By plane or ferry, then a short hop to the beach -- how to reach Perissa on Santorini and get around once you arrive.
Santorini (Thira) National Airport (JTR) is the fastest way in, about 14 km by road from Perissa over the hill near Kamari. It handles domestic flights from Athens and other Greek cities year-round, plus seasonal direct charters from across Europe. From the airport, take a bus via Fira, the island's transport hub, or a taxi or pre-booked transfer straight to Perissa.
Santorini's ferries dock at Athinios, the island's main port on the west coast below Fira — not at Perissa itself. High-speed catamarans and conventional ferries link the island with Piraeus (Athens), Crete and the wider Cyclades. From Athinios, buses routing through Fira and taxis carry you across to Perissa on the southeast coast.
The busiest route by far: high-speed catamarans and slower conventional ferries sail from Piraeus, Athens's main port, to Santorini's port at Athinios. High-speed boats take around five hours; conventional ferries are cheaper but slower. Book ahead in high summer.
Frequent high-speed ferries connect Heraklion in Crete with Santorini in roughly two hours, an easy add-on if you are combining the two islands.
Regular high-speed links tie Santorini into the wider Cyclades ferry network — Mykonos, Naxos, Paros and Ios among them — so island-hopping to and from Perissa is straightforward in season.
Santorini has its own airport just north of Perissa, with Athens the main hub for onward and long-haul connections.
| Airport | Distance | Travel Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santorini (Thira) National Airport (JTR) | ~14 km by road, by Kamari | ~20-30 min by taxi | The island's only airport, over the hill from Perissa near Kamari. It handles domestic flights from Athens and other Greek cities plus seasonal scheduled flights from across Europe (busiest roughly July–October). Buses run via Fira, and taxis and pre-booked transfers reach Perissa directly. |
| Athens International (ATH) | mainland connecting hub | ~45-50 min by domestic flight | The main hub for long-haul connections. Frequent domestic flights link Athens with Santorini in well under an hour, and many European cities fly direct in summer. |
The Perissa beach strip is flat and walkable, but the rest of Santorini takes a bus, a taxi or your own set of wheels — there are no trains or metro on the island.
Perissa itself is best explored on foot. The beach promenade runs south along the black sand into Perivolos, with tavernas, cafés and beach bars all within an easy stroll of one another.
Santorini's public buses are run by KTEL, and almost every route hubs through Fira, the island capital. From Perissa there are regular buses to Fira, where you change for Oia, Kamari, the airport, Athinios port and Akrotiri.
Buses are cheap and frequent in summer but can be packed at peak times, and services thin out sharply in winter. Pay the conductor on board; carry small change.
Santorini has only a small fleet of taxis for the whole island, so they can be hard to find at busy times and are best pre-booked for airport or ferry transfers. Agree the fare or check the meter before you set off.
Perissa to airport: a short drive
Perissa to Fira: a short drive
You don't need a vehicle just for the beach, but a rented ATV, scooter or car makes the rest of the island far easier -- reaching Oia, the wineries, Akrotiri, the Red Beach and the inland villages without waiting on buses. Rental desks operate at the airport, in Fira and around Perissa.
International chains (Sixt, Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Budget)
Economy cars to SUVs and vans · From ~€25–30/day for an economy car booked ahead
Local & budget desks (Surprice, Autounion, Green Motion)
Economy and compact cars · Often cheaper — check the insurance excess and fuel policy
Airport Wi-Fi is fine for the first ride, but mobile data matters the moment you step outside -- for ride-hailing apps, offline maps, live bus times, and checking ferry or KTEL schedules on the go. A Greece eSIM activated before departure connects automatically when you land.
Get a Saily eSIM →Santorini (Thira) Airport (JTR) is about 14 km by road from Perissa, over the hill near Kamari. Buses run via Fira, the island's transport hub, and taxis and pre-booked private transfers reach Perissa directly in a short drive.
Two ways. Fly to Santorini (JTR) from Athens in about 45-50 minutes, then take a bus via Fira or a taxi to Perissa. Or sail from Piraeus, Athens's port, to Santorini's port at Athinios — around five hours on a high-speed ferry, longer and cheaper on a conventional one — and continue by bus or taxi.
No. Santorini's ferries dock at Athinios, the island's main port on the west coast below Fira — not at Perissa, which is on the southeast coast. From Athinios, local buses (all routing through Fira) and taxis connect you to Perissa.
No. Santorini has no trains and no metro. You get around by KTEL bus — every route hubs through Fira — or by taxi, or by rented ATV, scooter or car. The Perissa beach strip itself is flat and easily walked.
Perissa is on the island's KTEL bus network, with buses to Fira, where you change for Oia, the airport, Athinios and Kamari. Taxis are relatively few and can be hard to find at peak times, so many visitors rent an ATV, scooter or car for the freedom to reach the wineries, Akrotiri and the inland villages.
From the airport to the beach, getting around Santorini, the ferry to and from Athens, and island-hopping across the Cyclades.
How to get to Perissa on Santorini — flying into Thira airport, ferries to Athinios port, and reaching the black-sand beach by bus, taxi or ATV.
6 min read
When to visit Perissa on Santorini — why late spring and early autumn are the sweet spot, what peak summer is like, and how quiet the off season gets.
5 min read
The best day trips from Perissa on Santorini — Oia and its sunset, the caldera capital Fira, a volcano-and-hot-springs cruise, and Minoan Akrotiri.
5 min read
Where to stay in Perissa on Santorini — beachfront hotels on the black sand, mid-range studios near the village, budget rooms, plus Perivolos and Kamari.
7 min read
