The only public transport serving Santorini Airport (JTR) is the intercity KTEL bus. A small island like Santorini has no train or metro, so the bus is the budget way to and from the airport. It reaches Fira, the island's capital and central bus hub, in about 15–20 minutes.
The public KTEL bus from Santorini Airport
KTEL buses connect the airport directly with Fira, where every route on the island starts and ends. If your hotel is not in Fira, you change buses at the central station in Fira to reach your final stop, so airport connections are direct only to Fira. For the door-to-door trip to the capital, see our airport to Fira guide; for Oia you change buses in Fira.
The route leaves Santorini Airport, makes two stops at the villages of Messaria and Karterados, and finishes at Fira's central bus station. Travel time depends on traffic, which is heaviest in summer, but is usually 15–20 minutes. The buses are modern air-conditioned coaches with luggage holds underneath and no size or weight limit; there are no working toilets on board.
Our tips:
- Heading to Messaria or Karterados? Tell the driver in advance, as buses skip these stops when no one needs them.
- KTEL buses are not wheelchair accessible.
Santorini Airport bus timetable
The timetable changes a lot by season. In winter, service is heavily reduced: buses leave the airport roughly six times a day on weekdays, about every 2–3 hours, with the last departure by early evening and fewer runs on Saturdays. Check the current timetable at ktel-santorini.gr before you travel, as off-season times change. In summer, mainly May to September, they run close to hourly from about 07:00 to 23:10 every day.
| Season | First bus | Last bus | Frequency | Runs per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer (May–Sep) | ~07:00 | ~23:10 | Close to hourly | Daily |
| Winter (weekday) | ~07:25 | ~19:10 | Every 2–3 hours | About 6 |
| Winter (Saturday) | ~07:25 | ~15:10 | Every few hours | About 4 |
Summer 2026 KTEL departure times
These are the typical summer (June–September 2026) departures for the Airport ↔ Fira line, running close to hourly. The one-way fare is €2.20, paid in cash on board, and the ride takes about 10–20 minutes.
| Fira → Airport | Airport → Fira |
|---|---|
| 06:30 | 07:25 |
| 07:15 | 09:10 |
| 09:00 | 10:10 |
| 10:00 | 11:10 |
| 11:00 | 12:10 |
| 12:00 | 13:10 |
| 13:00 | 14:10 |
| 14:00 | 15:10 |
| 15:00 | 16:10 |
| 16:00 | 17:10 |
| 17:00 | 18:10 |
| 18:00 | 19:10 |
| 19:00 | 20:10 |
| 20:00 | 21:10 |
| 21:00 | — |
| 22:00 | — |
Times follow the KTEL Santorini summer schedule and shift with the season, so confirm the day before at ktel-santorini.gr or by phone on +30 22860 25404.
There is no airport bus at night: JTR closes at 22:15 in winter and at 23:00 (00:15 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays) in summer. KTEL adjusts the schedule through the year and delays are common, so check the current times on ktel-santorini.gr before you travel. If you land late, plan a taxi or a private transfer instead.
Where is the bus stop at Santorini Airport?
The airport has one small terminal. The bus stop is just outside the terminal exit, directly opposite the taxi rank, so it is easy to reach even with heavy luggage.
Bus tickets and fares
The bus is the cheapest way from Santorini Airport to Fira. A one-way ticket costs €2.20 in 2026, bought from the driver as you board and paid in cash, euros only. Carry small bills, as drivers often run short of change.
Our tips:
- Tickets do not include a seat; seating is first come, first served, and at busy times you may stand or wait for the next bus.
- If Fira is not your final stop, you buy a second ticket (about €2.20) for the onward bus from Fira.
Onward buses from Fira
Because every island route runs through Fira, the airport bus only takes you as far as the capital. From the central bus station you catch a second KTEL bus to your final village and buy a separate ticket on board, again in cash, euros only. Onward fares are short-distance, usually about €1.80 to €2.70 depending on how far you go. Connections are frequent in summer but thin out sharply in winter, when the last bus of the day can leave in the early evening.
| Onward from Fira | Time from Fira | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Oia | 25–30 min | Airport to Oia |
| Kamari beach | ~20 min | Airport to Kamari |
| Perissa beach | 30–40 min | Airport to Perissa |
Our tips:
- Check the last onward departure before you leave the airport, especially outside summer, so you are not stranded in Fira after dark.
- With heavy luggage or a tight connection, a private transfer straight to your village can work out simpler than two buses.
