Santorini Cruise Port Guide for Your Port Day

Santorini's cruise port operates differently than a traditional deep-water dock, so planning your day begins with understanding the tender process.   

Depending on your ship, if you’re on a European cruise or a more localized Mediterranean sailing, like a Rome cruise, guests typically arrive at the Old Port of Fira, known as Skala, or at Athinios Port farther along the coast in Santorini. There’s a handful of restaurants and bars around the dock by the old port, but little in the way of shopping.  

Steep terrain, seasonal queues, and limited transportation options can shape how the day unfolds, especially getting up to Fira's clifftop streets. You can reach the capital by cable car, walking up a zigzag cliff path, or a coach transfer arranged near Athinios. Try to build in extra time, particularly during peak season. 

Santorini doesn’t have any berths deep enough for cruise ships, so ships anchor in the caldera, and small tender boats carry guests ashore.   

Many independent travelers land at the Old Port of Fira, directly below the clifftop capital, then continue upward by cable car, cliff-side steps, or donkey ride. Guests on organized tours are often tendered instead to Athinios Port, the island's ferry harbor, where they can board coaches to begin excursions.   

Tender assignments can vary by sailing, so confirm your arrival point on board before planning a full day on shore.

Santorini may be famous for its views, but you won’t want to overlook the island’s tantalizing food scene. From chic, fine-dining spots to rustic tavernas where family recipes are handed down through the generations, the island serves up intense, unforgettable flavors. Taste a velvety fava bean purée finished with a glug of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon, and the local eggplant, sweet and white. Bite into crisp, herby domatokeftedes, the island’s famous tomato and onion fritters, and you’ll quickly realize that one is never enough. Then there’s the fresh seafood and melt-in-your-mouth spanakopita, spinach and salty cheese encased in heavenly flaky filo.   

Wash it all down with fine island wines, the product of hot sun, rich volcanic soil, and millennia of expertise. Assyrtiko and Aidani lead the white wine lineup, while Mandilaria, Mavrotragano, and Voudomato are the punchy reds. Don’t leave without a sip of sweet Vinsanto; in fact, don’t leave without a bottle to take home. 

Santorini’s dramatic caldera and whitewashed villages trace back to a Bronze Age volcanic eruption that reshaped the island and left the cliffs you’ll sail past today.  

Ancient Akrotiri, preserved under volcanic ash, reveals a sophisticated Minoan trading port by around 1650 B.C. whose frescoes and multi-story buildings offer a rare glimpse into prehistoric Aegean life.   

Over centuries, Phoenician, Roman, Venetian, and Ottoman influences layered onto the landscape, visible in hilltop churches, castle ruins, and narrow alleyways that define island towns like Oia and Fira. Greece won independence in 1830, but during World War II, Santorini was occupied by Italian and German forces before finally being liberated in 1944.  

For travelers and cruise guests alike, this history comes alive through guided walks among blue-domed churches, sunset views from medieval castles, and wine tastings in vineyards planted on volcanic soil—a terroir shaped by the same eruption that created Santorini’s iconic silhouette. 

There are numerous ways to get around Santorini, including Fira and Oia. These are reliable options in their own right, so long as you build extra time into your itinerary to allow for traffic and other unforeseen delays.   

Choose the cable car for speed, walk the cliff path for views, use taxis and buses for flexibility, or join a shore excursion for seamless island highlights.

Shoppers will be in heaven on Santorini. Fira, the island capital, is packed with shops. The main street is dubbed “Gold Street” as it’s filled with jewelers; check out some of the designs they offer inspired by Ancient Greece. 

You’ll also find shops selling floaty summer fashions, leather sandals, ornaments, olive oil products, pottery, and the inevitable Santorini souvenirs like toy donkeys. Oia, too, has some excellent shops, particularly if you’re in the market for clothing, excellent Santorini wines, and local art.

The currency in Greece is the euro. While credit cards are widely accepted, it’s recommended to double-check before sitting down in a taverna for a meal. Tipping taxi drivers isn’t common, but it’s polite to do so when given great customer service, and a typical percentage would be 10% of your fare. It’s also customary to leave some euros behind at a restaurant if the service or meal was very satisfactory. 

If there is no service charge included in your bill, a 10% tip is customary. Finally, if you’re taking a tour in Greece, budget an additional tip of €5-€10 for your tour guide, provided you’re happy with them.

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