense, and far more for repeats.
Parking. Central Fira and central Oia are largely pedestrian, and parking sits in lots and roadside spaces at the edges. Oia parking is the hardest on the island in summer, especially before sunset. Fira has more space but it fills by late morning. In the beach towns and inland villages parking is usually easy outside the main squares. Never block a lane or a bus turn; the buses have nowhere else to go.
Do you need a car in Santorini? Not if you’re staying in Fira or Imerovigli and mostly want Oia, the caldera and a beach or two; the buses and your feet will do. Yes, for at least a day, if you’re staying in Oia, inland or on the south coast, traveling with small children, or curious about the island beyond the postcard.
ATVs and Quads: Fun, but Think Twice
Quads are everywhere on Santorini, and every village has a rental shop. They look like freedom. In practice they’re exposed to the sun, the wind and the dust, slow on the climbs with two people aboard, twitchy on gravel, useless for luggage, and impossible to lock anything into properly. For a couple, a small car often costs about the same for the day, carries your bags and has air conditioning. Santorini ATV rental is a fun afternoon, not a transport plan.
If you do rent one, three rules. First, licensing: most shops accept a regular car license for the common rental quads, but check exactly what your own license and the rental insurance cover before you sign, because an uninsured accident abroad is the expensive kind. Second, helmets are compulsory, and under the new Road Traffic Code riding without one is reported to cost EUR 350 and a 30-day license removal, with both rider and passenger fined if the passenger is bareheaded. Third, stay off the main road at peak hours, keep right, and let the buses past; they will not wait for you. Guided quad and jeep tours are a different product, run with a leader on set routes.
Scooters and E-Bikes
Scooters are cheaper than cars and easier to park, and for experienced riders they’re a pleasant way to reach the beaches. For anyone else, Santorini is the wrong place to learn: steep hills, sharp bends, gusty wind, gravel on the shoulders and impatient traffic. You need a license that covers the category of scooter you rent, and a car-only license often doesn’t. If yours doesn’t, don’t rent one, because the insurance won’t cover you either. The helmet rule and the EUR 350 fine apply to scooters too, for rider and passenger alike. Santorini scooter rental makes sense for a rider who would happily ride at home; it isn’t a holiday experiment.
E-bikes can be rented on the island, and they’re good for flat coastal stretches and short hops between neighboring villages. The climbs between the coast and the caldera are steep, though, and the main road is busy, so treat an e-bike as a half-day outing or a guided ride rather than your way of getting everywhere.
Santorini Taxi, Uber and Private Transfers
Taxis are the weak link in Santorini transportation. The island is reported to have only about 35 to 40 licensed taxis for its thousands of summer visitors, a cap that has been in place for years. In high season that means lines at the Fira taxi rank on Theotokopoulos Square, at the ports and at the airport, and long waits after dinner. The island’s taxi association is widely listed at +30 22860 22555; call well ahead for anything time-sensitive, like a ferry or flight.
Fares are regulated, but drivers don’t always run the meter, so agree the price before you set off or ask for the meter. For airport and port runs, fixed quoted prices are common. Uber does work on Santorini, but in Greece it books licensed taxis at taxi rates (Uber Taxi), so it draws on the same small fleet; it can help with payment and language, but it won’t conjure a car in August.
Private transfers fill the gap. Most hotels will book a car or minivan for arrivals and departures at extra cost, and local transfer companies sell fixed-price rides to the airport, Athinios and dinner reservations. Prices vary widely by hotel and vehicle: Mystique, a Luxury Collection hotel in Oia, lists its private car from the airport at EUR 100 one way for up to three people and EUR 150 for four to six. For a sunset dinner on the other side of the island, a pre-booked transfer both ways is often worth more than any table upgrade. The airport and the ferry port each have their own transfer options, covered in our arrival and ferry guides.
Walking: The Caldera Path and Village Steps
Inside the caldera villages, walking isn’t just possible, it’s the point. Fira, Firostefani and Imerovigli are joined by a paved path along the caldera rim, about a 15-minute walk from Fira to Firostefani and longer to Imerovigli, with some of the best views on the island at every step. Inside Oia and Fira, cars can’t go anyway.
The full walk from Fira to Oia follows the rim for roughly 10 km; Blue Star Ferries’ island page calls it a three-hour walk, and most people take three to five hours with stops. Past Imerovigli the path becomes rougher and unshaded, climbing and dropping over the old volcanic headlands before Oia. Start early, carry plenty of water, wear real shoes and catch the bus back from Oia for EUR 2.20. Check locally for closures on the path itself before you set out. The only closure we know of near it is the separate Ammoudi-Agios Nikolaos path below Oia, shut under the 2026 measures.
