Trying to decide whether to hire a car or ATV, rely on tours or transfers or give the local bus network a go, this guide on how to get around Santorini will help you make the right choice for your travel plans, style and budget.

Santorini is a small island.

Less than 45-minutes to drive from tip to tip, and 10 to 15-minutes from the west coast to the east, it's possible to cover most of it over the course of a few days without going at a frenetic pace.

With an affordable public bus network, lots of car rental companies, and more tour and transfer operators than you can shake a stick at, visiting its most popular places + experiences is also relatively easy.

However, this popular European holiday destination is inundated with cruise ship crowds on a daily basis, and how you choose to get around it will really shape some of your enjoyment and experiences. Indeed, for independent travellers looking to avoid the crowds and find their own slice of Santorini in the summer season, understanding and choosing the best mode of transport option(s) for your budget and travel style is essential to having the best Santorini experience and picking the right area to stay on the island.

Whether you’re here for a few days or a week also makes a difference.

In this post, we've shared our personal insights, tips, and recommendations on the five main ways to get around Santorini - bus, rental car, ATV, boats, or a combination of tours, taxis, and transfers - and the pros / cons of each.

Want to know about transport options and costs from the airport? Read this short explainer post: How To Travel From Santorini Airport

Getting Around Santorini | The Essentials

· Public bus network is affordable with excellent coverage

· Buses can however be crowded and often require a connection in Fira

· A hire car collected from the airport is the best value option, rather than picking up in Fira or Oia

· We recommend looking + booking via Rentalcars.com and AutoEurope for better rates

· ATV rentals are a popular way to get around

· Most highly-rated Santorini tours include hotel pick-up and drop-off

· Uber is now in Santorini, but depending on it and the limited number of taxis is expensive

· Booking a Santorini highlights tour, or a couple of memorable day-trip experiences, is a convenient option for travellers who don’t want to rent a vehicle, depend on the bus, or leave the pool too often

· High season vs. low-season price differentials on rentals and tours common

· Water taxis exist in some destinations, but are a more expensive, spontaneous option rather than one to depend on to get around the island

· There are several hiking trails in Santorini, with the best being the beautiful 10km Fira to Oia hike. However, walking to/from places is an activity rather than a realistic way to get around the island!

· A good Santorini trip will likely involve a combination of all or several options to explore, connect, and get around the island!

· Find more inspiration for your visit in 13 Wonderful Things To Do in Santorini

Santorini buses

First up, there is an incredibly good public bus service on the island.

Operated by KTEL, tickets for a single journey start at €1.60 for adults, with the most expensive journey priced at €2.30. Children and disabled passengers received a reduced rate, and one could go so far as to say that the Santorini bus is the best value thing on the whole island!

You may be imagining small, nifty, old minibuses are the norm - but that's far from the truth. Santorini's public buses are excellent, modern, large single-deck buses of the type that tour companies use, with seated capacity for 50 or so passengers. There’s usually working air-con too!

The network and coverage is excellent, with stops in or near every place that travellers will hope to visit in a week, including Oia, Pyrgos, Perissa Beach, Imerovigli, Megalochori, and Akrotiri. It also has regular services to/from the airport and the Athinios passenger ferry port.

With most services running from 6-7am until 10-11pm, it will be ideal for a number of Santorini day trips and connections you hope to make, and offers a sustainable way to get around.

However, as Santorini’s population swells to a ridiculous degree come summer, this isn't the 'normal' public bus service you may be thinking of if you’re an independent traveller.

Used by locals and the thousands of seasonal hospitality workers, the vast majority of its passengers are other tourists. And, with Santorini basically built on tourism from spring to summer, that means a lot of tourists.

Due to this, queues, crowds, and wait times for popular routes can be longer than you may like on a holiday. Although services are quite regular, it is common to have a wait for the next bus or the one after that on the Oia to Fira line (especially after sunset), from the ferry port, and the Red Beach / Akrotiri ruins.

