Athinios Port to Fira by private taxi
A taxi from Athinios Port to Fira costs from €30 for the whole car, VAT included, day or night. The drive is 11 km, about 15 minutes up the switchback road from the quay, and waiting at the port is free for 30 minutes from docking.
- From €30, whole car
- 11 km
- About 15 minutes
Updated 12 September 2026 by the Santorini Taxi team.
What to expect
Athinios is a working quay at the foot of the cliff, with no village around it, so every arriving passenger leaves the same way, up the switchback road that climbs to the ridge above Megalochori. From there it is a short run north to Fira, past the vineyards and the edge of town, before the road narrows into the streets of the capital.
Fira splits into two kinds of hotel. Those on the main road or the streets behind it take the car to the door; those on the caldera side sit below the pedestrian walkway, down flights of steps a car cannot use, and the driver stops on the nearest road and carries the bags the rest of the way. Arriving straight off a ferry, the driver already knows which street matches which hotel before you land.
A public bus also covers this route, but it runs on its own schedule and fills quickly when a large ferry empties at once. A booked car is already waiting with your name when you walk off the quay; it does not need the ferry to be on time to be there. Night ferries are common at Athinios, and the climb up to Fira is quieter after dark than during the afternoon rush of coaches and hire cars.
Two passengers with cases take the saloon comfortably. A group of five or more, or anyone bringing bags back from a day on a boat, should book the van, which has the boot space the saloon does not.
Where the driver meets you at Athinios port
- 1
Walk off the ferry and follow the crowd out of the fenced ferry area. The driver stands at the foot of the port road, just past the exit, with a sign showing the name on your booking.
- 2
Give us the ferry company and the port it sails from when you book. The driver checks the boat's progress before driving down, so a late ferry costs you nothing.
- 3
The car is parked a few steps away on the port road, not up the cliff. Waiting is free for 30 minutes from the moment the ferry docks.
- 4
Ferries are met at every hour, including the night boats, at the same price.
Arriving in Fira
A ride to Fira ends at the door when the hotel is on a road, or at the top of the nearest steps when it is on the caldera side. The driver walks the bags to the hotel where the lane allows; hotels further down can send a porter up to the road. The drive is about 5 minutes from the airport and 10 up from Athinios port.
Prices for this route
up to 4 passengers, 3 suitcases
5 to 8 passengers, 8 suitcases
up to 20 passengers, 20 suitcases
up to 7 passengers, 6 suitcases
Good to know
- A public bus also runs from the port to Fira, but it leaves on its own timetable and does not wait for a delayed ferry.
- Fira's caldera-side hotels sit below the pedestrian walkway. Tell us the hotel name and the driver knows which street to use.
- Ferries dock at Athinios at every hour, including through the night, and the price to Fira is the same whatever time you land.
- Two people with cases fit the saloon. A group of five or more, or a family with a lot of beach and boat luggage, needs the van.
Questions about this route
Is there a bus from Athinios port to Fira?
Yes, a public bus meets some ferries and runs to Fira's bus station, but it works to its own timetable, not your boat's, and can fill up when it is busy. A booked driver waits for your ferry specifically and takes you to the hotel door or the closest street to it.
How long is the drive from the port up to Fira?
About 15 minutes for 11 km, all of it on the switchback road up the cliff. In July and August the bends fill up when two ferries unload close together, so the driver builds in a margin.
Can the taxi reach my hotel in Fira?
If the hotel is on a road, yes. Many caldera-side hotels in Fira sit below the pedestrian walkway, reached by steps; for those the driver stops at the nearest street and carries the bags down.
What if my ferry arrives very late at night?
The driver meets every hour of ferry, including the night boats, at the same fixed price. Give us the ferry name and sailing port when you book, and the driver tracks it.