Over the years Santorini has become an increasingly popular destination for travelers looking to enjoy gorgeous beaches and delicious Greek food. In 2019, Santorini is bursting at the seams with travelers and the #1 question you are all asking in your planning sessions is how to get to Santorini? Well, Santorini is a bit isolated, but reaching it is not terribly difficult. There are 2 ways that tourists typically take to reach the gorgeous island of Santorini.
The easiest, cheapest, and most popular way to reach Santorini is to take a ferry either from Athens or from one of the surrounding islands.
The Cyclades Islands is the archipelago that is home to the beautiful island of Santorini. These islands can easily be reached by ferry from Athens. Athens has a number of ports, but the main one is the Port of Piraeus. To get from Athens, Piraeus to Santorini (Thira), book a ferry with our friends at Ferries in Greece. Ferries in Greece is like Skyscanner or Kayak, except for ferries. It takes the best rates with a number of ferry companies and provides you the option to travel fast or slow.
Ferry times from range from around 4.5 hours up to 10 hours and ferry tickets from Athens to Santorini average out to about €50 per person per way. A round trip ferry would be around €100 per person.
The ferry from Piraeus to Thira will make a number of stops through the Cyclades Islands along the way and you’ll enjoy some beautiful views.
Simple answer: in high season, yes just to be safe. In the off-season, it is probably not necessary. As you’ll probably be traveling to Santorini between May and September, it is safe to book your ferry in advance. After all, could you imagine flying all the way to Greece and getting stuck in Athens because you didn’t book the ferry in advance? Use our booking tool below to easily check ferry prices! Click the image below to book your ferry.
The Cyclades islands and this region of the Mediterranean can get very windy, so do be conscious of the fact that the boat might be sailing through somewhat stormy waters. We both felt seasick and many others around us did actually become sick. Take some Dramamine before the ferry and be sure to bring crackers and sparkling water with you to settle your stomach.
If you don’t mind spending a bit more money, Athens to Santorini flight is quite easy. Sure, you need to account for time spent getting to the airport, waiting and flying, but it is likely much easier than taking a ferry if you are the kind of person who does become violently seasick.
During the summer, there are probably 20+ flights per day from Athens to Santorini. The flight from Athens to Santorini is only about 45 minutes.
The Santorini International Airport is only 10 minutes from Thira and about 25 minutes from the popular town of Oia. Flight prices vary SIGNIFICANTLY depending on the time of year you plan to visit, how far in advance you book, and a number of other variables.
Skyscanner is the best website to book cheap flights in Europe and around the world.