The town of Fira is the main hub for bus connections, and all bus routes lead there. It’s common for bus journeys to involve a connection at its station, rather than a direct service. For example, to visit Pyrgos or Perissa from Oia or Imergivoli, you need to take a bus to Fira, then connect to the next departure. Same goes for travel to/from Akrotiri, Kamari, Megalochori, and the airport. Sometimes the buses cross and connect elsewhere on the island, but this is challenging to plan around and depends on drivers being amenable. Typical travel times from Fira are:

Oia / 30 minutes

Kamari / 20 minutes

Akrotiri / 30 minutes

Vlychada Marina / 30 minutes

You can find Fira bus station here on Google Maps.

If you're staying in Fira, this means you'll always have a direct line to your day trip destination but, as we expand on in our Where To Stay in Santorini guide (published soon), we absolutely do not recommend basing yourself there if you want to enjoy Santorini.

So, for everyone staying outside of Fira - and especially those in the countryside or a little off-the-beaten track - depending on the bus may cause more issues than it solves in terms of day trips and exploring the island. If you just have to connect in Fira a couple of times on your trip, that’s not a big deal, but personally we would not have enjoyed having to transfer at its bus station twice a day, several times a week, in order to go elsewhere on the island. The need to connect there to reach most places by bus from your base also eats into your time unnecessarily .

This is the main reason why opting for a rental car offers more convenience, flexibility, and independence than the bus if you plan to do several day trips.

However, from our experience of riding the buses a few times and seeing the queue, the biggest drawback of relying solely on the bus to get around Santorini is that, without being on a group tour, you may end up feeling as though you’re on a massive one at times given that the buses will principally be full of people going to / from the same places and attractions as you on the same schedule.

Whether this is an issue or not is entirely up to you.

Pros

+ Very affordable and convenient

+ Excellent coverage around the island

+ Regular services

+ Good for standalone day trips from your base to/from one desintation

+ No designated driver required if you’re doing wine tour tastings or drinking!

+ Best for travellers on a tighter budget, non-drivers, visiting in shoulder season, and those not leaving their base every day

Cons

- Very crowded in spring/summer, with concomitant increase in heat and sweat

- Long queues, wait times, and 'big tour group' feeling

- Dependence on bus schedule and capacity each day of your trip

- Requirement to connect and switch buses in Fira for majority of routes

- Not good for trying to visit several places in one day - this Santorini Highlights Day Tour would be better, especially if you want to squeeze in a wine-tasting and sunset in Oia.

- Limits your choice on accommodation locations

- Avoid if you’re impatient, or value independence and the freedom to visit the best things to do in Santorini at your own pace, rather than a schedule shared with many others

- Avoid if your accommodation is a 15+ minute walk from the nearest bus stop

SANTORINI BUSes | The Essentials

· You can find more information on timetables, routes, and prices on the KTEL website.

· For a week's holiday, we'd recommend budgeting €30-40 per adult if exclusively using the buses to visit the best things to do in Santorini from your base.

· You will pass through the bus station in Fira at least once or several times if you're using Santorini's buses - find it here on Google Maps. A large dusty hive of activity, it's got all the timetables, prices and connections listed, as well as a single information desk if you're unsure on connections or routes.

· All tickets are purchased from the driver before boarding, and it's cash-only. Having a spare stash of coins on you is a good idea, and the driver is required to give you a ticket (keep this in case of check controls on the line). On the back of the tickets we got, there's a handy little QR code to scan for timetables.

· Bus stops around the island are clearly indicated with the bright yellow, green, and red signage; some of these are just at the side of the road, whilst some have shelters in place or in the main village square. From our experience driving in Santorini, it seems like everywhere you'll plan to go has a bus stop. Most have a paper schedule posted, but it’s sometimes very faded, so it’s a good idea to have one accessible on your phone.

