2025 Guide: Is “Skip Santorini Cable Car” Really Worth It?
Introduction
"Skip the cable car" options are often suggested to cruise travelers stopping in Santorini, as alternative ways to get on the island indepentantly or DIY to avoid the lines of people waiting to ride the cable car. But to truly understand these options, it’s important to get introduced to Santorini’s unique terrain.
First of all, cruise ships do not dock directly at Santorini Port; instead, they use tender boats for disembarkation. Passengers who get off individually are dropped off at the Old Port of Fira, while the ones booked a group tour from cruise ship are transfered to the New Port of Athinios. The Old Port cruise terminal is not accessible by car, so to reach Fira at the top of the cliff, the options are: 1. take the cable car, 2. ride a donkey, 3. walk up the steps, 4. arrange a boat transfer elsewhere.
What people usually say about Santorini's Cable Car?
Until 2024, Santorini struggled with overtourism and lacked proper berth allocation. On busy days, three or more cruise ships—including mega-ships—could arrive at once, causing crowded and sometimes chaotic scenes at the ports. The Old Port of Fira posed the biggest challenge. Here, independent travelers—those not booked on the cruise ship’s overpriced excursions—were disembarked en masse, as if being punished for their choice. It often felt like a penalty for deciding to explore on your own. Without effective crowd control, passengers were left to compete with others from different ships, endless queue for the cable car, wandering around the donkey path, or riding water taxis—sometimes unsure where they’d end up.
This turned what should have been a dream stopover in Santorini into a stressful logistical ordeal, and also left many people desperate and overwhelmed, especially in the heat and heavy crowds.
Travelers have shared these experiences on forums like Cruise Critic and TripAdvisor, with many advising others to avoid the cable car—or even skip Santorini entirely.
And, as you might expect, these warnings made an impact...
What are the “Skip the Cable Car” options?
As mentioned in the introduction, there has been a growing demand for alternatives to Santorini’s cable car.
The first option is always to walk up. However, this means tackling a 600-step staircase and about 40 minutes of climbing, all while avoiding donkeys and their droppings along the path.
Of course, there’s also the option of a donkey ride. Sometimes, people think, “Why not, let’s just do it once.” But while the donkeys are there, it’s important to remember that riding them is considered animal abuse. Unfortunately, this is often overlooked. Additionally, on your way up, it’s usually just you and your donkey, with no one around to help if your donkey becomes uncooperative.
Next, there’s the so-called "water taxi." Departing from the Old Port, this option offers a scenic 40-minute caldera boat ride to Ammoudi Bay in Oia. From there, it's just a 10-minute drive to the top of Oia—no walking required. For about €30, you also get a shuttle bus back to Fira that departs every hour. However, this solution comes with its own challenges, including long waiting times, crowded buses, standing passengers, and traffic jams in Oia.
Nowadays, things are even easier. You can now book excursions online in advance—no need to worry about finding a water taxi once you arrive at the Old Port. These tours, advertised everywhere as “SKIP CABLE CAR! Santorini Tour for Cruise Passengers,” presented as a convenient choice, with prices ranging from €45 to €70.
What should you know about the “Skip Cable Car” organised tours?
While "Skip the Cable Car" tours promise to help you avoid long lines at the cable car, there are a few important drawbacks to consider before booking.
First, the "Water Taxi" transfer is actually a tender boat. After taking your tender from your cruise ship to the Old Port, you'll need to buy tickets on the spot to board the "Water Taxi." Please note that these are group tours, so you may end up waiting up to an hour for the tender to fill before it departs. Once you arrive at Ammoudi Bay—typically 30–40 minutes later—you’ll transfer to a shuttle bus to reach the top of Oia. Here, there may be another delay, since the shuttle holds only 50 people, while the tender can carry around 150, which often leads to lines and crowds at the small, busy bay.
As for the "Skip Cable Car" excursions, these also depart from the Old Port. This means you will actually take several tender rides: two between your cruise ship and the Old Port, and another two between the Old Port and the New Port (Athinios), as part of this excursion. If the weather is calm, these transfers are manageable, even though you'll spend nearly two hours on tenders. However, if it’s windy, the experience can be less comfortable. Also, be prepared for some waiting time at the Old Port until everyone gathers, either from your cruise ship or from another, since this is a group tour.
