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One of the most nervewracking aspects of travel is the travel itself. I feel my most vulnerable when I am lugging my belongings from one location to the next. If you are headed to Greece, prepare to put that stress aside! I’ve made a list of everything you need to know for getting around Greece.

Upon Arrival

If you are flying into Athens, you should know a commute is required to get from the airport to the metro area where the main tourist attractions are.

But before you leave the airport, make sure you purchase your ferry tickets! I was told that I had to get my tickets at the port, but I am SO glad that I got them at the airport instead. There is a counter for Blue Star Ferries before you hit ground transport.

When purchasing ferry tickets there are also different prices depending on how fast you want to arrive at your destination. The “long” ferry makes multiple stops at other islands before arriving at Santorini. I 100% recommend just going with the cheaper long ferry (€40 one-way.) I spent almost double the price on my return ticket to get back “faster” and ended up taking the same amount of time with 5000x the stress. More on that later.

The Metro

From the airport there are several options to get around, from taxis to Uber to bus. The cheapest and easiest option is the metro. In the airport, a causeway leads straight to the airport metro station where it is very easy to find the ticket kiosk. Most metro stubs are valid for 90 minutes and cost €1.40. Although the tickets to and from the airport are around €10.

**In 2018 the metro stubs are being upgraded to paper or plastic reloadable cards. For more information check out the official Athens webpage. I’m sure this will make the metro even simpler to use than having to keep track of 90-minute stubs.**

Is it safe to ride the metro?

Some metro lines were nicer than others. The lines used for popular tourist areas were newer, cleaner, and had electronic track signage.

I kept my bag in front of me at all times as I would in any touristy area. My husband was always with me, but I  would have been comfortable solo. We even used the metro late at night on several occasions (although I don’t think I would have done that by myself.)

Ultimately, I found that the metro is the only transport you need to get around Athens.

The Ferry

Alternatively titled: The Hunger Games, Ferry Edition.

But this article is supposed to help you destress, right? I think I would have enjoyed the ferry experience more, had I known what I was getting into beforehand.

If any of the islands are on your itinerary, the ferry is the most affordable way to go.

Be on time for your ferry.

You will probably receive this warning when you purchase your tickets. And boy do they mean it.

The long ferry to Santorini departs at 7:00 am. Getting to Piraeus Port from Athens takes about 40 minutes on the metro.

By sheer luck, my port was the one closest to the metro station. I was expecting a small dingy with a few rows of airplane-style seats. What I found at the port was a small cruise ship!

The cargo hatch formed a ramp for passengers to board through the cargo bay. Compared to the airport where there are regulations and processes for everything, it was strange to just crowd onboard into a throng of people.

As the number of passengers in the bay increased, so did the confusion. No one was checking tickets and there was no instruction on what to do next. I also questioned fire safety, as there were several parked vehicles idling in the bay and definitely not enough exits.

When my watch read 7:02 am the floor rumbled and loud sirens began blaring. The open cargo hatch scraped off the dock as the last few passengers on the ramp scrambled into the cargo bay. The dock got further and further away as the hatch finally raised shut, completely trapping everyone inside.

Eventually, a line to the only visible stairway began to distinguish in the crowd. With no other option, I waited in the long and cramped line leading up to the unknown, my luggage still in tow.

At the top of the staircase, a man had a ticket scanner. A huge wave of relief passed as I was admitted to the main deck.

Once onboard, the ferry was actually quite pleasant. The main deck was like a large hotel lobby that featured a cafeteria, gift shop, and cafe. The main seating areas were couches and cafe tables.

But the ferry won’t necessarily be on time for you.

The return to Athens from Santorini should have been a breeze. After all, I knew to get to the dock extra early. I even had a strategy to get to the front of the line to avoid being smushed in the cargo hold.

My plan failed after two hours passed and not a single ferry entered the Athinios Port. Another hour passed and still no ships came. Yet again confusion set in and yet again there was no direction or staff to guide the crowd.

The ferry was met with twice as many passengers when it finally showed up, as the long ferry and short ferry had congealed into one massive line. Needless to say, boarding the ferry was complete pandemonium. The ferry barely docked for ten minutes as everyone scrambled inside.

Sirens were blaring. Cars were running. People were shouting in all different languages. I could barely move as more people crammed into the cargo bay. Only this time, I was not surprised by the chaos because I knew that a line would eventually form to get on the main deck.

As long as you plan for flexibility and just a little bit of chaos, the ferry is the most economical vehicle for getting around Greece.

Bus vs. Taxi

When choosing between a bus or a taxi, I almost always prefer the bus. Not only is is way cheaper, but choosing the bus prevents taxi scammers from raising your fare by taking “the scenic route.”

From the port in Santorini, I took the bus to Fira where I switched buses to Oia. A word of warning: the road from the port is not for the faint of heart. To get from sea level to the main road, all vehicles must scale a sheer cliff with hairpin turns and narrow shoulders. The view from the bus was incredible, but my stomach lurched any time I glanced down.

On Santorini, the only downside to the bus is that it only has stops on the main roads in major towns. To access some of the adventures on my bucket list, I had to take a taxi. I will say that the taxi drivers in Santorini were much nicer than any I had experienced before.

Donkey

Although it is not the most practical or accessible, donkey was my favorite method of getting around Greece.

However, my bucket list experience did not go as smoothly as planned. My husband and I waited for four hours just for an eight-minute donkey ride!

Not only am I incredibly stubborn, but the Santorini Experience race was happening that day. (I wish I had known about it beforehand- I would love to do an international race one day, and this one was executed incredibly well!) The donkey stand we chose was located two kilometers just before the finish line. The trail was shut down until the 5, 10 and 15k races were finished.

On top of that, the donkey stand was not near a local bus stop. After paying €40 for a taxi we decided to just wait the race out.

Overall, the waiting and unexpected challenges were completely worth it. Hopefully, this guide will prepare you for your trip so that no mode of transport will take you by surprise.

Was this guide helpful for getting around Greece? I’d love to hear your Greek travel experiences in the comments!