Santorini, Greece Port Reviews

Did get off ship here, was there before but heard others saying it was crazy busy waiting for the cable cars and a fight broke out due to people skipping the q's.

The port was very crowded with 7 cruise ships there at once. People were very rude and not helpful. There were only two was to get up the mountain, walk stairs or donkey and/or tram. The lines were so long and the power went out on the island so people were stuck. It was so incredibly hot that the only way back to the ship was to walk down the 600 stair. People were pushing and shoving, passing out and falling down the stairs, falling in the donkey poop, and passing out of heat stroke with no one there to help. It was a horrible experience and we will not go back there EVER! When you asked for help from the locals, they ignored you or were very rude. This area is not an area I would recommend for elderly people or people with medical challenges. Both ports in Greece we had to get my parents back to ship early as they were really struggling. Also, our tour we booked, didn't wait or want to be helpful either.

The town of Oia (pronounced EE yah) is the place to go. However, if you don't do an excursion, you might have trouble getting there. Ships are anchored off shore, with Island tenders providing transport to the Island. Those with excursions are taken to a different port on the other side of the Island where buses take them up the mountain to Oia. Those without excursions are tendered to the small port directly across from where the ship is anchored. ALL tender returns to the ship are from this port. From this port, there are only 3 ways up to Oia. 1. Donkey ride up the 586 steps and smell like one by the time you get there; 2. Walk up the 586 steps (where the donkeys leave their droppings, the smell is awful and the steps can be slippery in those places) or 3. Ride the cable care up....but beware, it only holds 36 people per trip and the lines are 2+ hrs long. The only way back down is walking or the cable car. Be forewarned, you are now competing with the donkey riders and the people who took excursions coming back down to the port so waits may be even longer. We didn't do an excursion and chose to walk only a part way up to Oia for some closer pictures and spend the rest of our time at the port area. There are a few shops to purchase souvenirs and a charming portside taverna with some good Greek wine (or beer), delicious fresh calamari, the best Kalamata Olives I've ever eaten and many other excellent choices to choose from. (But be prepared...it's not the cheapest...Santorini is expensive.)

My wife booked a photoshoot in Oia and we had prebooked the second tender off the ship to Thira. We got to port early and the water taxis from Thira to Oia didn't start for a couple of hours yet so we decided take the 600 steps to top of the caldera at Thira and shared a cab to Oia. The steps weren't as bad as the stories you hear. The smell of the mules walking up and down reminded me of being at the county fair and they are more like long slabs going up than steps. Oia is amazing and surrealistic as if it was a dream. We were blessed again with pleasant weather in the 70's and being November it wasn't crowded at all. After the photoshoot we walked the narrow scenic walkways, took lots of videos and pictures and relaxed at rooftop restaurants and bars and shopped for souvenirs. In the evening we took the bus back to Thira for only a euro and sat at rooftop bar there, talked and watched the sunset. Amazing experience! We strolled a long enjoying the lights at night and then took the cable back to the port and the tender to the ship. Another amazing day! 💙🇬🇷

Excursion not needed. This is another tender port but it wasn’t a problem getting off. We chose to walk up the 600 odd steps out of the caldera. Apparently the queues for the cable car were 2 hours long (imagine in high summer!) and we weren’t going to ride the donkeys. The steps are long and broad so it was quite easy to walk up with stopping points but a bit slippery and watch your step for the donkey doo!! I was pleasantly surprised that the donkeys looked healthy and well treated (unlike the horses in Egypt), but still think it is unfair to use them. There were plenty of cabs but we chose to get the hourly bus to Oia - abject chaos at the bus station!!! Seriously, sort it out!! So worth it though, Oia is even more stunning than the travel guides. Just don’t go in high summer!

So this was #1 for me! Hands down my favourite place to visit and I’d love to go back here in a heartbeat! We started our day riding the donkeys up the cliffs, took a taxi to Oia and had lunch. Then we rode ATVs(quads) all over going to wineries and beaches. Then we took the famous cliff road from Frita to Oia with beautiful views and saw the sun set.

Since we were the only cruise ship in port, the island was not crowded at all. The bus tour around the island was nice, and the town of Oia was breath taking.

All I can say is that the town of Santorini is beautiful! It’s amazing how a whole village sits on a side of a cliff. I loved the quant little town with its winding roads and their stores. I would love to go there again!

The town of Thera (?) was worth visiting, we had a nice lunch overlooking the ocean, rode the cable car down. BUT: the excursion was our major let-down of the entire trip. We signed up for a hike around the caldera; it was listed as ‘strenuous’. We are pretty good hikers, but we did not find out until we were on the bus that the ‘hike’ was 7 miles long and uphill for the first 2 miles, and over broken, uneven cobblestones followed by a gravel path then just slippery dirt. ‘Strenuous’ doesn’t begin to describe that tour - I would say ‘brutal’. We had to be rescued via a taxi (provided by Azamara at no charge, for which, thanks) after about 2 miles. We were done! The actual conditions of this excursion should be spelled out much more clearly to potential customers.

Beautiful but crowded. We lucked out but at times long lines for the cable car from Port to Fira. We took public bus from Fira to Oiao for 2Euro each way. Explored Oiao but again crowded.