Between Fira and its Old Port, the cable car (EUR 10 one way for adults, EUR 5 reduced and EUR 5 per bag on the 2026 price list) and the Karavolades steps are the routes up and down. The 2026 Civil Protection measures created a restricted visitor zone at the Old Port, but the cable car and the footpath itself were not restricted.
Boats and Water Taxis
A few journeys are by sea. Red Beach, below Akrotiri, has had its cliff path closed since 2013 because of rockfalls, so the way in is by small boat from Akrotiri’s harbor, roughly a 10-minute ride for a few euros. In summer, small boats also run between some south-coast beaches; schedules depend on the weather and the operator, so ask at the beach. Caldera cruises, the volcano and the hot springs are tours rather than transport, and they’re booked as day trips. A Santorini water taxi won’t replace the bus, but on a calm morning it’s the most pleasant ride on the island.
Two Sample Days: With and Without a Car
Timetables and fare tables are abstract until you try to build a day around them. Here are two that work in early October, using the published bus times and site hours.
A day without a car, from Fira. Catch the 08:30 bus from Fira to Akrotiri (EUR 2.20). In the first half of October the Bronze Age site opens at 08:00, or 08:30 on Mondays and Thursdays, so you’ll be among the first through the gate. Give it two hours, then walk down to the small harbor if you want to see Red Beach, which is reached only by boat because the cliff path has been closed since 2013. Buses leave Akrotiri for Fira 20 minutes past each hour, so the 12:20 or 13:20 gets you back for lunch. In the afternoon, walk the caldera path from Fira to Firostefani and Imerovigli and back, about 15 minutes to Firostefani and longer to Imerovigli, with views the whole way. Then take the 17:00 or 17:30 bus to Oia, find your spot well before sunset, eat in the village and make sure you’re at the stop for the last bus back at 21:20. Total transport cost: four bus rides, under EUR 10.
A day with a rental car. Start at Ancient Thera on Mesa Vouno when it opens at 08:30 (it’s closed on Wednesdays in summer), because the site closes at 15:30 and the hairpin road up from the Kamari side is best driven before the coaches. Drop down for a swim at Perissa or Perivolos, then cross to Vlychada for a fish lunch by the marina. In the afternoon, visit the Akrotiri site, which stays open until 18:30 in the first half of October, and finish at the lighthouse at the island’s southwestern tip for sunset away from the Oia crowds. Drive back to Fira slowly in the dark: the roads are unlit in places and you’ll share them with quads. That loop covers in one day what would take three by bus, which is why one car day is the best-value transport spend on the island.
A third option, for travelers who’d rather not drive at all, is to replace the car day with a private driver or a small-group tour for the south. It costs more than a rental, but someone else finds the parking.
Getting Around With Luggage, Kids or Limited Mobility
Luggage. Rolling a suitcase through Fira or Oia is miserable: the lanes are stepped, cobbled and crowded, and many caldera hotels sit dozens of steps below the nearest road. Before you arrive, ask your hotel where the nearest drivable point is and whether someone can meet you there to carry bags, and what that costs. Buses are a squeeze with big cases in summer, so for arrival and departure days a transfer or a pre-booked taxi is worth the money. If you’re coming up from Fira’s Old Port by cable car, the 2026 price list charges EUR 5 per piece of luggage on top of the EUR 10 adult fare.
Kids. Strollers are hard work in the caldera villages and easy in the beach towns. A rental car with child seats, booked in advance, is the simplest way to move a family around; buses are fine for older children outside the sunset rush, when standing room runs out. Plan the day around shade and the midday heat, and keep quads and scooters off the list with children aboard.
Limited mobility. Santorini is one of the harder Greek islands for wheelchair users and anyone who struggles with steps. The caldera villages are built down the cliff on stairs, while the east and south coast towns, such as Kamari and Perissa, are flat and far easier. KTEL’s fare table gives passengers with disabilities a 50% reduction (EUR 1.10 on the Oia route, May 19, 2026). With few taxis on the island, pre-book any accessible transfer you need well ahead, and ask hotels for an exact count of steps between the road and your room before you book. On the caldera, that number can decide the whole trip.
How Long Does It Take to Get Around Santorini?
Less time than the traffic makes it feel. Distances below are KTEL’s official road distances from Fira; driving times are our own estimates for a clear road, so add a margin in July and August and around sunset.
| From Fira to | Road distance | Bus (summer timetable) | Driving, our estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firostefani and Imerovigli | A few km | About hourly | 5-10 minutes |
| Kamari | 7.3 km | Every 30 minutes most of the day | 15 minutes |
| Airport | Via Kamari and Monolithos | Hourly; KTEL says 10 minutes | 10-15 minutes |
| Megalochori | 10.7 km | EUR 2.20 route; check the timetable | 15-20 minutes |
| Oia | 11.8 km | Every 30 minutes, 08:30-21:00 | 20-30 minutes |
| Akrotiri village | 15.1 km | Hourly, 10:00-20:00 | 25 minutes |
| Athinios port | 18 km | Timed to ferries | 25-35 minutes, more at ship times |
| Perissa and Perivolos | 20.4 km | Hourly, 10:00-22:00 | 30 minutes |
| Vlychada | 20.4 km | Three a day | 30 minutes |
Driving the island end to end, from Oia in the north to the lighthouse beyond Akrotiri in the south, takes about an hour without traffic. By bus the same trip takes a change in Fira and, realistically, half a day. That gap is the whole argument for renting a car for at least one day.
