23Jun 23

Visiting Santorini from Naxos

Santorini is one of the most famous Greek islands in the Cyclades. Its beautiful white-washed buildings and iconic blue domes draw hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. And the beautiful caldera views are one of the main attractions when visiting Santorini. Many travelers on our Naxos Slowcation choose to spend some time in Santorini before, during, or after their time in Naxos.

Visiting Santorini from Naxos is definitely doable but there are some things to consider when planning your trip there. While it is just a 2-hour ferry ride away from Naxos, it can be very difficult to do a day trip there. We strongly recommend spending at least 1 night to get the most out of your time in Santorini.

Read on to learn more about why spending the night there rather than a day trip is better plus details on booking hotels, when to go, how to get there, and more.

Day trip vs overnight in Santorini

In the past, travelers on our Naxos Island Slowcation tried to do Santorini in 1 day and returned disappointed. The main reason is that a day trip usually only allows you to explore this amazing island for a couple of hours at the very most. Also, all the other day trippers and cruise ship passengers arrive at the same time causing the island to be extremely crowded which makes it hard to enjoy the views.

During our slowcation, the earliest ferry from Naxos usually arrives in Santorini around 12:30 PM if the weather and water cooperate. You should factor in at least another 30 minutes to get off the boat and find a cab/bus to Fira, a main town of Santorini. (If you want to go to Oia, it’s a bit further from the port.) The actual time that you can start exploring the island is around 1:00 PM or so. The last ferry back to Naxos is usually at 3:30 PM. It’s best to try to be at the port about 20-30 minutes before departure. Don’t forget, it takes about 30 minutes to get back to the port from Fira! That only leaves you approximately 1.5 hours to explore Santorini!

See below for an example of the schedule for a day trip:

10:30 AM – Ferry departs from Naxos
12:30 PM – Arrive at Santorini port + 30-minute cab/bus to Fira (more if going to Oia!)
1:00 PM – Explore Santorini
2:30 PM – Cab/bus back to Santorini port
3:00 PM – Arrive at the port
3:30 PM – Ferry departs back to Naxos
5:30 PM – Arrive back in Naxos

*All times are approximate

Because Santorini is so beautiful, we think it deserves much more than a few rushed hours to enjoy the island. That’s why we very strongly recommend an overnight stay there. Plus, staying overnight lets you enjoy fewer crowds before all the day trippers and cruisers arrive!

If you’re determined to do a day trip to Santorini from Naxos, we suggest booking a pre-planned, full-day tour such as this one by Greeka.

Where to stay in Santorini

Booking a hotel in Santorini is a pretty straightforward affair. Be forewarned, there are a lot of choices that tend to be pretty expensive, especially in high season! If you’re on our 10-day Naxos Slowcation and want to go to Santorini, we recommend spending the night as mentioned above.

It’s best to book your room as soon as possible if you plan on staying overnight in Santorini!

If you’re on our slowcation, we recommend El Greco Resort & Spa. This hotel is centrally located in Fira, the capital of Santorini. It offers air-conditioned rooms with a balcony, 5 outdoor pools, 1 indoor pool, and 2 outdoor jacuzzis. It is one of the few larger hotels in Santorini so it’ll be easier for those in a group to book there. Most hotels in Santorini are smaller with limited rooms that sell out fast. Be aware that even in the shoulder season, hotels can sell out quickly!

When to visit Santorini

If you’re on our Naxos slowcation, we recommend that going to Santorini on the last day of your slowcation and flying from there back to Athens to catch your flight back home. The hotel reception can help you book a ferry during your trip if you’d like to visit Santorini.

How to get from Naxos to Santorini

Getting from Naxos to Santorini is relatively easy and you can book ferry tickets during your trip. Ferry tickets typically cost around 60 EUR each way and the travel time from Naxos to Santorini port is approximately 2 hours.

There’s usually no need to book ferry tickets ahead of time as they do not usually sell out. You can check the most up-to-date ferry schedules by visiting Ferryhopper.com.

Note: Ferry tickets usually become available for purchase approximately 2 – 3 months prior to the desired travel date. For example, if you need a ferry in May, you can start booking it online in February or March and after.

Things to do in Santorini

There are plenty of things to see and do in Santorini. Fira is the most famous town on the island and many choose to walk around the charming streets and admire the caldera. Fira also has lots of shops, restaurants, and cafes where you can enjoy some shopping and have a delicious meal.

