All you need to know before visiting Santorini with a Cruise Ship
Where do the cruise ships in Santorini dock?
A Guide for Cruise Passengers | Including Old Port of Fira & Athinios Port and tender boats.
Learn everything about the Santorini Cruise Port. To begin with we would like to inform you that the cruise ships cannot dock at any port of Santorini. Usually they dock close to the ports where there are 2 ways that a cruise ship passenger can come to Santorini.
- If you plan to have a tour with your cruise ship company read below. When your cruise ship will dock you need to use the tender boat and go to Athinios Port. (Main Port of Santorini with car access). There you will find the buses for your tour.
- If you plan to do a private tour or you want to explore Santorini by yourself read below. The most important thing that you need to make sure is to book an early tender boat ticket. You need to ask your cruise ship when they will start giving tender boat tickets and take it from there. The tender boat will take you to the Old Port of Fira. There you have to walk 3 minutes and find the Cable Car. You have to use the cable car and come up to Fira (cable car ride 2 minutes approximately). If you have booked a tour our company and some other companies send the guide at the exit of the Top of The Cable Car of Fira holding a sign with your name written on it. Otherwise if you didnt plan to do anything you can walk around Fira where you will find a lot of restaurants, shops , cafeterias etc. Usually from the time that your cruise ship will dock you need around 90 minutes to come to Fira , in order to avoid long cable car lines you need the early tender boat ticket number.
Guide for Santorini Cruise Port
Check this photo below that describes exactly what you will find at the Old Port of Fira:
As you look the image, you notice several key highlights marked with pins that showcase the Old Port of Fira. At the base, The Old Port of Fira welcomes visitors with its charming ambiance and stunning views of the caldera. Ascending from there, the Cable Car of Fira offers a thrilling ride that elevates you from the port to the bustling Fira town perched above, where shops, restaurants, and vibrant local culture await. The steps that are way up the cliffside present a more adventurous route for those wishing to soak in the scenery. While the designated docking area for tender boats facilitates easy access for cruise ship passengers.
Pricelist for Cable Car (2025)
- 10 euros Per Person per way (you can buy them when you reach the cable car)
- 5 euros for child
Find more details at the official website of the Cable Car of Santorini https://www.scc.gr/pricelist.htm
Another option to reach Fira is by using the steps , 588 steps. We suggest you to use the Cable Car better rather than the steps if you have any mobility problems. Moreover , in any case you are advised to wear comfortable shoes and clothing.
Link to book a water taxi to avoid Cable Car:
From Old Port of Fira to Athinios Port or the opposite : https://santorinitourismcenter.com/tour/santorini-water-taxi/
Last but not least, please make sure you get informed from your cruise ship about the time of your last tender boat in order to return to the ship.
You can check online the number of the cruise ships and the arrival and departure of each one and approximately plan your return to the ship. Our company is providing tours for the cruise ship passengers. If you are interested you can book your own private tour from the following link https://santorinitourismcenter.com/santorini-tours-2/