Greece Transportation Guide

The best way to get from Athens to Santorini is by taking a 45-minute domestic flight from Athens International Airport (ATH). Flights start from €30 one-way with Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air, or Sky Express. If you prefer to travel by sea, you can take a 4.5-hour high-speed SeaJets catamaran (€70–€110) or an 8-hour conventional Blue Star ferry (€40–€60) from Piraeus Port.

Yes, but Uber in Greece usually works as a licensed taxi dispatcher, not private-driver UberX. You can use the Uber app in Athens and Santorini to request local taxis, but the ride is still handled by the local taxi fleet. For peak-season island transfers, pre-book airport and ferry port rides.

Yes. Uber works in Athens primarily through Uber Taxi, connecting riders to licensed yellow taxis rather than private cars. It is useful for airport transfers and city rides, but compare it with FREENOW and official taxi ranks when demand is high or app pickup locations are crowded.

Yes, Uber can request local taxis in Santorini, but availability is limited because the island taxi fleet is small compared with summer demand. Use it for flexible rides, but pre-book transfers for airport arrivals, ferry port pickups, sunset dinner returns, and late-night travel in July and August.

You can get around the Greek islands without a car by using the local KTEL bus system, which connects main ports, villages, and popular beaches on every major island. Tickets cost €1.80–€2.50 per ride. Taxis, private transfers, and water taxis are also available but cost significantly more. For island hopping, ferries and domestic flights connect all major islands year-round.

Use ferries for scenic hops under five hours and book two to four weeks ahead in summer. Switch to 45-minute domestic flights (Athens ↔ Santorini/Mykonos/Crete) when every hour counts or meltemi winds threaten to ground high-speed catamarans.

KTEL coaches connect nearly every mainland city and most large islands with AC, luggage storage, and mobile ticketing. Services are punctual; buy tickets online or arrive 30 minutes early in July–August to guarantee a seat.

Rent a car for Crete, Peloponnese road trips, and bigger islands like Naxos or Kefalonia where buses are infrequent. UK photocard licence holders can usually drive in EU countries (including Greece) without an IDP, but UK paper licences and non-standard issuing territories may still require one—always confirm with your embassy and rental provider. US, Canada, and Australia travel advisories still recommend carrying an IDP with your home licence for Greece. Verify requirements again right before travel because rules and rental policies can change.

Greece's rail line runs Athens ↔ Thessaloniki with branches to Larissa, Kalambaka (Meteora), and Patras. Use trains for scenic rides to Meteora or northern Greece, but lean on KTEL buses for everywhere else.

Metro Line 3 reaches Syntagma in 40 minutes for €9. Express Bus X95 costs €5.50 and runs 24/7 to Syntagma Square. To reach Piraeus ferries, take metro Line 3 to Monastiraki then Line 1, or ride the X96 bus straight to the port in about 90 minutes.

Card payments are accepted almost everywhere, but keep €50–€100 cash for small island taxis, beach buses, luggage porters, and kiosk snacks—especially when tap-to-pay terminals go offline during windy crossings.