· If using the network in summer when you may be waiting in line for a while, make sure to bring a hat and maybe a shirt for shade. Also, at busy stops or accommodation hubs, it's a good idea to arrive at least 10 minutes before the bus to improve your chances of grabbing a seat on the next service. A seat is not guaranteed, and some passengers stand for the entire journey on busy routes (i.e. Oia to Fira)

· If you have a lot of luggage, you may prefer to book a taxi or transfer straight to your accommodation rather than using the bus from the airport - it all depends on where you're staying, how far the walk is, and whether it involves ups and downs on the caldera side or not.

You can reserve a transfer from the airport here.

We’ve shared more on airport transport options and costs in this short, dedicated explainer post: How To Travel from Santorini Airport

RENT A CAR IN SANTORINI

After a lot of research and on the recommendation of our Airbnb host, we went with a rental car in Santorini.

We do a lot of road trips in Europe and elsewhere, but we weren't certain our own wheels would be on budget or necessary for Santorini. However, we place a lot of value on our ability to move to our own schedule, and knew that a hire car would give us the flexibility and control to avoid the worst of the peak crowds in the streets of Oia, Fira, and Imergivoli, and get to know lesser-visited parts of the island.

So, we were delighted when we found a little Fiat Panda for just £89/week.

Parking is generally free in Santorini*, and after a week of driving around, we still only needed to fill up the tank once (costing €45), so it's possible to do a lot but keep costs down. Factor in that we didn’t need to take a single taxi or transfer, and we’re certain it saved us money overall.

Having your own wheels is also essential if you’re staying in certain locations, otherwise you'll be stuck with the very expensive restaurants on your doorstep each and every night.

For short or spontaneous rentals half way through your trip, there are lots of hire car operators in the villages and resorts. However, renting this way often works out more expensive per day and, if you pick the wrong agency, you could easily spend the more for two days than we did for a week.

So, for the best deals, we recommend you do what we did book a rental car for you arrival at Thira Airport. There are lots of international and local operators based there, and the prices and availability are much more affordable. We booked ours via Rentalcars.com, which offers free cancellation and we’ve used it on several road trips in the last two years. Another good option to check availability and rates for your dates is AutoEurope, and we recommend searching via both to find the best deal.

If you're doing a spontaneous rental half-way through your Santorini holiday, we'd even recommend giving the airport look as well in case the savings make it worth jumping on the bus from your base to pick it up there, rather than renting in the town you’re staying.

*Whilst it’s true that the public carparks are free across the island, in popular destinations like Oia, there are lots of private carparks which charge quite high fees that you may have no choice but to use if the free carparks are full.

Pros

+ Flexibility and control on your Santorini itinerary

+ Avoid the crowds and queues

+ Not weather dependent, unlike ATVs and scooters

+ Enhances your ability to visit more of the best things to do in Santorini across your holiday

+ Opens up the island and allows you to stay in less known local locations and bases

+ See more of Santorini in a single day and avoid airport taxi costs

+ Distances and drive times are always short

+ Best for independent travellers looking to cover a lot of the island beyond their hotel / Airbnb, and wanting to visit places before or after the crowds.

+ A better option than the bus (and possibly better value too) for larger groups of friends or families

Cons

+ A nervous or very inexperienced driver may not enjoy it

+ Finding parking is sometimes difficult in busy locations, and could be a nightmare at popular locations during the peak summer months.

+ If you don't plan on leaving your hotel too much, and budget isn't an issue, then you may find it more enjoyable and convenient to opt for a combination of the bus and tours.

+ Less fun than an ATV (but more practical)

+ Rates increase and demand for 'middle' and 'high' season on rentals may be prohibitive

The Santorini Car Essentials

· We highly recommend that you rent a small car for Santorini. It makes parking and certain roads significantly easier, but is also the more affordable option (a Fiat Panda did the job perfectly for us). Obviously, if you are 4+ people with a lot of luggage, you will need something larger.