For stunning views of the island and caldera, you can take a cable car or walk down the famous steps to the Old Port. If you love the beach, head to Kamari for some R&R on the volcanic sand and a swim in the clear blue waters. We also suggest trying some of the local wines as there are many wineries around the island where can do a tasting. If you’re looking for any additional experiences like taking a Flying dress photoshoot or going horseback riding on the black beach for example, you can find them on Viator or Get Your Guide, or other online travel agents.

Visiting Santorini from Naxos is a bucket list item for many on our 10-day Naxos Greek Island Slowcation and with good reason; it is a beautiful place! Just be sure to have realistic expectations about your time there and you’ll have an amazing experience. Happy travels!

How to get from Athens to Naxos

By globedrifters Greece

How to get from Athens to Naxos

To get to Naxos Island, you’ll almost always need to connect in Athens. We recommend that everyone participating in our Naxos Greek Island Slowcation arrive 1 day early and spend the night in Athens before making your way to Naxos via plane or ferry.

Pre-Slowcation in Athens

We do not offer pre-tour extra nights on our slowcations but we strongly recommend spending at least 1 night in Athens before our Naxos Greek Island Slowcation begins. This will help alleviate the stress of tight connections and/or any international flight delays.

Our recommended hotel for any pre-slowcation nights in Athens is the Athens Gate Hotel. It is right next to the Acropolis and offers amazing views of the Parthenon from the rooftop. The hotel is also a 5-minute walk to Plaka, Athens’ historical neighborhood with some of its top sites, great restaurants, and souvenir shops. We suggest booking as soon as possible as this hotel tends to fill up quickly!

We recommend this hotel to everyone on your trip. This way, if you are traveling solo, you can easily meet up with others in the group (via the WhatsApp chat group that we’ll set up a few days before your trip) for dinner or sightseeing.

TIP: To get from the Athens airport to your pre-slowcation hotel, you can easily take a taxi upon arrival. You could also take an Uber but you’ll need to download and set up the app as well as store your payment method before arriving in Athens. Otherwise, you can pre-arrange a transfer with companies such as Welcome Pickups.

Athens to Naxos by Plane

Most travelers on our Naxos Greek Island Slowcation prefer to travel to Naxos by plane. If you choose this option, we recommend using Skyscanner.com to look for flights. There are usually multiple flights on a daily basis from Athens (ATH) to Naxos (JNX) so you can choose to arrive in Naxos at a time that suits you.

We advise trying to arrive in Naxos by 5:30 PM at the latest so you don’t miss out on the welcome dinner on Day 1 of the slowcation! If you arrive earlier in the day, that’s OK too. Your room might not be ready, but we’ll have a welcome drink and hors d’oeuvres waiting for you. You can store your luggage at the Naxos hotel if you’d like to go to the beach or explore until your room is ready.

The flights typically cost around $50 – $100 USD each way and take around 45 minutes from Athens to Naxos airport one way.

Note: When looking for flights to Naxos, be aware that there will be more options available about 2 – 3 months before the date you’d like to book. That means, if you are looking at flights 6+ months before your trip, you probably won’t see very many options.

Athens to Naxos by Ferry

We don’t recommend this option because it takes a lot longer and ferries tend to be more prone to delays and cancellations due to bad weather. However, if you would like to get to Naxos by ferry, then you can use Ferryhopper.com to find and book ferry tickets. Again, we advise trying to arrive in Naxos by 5:30 PM at the latest so you don’t miss out on the welcome dinner on Day 1 of the Naxos Greek Island Slowcation.

The ferries typically cost around 50 – 75 EUR each way and take around 3.5 – 5.5 hours from Athens to Naxos port one way.

Transfer to your Hotel

Whether you’re arriving by plane or ferry, your transfer to the hotel is included in the trip cost on our 10-day Naxos Greek Island Slowcation.

If arriving by plane, you’ll collect your luggage and then you’ll see our driver holding a sign with the Globe Drifters logo on it:

The Naxos airport is very small and easy to navigate and it is less than a 10-minute drive from the hotel. Once you find your driver, it’s just a short drive to the hotel to start your slowcation!

If arriving by ferry, you’ll also collect your luggage and get off the ferry. As you walk off the ferry you will see someone holding a Globe Drifters sign or a sign with your name on it.

If you’d like to tip your driver, you’re welcome to tip him 1 EUR. If you have a lot of big, heavy luggage, please consider this when tipping.

