Athinios Port to Imerovigli by private taxi
A taxi from Athinios Port to Imerovigli costs from €35 for the whole car, VAT included, day or night. The drive is 14 km and takes about 15 minutes up the cliff road and along the caldera rim, and waiting at the port is free for 30 minutes from docking.
- From €35, whole car
- 14 km
- About 15 minutes
Updated 12 September 2026 by the Santorini Taxi team.
What to expect
From the quay at Athinios the road climbs the cliff in a run of hairpin bends before it meets the ridge above Megalochori. From there it turns north onto the caldera road, the same route every car and coach takes towards Fira and Oia, and Imerovigli sits at the highest point of that rim, just past the capital.
Imerovigli itself has almost no flat ground. Its hotels are built into the cliff below the road, reached by lanes that turn to steps, so after the climb from the port there is a second, shorter climb still to come, this time on foot. The driver stops at the road above the hotel and carries the bags down when the lane allows it.
Coming straight off a boat changes the shape of the luggage more than the timing does; a mix of suitcases and beach or boat bags from an island-hopping trip is common on this route, and it is worth mentioning the extra bags when you book so the right car is sent. Ferries dock at Athinios at every hour, and a night arrival costs no more than a midday one.
A saloon suits two passengers with ordinary cases. A group of five or more, or a family with a folding buggy and a pile of soft bags, should book the van instead.
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 Imerovigli
A ride to Imerovigli ends at the top of the lane closest to your hotel, on the main road or the small streets behind it. The driver walks the bags down when the hotel is within a short walk; for the hotels lowest on the cliff ask reception to send someone up. Count on about 10 minutes from the airport and 15 from the port, plus the walk down.
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
- Imerovigli's hotels sit below the main road, down lanes with steps. Give us the hotel name and the driver knows the nearest stopping point.
- Coming straight off a ferry with cases, allow a little extra time for the walk down the lane once the car stops on the road.
- Ferries into Athinios are met at every hour, including overnight, for the same price as a midday arrival.
- Two passengers with cases fit the saloon. A group of five or more takes the van, which carries beach and boat bags without a squeeze.
Questions about this route
How long is the drive from Athinios port to Imerovigli?
About 15 minutes for 14 km, up the switchback road from the quay and then north along the caldera rim. The last stretch slows down on summer evenings when the sunset traffic builds.
Can the taxi reach my hotel in Imerovigli?
Usually only as far as the road above it. Imerovigli's hotels are built into the cliff below the road, so the driver stops at the top of the hotel's lane and carries the bags down from there.
What happens if my ferry is delayed?
The driver checks the ferry's progress and comes down for the real docking time. The 30 minutes of free waiting start once the boat ties up at Athinios, not at the printed time.
Is a late arrival into Imerovigli a problem?
No. The driver waits at the top of the lane with the lights on and walks down to help with the bags if it is dark, at the same price as a daytime transfer.