Santorini is a port of call on Mediterranean itineraries nearly year-round, with MSC, Celestyal, and Norwegian Cruise Line calling at the island mainly from April through October.
Silver NovaSilversea · docked in Santorini — track the ship live →
Celebrity EclipseCelebrity Cruises · docked in Santorini — track the ship live →
About The Port Of Santorini
Santorini rises from the sea as a dramatic crescent of cliffs, the visible rim of a volcano that reshaped the island in antiquity. Whitewashed villages cling to the caldera's edge, their blue-domed churches and narrow lanes framing views across the water below. Fira serves as the island's lively capital, while Oia, farther along the rim, is known for cascading bougainvillea and some of the Aegean's most celebrated sunsets.
Most ships call at anchor, with tenders ferrying travelers to the old port beneath Fira, from which a cable car or a switchback path climbs to town. Inland, the archaeological site of Akrotiri preserves a Bronze Age settlement buried by the same eruption that shaped the caldera, and the island's volcanic soil yields distinctive black- and red-sand beaches along with wines found nowhere else.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Santorini.
Explore Akrotiri's Buried City
Wander covered walkways over a remarkably preserved Bronze Age settlement, frozen in ash for over 3,000 years. Book a guided tour ahead of time, as timed entry can be limited and the site sits inland, a taxi ride from the tender pier.
Taste Wines Grown in Volcanic Ash
Sample crisp Assyrtiko and other varietals grown in unique basket-trained vines that hug the volcanic soil. Several wineries near Pyrgos and Megalochori offer tastings with caldera views, a worthwhile detour between Fira and Oia.
Ride the Cable Car to Fira
Skip the mule path and switchback climb by taking the cable car up from the tender pier, a scenic few minutes that saves energy for exploring Fira's cliffside lanes and shops.
