Do I need a shore excursion in Santorini?

Popular Things to Do in Santorini Cruisers can check out the main town of Fira on foot, but otherwise, booking an organized shore excursion to places including local wineries, beaches, hiking trails, volcanic ruins and hot springs is recommended -- the island is tiny, but the roads can be difficult to traverse.



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Cruise passengers that like to explore ports independently will be happy to know that most highlights of Santorini are easy to explore on your own. You will find almost all you need to discover Santorini on your own as you step out of the tender boat at the pier in the port of Skala.

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You absolutely do not have to do shore excursions on a cruise. You are free to come and go at will from most cruise ships while they are in ports of call. Shore excursions are simply one means to explore the areas visited by the ship and to participate in available activities off the ship.

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You are not obligated to book shore excursions through Carnival in order to leave the ship. Public transportation is available at each port. We suggest you visit your local library, bookstore or a pertinent website to determine where you would like to go.

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If your ship is docked, you'll be able to simply walk off the vessel directly onto dry land via a movable ramp called a gangway. If it's anchored, you'll have to take a tender -- a small boat that ferries passengers ashore in groups.

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Find a port agent. In cases when cruisers are late returning to the vessel, the ship's crew will often remove the passengers' essential items -- passports, cell phones and medication -- from the ship to leave with the port agents. These officials can help you with contacting your ship and making travel arrangements.

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All boat tours will take you inside the caldera. But you can also take longer tours that will allow you to also admire the colors of South coast, as you can see on the picture below. In my opinion, a boat tour is a must-do in Santorini to fully appreciate the unique landscape.

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The best way to get around Santorini is on foot or by bus. You'll see that it's easy to walk around the tiny seaside towns, but the bus is best to get from one town to another. There are KTEL bus routes from Fira (the capital city) to many different destinations around the main island.

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The best and perhaps the safest means of transportation in Santorini is a rented car. Rent one at the airport or port upon arrival and save yourself the time of waiting for a bus or taxi! The price for renting a car in Santorini starts from 30 euro per day and you can simply drop it off at the place where you got it.

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Taking Your Passport Should you take your passport with you on shore excursions? No, you shouldn't bring your passport, unless your tour requires it. We recommend bringing your driver's license as a form of ID instead. You don't want to risk losing your passport ashore.

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Travel by Bus While it won't take you to all places on the island, it is the cheapest way to go around with prices ranging between 1.8 to 2.5 euros. The bus stations are pre-defined and fixed – you can't stop wherever you like. Sometimes, they may arrive packed with people so you'll have to wait for the next one.

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Escape Oia and Fira. Get out of these hot spots and head to the lesser-known parts of the island: Emborio, Finikia, Colombo Beach, and Pyrgos all showcase the charm of Santorini without the packs of people.

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Santorini is the top tourist destination in Greece and is world-famous for its unique natural beauty. The caldera with the white villages on top, the sunken volcano, and the charming sunset make it a popular place for vacation. In brief, we recommend staying 3 to 5 days in order to visit as many places as possible.

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The best way to get around Santorini is on foot or by bus. You'll see that it's easy to walk around the tiny seaside towns, but the bus is best to get from one town to another. There are KTEL bus routes from Fira (the capital city) to many different destinations around the main island.

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Transport: How To Get Around On Santorini. The towns in Santorini (such as Oia and Fira) are small enough to be walkable by foot for restaurants and most other things, but if you want to do some exploring outside of town you'll need transport.

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The quickest way to get from Oia (Station) to Fira is to taxi which costs €35 - €50 and takes 12 min. Is there a direct bus between Oia (Station) and Fira? Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Oia and arriving at Fira. Services depart hourly, and operate every day.

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Yes, Santorini is worth it for it's volcanic topography. Absolutely. Formed over 3,500 years ago from a volcanic eruption, Santorini is the remains of the rim of a volcanic crater, known as a caldera.

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The only time a cruise ship will wait for late passengers is if they are on a ship sponsored shore excursion, meaning the tour was booked and operated through the cruise line.

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As for your person, you will go through a metal detector. We have yet to go through a port that has the body scanners that have caused so much controversy at airports.

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