Hello,
I’ve tried to search through all the threads and wasn’t successful in finding answers to my question so I’m posting it now. I plan arriving in Athens the morning of the 28th of August, will be there 4 nights, ferry to Santorini for 3 nights, ferry to Crete for 3 nights and fly back to Athens for 1 night then return to the states on the 7th of September . I’m booking through Costco for their package which includes all airfare, hotels, and ferries. Is there public transportation available in those three locations so I won’t have to rent a car? I would prefer not to drive.
Thanks in advance for any input!
Terry
Posted by
France Southwest
2172 posts
You don't need a car in Athens. There are metro, bus, tram and taxis everywhere.
In Santorini for 3 nights (2 days) you will not need a car because I suppose you won't have enough time to see other places than the very touristy places served by taxis or buses
Crete is a very large island, even if you stay there for 15 days you will only scratch the surface. So staying there for only 2 days I don't see what use a car could be for you. Also as you did not say where you will stay, there is no suitable answer possible anyway.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you for your prompt response! I didn’t realize that Crete was so large! We will be staying at the Elounda Mare Hotel which I’m told is 2km from the small village of Elounda, and one hour from the Heraklion Airport. Looks like I have a whole lot more research to do as to what we can see and do. This is my first trip (obviously lol). I appreciate your time.
Posted by
Irving
3114 posts
Bus transportation is available on both islands. You can take a direct bus between Fira and Oia on Santorini. I doubt if there is a direct bus where you are staying on the island Crete. With two nights on Crete, I wouldn’t bother going.
Posted by
France Southwest
2172 posts
You should remove Crete from your trip if possible. What you have planned is a bit like visiting the South West American National Parks in 2 days without a car.
Posted by
Moncton NB
1096 posts
Relying on buses or taxis on Santorini is a recipe for disaster. You only have 2 days to see Santorini, don't waste them waiting for buses that have no reliable schedule, or taxis that are oversubscribed. We rented a Mercedes Smart Car, which could park anywhere on the island, and that is the only way I would see Santorini.
Posted by
San Franciso Bay Area, USA
1009 posts
My husband and I were in Athen and Santorini in May. I agree JoLui that you don’t need to drive in Athens. Athens has good public transportation and taxis are easy to get and are cost-effective.
For Santorini, we were there only 3 nights and 2 days and didn’t want to drive. We were able to get everywhere we wanted either by bus or private transport (ask your hotel, you can What’s App). The bus system is a bit tricky in that everything is centralized through Fira as a hub, but it worked fine for us. The private transport while pricey was very reliable. The other thing you can check is to see if your hotel has a shuttle.