Fira Cable Car
The cable car linking Fira town on the rim to the old port 220m below — the humane alternative to the donkey path down the cliff.
The call
Worth it if you care about the visual experience.
Why
- 01
A quick, scenic three-minute ride with great caldera views, and the right choice over the donkeys both ethically and for comfort.
Our read - 02
The catch is brutal queues when a cruise ship is disembarking, when waits can hit an hour.
Our read
Is it a fit?
Go if
This is your first trip to Santorini
The obvious, ethical link between Fira and the old port; just time it around the ships.
You care about the visual experience
For beauty & photography, Fira Cable Car delivers.
Think twice if
You are watching the budget
On a budget, weigh it — Fira Cable Car isn't cheap for what it is.
You only have one day
Fira Cable Car is a real time commitment — fit it in only if it's a priority.
You are traveling with kids
With kids, it depends on the day.
You are traveling as a couple
As a couple, it depends on the day.
Plan it well
- Cost
- ~€6 each way
- Timing
- Avoid windows when cruise ships are tendering passengers ashore.
- Allow
- 5–60 min depending on queue
- Accessibility
- Cabins involve a step on and off; far easier than the stairs but not fully step-free.
- Getting there
- Boards at the rim in central Fira down to the old port.