Santorini Cruise Port: Tender, Cable Car and Getting to Fira

Arriving at Fira Old Port

Cruise ships visiting Santorini anchor offshore rather than pulling up beside Fira.

Many passengers come ashore by tender at Fira Old Port, also known as the Old Port or Skala, directly below the town of Fira.

This is important because there is no normal road connecting the Old Port with the town above. You cannot simply step off the tender and take a taxi from the pier.

Some organised shore excursions use different landing arrangements, including Athinios, which has road access for buses and other vehicles. Follow the instructions for your specific sailing rather than assuming every passenger will arrive at Fira Old Port.

Getting from the Old Port to Fira

For passengers arriving at Fira Old Port, the cable car is the fastest direct route up the caldera cliff.

The official Santorini Cable Car says the ride itself takes about three minutes.

That does not mean you should allow only three minutes.

On a busy cruise day, the important variable is the time spent waiting to board, especially when several ships have passengers going ashore or returning at similar times.

The cable car now has an official online ticketing system, so tickets can be purchased electronically. Check the current operating information and ticket price before your visit.

The stairs between the Old Port and Fira

The stepped route between Fira and the Old Port is another way to travel between the town and the waterfront.

The stairs were temporarily closed in late July 2026 after a wall collapse blocked part of the route. They reopened in early August, so guides saying that the pathway is still closed are now out of date.

The route is steep and long, so walking it should not be treated as a quick substitute for the cable car simply because there is a queue.

Plan the return before you leave Fira

The cable car ride itself takes only a few minutes, but the return to the Old Port may take much longer when several ships have passengers heading back at similar times.

Do not plan your day around the final tender. Decide when you want to be back at the Old Port and work backwards from there.

The Municipal Port Fund of Thira publishes cruise arrivals by date. Santorini's 2026 berthing policy also limits cruise arrivals to a maximum of 8,000 passengers per day, but several ships arriving around similar times can still put pressure on tenders and the cable car.

Checking the official cruise schedule before your visit can help you decide how much return time to allow.