· Greece has strict rules around non-EU rentals. They aren’t always enforced, but American followers of ours got in touch before our trip to let us know that they’d been asked for International Driver Permits by rental companies. We explain this in more detail in our companion post: 7 Things To Know Before Driving in Santorini (published soon)

· If you know your dates already, it's best to book in advance to grab the best rates and choice of vehicles. As mentioned, we booked via Rentalcars.com, which we've used for a bunch of road trips. To get the best deal available, we recommend also looking on AutoEurope - both platforms search through local and international firms, and almost always gives us a better deal than going direct (never sure why).

· If prices in high season are prohibitive, then consider renting a car for one or two days only and planning your itinerary accordingly. For example, one of the best activities on the island - the Fira to Oia hike - can be done sans voiture and the best catamaran cruises include transport.

Plan / We've shared more advice on the roads, parking, and etiquette to help you prepare in 7 Things To Know Before Driving in Santorini, and we also recommend checking out one of our most popular posts to save money and stress: 9 Essential Car Rental Tips for Travellers.

Check car rental prices + availability for your dates here

Tours, Transfers, and Taxis

If you’re dead set against renting a car and don’t want to depend on the bus, then your best bet to explore Santorini is a combination of tours, taxis, and transfers.

This the most expensive option overall, but will appeal to those who prefer the more convenient, personalised service experience over the pubic bus and the additional insights you gain from a guide. It can also be the ideal way to get around Santorini if you don't have too much time on the island.

Tours & Day TrIps

The majority of tours in Santorini include pick-up and drop-off from hotels around the island, which makes it super straightforward and allows visitors to explore its stunning landscapes with ease. A few require you to meet them at a certain place (i.e. Fira bus station or Vlychada Marina).

If you’re here for a week, then we’d suggest opting for at least two tour experiences alongside taking the bus once or twice. For shorter visits, it’s best to focus either on a single specialist experience or a more general ‘highlights’ tour that will give you the chance to visit the most popular places.

And, as we explain in 13 Wonderful Things To Do in Santorini, travellers renting a car or depending on the bus should also book at least one activity or experience.

There are lots of tour agencies in each town and resort, but we personally prefer looking + booking our experiences online rather than committing time whilst in a destination. It allows us to read traveller reviews and ratings, as well as compare prices, and (usually) have free cancellation 24 hours in advance if we change our minds.

More importantly, it also bring more unique, interesting small-group experiences to the forefront, rather than the tours that everyone else and their mother are doing.

We’ve shared a selection of the highly-rated Santorini tours and experiences for you to check out:

For Adventurers / Sea Kayaking Along The Coast

For Wine / The Santorini Vineyards + Wine Tasting Tour

For Foodies / A Cooking Class at Petra Kouzina

For Swims/ A Luxury Catamaran Trip With Swimming, Snorkels Open Bar & BBQ

For Lovers / Couple’s Photoshoot With A Personal Photographer

For Sunsets / The Sunset Caldera Cruise

For Villages / Tour of the Venetian Castles

For History / A Guided Visit of The Akrotiri Ruins

For Divers /A Santorini Scuba Diving Experience

For Captains / Drive Your Own Boat

For Views / The Volcanic Islands & Hot Springs Cruise

If you’re only on the island for a short while, you may prefer to do a more general tour - this Santorini Highlights Tour (which includes wine tasting) is our small-group top pick, but if you’d prefer a private tour, the ‘best of Santorini’ half-day tour is highly rated.

Note that in peak summer season, many of the most popular options sell out several days in advance.

Taxis & Transfers

Taxis aren’t as visible or common as one would expect in Santorini.

We had expected to see lines of them in the main towns and beaches, but that just wasn’t the case outside of Fira’s taxi rank (maps). Subsequent research tells us that there are actually a limited number of taxis in Santorini, which is either a cause or a consequence of the tours and transfer companies offering a better door-to-door service.

Therefore, outside of Fira, you won’t necessarily find several waiting around for a fare. This means you need to call one up and await their arrival - the number is +30 22860 22555.

Taxis in Santorini aren’t on a meter or transparent fixed price system, so negotiation and agreeing the price is required before any trip. It should cost you no more than €30 for any one-way trip, but short distances can be priced at a ridiculous rate (a €15 minimum for any trip seems to be standard).