How to Get Around Santorini: Which Option Fits Your Trip?
The right answer depends on where you sleep and what you want to do. These are the combinations that work best for the most common trips.
1. You’re based in Fira
Buses, your feet and one taxi. Fira is the hub, so every bus route starts at your door. Walk the caldera path to Firostefani and Imerovigli, ride the bus to Oia (go early for sunset) and to the beaches, and book one taxi or transfer for a late dinner. Add a car for a single day if you want the wineries and the south.
2. You’re staying in Oia
A car for a day, and patience. Oia is at the end of the line: everything else means a bus to Fira first, a ride of roughly half an hour each way. Plan one car day for the beaches and the south, book transfers for arrival and departure well ahead, and enjoy the fact that at sunset everyone else is coming to you.
3. You’re in Imerovigli or Firostefani
Walk to Fira, then use the buses. You’re a pleasant walk from the hub along the rim, with a bus every hour or so for the climb back. Taxis are worth booking for dinners in Oia or the south, and a car day opens up the rest of the island.
4. You’re on the beach in Kamari, Perissa or Perivolos
Bus to Fira, car for the caldera days. Kamari has the best bus service of the beach towns, every half hour for most of the day; Perissa runs hourly. A car for one or two days makes the caldera villages, Oia’s sunset and Akrotiri far easier, and Ancient Thera is a hike or a drive from either beach.
5. You’re traveling with kids
A car with child seats. Buses can be crowded and hot, taxis are scarce, and quads and scooters are off the table. Rent a car for most of the stay, ask for child seats when you book, and base yourself where parking is easy, usually outside the caldera villages.
6. You’re on a honeymoon
Transfers for the big moments, a car for one day. Book private transfers for arrival, departure and your special dinner so nobody spends the evening waiting at a taxi rank. Use one car day to explore the wineries and the south, and walk the caldera path together one morning before the heat.
7. You’re on the island for a day from a cruise ship
The cable car, then the bus. Tenders usually land at Fira’s Old Port, where you go up by cable car (EUR 10 one way for adults on the 2026 price list) or on foot. From Fira, the bus to Oia runs every 30 minutes on the summer timetable, but lines for both the cable car and the buses grow fast when several ships are in, so go early and leave a wide margin to get back down.
8. You’re visiting in winter
Rent a car. Expect fewer buses once KTEL’s winter timetable starts, fewer taxis on the road, and many businesses outside Fira closed from about November to March. A small car is cheap in the off-season, parking is easy, and you’ll have the caldera roads largely to yourself.
Getting Around Santorini at Night
The buses stop earlier than most visitors expect. On the summer timetable, the last bus back from Oia leaves at 21:20, from Kamari at 22:15, from Perissa at 21:30 and from Akrotiri at 20:20. KTEL’s fare table lists a night fare for 00:30 to 05:00, but the summer timetable shows no departures in those hours, so don’t count on a late bus.
After the last bus, your choices are a pre-booked taxi or transfer, an Uber Taxi request that draws on the same small fleet, or walking if you’re staying in the same village. Book the ride home when you book dinner. Village lanes are lit and generally safe at night, but the caldera edge has drops and low walls, so stay on the paths and watch your step after a bottle of Assyrtiko. If you’re driving, don’t drink at all.
What’s Changed in 2025 and 2026
| Item | What older guides say | Now (checked September-October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Bus fares | EUR 2.00 to 2.50 | EUR 2.20 most routes, EUR 2.70 Perissa and Athinios, EUR 2.80 Vlychada and night fare (May 19, 2026 table) |
| Bus timetable | Old KTEL website | New site since May 2026; summer timetable updated May 18, 2026; winter timetable not yet posted on October 1 |
| Cable car | EUR 6 one way | EUR 10 adult, EUR 5 reduced, EUR 5 per bag (2026 price list) |
| Traffic fines | Lower, older penalties | New Road Traffic Code in force since September 2025; helmet and phone offenses reported at EUR 350 plus a 30-day license removal |
| Ammoudi road | Open to all traffic | Closed to private vehicles until March 31, 2027; municipal visitor shuttles run in rotation |
| Athinios port | Normal traffic | Traffic control during ship arrivals and departures under the 2026 measures |
| Fira’s Old Port | Open waterfront | Restricted visitor zone; the cable car and the footpath are not restricted |
| Driving permits | “No IDP needed since 2021” | True for Australian licenses per the Australian Embassy; the US State Department says US drivers need one |
What to Skip
- A week-long rental if you’re based in Fira. You’ll pay to park a car you barely use. Rent for the days you’ll explore.
