Santorini Donkey Path: Walking vs Cable Car for Cruisers

To get from the Santorini Old Port to the town of Fira, you have three main options: take the cable car for a quick ascent, walk the 588 steps of the donkey path, or ride a donkey. For most cruise passengers, the cable car is the most efficient choice, while walking is a strenuous but scenic alternative for the physically fit.

Navigating the Santorini Old Port

When your cruise ship arrives at Santorini, it will anchor in the center of the flooded caldera. Because the cliffs are so steep, large ships cannot dock directly. Instead, you will be transported to the Old Port (Gialos) via tender boats. It is important to distinguish this from the New Port (Athinios), where large ferries and some smaller cruise excursions depart. If you are exploring on your own, you will almost certainly land at the Old Port, located directly beneath the capital city of Fira.

Upon stepping off the tender, you are immediately faced with a 220-meter (720-foot) vertical cliff. Fira sits at the top, and your primary goal is to get there as comfortably as possible. This is also the moment your connectivity needs change. While on the ship, you may have been relying on expensive maritime satellite data. As you approach the shore, it is time to switch to a local network to avoid "bill shock." Using a service like CruiseSIM allows you to see plans that connect to local Greek towers the moment you hit the pier.

The Santorini Cable Car (Teleferik)

The cable car is the most popular method for cruisers to reach Fira. It was funded by the Nomikos Foundation to modernize the island's infrastructure and provide a humane alternative to the donkey rides.

Pros of the Cable Car

• Speed: The actual journey takes less than five minutes.
• Comfort: You are enclosed in a glass cabin, protected from the sun and the smell of the donkey path.
• Views: The panoramic view of the caldera and the cruise ships anchored below is breathtaking.

Cons of the Cable Car

• The Queues: This is the biggest drawback. When three or four mega-ships are in port simultaneously, the wait for the cable car can exceed an hour.
• Capacity: Each car holds only six people, and there are only six cars in a string, meaning the throughput is limited during peak hours.

Walking the Karavolades Stairs (The Donkey Path)

If the cable car line is too long or you are looking for a bit of exercise, you can choose to walk. The path consists of 588 wide, stone steps that zig-zag up the cliffside.

What to Expect When Walking

Walking the path is a rite of passage for some, but it is not for the faint of heart. The steps are numbered, which can be either encouraging or demoralizing depending on your fitness level. You will be sharing the path with donkeys and mules, which leads to the path's most famous characteristic: the smell. The stones are also often slippery due to wear and animal waste, so sturdy footwear is a requirement.

If you decide to walk, ensure you have an active data connection. You will likely want to check your progress on a map or message your group if you get separated. Since CruiseSIM offers data-only plans, you can use WhatsApp or iMessage to stay in touch without needing a local Greek phone number.

Tips for the Walk

1. Hydration: There are no shops on the path itself. Buy water at the Old Port before you start.
2. Timing: Avoid walking up between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM when the sun is most intense.
3. Footwear: Flip-flops are dangerous here; wear sneakers with good grip.

The Donkey Rides: An Ethical Consideration

For decades, donkeys were the only way to transport goods and people up to Fira. Today, they remain a tourist attraction. However, many animal welfare organizations advise against riding them due to concerns about the animals' heavy workloads, lack of shade, and the steepness of the terrain. Furthermore, riding a donkey is not necessarily faster than walking and can be quite jarring physically.

Staying Connected: 5G in Santorini

Santorini is well-covered by modern telecommunications, but the geography of the caldera can sometimes create signal shadows. When you are at the Old Port or on the donkey path, you are shielded by a massive wall of volcanic rock. However, once you reach the rim of the caldera in Fira, the signal is typically excellent.

Local Carriers and Coverage

In Greece, the primary networks are Wind (now part of Nova) and Vodafone. Both offer robust 5G coverage in Fira and Oia. When you use a travel eSIM, your phone will automatically search for the strongest available signal among these providers. This is a far better alternative than relying on your home carrier's international roaming, which often throttles speeds or charges exorbitant daily fees.

For those on a multi-country Mediterranean itinerary, perhaps visiting Italy or Turkey next, having a flexible data plan is essential. You can learn more about managing your devices on a cruise in our guide to iPhone 15 Pro eSIM only setup.

Connectivity Comparison: Maritime vs. Local

Feature	Maritime Roaming	CruiseSIM (Local Towers)
Cost	Extremely High	Affordable Fixed Plans
Speed	Slow Satellite	5G / 4G LTE
Latency	High (Laggy)	Low (Smooth)
Network	Ship's Internal	Wind / Vodafone
Best Use	Emergencies at Sea	Maps, Social Media, Calls

Technical Setup for Cruisers

To ensure you have data the moment you step off the tender, you should install your eSIM before you leave your home country or while you are still on the ship's Wi-Fi.

1. Check Compatibility: Ensure your device is unlocked and on the list of eSIM compatible phones.
2. Purchase and Download: Select a Greek plan and scan the QR code provided.
3. Activation: Set the eSIM as your secondary data line. In your settings, make sure "Data Roaming" is turned ON for the eSIM profile, but OFF for your primary home SIM to avoid unwanted charges.
4. Switching: As the tender boat approaches the Old Port, toggle your cellular data to the eSIM. You will see the network name change to a Greek carrier like Vodafone GR or Wind.

If you are unsure about the process, our guide on how eSIMs work for cruises provides a step-by-step breakdown. This technology is particularly useful if you are also managing other cruise logistics, like finding a place to do laundry in port; see our Mediterranean cruise laundry tips for more port-side advice.

Data Needs for a Day in Santorini

How much data do you actually need for a day in Fira and Oia?

• Navigation (Google Maps): 50-100MB. Santorini's backstreets are a maze; you will need GPS.
• Social Media: 200-500MB. You will likely be uploading high-resolution photos and videos of the blue-domed churches.
• Communication: 50MB. WhatsApp messaging and occasional voice calls use very little data.

If you plan on streaming video or uploading large files, consider one of the larger 5GB or 10GB plans. Since these are data-only plans, they do not come with a local phone number, but all internet-based calling apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, and Skype will work perfectly over the 5G connection.

The bottom line

The best way to get from the Santorini Old Port to Fira depends on the crowds. If the cable car line is under 30 minutes, take it. If the line is massive and you are physically able, walking the 588 steps is a memorable (if smelly) experience. Regardless of how you climb, ensure you have transitioned from maritime roaming to a local Greek eSIM to stay connected without the fear of a massive phone bill waiting for you at the end of your vacation.