Greece › Santorini › Airport
By Santorini Dave • dave@santorinidave.com
Updated: October 7, 2026
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Santorini Airport (JTR) is small and easy to navigate. Departures and Arrivals are in the same terminal.
Santorini Airport: What to Know
Santorini Airport (JTR), also called Santorini (Thira) International Airport, is on the east side of the island, about 5km from Fira. It’s a small airport and easy to navigate, but gets very busy from June through September.
- Fira: About 10 minutes by car. Direct public bus, €2.20.
- Oia: About 25 to 30 minutes by car. No direct public bus. Take the airport bus to Fira, then change for Oia.
- Imerovigli: About 15 to 20 minutes by car. By bus, change in Fira.
- Kamari: About 10 minutes by car. By bus, change in Fira.
- Best airport transportation: I recommend a pre-booked private transfer for most travelers. The bus is cheap and works well if you’re staying in Fira. For every other town it’s a slog.
- Taxis: The taxi stand is outside the terminal. Taxis are limited on Santorini and waits can be long in summer.
- Rental cars: The airport is the best place on Santorini to pick up a rental car.
- Departing Santorini: I recommend arriving 2 hours before departure in summer. Don’t cut it close just because the airport is small.
There are flights between Athens and Santorini year-round. From spring through fall there are also direct international flights from many European cities, most commonly London, along with Paris, Rome, Milan, Naples, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Zurich, and others.
Our flight to London departing from Santorini Airport.
Getting from Santorini Airport to Your Hotel
There are four good options: private transfer, taxi, bus, or rental car. For first-time visitors, I prefer a pre-booked transfer. You know someone will be waiting when you land and don’t have to deal with a taxi line or bus connection with luggage.
- Private Transfer: Easiest and most reliable. I recommend Welcome Pickups.
- Taxi: Convenient if one is waiting, but queues are common during busy summer arrival periods.
- Bus: Cheapest. The Airport-Fira bus costs €2.20. For Oia, Imerovigli, Firostefani, Perissa, Kamari, Akrotiri, and all other destinations, you’ll need to change buses in Fira (and buy another ticket).
- Rental Car: Best if you plan to rent a car anyway. Pick it up at the airport rather than in Fira, Oia, or at the ferry port. I use Booking.com.
Driving Times from Santorini Airport
- Fira: 10 minutes
- Kamari: 10 minutes
- Firostefani: 15 minutes
- Imerovigli: 15 to 20 minutes
- Perissa: 20 to 25 minutes
- Oia: 25 to 30 minutes
These are normal driving times. Summer traffic, especially around Fira, can add time.
Santorini Airport to Oia
There is no direct public bus from Santorini Airport to Oia. Take the airport bus to Fira, get off at the Fira bus station, then take a second bus to Oia. You’ll need a separate ticket for each bus.
This works fine if you’re traveling light and aren’t in a hurry. With large luggage, children, or a late arrival, I would book a transfer instead. Going through Fira turns a fairly short drive into a longer two-bus trip.
Santorini Airport to Fira
Fira is the easiest major town to reach from the airport. The direct bus costs €2.20 and takes about 12 minutes. A taxi or private transfer takes about the same amount of driving time.
If you’re staying at a caldera hotel, a vehicle might not be able to drive directly to the entrance. Many hotels are on pedestrian lanes or down steps. A driver will generally get you as close as possible. A private driver will probably call your hotel to request a porter to carry your luggage.
How Early Should I Arrive at Santorini Airport?
Check-in at Santorini Airport. The terminal is small, but lines can build quickly when several flights depart close together. I recommend arriving 2 hours before departure in the busy summer months.
I recommend arriving 2 hours before departure during the busy summer months. Santorini Airport is small, but several flights leaving close together can create long lines at check-in and security.
If you’re flying in July or August, checking luggage, or flying internationally, I would not arrive later than 2 hours before departure.
Outside peak season, 90 minutes is usually enough for a domestic flight if you’re checked in online and have carry-on luggage only. Don’t plan your airport arrival based only on driving time. Traffic around Fira and Messaria can slow down in summer, and taxis can be difficult to find at busy times.
Santorini Airport Transfers
For most travelers, a private transfer is the easiest way to get from Santorini Airport to a hotel.
I recommend pre-booking with Welcome Pickups. Your driver meets you at the airport, payment is made in advance, and the driver monitors your flight in case it’s delayed.
Larger vehicles and child seats can be requested. Many Santorini hotels also arrange airport transfers but these will be 20€ to 50€ more than a private driver booked through Welcome Pickups. Hotel transfers can be especially convenient for hotels in Oia and Imerovigli where the driver will be in direct communication with the hotel porters.
Santorini Airport Bus
The public bus stop is directly outside Santorini Airport. Buses run from the airport to Fira; for Oia, Imerovigli, and most other destinations, change buses at the Fira bus station.
The public bus runs between Santorini Airport and the main bus station in Fira. The fare is €2.20 and the trip takes about 12 minutes.
