If you’re heading to Santorini either on a cruise or on your own, you’ve probably Googled “How to Get to Oia.” The town is iconic and is what comes to mind when you think of Santorini! The picturesque white-washed buildings, blue domes, and windmills make Oia (pronounced ee-uh) a truly one-of-a-kind place. No trip to Santorini is complete without a visit! Here is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to get to Oia if you are arriving to Santorini by cruise ship!
Read More: Full Review: 10 Day NCL Epic Mediterranean Cruise
Ship Tender
All cruise ships arriving in Santorini will be tender ports. This means the ship will anchor out away from shore and you will board smaller boats to transport you to and from shore. Tendering can be a but of a nuisance, as it takes away precious time that you can be spending ashore both waiting for the boats, as well as riding to and from.
In Santorini, ships will tender you to the Santorini Old Harbor. The harbor is located at the base of the cliff below the town of Fira. The tender ride isn’t long, maybe about 5-10 minutes and had an upper deck where you can sit out in the fresh air.
Tip: confirm your ship’s tender reservation policy and make every effort to be on the first one out! On the Norwegian Epic, we could reserve tenders once onboard so this was the very first thing I did upon boarding on day 1 and was able to snag one of the first ones out.
Options at the Dock
Once you make it to the Old Harbor, you’ll find a few small shops and vendors lining the pier. Other than that, there isn’t anything to do and you will need to get up the cliff to the town of Fira. There are three options to do so.
The first and most popular route is to take the cable car. The ride to the top only lasts about 1-2 minutes and is a quick, efficient way to get to the top. The lines however, can be incredibly long and can take a lot of time. If you were on a later tender or there are many ships in port, be prepared for a line and expect a long wait! I’d recommend getting off the ship as early as possible and waiting in the line for the cable car.
The second option is to take a donkey ride up the Karavolades Stairs. Donkeys will line the base of the stairs and you will be approached trying to sell you a ride to the top. While the ride is affordable at only €10, neither I nor the cruise ship I was on recommended this option. The donkeys are exhausted and the entire route is covered with their poop, making for a really unpleasant experience.
The final option is to walk up the Karavolades Stairs. 580 long, steep steps separate the harbor from Fira. Even if you are in good shape, these will take you some time and will be a serious workout! If you choose to walk up, keep in mind that you will be dodging donkey poop on every step.
Cable Car to Fira
As soon as you get off your tender, get in line for the cable car right away. Even though the line appeared long for us, it moved pretty quickly and we only waited about 30-40 minutes. Once you make your way into the entrance building, you will purchase tickets for €6 per person, each way. Both cards and cash are accepted.
You will then board the cable car and make the quick ride up to Fira. If you can, I’d recommend sitting on the side that faces the water for the very best views!
Fira Bus Station
Once you arrive off the cable car, you will be right in the heart of Fira! White-washed buildings, tight stone streets, and plenty of shopping await. I’d recommend saving your shopping for later in the day and get to Oia as fast as possible to beat the crowds. Less than a 10 minute walk from the upper cable car station is the Fira Bus Station.
When you arrive, make your way down the short staircase to the parking lot below. Tons of busses will line the lot and it may be confusing to know where exactly to go. On the far side of the lot will be a small service window (pictured above) where you can ask to be directed to the next bus to Oia. They depart regularly and we were able to board our bus right away.
Outside the bus will be an attendant, to whom you will pay the €2 one-way per person fare. It is cash only and cards are not accepted. They will then print you a ticketed receipt which you will keep handy for the ride.
The Ride to Oia
The ride to Oia on the public busses were a really enjoyable experience! The busses are coach-style and have large comfy seats to settle into. The bus is also air-conditioned, which will be much-needed relief! The ride to Oia is about a half an hour and is incredibly scenic. For sea views, try to sit on the right side of the bus. For mountain views, sit on the left. The bus may make a few stops along the way depending on if there are requests made, but they are quick drop off/pick ups and you will continue on your way.
Arrival in Oia
The bus will arrive in Oia at the Oia Bus Terminal, just outside of town. The location is perfect and is only about a 2-3 minute walk to the iconic stone streets and cliffside views. Spend the day wandering the streets, knowing that you will never really get “lost”. Slip into “side streets” along the coast for spectacular views of the white buildings, iconic blue domes, and the sparkling Mediterranean below. Oia is a tourist hotspot so definitely be patient as we all wait in line for pictures of the views.
Getting Back to Fira and the Cruise Ship
When it’s time to make your way out of Oia, make your way to the Oia Bus Terminal (the same place the bus let you off) to grab the next bus to Fira. Busses are again very frequent and just simply wait for the next bus to pull up. An attendant will be waiting to collect your €2 fare again, and you can confirm with them that you’re on the correct bus back to Fira.
Upon arriving back at the Fira Bus Station, you’ll need to make your way back down to the Old Harbor. We arrived back in Fira around 7:00 pm and the last tender back to our ship was at 9:00 pm. We were shocked to see the line for the cable car wrapped all throughout the town of Fira, and the estimated wait time was over two hours- meaning we’d miss the last tender back to the ship!
With no other choice, we walked down the stairs back to the Old Harbor. Obviously walking down was much easier than walking up, but it still wasn’t easy. There were over 580 long, steep steps and we were dodging donkey poop at every turn. The steps were also pretty slippery and there were a few people who went down pretty hard. While the walk only took about 30-40 minutes, you should definitely plan to get in line for the cable car much earlier than you think you need to, if you don’t want to have to walk. From the harbor, board your tender back to you ship to get yourself a well-deserved drink to toast to a great day in Santorini!
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