Transfer Options from Santorini Airport to Fira
It comes as no surprise that the island’s capital -Fira- is one of the most popular Santorini villages. Famous for its scenic, narrow streets along with its breathtaking views, the picturesque Fira, with the white houses reflecting the sun and their blue doors and shutters coloring the vista, offers its guests many accommodation options and dining alternatives while being the center of the island’s nightlife. Thus, if Fira is your destination, you won’t face any trouble reaching your journey’s end. After all, the central bus station and the main taxi rank of the island are to be found at Fira. Overall, the options concerning your transfer from Santorini Airport to Fira vary from Santorini airport taxis and public buses to private airport transfers and car rentals.
| Options | Price (€) | Price ($) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi | 17-22 | 17-22 | 15 min |
| Bus | 1.60 | 1.60 | 20 min |
Santorini Airport to Fira by Taxi
The grey/silver Santorini airport taxis are quite popular among tourists who place convenience as their priority during their travels and want to check in to their hotel worry-free with carrying around their luggage or casting about for the exact location of their accommodation. Thus, if you are in search of a comfortable and fast way to travel from Santorini Airport to Fira, all you have to do is exit the Arrivals hall’s doors and head to the airport taxi rank lying right in front of you.
Nevertheless, you should keep in mind that even though taxis are theoretically available at any time during the airport’s operation hours, in reality, due to their small number, they are often hard to find. Hence, it is highly likely that you’ll have to wait in line for a taxi -especially during the summer months- while cab-sharing isn’t out of the question. In that case, having already found co-travelers heading to Fira and deciding on splitting the fare would be a smart move.
What’s more, Santorini airport taxis are metered. Therefore, their price is subject to the journey’s distance and duration and, of course, to the traffic conditions, which usually aren’t favorable, at least during the high season. In general terms, a usual 15-minute taxi ride from the airport to Fira costs 17€-22€/17$-22$, including the 4€/4$ airport fee. Moreover, extra surcharges apply for excess baggage (0.40€/0.40$ for every piece of luggage weighing more than 10kg), while night rides (midnight to 05:00 am) are priced higher, costing approximately 22€-27€/22$ -27$.
Our Tip 1: Fortunately, most Santorini taxi drivers can communicate in English reasonably well.
Our Tip 2: Payments via bank cards aren’t usually accepted. Moreover, you should carry small bills as taxi drivers often don’t have enough change.
Our Tip 3: Some taxi drivers negotiate a fixed price before starting the ride.
We selected one of the best, most trustworthy and convenient 5-star airport taxi companies for your transfer from Santorini Airport based on user reviews across various platforms such as Google, Tripadvisor and Trustpilot. Welcome Pickups offers a great experience and safety to its travelers.
- Local English-speaking drivers
- Flat, pre-paid fee
- Flight monitoring for delays
- 24/7 Customer support + free cancellation
Santorini Airport to Fira by Bus
Santorini’s central bus station is located in Fira. Thus, Thira Airport is well-connected to the island’s capital. The airport KTEL buses depart from the airport bus stop, just outside the terminal’s exit, and, after making two intermediate stops at the villages of Messaria and Karterados, they reach Fira in about 15-20 minutes, depending on the roads’ congestion. If traffic is heavy, the duration of the bus ride increases significantly. Thankfully, the Santorini airport buses are air-conditioned, comfortable, and have luggage storage space. Thus, there is no weight or size limit for baggage.
The bus timetable is different during the winter and the summer months. During winter, the routes are scarcer. Explicitly, buses run from the airport 6 times a day, with 2-3-hour itineraries, from 07:25 am to 07:10 pm. However, on Saturdays, they make only 4 runs per day, operating until 03:10 pm. On the other hand, during the peak summer season, buses leave the airport hourly, from 07:00 am to 11:10 pm. One ticket for the bus ride from Santorini Airport to Fira costs 1.60€/1.60$ and is available from the driver inside the bus, only in cash. Small bills are recommended in that case too.
Our Tip 1: Please be aware that the bus schedule may change unexpectedly, while delayed bus arrivals are no surprise in Santorini.
Our Tip 2: A ticket doesn’t reserve you a seat. Thus, if the bus is full and you don’t want to travel standing, you should wait for the next route.
Car Rental from Santorini Airport to Fira
If you want to get to know the island of Santorini worry-free, at your own pace, and visit each and every corner of the island no matter how isolated or far away, a Santorini car rental is ideal both for your airport transfer and for traveling during the rest of your trip. Santorini Airport offers many car rental options, having several car hire companies operating at its Arrivals level.
Hence, reaching Fira with your Santorini airport car rental to Fira should be an easy task. After exiting the airport complex, you have to drive north and after 300m/0.2 miles, turn left towards Messaria. When reaching Messaria, you have to turn right and follow the road signs to Fira. From that point, Fira is only 1km/0.62 miles away. The ride from Santorini Airport to Fira should last around 15 minutes under normal traffic, while even though street parking is the rule in Fira, it is highly recommended to park just outside the village as roads are narrow and difficult to traverse during the high tourist season.
Private Airport Transfers from Santorini Airport to Fira
If you don’t want to depend on the few island’s taxis or the efficient, still unreliable KTEL buses, you should definitely opt for a private airport transfer. Booking a Santorini airport transfer is by far the handiest and most pleasant way to get to Fira after landing at Santorini Airport. Private airport transfers guarantee hassle-free journeys, as they offer welcome and pick-up services, fast rides, and many side amenities.
FAQs
How far is the airport to Fira?
Santorini Thira Airport is located within a 5-km/3.1-mile distance from Fira. Thus, the ride from JTR to the island’s capital lasts approximately 15 minutes by car, taxi, or private transfer and 15-20 minutes by public bus.
How do you get to Fira Santorini?
Airport transfers from Santorini Airport to Fira are handled either by airport taxis or public KTEL buses. Alternatively, travelers looking for the most comfortable and luxurious way of transfer usually settle on private transfers, while passengers, who seek independence, usually pick car rentals.
How much is a taxi from Santorini Airport to Fira?
Santorini taxis are metered. Thus, they don’t have pre-determined fares. Overall, a usual ride from Santorini Airport to Fira lasts 15 minutes and costs 17€-22€/17$-22$ during the day and 22€-27€/22$ -27$ from midnight to 05:00 am.