NOTE: If you do not let us know about any delays, your hotel transfer will be forfeited without refund and you will be responsible for getting to the hotel on your own and at your own expense.

Getting to Naxos from Athens is a pretty straightforward affair, especially on our 10-day Naxos Greek Island Slowcation. The airport and port are small and very easy to navigate and we’ll be in touch with you every step of the way. Happy travels!

How to get from Athens to Santorini

By globedrifters Greece

How to get from Athens to Santorini

For many of you, to get from your home country to Santorini, you’ll need to connect in Athens. We recommend that everyone participating in our Greek Islands Slowcation arrive at least 1 day early and spend the night in Athens before making your way to Santorini via plane or ferry.

Pre-Slowcation in Athens

We do not offer pre-trip extra nights on our slowcations but we strongly recommend spending at least 1 night in Athens before our Greek Islands Slowcation begins. This will help alleviate the stress of tight connections and/or any international flight delays.

Our recommended hotel for any pre-trip nights in Athens is the Athens Gate Hotel. It is right next to the Acropolis and offers amazing views of the Parthenon from the rooftop. The hotel is also a 5-minute walk to Plaka, Athens’ historical neighborhood with some of its top sites, great restaurants, and souvenir shops. We suggest booking as soon as possible as this hotel tends to fill up quickly!

We recommend this hotel to everyone on your trip. This way, you can easily meet up with others in the group (via the WhatsApp chat group that we’ll set up a few days before your trip) for dinner or sightseeing.

TIP: To get from the Athens airport to your pre-trip hotel, you can easily take a taxi upon arrival. You can also take an Uber but you’ll need to download and set up the app as well as store your payment method before arriving in Athens. Otherwise, you can pre-arrange a transfer with companies such as Welcome Pickups.

Athens to Santorini by Plane

Most travelers on our Greek Islands Slowcation prefer to travel to Santorini by plane. If you choose this option, we recommend using Skyscanner.com to look for flights. There are usually multiple flights on a daily basis from Athens (ATH) to Santorini Thira Airport (JTR), so you can choose to arrive in Santorini at a time that suits you.

We advise trying to arrive in Santorini by 5:30 PM at the latest so you don’t miss out on the welcome dinner on Day 1 of the slowcation! If you arrive earlier in the day, that’s OK too. Your room might not be ready but a welcome drink and hors d’oeuvres waiting for you. You can store your luggage at the Santorini hotel if you’d like to go to the beach or explore until your room is ready.

The flights typically cost around $50 – $100 USD each way and take just under 1 hour from Athens to Santorini airport one way.

NOTE: When looking for flights to Santorini, there will usually be more options available about 2 – 3 months before the date you’d like to book. That means if you are looking at flights 6+ months before your trip, you may not see very many options.

Athens to Santorini by Ferry

We don’t recommend this option because it takes a lot longer and ferries tend to be more prone to delays and cancellations due to bad weather. However, if you would like to get to Santorini by ferry, then you can use Ferryhopper.com to find and book ferry tickets. Again, we advise trying to arrive in Santorini by 5:30 PM at the latest so you don’t miss out on the welcome dinner on Day 1 of the Greek Islands Slowcation.

The ferries typically cost around 60 – 90 EUR each way and take around 5 – 8 hours from Athens (Piraeus) to Santorini (Athinios) port one way.

Transfer to your Hotel

Whether you’re arriving by plane or ferry, your transfer to the hotel is included in the trip cost on our 10-day Greek Islands Slowcation.

If arriving by plane, you’ll collect your luggage and then you’ll see our driver holding a sign with the Globe Drifters logo on it:

The Santorini airport is quite small and easy to navigate and it is less than a 10-minute drive from the hotel. Once you find your driver, it’s just a short drive to the hotel to start your slowcation!

If arriving by ferry, you’ll also collect your luggage and get off the ferry. As you walk off the ferry you will see someone holding a Globe Drifters sign or a sign with your name on it.

If you’d like to tip your driver, you’re welcome to tip him by rounding up the fare or 1~2 EUR. If you have a lot of big, heavy luggage, please consider this when tipping.

NOTE: If you do not let us know about any delays, your hotel transfer will be forfeited without refund and you will be responsible for getting to the hotel on your own and at your own expense.

Getting to Santorini from Athens is a pretty straightforward affair, especially on our 10-day Greek Islands Slowcation. The airport and port are small and very easy to navigate and we’ll be in touch with you every step of the way. Happy travels!