Top Reasons to Rethink “Skip the Cable Car” Excursions
What they don’t tell you about the "Water Taxi" is that, even though you’ll enjoy a boat ride to Oia and a shuttle bus back to Fira, you still have to take the cable car on your return. So, in reality, it isn’t truly a “skip the cable car” option, is it? On your way back, you’ll end up in line with everyone else, and since it takes extra time to get there, you’ll often be at the end of the line—which means many people from your cruise ship will be ahead of you, especially on larger ships.
On the other hand, the "Skip Cable Car" excursions offered online take you to and from Athinios Port, but there are other things to keep in mind. First, consider the distances involved. The boat ride itself takes a while, including waiting times, and the bus ride from the New Port to Oia is a bit over an hour each way. So, from a five-hour tour as advertised, you’re actually left with less than three hours of sightseeing, split between three or four locations—including Oia.
In addition, these are group tours, so there really isn’t much difference from the standard cruise ship group excursions, is there? Yes, there may be a significant price difference, but if price was not your only concern, you would have just booked via your cruise line. And actually, you would not have to think about the cable car and lines, as cruise ship group tours get off at Athinios port, which is accessible by bus, and you just get picked up from there.
However, generally in Santorini, it’s recommended to avoid the cruise ship group tours—and generally group tours—for several reasons. First, the parking areas for large buses are far from the main attractions, especially in Oia. This means you’ll need to walk considerable distances just to reach the heart of the landmarks. Additionally, being part of a large group means that wherever you go—especially in Santorini, with its narrow streets and limited space—you’ll inevitably contribute to congestion. So, even if you did skip the cable car line, you’ll still find yourself surrounded by crowds, waiting in lines for photos or refreshments. And in addition, you have wasted so much time in tenders and bus transfers, so did the “SKIP CABLE CAR! Santorini Tour for Cruise Passengers” really save you time?
Why “Skip the Cable Car” Excursions Might Not Be for You in 2025
**Peak vs Off-Peak**
If you’re visiting Santorini between mid-October and mid-May, you probably won’t need to skip the cable car at all, since there are rarely any lines in the off-season. Instead of getting to the top in just five minutes, you might find yourself going around the whole island and wasting hours getting to the main sights. In the low season, if you choose this option, you may end up watching the cable car quickly taking people to the top while your “Skip the Cable Car” tour waits for everyone to gather—sometimes for an hour or more.
**“Skip Cable Car” does not mean Beat Crowds**
Let’s clarify: choosing the “skip the cable car” option does not allow you to bypass the crowds. You’ll still be with everyone else, whether you’re traveling by boat, bus, or on foot.
**Feeling Rushed**
These tours try to fit everything into less than five hours. That means a constant cycle of tenders, buses, quick stops for photos, then back on the bus—leaving you little time to actually enjoy each place.
**Mobility Issues**
If you’re traveling with elderly relatives or young children, this option can be especially challenging. Getting on and off boats, walking long distances between parking areas and villages, and navigating steps can make the journey feel nearly impossible.
**Priority Tendering**
If you’re a high-tier cruise member or have purchased priority tendering, you’ll be among the first off the boat, with no lines or crowds. You’ll also likely be among the first to return, making the entire process smoother.
**Traveling with Celebrity or Royal Caribbean**
If you’re cruising with Celebrity or Royal Caribbean, you can simply purchase their shuttle service to Fira or Oia, saving both time and money. Sometimes similar services are available on Norwegian and Virgin Cruises, but this depends on the specific sailing.
**Traveling with Family and Friends**
This calls for a private tour just for you and your loved ones. In fact, the more people in your group, the lower the cost per person becomes—so you may pay about the same as a group tour, but with all the benefits of a personalized experience tailored just for you! You’ll also receive all the information you need in advance, including tips on avoiding crowds and arranging any special requests.
**Being a private tour traveler**
I understand that the idea of cable car lines might feel overwhelming, and it may make you reconsider booking a private tour. However, this is exactly why a private tour is the perfect option. Trusted local operators can guide you through all the best ways to avoid the crowds and skip the lines, ensuring you enjoy a seamless and relaxing vacation in Santorini. That’s our specialty!
You can find more detailed information in our Ultimate Guide for cruise ship passengers getting off in Santorini.
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