- Driving to Oia for sunset. Take the bus early or book a transfer; the parking hunt will cost you the sunset.
- An ATV as your only transport. It’s hot, exposed and impractical for a whole trip, and the fines for a missing helmet are now steep.
- Counting on a taxi at midnight. Book the ride home when you book dinner.
- The Fira to Oia walk at midday in summer. There’s almost no shade after Imerovigli. Start early or walk it in the cooler months.
Getting Around Santorini FAQ
Is it easy to get around Santorini without a car?
Yes, if you stay in or near Fira. KTEL buses run from Fira to Oia, the beaches, Akrotiri and the airport for EUR 2.20 to 2.80, and Fira, Firostefani and Imerovigli are linked by a walking path. Without a car, the south coast and inland villages take longer, because most trips change in Fira.
How much is the bus in Santorini?
KTEL’s fare table, updated May 19, 2026, lists EUR 2.20 for most routes from Fira, including Oia, Kamari, Akrotiri, Pyrgos and the airport, EUR 2.70 to Perissa and Athinios port, and EUR 2.80 to Vlychada. A night fare of EUR 2.80 applies on the Oia route from 00:30 to 05:00.
Do you need a car in Santorini?
Not if you’re based in Fira or Imerovigli and mainly want the caldera, Oia and a beach or two. A car is worth it for at least a day if you’re staying in Oia, inland or on the south coast, traveling with young children, or want to explore wineries, villages and beaches on your own schedule.
How do you get from Fira to Oia?
By bus, taxi, car or on foot. On KTEL’s summer timetable, buses leave Fira for Oia every 30 minutes from 08:30 to 21:00 for EUR 2.20. The caldera footpath is roughly 10 km and takes three to five hours. Taxis are scarce in summer, so book ahead, and avoid driving there just before sunset.
Is Uber available in Santorini?
Yes, but only as Uber Taxi, which books the island’s licensed taxis at taxi rates. Santorini is reported to have only about 35 to 40 taxis, so Uber doesn’t add cars and won’t solve a summer shortage. For airports, ferries and late dinners, pre-book a taxi or a private transfer instead.
Do I need an International Driving Permit in Santorini?
If your license is from the US, carry one: the US State Department says Greek law requires an IDP alongside a US license. The Australian Embassy says Australian licenses have been accepted without one since November 5, 2021. Many rental companies ask for an IDP anyway, so check your rental terms before you travel.
Can you walk around Santorini?
Within and between the caldera villages, yes. Fira to Firostefani is about a 15-minute walk along the rim, and the full Fira to Oia path is roughly 10 km. Walking between the caldera and the beach towns is not practical: the distances are longer, the roads are busy, and there’s little shade.
How long does it take to drive around Santorini?
About an hour from Oia in the north to the Akrotiri lighthouse in the south, without traffic. Fira to Oia is 11.8 km and Fira to Perissa 20.4 km on KTEL’s official distances, which usually means 20 to 30 minutes each by car, plus a margin in summer and around sunset.
Related Santorini Guides
- How to get to Santorini by air and sea
- Santorini ferries: routes, Athinios port and timetables
- Oia: the village, Ammoudi Bay and the sunset
Sources and How We Checked
We checked fares, timetables and road distances on KTEL Santorini’s own site on October 1, 2026, and the 2026 restrictions, cable car prices and driving rules against the sources below between September 24 and October 1, 2026.
- KTEL Santorini: routes and timetables (summer timetable, last updated May 18, 2026)
- KTEL Santorini: fare table (updated May 19, 2026)
- Santorini Cable Car (2026 price list)
- US State Department: Greece country information (driving permits)
- Australian Embassy in Greece: driving permits
- Euronews: Santorini’s 2026 restrictions (Ammoudi, Athinios, Fira Old Port)
Santorini Tourism Guide is an independent publication. We are not affiliated with the Municipality of Thira, the Greek National Tourism Organisation, KTEL Santorini, the Santorini Cable Car, any rental, taxi or transfer company, or any business listed here, and no one paid to be included.
Photo Credits
- Caldera rim road panorama: photo by Stamatis, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- KTEL bus stop, Fira-Karterados road: photo by Jean Housen, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Fira bus station: photo by Jean Housen, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Road to Athinios port: photo by Lourakis, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Quad in Imerovigli: photo by Norbert Nagel, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Scooter in Firostefani: photo by LBM1948, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Taxis in Oia: photo by Jean Housen, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Fira-Oia caldera path: photo by Paul Stephenson from London, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)