Santorini is reached by ferry or plane. Most visitors arrive by one or the other depending on where they're travelling from.
By Ferry
Ferries run year-round from Piraeus (Athens), with the journey taking around five hours on a fast catamaran or eight to nine hours on a conventional ferry. During summer, there are also regular connections to other Cycladic islands including Mykonos, Naxos, and Ios, as well as to Heraklion in Crete. Ferries dock at Athinios port, about 12 km south of Fira; buses and taxis meet arriving boats.
By Air
Santorini National Airport (JTR) sits near Kamari on the eastern side of the island. Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines operate multiple daily flights from Athens year-round, with the crossing taking under an hour. In summer, direct seasonal flights connect to several European cities. The airport is small and gets congested in peak season — allow extra time.