The Bus from Santorini Port
The Athinios ferry port bus is the most affordable way to travel from Santorini Port to your destination. The KTEL buses -as they’re called- connect all the island’s destinations, running frequently year-round. That being said, the bus routes are more frequent during the summer than in autumn and spring, and far more numerous in summer than in winter. All buses are modern, air-conditioned, and provide reliable services. However, they are not accessible, as they are not adapted to the needs of passengers with disabilities. Moreover, they tend to get crowded, especially during the peak tourist season. Thus, passengers often need to travel standing or even wait for the next bus route when the KTEL bus is full. Fortunately, all KTEL coaches feature designated storage areas in their lower compartments. Therefore, traveling with lots of luggage doesn’t pose a problem. Plus, they have overhead racks for smaller bags. It’s important to note that these racks aren’t enclosed. So, storing luggage there can be risky when traveling along Santorini’s winding roads.
The Santorini Port Bus Route
All Santorini KTEL buses run to Fira. Indeed, they all start or begin their routes at the Fira Central Bus Station. Thus, the Santorini port bus also travels to Fira, taking around 20 minutes to reach the island’s capital. Still, if the road along the Caldera to Fira is congested, the trip may take much longer. The bus from Santorini Port makes some in-between stops at Mesaria and Karterados. Moreover, it runs to Pyrgos Kallistis. If you’re not getting off in Fira, you should inform the driver, as bus drivers in Santorini typically don’t stop at intermediate stops unless a passenger requests it. However, the bus stops only at designated locations. Therefore, you can get on or off only at these official stops.
Overall, the Santorini port bus runs from early morning until evening. In general, routes in winter are a lot scarcer, every 2 or even 3 hours until approximately 07:00 pm. However, during the summer months, buses run every 20-30 minutes. This isn’t the case, however, for bus routes from and to Santorini Port. Buses from Fira to Athinios Port and from Santorini Ferry Port to Fira run according to the ferry schedule. Generally, buses depart from Fira about one hour before each ferry’s departure and return to Fira shortly after passengers disembark. Hence, the bus schedule changes frequently, even from day to day. The schedule for buses from Fira to Athinios is posted at the Fira Bus Station one day in advance.
Tip to Know: If you arrive at Athinios Port and are heading to a destination other than Fira, you’ll need to take the bus to Fira first and then catch another bus going to your final destination. You should always check the bus destination with the driver before boarding to avoid taking the wrong route.
Santorini Port Bus Fares and Prices
The Santorini port bus is the cheapest transit option for the ride to and from Athinios Port. A one-way ticket costs just €2,50/$2,85, while children between 7 and 12 years of age and passengers with disabilities pay half the fare (€1,20/$1,35). Younger children travel for free. On the other hand, night rides (from 00:30 am to 05:00 am) are pricier. Thus, if your ferry arrives at Athinios Port during the night, you’ll pay €3,10/$3,50 for the bus ride to Fira. Tickets can be purchased inside the bus from the driver or the conductor. Only cash payments are accepted. Therefore, you can’t pay by credit card or mobile wallet. It’s also recommended to use small bills, as the driver may not have enough change. Please keep in mind that there are no daily or weekly passes, and you can’t use the same ticket for onward bus journeys. Hence, if you have to catch another bus at Fira Bus Station to reach your destination, you’ll need to buy an extra ticket. Overall, tickets for Santorini buses cost from €2/$2,25 to €2,50/$2,85.
Tip to Know: Tickets do not include assigned seats. So, even if you have a ticket for the Santorini port bus, if you don’t quickly board after disembarking at Athinios Port, you may end up traveling standing.
The Santorini Port Bus Stop
Santorini Ferry Port -Athinios Port- features a bus stop where the KTEL buses wait for passengers to board once their ferry docks. The bus stop is easily accessible from the ferry gates, located next to the taxi rank, just a few meters from the ferry docks and the terminal building. Buses are always available there. In fact, you may find more than one bus waiting at the Santorini port bus stop. Still, during peak tourist season, buses fill up quickly, as they are the only form of mass transit on the island. Therefore, if you want to catch the bus to Fira, you shouldn’t waste time after getting off the ferry.
On the other hand, the bus stop in Fira is situated at the main square, near the Metropolitan Church and the Museum of Prehistoric Thera. It is Santorini’s central bus station. All bus routes start and end here. Expectantly, there’s also an information counter on-site, where staff can answer any questions about bus routes in Santorini.
FAQs
Is there a bus from Fira to the port?
The Santorini port bus connects Fira with Athinios Port. Thus, passengers can catch a bus from Fira to reach Santorini Ferry Port and vice versa. However, the schedule of the bus isn’t fixed but depends on the ferry routes. In general, buses from Fira to Athinios depart about one hour before each ferry’s scheduled departure.