We have a day in Santorini off a cruise ship and would like to visit Oia. My question is: how does one get from the Old Port below Fira to Oia without booking an excursion? We want to feel free to walk around the town as long as we want to and then head back to the port. Can anyone help?
Posted by
Camarillo, California
3148 posts
Your options are: 1. Take the cable car up the cliff into Fira from the tender dock, and make your way to Oia by bus or taxi. You can also pre-arrange a car and driver to meet you outside the cable car building. Contact Gabi Birbeck on Facebook. She provides this sort of service. 2. Walk up the 600+ steps from the tender dock into Fira. 3: Look to see if there is a water taxi service offered when you get to the tender dock that will take you to Amoudi Bay below Oia. From there you'll make your way up the cliff into Oia by steps or up the road by taxi. I have recently read, but have not been able to confirm, that the price (€30) of the water taxi ticket includes a shuttle ride up the cliff and a bus ticket to take you back to Fira for the return by steps or cable car back down to the tender dock. PLEASE DON'T BE TEMPTED TO RIDE THE POOR ABUSED DONKEYS!!
Posted by
Moncton NB
1117 posts
I can't vouch for this particular company, but this is a sample of the service referred to by the previous poster: https://transfer-to-oia.gr/. Its a circle route: water taxi from Old Port to Ammoudi; bus to Oia; bus to Fira; cable car back down to Old Port.
If you do something like this, I encourage you not to rush through Ammoudi. Its one of the best places in Santorini. There is a row of fantastic seafood restaurants right on the bay. And a short walk takes you to my favourite swimming place (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.457922,25.3721569,3a,75y,121.18h,90t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sAF1QipPjeqpPtcf7H8Cbv0_mIZdpFfPGd4HvX-pzjymc!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipPjeqpPtcf7H8Cbv0_mIZdpFfPGd4HvX-pzjymc%3Dw203-h100-k-no-pi0-ya12.960751-ro-0-fo100!7i10752!8i3630?authuser=0&entry=ttu).
Posted by
Camarillo, California
3148 posts
I'm happy to see the link to the water taxi as posted above, but I suggest you don't book in advance. When you get to the tender dock, if there are any issues with the boat you will have to deal with getting a refund, something that they might not be able to do on the spot. The boat won't be full, so advance booking isn't really necessayr anyway.
Posted by
OP
Spokane, WA
22 posts
Thank you all. You've all been a tremendous help and now we are armed with the information we needed to make this a successful day in Santorini. Thanks again!
Posted by
11 posts
Thank you all that responded before, since it is helpful for the two of us too. We will get to Santorini on Oct 14 and did not want to book an excursion with the cruise line. You advise how to get from one place to another on the island is fabulous and extremely helpful. Thanks again. Sara.