Should we rent a car in Santorini?
 

My fiance and I will be Santorini for 5 nights in June/July...trying to decide if we need to rent a car. Our travel agent suggested we rent one however we are wondering if we can get by on public transportation. We are staying at Sun Rocks - will we have problems getting to and from different places without a car?

I don't know anything about Sun Rocks, but if you're in Fira or Oia, you don't need a car. There's good public bus transportation to Akrotiri, beaches, and interesting scenic towns. The only problem with using the buses is that you usually have to go back to a main town before you can go to your next small destination, while with a car, you could go from, e.g., Oia to Akrotiri to a beach to a small town, to another beach. But if you'll be there 5 nights, you'll have plenty of time to get around and you don't have to rush around with a car. (If Sun Rocks is NOT in one of the two main towns then you probably do need a car.)

My husband and I had 4 nights on Santorini and found the local buses cheap and easy to use. We caught the bus to Oia for the sunset and to Akrotiri for the ruins and to places in between. The interaction with the locals was always fun! Once you arrive, if you feel you want a car for a day or two, you could arrange one then. Also, because Santorini is built on a cliff face, it doesn't have a lot of normal streets like an everyday town, a lot of it is paths for walking only. Fira particularly is best seen by walking, I don't remember seeing anywhere to park cars.
Kay

The bus system and available taxis are very efficient on Santorini. Sun Rocks is in Firostephani, and the bus is just a short walk away. I suggest you wait until you get there to decide. There are rental agencies everywhere and you won't have any trouble finding a car to rent if you really want one.

Use the bus system a few days . Rent a car for one or two days you can see everything the Island is small.They charge about 25 euro a day insurance is included at some places. Your hotel will have a deal with a rental company .

We stayed in Firo without a car and were fine, except we rented one in town for one day and drove all over the island, which we thorougly enjoyed. Our hotel, the Loucas, suggested a local rental agency right in town. Our only concern was they gave us a brand new car. When we returned it they went over it with magnifying glasses looking for any kind of scratch or mark. Fortunately they couldn't find one.

..we were in Santorini for a second honeymoon..totally agree that you dont need a car. We did rent small motorcycles (a vespa type thing..really a motorscooter) which we found were absolutely great. They allowed us to go from our hotel which was outside of Thira to Ia, to the beaches, up the road to ancient thira ect...I am not a sweet young thing and am a very conservative driver..I did insist on a helmet (that was the tricky part) and we never used drove beyond full light.

Flight from Santorini to Athens



Author: jlb
Date: 02/10/2004, 05:00 pm
Message: Author: jlb
Date: 02/10/2004, 04:57 pm
Message: I am booking a flight from Santorini back to Athens to catch my return flight home to Canada and need to know how long this flight is to leave enough time so as not to miss my flight.






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Author: Marko
Date: 02/10/2004, 06:06 pm
Message: 50 minute flight.



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Author: brotherleelove2004
Date: 02/10/2004, 08:47 pm
Message: Use this website to help you determine what schedule will be in effect on the day you fly to Athens:

http://195.167.49.247/schedules/oaschedulesuk.aspx



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Author: Marko
Date: 02/10/2004, 09:43 pm
Message: Hey Brother, a handy site, wish I had it 6 months ago !



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Author: jlb
Date: 02/10/2004, 10:22 pm
Message: Thanks so much for the info!




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Author: KayF
Date: 02/11/2004, 02:46 am
Message: We flew this sector with Olympic a few years ago and it took 25 mins. We were delayed in Athens for over an hour before take-off so don't cut the timing too fine.
Kay




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Author: jlb
Date: 02/11/2004, 08:17 am
Message: Thanks Kay.
So I will give myself two hours at the airport ahead of the flight!



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I apologize to all, my previous reply was not meant for this posting. Sorry for any confusion.

We were going to rent a car, but never did..(we stayed near Fira) WE took the bus everywhere..We were going to rent a car and drive to Oia one day, but I am really glad we didn't because that road is not the greatest, I think I would have had a heart attack!! But that is my opinion..We were going to stay at Sun Rocks but it was all booked up...I don't think it is a problem catching a bus from near the hotel though..