Port guide · Greece
Ships anchor in the caldera: a tender takes you to Fira's old port and the cable car lifts you up to the town. Fira has caldera views; Oia has blue domes and white houses.
Santorini has no pier for large cruise ships: the ship anchors in the bay and a tender drops you at Fira's old port (Gialos), at the foot of the cliff. The town is over 200 metres up and there are three ways to get there.
Time: About 3 minApprox. price: Approx. €10 per person (one way)
Fastest and easiest; when several ships are in, the queue can be 30–60 minutes
Time: 30–45 minApprox. price: Free
Almost 600 steps uphill, with donkey droppings and strong sun in summer: not recommended
Time: 20–30 minApprox. price: Price on the spot
A local tradition, with a weight limit and controversy over animal welfare
To get back you have to go down to the old port and take the tender. The queue for the cable car down is often even longer: check on board when the last tender leaves and be at the cable car with at least an hour to spare.
Route 1
Fira first, then Oia by bus; on the way back, bus or taxi to Fira and the cable car down.
Tender to the old port and cable car up to Fira
Fira: a walk along the caldera rim
On the way, the Church of the Three Bells
Bus from Fira to Oia
About 25 min, approx. €2–3 per person
Oia: blue domes, white houses and views from the castle
Back to Fira, cable car and tender to the ship
Taxi approx. €35–50; there are few, so expect to wait
Route 2
Transport included: no bus queues or fighting for taxis, and a guaranteed return to the ship.
Want it easy? Join an official MSC shore excursion, timed around the port call. If you booked your cruise with VIAJES FH, ask your advisor to add it for you.
Search MSC cruises calling at Santorini with VIAJES FH, with live prices.
Search cruisesYour advisor can add shore excursions, drinks packages and onboard internet.
Contact an advisor
Transport and ticket prices are approximate, checked in November 2026, and may change. The latest all-aboard time is the one announced on board.
Cover photo: Giles Laurent / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0