The Santorini cable car is the fastest and most scenic way between the Old Port and the capital Fira, gliding 220 metres up the caldera cliff in about three minutes. A one-way ticket costs around 10 euros, but queues build on cruise days. This guide covers the tickets, hours, the queues and the alternatives.
The cable car is an iconic ride and a practical link in the wider Santorini travel guide. It connects Fira with the sea below. The sections below cover the cable car.
What is the Santorini cable car?
The Santorini cable car links the Old Port at the base of the caldera cliff to the town of Fira 220 metres higher, covering the climb in about three minutes. It is the fastest and most scenic way up, with panoramic views of the caldera and volcano, mainly used by cruise passengers and visitors.
The cable car is one of Santorini’s most useful and scenic rides. It links the Old Port, the small harbour directly below Fira where cruise tenders and small boats arrive, with the cliff-top capital, rising 220 metres up the sheer caldera wall in just three minutes, with sweeping views over the caldera, the volcano and the whitewashed town above. For the many cruise passengers and day visitors arriving by sea, and for anyone wanting to reach the Old Port and its tavernas, it is the obvious way up and down, sparing the steep climb on foot, set within the wider Santorini cruise port. The tickets are simple.
How much does it cost and when does it run?
A one-way cable car ticket is about 10 euros for adults and 5 for kids aged six to twelve, with under-sixes free, bought at each end. It runs daily, roughly 6.30am to 11pm in peak season. You buy a one-way ticket at the bottom or top, near the cathedral in Fira.
Riding the cable car is inexpensive and flexible. A one-way fare is roughly 10 euros for an adult and 5 for a child of six to twelve, with under-sixes travelling free, and you buy separately for each direction. The cabins run frequently throughout the day, operating from roughly 6.30am to 11pm in the busy summer season, with shorter hours off-season. Tickets are sold at the stations at each end, at the Old Port at the bottom and in Fira town at the top, close to the main Orthodox cathedral and the town’s archaeological museum, or online in advance through the official site, which saves the purchase step but does not give priority in the queue, set out alongside the guide to Fira. The queues are the main thing to plan for.
How long are the queues?
Queues for the cable car can stretch to 30 to 60 minutes when cruise ships are in port, typically between 9am and 4pm. Advance online tickets save the purchase step but not the wait in the main line, so timing your ride to avoid the cruise rush is the key to a short queue.
The cable car’s one drawback is the queues on busy days. When several cruise ships are anchored in the caldera, the line can stretch to anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes in either direction, especially between about 9am and 4pm when cruise passengers come and go. Buying tickets online in advance removes the purchase step but does not let you skip the main boarding queue. The trick is timing: riding early in the morning before the cruise crowds, or in the late afternoon and evening after they have re-embarked, means little or no wait. Checking the cruise-ship schedule and picking quieter days helps, set out alongside the guide to a Santorini itinerary. There are alternatives if the queue is long.
What are the alternatives to the cable car?
The alternatives are walking the steep zig-zag path of 588 steps between the Old Port and Fira, or riding a donkey up, which is not recommended on welfare grounds. A common tip is to walk down the steps and take the cable car up, avoiding the longer up-queue and the tiring climb.
If the cable-car queue is long, you have a couple of options. The old donkey path of 588 steps zig-zags up the cliff between the Old Port and Fira, and can be walked on foot, though it is steep, hot, shared with donkeys and often messy, so good shoes are essential and it is hard work upward. Riding a donkey up is possible but discouraged on animal-welfare grounds. A popular compromise is to walk down the steps, enjoying the views and saving time, then take the cable car back up to avoid both the tiring climb and the longest queue. Whichever you choose, the views over the caldera are superb, set out alongside the guide to getting around Santorini. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Santorini cable car?
A one-way Santorini cable car ticket is around 10 euros for an adult and 5 for a child aged six to twelve, with under-sixes free, bought at each end. It links the Old Port with Fira 220 metres above in about three minutes, and runs daily from roughly 6.30am to 11pm in summer.
How long is the queue for the Santorini cable car?
The cable car queue can stretch to 30 to 60 minutes when cruise ships are in port, typically between 9am and 4pm. Riding early in the morning or in the late afternoon avoids the cruise rush, while online tickets save the purchase step but not the wait in the main line.
Is there an alternative to the Santorini cable car?
The alternatives are walking the steep zig-zag path of 588 steps between the Old Port and Fira, or riding a donkey up, which is not recommended on welfare grounds. A popular tip is to walk down the steps and take the cable car up to avoid the climb and the longest queue.