How was the airport experience in Santorini?

[paharo45]

I’ve been to Santorini a few times, but I’ve always arrived and departed by ferry, never by plane. For my next trip, I’m thinking about flying in or out, depending on how the itinerary shapes up, and I’d love to hear from those of you who’ve actually used the Santorini airport.

How was your experience? Is it as chaotic as some reviews make it sound, or does it just depend on the time of year? I’m curious about everything, check-in lines, baggage claim, the size of the terminal, transportation to and from hotels, even how early you’d recommend arriving before a flight.

I’d also love to know if there’s a big difference between domestic and international departures. Is it worth paying extra for a direct flight, or are the Athens connections smooth enough? Any first-hand details would really help me plan ahead for next year’s trip.

 

[jenn]

I flew into Santorini last summer with a group of friends for a fun girls’ trip — the airport is small but pretty manageable. It can get a bit busy if multiple flights land at the same time, so I’d aim to arrive 1.5–2 hours early for international flights. Baggage claim was quick, and getting a taxi or hotel shuttle was easy. Athens connections were smooth, so a direct flight isn’t always necessary.

During our trip, we followed a Santorini itinerary that balanced relaxing by the caldera, exploring Oia, and visiting some of the island’s amazing beaches — it made the whole trip flow really nicely!