Remember that you are sailing into the huge crater of a still-active volcano.

You will always be tendered ashore. From there you can go up to Firá town for a steep and uneven flight of steps on mule-back, or walking up or by cable-car, which cliff-top station is further from the center then the top of the stairs. Walking or mule-riding down, back to your ship, can be fun, if you feel up to it.

Apart from a few stalls and lots of mules, thee are few facilities until you reach the town on the cliff-top.

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Printable map to take along.

Cruise calendar for this port.

Watch a destination video.

Everyone comes in search of the quintessential Santorini experience: to explore the narrow winding streets and whitewashed houses of the twin cliff-top towns of Thira and Oia, overlooking the deep blue waters of the caldera.

Human presences on the island seem to have existed since the middle of the 3rd millennium B.C. The excavations at Akrotiri have confirmed that human activity on the island continued until the eruption of the volcano around 1500 B.C., which entirely buried the island beneath very thick layers of pozzuolona, At that point, all traces of human activity vanished from the island until the end of the 13th century B.C.

Santorini is one of the most magical islands of Greece. It is a barren, rocky island just opposite a volcano, with black and red beaches and towns situated on high cliffs offering breathtaking views and fantastic sunsets.

Santorini has a dramatic beauty as opposed to lush and green islands. The volcano is still active, and the last eruption was in 1950, causing an earthquake that destroyed many villages on the island.

The island's official name is Thira and its main town, Fira, is also the capital of the Cyclades islands. It is a cosmopolitan island and is therefore quite expensive. The locals live mainly off agriculture and tourism. The islands largest export product is soil; 2.000.000 tons a year are used all over the world, mainly to make concrete. The Suez channel was built with this concrete for example.

Beaches Santorini main beaches have water sports. In general, Santorini is not the best place for children, since the beaches are stony and quite deep. There are also lots of currents and the waves can get very high. Kamari and Perissa are popular beaches with their beautiful surroundings and black sand. If you seek calmer beaches, it is better to go to Monolithos, Vlichada or Agios Georgios. For snorkeling visit Amoudi.

Santorini is quite a small island, and it is easy to get around. There are local buses to take you to most places, but of course you can also rent a car or a bike. There are also taxis on the island. The harbor where the ferryboats stop is connected to Fira and the rest of the island by a steep serpentine road. Driving up or down this road is quite a terrifying experience for anyone afraid of heights. You can also walk (almost 900steps) or take a donkey ride all the way. There is also a cable car taking you straight to Fira - also not recommended for the above mentioned.

It pays to compare your cruise line shore excursions here.

Oia (or Ia) Santorini: Oia, pronounced "ee-aa", is the most famous of all villages of Santorini. It is known throughout the world for its quiet life and fantastic sunset, and is certainly the most beautiful and picturesque village of Santorini. The village is also situated on top of an impressive cliff and offers a spectacular view over the volcano of Palia and Nea Kameni and the island of Thirassia. Oia is situated on the north of the island, 11 km away from Fira. Taxis will set you back around 15 euros, buses are another good alternative.
The bus station in Fira is near the Cathedral, at the far end of the pedestrian way from the cliff lift.

Akrotiri is an ancient town that was buried when the volcano erupted 3500 years ago. Archeologists are still excavating it, but you can walk around in the little street quarters and see the buildings almost like they were back then. You'll be impressed by the modernity: the houses were two or three storeys high, and they even had running water...

Santorini's shops - and especially those in Fira - will tempt you for sure. Taking a walk along the narrow cobbled streets of Fira, shop windows will definitely grab your attention. The first to catch your eye are the jewellery shops that you will find along Ypapantis street, or "Gold Street" as it has been nicknamed. Not unduly, as this street is considered to be one of the biggest gold markets in Greece. Here you will find the most modern jewellery designed by the most famous jewellers from both Greece and abroad.

Traditional dishes such as tomato balls, the Santorini salads, split peas in all their variations, white auberges, stuffed round courgettes, omelettes, cooked capers, fresh cheese, and local specialities including apoxti (a type of cured ham), sausages, wild rabbit with a cheese and egg sauce, brantada, sweet melitinia, and saffron bread rusks, all express the rich and varied cuisine of the island's culture.

Euro
US Dollars often accepted, but the exchange rate is often not that great.

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Language: Greek. English widely spoken.

There is an Internet Cafe about 50 yards from Thera's main square.

Santorini webcams

Shopping hours are a somewhat complicated matter in Greece as they vary according to the type of business. The list below covers the main areas but bear in mind that this is subject to sudden arbitrary and often incomprehensible changes in the law.

Generally the hours between 2.00pm and 5.30pm are dedicated to lunch and the sacred afternoon siesta, especially in the hot summer.

Tourist shops may stay open, so do many kiosks, all the supermarkets, main post-offices and telephone offices.

Apart from kiosks, sweet shops, florists and many tourist shops everything is closed on Sundays. Supermarkets Open at 8.00 am and close at 8.00 pm in winter and 9.00 pm from April to end of October. Saturday they close at 6.00 pm and are closed on Sundays and holidays.

All shops (with the exception of the ones listed separately) Shops open around 9.00 am and close around 1.30 or 2.00 pm Monday to Saturday. On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday they are also open from around 6.00 pm to 9.00 pm. Always closed on Sundays and holidays.

Business holidays include New Year's Day (1 January), Epiphany (6 January), Lent (March; date varies), Greek Independence Day (25 March), Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday (March or April; dates vary), Labor Day (1 May), Holy Spirit Day (early June), Assumption (15 August), Ochi Day (28 October), Christmas Day (25 December), and Boxing Day (26 December).

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