A taxi may however be the quickest, most comfortable and convenient option at certain times. We didn’t take any taxis in Santorini, but would strongly encourage you to read the traveller comments on prices and scams under the reviews section on Google Maps to put yourself in a better position.

If you’re going to use a taxi more than a few times or across several day for trips, then you’ll be better of going with the rental car (even if you don’t use it each day).

A taxi from the airport costs in the region of €25-35 depending on your destination, but there’s also the airport bus, shuttles, and better value pre-booked private transfers to opt for (we explain these options in How To Travel From Santorini Airport). Some hotels also offer free pick-up from the airport.

Lastly, Uber is now available in Santorini. Coverage is limited, and prices high, but Emily’s sister used it a most days last year in Santorini (we have slightly different travel styles….) It will however give you more reassurance on waiting times and prices before confirming any bookings.

Pros

+ There are so many excellent, highly-rated Santorini tours and experiences available to choose from

+ Someone else has to deal with driving and parking!

+ Covers more ground and experiences than the public bus

+ Taxis and transfers quicker and more comfortable than the bus in peak season

+ Best for travellers short on time or not renting a car, but hoping to explore and enjoy more of Santorini beyond their hotel or Airbnb.

Cons

+ More expensive overall, especially if taking lots of taxis

+ Some tours will be large, so always check reviews to ensure it’s a small-group suited to your travel style

+ Lack of last-minute availability for certain experiences can hinder plans

+ Taxi scams and waiting around for one to show up

+ Avoid if you don’t enjoy tours or on a tighter budget

Quad Bikes / ATVs In Santorini

If you don't think you'll need a car for the whole of your holiday, or would rather do something a little more memorable on your day of driving around Santorini, then renting an ATV is an increasingly popular alternative for exploring the island.

Also known as quad bikes, they’re best for tourists who want to zip about to a few places, rather than use it as their main mode of transport. The most common option is to rent for a day or two, rather than the whole week, and all the main towns, villages, and resorts have an agency providing specific ATV rentals.

The quad-bikes are permitted on the main roads off the island and, although they're incongruous when you see them in a traditional village like Megalochori, driving one in a place like Santorini would definitely be a memorable experience.

There are also highly-rated group ATV tours around the island, led by a local guide.

Visitors can also rent buggies, which are open-sided but have a roof, with a lot more power than the ATVs (they're double the price per day and we’re not fans).

It’s also possible to rent scooters in Santorini but there are very mixed answers on whether this is legal without a valid motorcycle licence (that is, a licence separate to your standard car driver licence). This confusion is partly why ATVs have risen in popularity.

Pros

+ An enjoyable way to travel when the sun is shining

+ Easy to drive for first-timers (but caution & common sense still required)

+ Much easier to find a parking space in high season than a regular car

+ More independence and freedom than relying exclusively on the bus

+ Best for solo travellers or couples looking for a fun, independent day trip to visit a few places in Santorini instead of the bus or a tour

Cons

+ Not fun when there's rain or high winds on Santorini (which happens)

+ Lines of pissed off drivers behind you are quite common

+ Only suitable for two people

+ Not suitable for luggage, but you can get a store box on the back for daypacks

+ Avoid if you're looking to have a mode of transport during a longer stay

The ATV Essentials

· You must be 18 years old to rent a quad and hold a car driving licence. As we explain further in 7 Things To Know Before Driving in Santorini, if you're not a resident of an EU country, you are likely to require an international driving licence as well. As with car rental, you will usually require a credit card in the driver's name to leave a security deposit (usually a few hundred euro). Never ever leave your passports as security.

· Renting an ATV in Santorini costs in the region of €30-50 per day for short-term rentals. The ATV rental prices vary according to the time of year (i.e. low or high holiday season) and duration of the rental. Another key factor is the size of engine you choose as well as the season: two people will fit on any quad but, for example, the one with the 150CC engine is always slightly cheaper than the more powerful, quicker 310CC one.