The airport bus stop is just outside the terminal. Tickets are bought on the bus.
There are no direct airport buses to Oia or other Santorini villages. For Firostefani, Imerovigli, Oia, Kamari, Perissa and Perivolos, Akrotiri, or Pyrgos, take the airport bus to Fira and change there. You’ll need another ticket for the connecting bus. The airport bus will stop near Messaria and Karterados on the way to Fira if you ask the driver, though few tourists stay in either village.
The airport bus schedule is posted at the Fira bus station. The schedule will change often and with little notice.
The same applies when going to the airport. From Oia, Imerovigli, the beach towns, and most other villages, take a bus to Fira and then the Fira-Airport bus.
Bus schedules change throughout the year and service is more frequent in summer. But I would not build a tight airport connection around the bus schedule.
Santorini Airport Taxi & Uber
The taxi stand is directly outside Arrivals. Taxis are limited on the island, and waits can be long when several flights arrive at the same time.
The official taxi stand is outside the terminal. You don’t need to reserve a taxi, but that doesn’t mean one will be waiting.
Taxis on Santorini are limited, and airport lines can be long during the busy summer months. If I were arriving in July or August and wanted to get straight to my hotel, I would pre-book a transfer rather than count on the taxi line.
Uber works on Santorini. The app can be used to request local taxis and professional drivers. It’s useful, but waits can still be long when the island is busy.
Santorini Airport Car Rental
Rental cars at Santorini Airport. I recommend picking up a car here rather than in Fira, Oia, or at the ferry port. It’s the easiest place on the island to start driving.
The airport is the best place on Santorini to pick up a rental car. It’s much easier than collecting one in Fira or Oia and far easier than picking up a car at the busy ferry port.
I use Booking.com to compare and reserve cars.
Rental agencies with desks at Santorini Airport:
- Avance
- Avis / Budget
- Hertz / Thrifty
- Sixt
- Suntime
Other rental companies meet customers at the airport or shuttle them to a nearby lot.
Book an automatic early. Manual-transmission cars are much more common in Greece. Automatics cost more and are the first cars to sell out in summer.
Bring your valid home driver’s license. Whether you also need an International Driving Permit depends on where your license was issued and the rental company’s requirements. Confirm this with your rental company before your trip.
(Read more about renting a car in Santorini.)
Santorini Airport Shuttle
Shared shuttles are most useful for solo travelers. For two or more people, compare the total cost with a private transfer.
Shared airport shuttles run between Santorini Airport and hotels around the island.
They make multiple stops and are slower than a private transfer. They can make sense for a solo traveler, but for two or more people compare the total cost with a private transfer before booking.
Santorini Airport Hotels
Marvarit Suites is one of the closest good hotels to Santorini Airport, with a swimming pool and breakfast.
Unless you have a very early flight or late arrival, don’t choose where to stay in Santorini based on distance from the airport. The island is small. Fira and Kamari are both about 10 minutes away by car and have far more hotels, restaurants, and things to do.
If you do want to stay close to the airport, Marvarit Suites in Monolithos is my pick. Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Santorini is the best beachfront resort near the airport.
Santorini Airport Facilities
Santorini Airport has free WiFi, ATMs, free phone-charging stations, shops, duty-free shopping, cafes, and places to eat. Food and drinks are available before and after security. Car rental desks are in Arrivals.
The terminal is small and not somewhere I would deliberately spend a long time hanging out. If you have several hours before a flight, you’re better off spending the extra time in Fira or Kamari and heading to the airport later.
Santorini Airport FAQ
Outside Arrivals at Santorini Airport. This is where you’ll find taxis, buses, rental cars, and drivers meeting passengers for pre-booked transfers.
What is the airport code for Santorini?
The airport code is JTR. The full name is Santorini (Thira) International Airport.
How far is Santorini Airport from Fira?
Santorini Airport is about 5km from Fira. The drive takes about 10 minutes in light traffic.
How far is Santorini Airport from Oia?
Oia is about a 25 to 30-minute drive from Santorini Airport in normal traffic. By bus, travel from the airport to Fira and change there for Oia.
Is there a bus from Santorini Airport to Oia?
Not directly. Take the Airport-Fira bus and then the Fira-Oia bus. You need a separate ticket for each leg.
Is there Uber at Santorini Airport?
Yes. Uber operates on Santorini and can be used to request a driver or local taxi from the airport. Availability can be limited when the island is busy.
Are taxis available at Santorini Airport?
Yes. The taxi stand is outside the terminal. The problem is availability, not finding the taxi stand. Santorini has a limited number of taxis and waits can be long when several flights arrive at the same time.
Can I rent a car at Santorini Airport?
Yes. Several rental companies have desks at the airport, and others offer airport pickup or a shuttle to a nearby lot. The airport is my favorite place to pick up a rental car on Santorini.
Does Santorini Airport have food and WiFi?
Yes. The airport has free WiFi, cafes, shops, ATMs, duty-free shopping, and free charging stations. Food and drinks are available before and after security.
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