Finding the best hotels in Fira...
Checking availability for your dates...
Update your search below
Finding the best hotels in Fira...
Checking availability for your dates...
Fira is the capital of Santorini, a dazzling town of white houses, blue domes and narrow lanes perched along the rim of the caldera, almost three hundred metres above the sea. From its cliff-top cafés, restaurants and hotels, the views across the flooded volcanic crater to the islands of Nea Kameni and Thirasia are among the most famous in the world, especially at sunset. Fira is the island's busiest place, full of shops, jewellers, galleries and bars, and its nightlife is the liveliest on Santorini. Below the town, the Old Port can be reached by cable car, on foot down the long zigzag path of steps, or traditionally on donkeys, and from there boats leave for the volcano and the hot springs. Fira also has excellent museums: the Museum of Prehistoric Thera displays wonderful finds and frescoes from the Bronze Age town of Akrotiri, and the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral and the Catholic quarter add to its charm. As the island's transport hub, with buses to every village and beach, Fira is a convenient base. A cliff-top path leads north through Firostefani to Imerovigli and on to Oia. Fira suits couples, first-time visitors and travellers who want to be at the centre of things.
Quick facts
LOCATION
Cyclades Islands
KNOWN FOR
Caldera views, cafés & cable car
BEST FOR
Nightlife, Shopping, Romantic, Museums, No car needed
Religious Sites
Church of Agios Ioannis Theologos (Fira Cathedral)
Entertainment
Fira Cable Car
Museums & History
Museum of Prehistoric Thera
Archaeological Museum of Thera
Shopping
Fira Main Street (Ypapantis)
By air
Santorini (Thira) International Airport, near Kamari, has flights from Athens all year and many direct flights from Europe in summer. Fira is about 15 minutes away by taxi or transfer.
By ferry
Athinios, the main ferry port, is about 20 minutes below Fira by road, with summer ferries and fast boats to Piraeus, most Cycladic islands and Heraklion on Crete. The Old Port below Fira, reached by cable car, donkey path or steps, serves only excursion and cruise boats.
Getting around
Not needed. Fira is the island’s bus hub, with frequent services to Oia, the beaches and the villages, and the caldera path to Imerovigli is a classic walk. Taxis are few in summer, so book transfers ahead. Parking in town is very limited.
Santorini Island