Santorini could quite possibly be the most beautiful place on Earth. We were blessed to get a day here from our cruise ship.
We had to tender from the cruise ship. Then, you have the option of walking up 588 steps, riding a donkey, or taking a cable car up the mountain to get to the town of Fira which is built up on a cliff. We took the cable car to save time (and energy🤦♀️). The line was long, but it moved fast. The ride is only 3 minutes and costs $6 euros per person. You can only buy a one way ticket, and you can’t pre-purchase them online. The stairs take at least 30 minutes. They are steep, challenging, and can be littered with donkey poop. People say that the picture opportunities make it worth it, but 🤷♀️🤪.
There were beautiful views from the cable car! The cars are enclosed, seat 6, and are not scary. They do fill them to capacity, so expect to sit with other groups. Once off the cable car, you are in the town of Fira, the capital of the island of Santorini. We had fun exploring the town. This was a much bigger and busier town than on the island of Mykonos. There are MANY cute shops, restaurants, and cafes in Fira. We explored and had lunch at a place called PitaGram. It was very reasonably priced and delicious. It also had outdoor seating, and it was fun to just sit and take in the city.
After lunch, we walked to the bus stop in Fira. It was tricky to find it. I think we walked out of our way or took some wrong turns. We should have just taken a taxi there (or got better directions). The bus station has a ticket window, and you can ask there which bus number to take. We wanted to take the bus to the city of Oia (pronounced Ee-ah) to see the famous blue domes. The bus was only $2 euros a person each way. They only run every 45 minutes, so you have to watch your time if you’re on a cruise ship. The bus ride was about 30 minutes, was full of beautiful scenery, and was worth the trip!
When we got off the bus, we asked directions to the blue dome churches. The walk wasn’t too long. There are many shops, cafes, and cats along the way, but most amazing was the STUNNING scenery all throughout the city.
Then, when we arrived at the blue domes, it was even more breathtaking than we imagined. Pictures don’t even come close to capturing the beauty.
After sitting in awe of the scenery for awhile, we continued to explore Oia, and then sat and had some of the famous Greek coffee. We chose a cafe by the bus stop so we wouldn’t miss the bus. The bus back to Fira was so crowded that we had to stand the whole time. There were crazy curves on the roads and standing made us feel them more. The scenic views made it worth it though, although I couldn’t get pictures because I was holding on for dear life with both hands!😆
After the bus, we walked back to the cable car to get in line. The line was even longer for the ride back, but still moved fast. You could even “shop” while in line.
I filmed a little clip of the “Santorini vibe” that I really enjoyed while we were waiting in line.
The cable car ride back was beautiful too. I hated to head back to the ship! I actually adore the island of Santorini!
We caught the tender back to the ship, still marveling at the beauty of this island.
The cruise ship offered all kinds of excursions for the island. Not only are they expensive, but I feel they also restrict your ability to soak in the atmosphere and really feel the island’s character. I am glad we explored and enjoyed on our own!
Keep reading for our one day trips to Mykonos and Athens!
Leap of Faith: Our Retirement Adventure 
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