The most convenient way to get to Santorini, one of the most popular destinations to visit in Greece, is to fly from Athens, although flights are available from a number of other locations in Europe and the UK.
If you're looking for a more leisurely way to reach Santorini, you can take a ferry from Athens or other Greek islands. Fast and slow ferries are available and this is a great way to take in more of the sights of this amazing Greek island.
From Athens, By Plane
Duration: 1 hour, plus travel to/from airports
Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH) offers year-round direct flights to Santorini International Airport (JTR). The Athens airport is about 30 minutes from the city center and can be easily reached by taxi, private transfer, bus, or metro. Note that only economy tickets are available for these short flights.
Alternatively, a number of locations in Europe and the UK, such as London, Munich, and Barcelona, offer direct flights to Santorini.
From Athens, By Ferry
Duration: 5-8.5 hours or longer, depending on your starting location and ferry choice
The approach to the port of Santorini is one of the most beautiful in all the Greek islands, so consider taking a ferry there. There are a number of fast and slow ferry options available from the ports of Piraeus and Rafina in Athens. Rafina is a smaller port, which is closer to the Athens International Airport.
You can take a high-speed hydrofoil, which skims the waves to get you to Santorini in about five hours. Economy or business class tickets are available for these ferries. If you're prone to seasickness or want a cheaper ferry option, you can also hop on a slow ferry, which offers more outdoor space and doesn't get as bumpy in the wind.
It is highly recommended that you book a numbered seat on a slow ferry so you don't have to fight over the first-come, first-serve general seating. Economy and business class seats, as well as cabins, are available for slow ferries. For all ferries, you can bring a vehicle on board. Note that doing so will increase your ticket price depending on the size of your vehicle.
From Other Greek Islands, By Plane
Duration: 3.5 hours or longer, depending on starting location and connection time
While not all Greek islands have airports, if you find yourself on an island that does, such as Kefalonia, Lesvos, or Crete, you can fly to Santorini.
All flights to the Greek islands go through Athens, so note that you will not be able to fly directly to Santorini. However, this can be a convenient way to get to Santorini if you're in another island group, such as the Ionian Islands or North Aegean Islands, and are in a time crunch to get to Santorini.
From Other Greek Islands, By Ferry
Duration: 1 hour or longer, depending on your starting location and ferry
Santorini is part of the Cycladic Islands, which include Mykonos, Paros, and Naxos, so if you're already in the Cyclades, you can easily book a fast or slow ferry to Santorini.
Other islands, such as Crete, also offer direct ferries to Santorini. If you find that there are no direct ferry options to Santorini from your starting location, you can also look into "indirect" ferries, which stop at other islands along the way.