How to get from Paros to Santorini

Why visit Santorini?

Santorini is home to one of Greece’s most iconic trademarks — whitewashed buildings overlooking cliffs. They blend beautifully with the island’s rugged landscape, which was shaped by a massive volcanic eruption hundreds of years ago. Not-so-fun fact: Santorini sits on a still very active volcano, whose crater is hidden under the sea.

Volcanic-sand beaches dot the coasts of Santorini. Some black, some red, others even multi-coloured. They all open up to alluring turquoise waters that will make you want to take a dip. Do yourself a favour and spend at least one sunset in Oia. It will be one of the most picturesque views you’ll ever see!

The ferry is the only suitable way for travellers to cross the distance of 80 kilometres (50 miles) from Paros to Santorini. The journey takes around 1 hour 55 minutes to 5 hours 15 minutes, and ticket prices start from €33.50 ($38.50).

A direct ferry is your only option if you’re travelling from Paros to Santorini.

Ferries operate on this route all year round, but there are fewer ferry trips on the off-peak season from November to April.

For the latest schedules, we recommend checking BookAway prior to your trip. It’s also best to buy your tickets online beforehand to secure good seats!

There are 2 kinds of ferries you can take from Paros to Santorini: high-speed ferries and regular ferries.

High-speed ferries are faster with only 1.5-hour travel time. However, we don’t recommend these ferries if you’re prone to motion-sickness, as the ride can get really bumpy.

On the other hand, regular ferries offer a slow and steady ferry trip from Paros to Santorini. Travel time can take 3-5 hours.

The ferry tickets vary, but prices start from €31 ($36).

Most travellers visiting Santorini stay in Fira, the island’s city capital. This town is easy to reach by bus from Santorini Harbour. Buses are usually parked near the port, waiting for ferry arrivals.

You can buy your bus ticket from the driver for €2.50 ($2.90). Travel time to Fira Bus Stop is around 30 minutes.

Keep in mind, though, that there are often not enough buses for all passengers. If you miss the bus, you might have to wait a few hours for the next trip.

Another option to travel to Fira is by taxi. Rates start from €29 ($33.50), and travel time can be around 20 minutes. If you’re travelling alone and on a budget, you can ask around for tourists willing to share a taxi ride to Fira.

Heading to other destinations in Santorini, like Oia or Imerovigli? It will be easiest to take a direct taxi, but this option would be a bit expensive. You can also take a bus to Fira, where there are buses bound for almost every town on the island.