Athinios Port of Santorini Hotel Shuttles

Resting upon a scenic cliffside of the Grecian isle of Santorini, the Athinios Port is a place often packed full of people, ferries and other cruises, making for a typically hectic first impression. Many natives of the island are said to overwhelm cruise attendees in attempts to offer shuttles and taxis into the cities. A few hundred yards from the port is a local bus station offering low-cost rides into the city aboard modern coaches, though waits are expected to be long with big crowds. Insist on absolute freedom by reserving a personal rental instead, looking forward to coastline tours at any given point with a sedan, van or SUV booked ahead of time, or considering thoughtful meet-and-greet services that go beyond a taxi ride, from local personal drivers who can share their insight on the often overlooked island or a limousine chauffeur who knows the dignified route through town.

The main road that carries guests from the port to the city is a steep and narrow uphill trek leading to a few wineries, from the patio lookouts at Santo Wines to the quieter escapes of Venetsanos Winery. Between these two wineries is the Santorini Gem, a popular event venue that doubles as a gateway into the small island community. Popular attractions on the north end of the island include arched lookouts from the historic Byzantine Castle Ruins as well as the traditional Greek Orthodox atmosphere of the Panagia Cross. Close to the south side of the island are Ancient Thera’s old mountaintop city remnants, while Akrotiri offers a look inside the area’s prehistory through a smaller village. A good pace to end the evening, the south side of the island is also home to fun art exhibits at the Santorini Arts Factory, a few sandy lookouts from both Red Beach and Black Beach, and stunning sunset views from the 19th-century Akrotiri Lighthouse.