My husband and I will be traveling to Santorini in September 2004. We wanted to stay in Oia. Does anyone know how far Oia is from Fira? Do we need to rent a car or can we take a cab into Oia....approximately how much would a cab cost? Thanks!

Oia is only bout 7 miles from Fira. The island is small, you can get around easily by local bus (1 Euro) or taxi (10 Euro). Renting a car isn't really necessary. Buses run one/hour from 9 am to 9 pm, more frequently and later in the summer months. In September the last bus back to Oia leaves about 9:30 pm, but of course you should always check for current scheduling at the bus stop in Oia or Fira.

Thanks for your reply brotherleelove!
Do you know of any travel guides that specialize in Santorini or the cyclades? I have a bunch of books on the greek islands....but they don't give all that much information on the island.
Would you recommend Katikies or Persivolas? We will be staying in Santorini for 4 nights. Could you recommend any day trips that we could take....are there any to Crete or to any other islands? I have tried to look up ferry/hydrofoil schedules -on various sites- to see how far each island is from Santorini, but it seems to be a difficult process! Thanks again for your help!!!

Katikes and Perivolas are both excellent hotels, you could choose either and be happy.

A day trip to Crete isn't possible unless the hydrofoils are running, but you can go to Naxos or Ios.

When you're in Oia contact Markos Karvounis at Karvounis Tours in the middle of the village near the big church on the main square. He'll help you with a guided tour of the island. Or if you stay at Perivolas, I'm sure Kostas can help you as well.

Thanks again for your reply, brotherleelove!
Approximately how far away is Naxos and Ios by hydrofoil and ferry?
Also, if I only took one day trip to another island--which one would you recommend? Ios or Naxos?
Have you ever been to Folegandros?

Naxos is 2 hours away by car ferry, there's one that leaves Santorini in the morning and returns in the afternoon, enough time to get a look around the main village and take a bus ride to some other part of the island. Ios is actually on the route before Naxos from Santorini, but I've not been there in so long I don't know what it has to offer.

I've never been to Folegandros, but I've heard a lot of nice things.

Thanks again brotherleelove. Do you know if hydrofoils run to Naxos, as well?

Yes they do. Here's a website for them. Be sure to confirm the times before making the effort:

http://www.greekislands.gr/hfd/

Thanks again!

nancy23
The above is misleading you it is not possible to day trip to Folegandros and it would be a very long day to day trip to Ios, Naxos (possible but not really sensible). There are no hydrofoils on that route only ferries and hi-speed catarmarans. Contact one of the travel agents when you arrive they will hopefully give you some good advice.

I don't know what the previous poster read "above" that's misleading, but the last time I was on Santorini I took a day trip to Naxos. The boat left Santorini in the morning, about 8:30-9:00 I think, and I caught a boat back to Santorini that afternoon about 3:30 or 4:30. Not a lot of time, I admit, but enough for a quick look around (also known as a day trip!). By the way, if you want to see more of Naxos or one of the other islands, there's nothing keeping you from spending the night, is there?

As far as Folegandros is concerned, I never said you could take a day trip there, and I don't have any idea if you can or I would have said so.

I do agree that it would be best to get the advice of a local travel agent for current ferry choices between islands along with accurate timetables.