· There are also various Santorini ATV rental companies offering the option to book in advance online, whilst you'll find plenty companies in all the towns, villages, and beach resorts. Some companies have offices in the port and airport, whilst others offer a delivery/collection service straight to your accommodation.

· Alternatively, you can join this highly-rated ATV sightseeing tour

· Savings on the daily rate only tend be offered if you're renting for longer than 72 hours.

· ATV rentals in Santorini will either be for full 24-hour periods (i.e. from 10am to 10am the next day) or to be returned on the same day (i.e. collect at 10am, return by 8pm). The difference is quite important, as that extra morning with the ATV would allow you to easily visit a couple more places before the crowds. Most of the ATV rental companies we checked out in Perissa, Pyrgos, and Fira offered 24-hour periods, but some were same-day, so do make double sure before booking.

· Always wear a helmet, and drive with caution, care, and respect for others. A young British couple died in Santorini in 2019 when out driving a rented buggy, and this is not a risk-free activity.

· Slap on the suncream, and bring a light shirt to cover up during peak sun hours.

· Rental companies will include basic insurance, with additional coverage available in addition - for better protection and and peace of mind, it's always a good idea to purchase that. Note that your travel insurance likely excludes coverage for claims arising from riding ATVs and scooters, so please make sure you double check that before doing anything or assuming you’re covered.

· We didn't rent an ATV in Santorini, but from previous experience of driving them, just make sure to watch your legs on the hot engine when getting on / off, and expect your thumb to hurt a little the next day!

Santorini Water Taxis & Ferries

Not a mainstream option, but we also wanted to share a few water taxis we stumbled across during our week on the island.

There’s a small one linking the black beach resorts of Perissa and Kamari, which are next door to each other but separated by the Mesa Vouno hill. There’s a hiking trail from one to the other - via the ruins of Ancient Thera - but an easier option is to take this little boat for the 15-minute crossing.

Find out more about pick-up points and timetables in our short guide to Perissa.

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. They run every 30 minutes for €10 per person, providing a sort of ‘hop-on hop-off’ service from the beaches. This is a good option if you are hoping for a beach day at one of the above and don’t have a car to reach them (note that the Red Beach can be accessed on foot, though they have signs up warning people of falling rocks…), but it’s best to take everything you’ll need with you on the boat as facilities are limited.

Find out more about our favourite beaches in 13 Wonderful Things To Do In Santorini

After our Fira to Oia hike, whilst we were enjoying cold beers by the water down in Ammoudi Bay, there was quite a popular water taxi service operating private trips to Armeni, Fira, Athinios, the Hot Springs, and Thirasia. If you’ve just finished your hike or had lunch in Ammoudi, then it may be a good option for your next stop instead of heading back up many stairs to Oia or paying €10 for a taxi. The company is next to the Sunset Restaurant (maps)

There is also a water taxi service from old port of Fira to Oia, but that’s primarily aimed at cruise ship passengers on shore excursions who doesn’t wish to walk up the stairs or take the cable car to the bus station. The old port isn’t worth walking down to or taking the cable car if you don’t have to, so you’re better taking the bus if you’re not arriving from a cruise.

Lastly, as we mention in 13 Wonderful Things To Do in Santorini, poor weather on our last two days scuppered our plans to head across the water to the island of Thirassia. Often described as Santorini before tourism arrived, there’s a daily local boat from Ammoudi Bay. Accurate schedules are however very difficult to find online (we spent 45 minutes searching before our planned trip, and still found no definitive answers), but there’s a morning one and an afternoon one - departures around 7.30-8.30am and then 12-1pm seemed to be the most common advice. If you do this trip independently, please do share your experience on times + costs in the comments so we can help other travellers like you!

Alternatively, this guided Thirassia tour takes the local ferry and spends half a day on the island (other island-hopping hot spring tours, like this one, don’t give you as long there as they also visit Nea and Palia Kameni).