Things to do at Fira Old Port

Fira Old Port, known locally as Skala, sits at the foot of the caldera cliff and handles cruise tenders and excursion boats, not the island's car ferries, which dock 10 km south at Athinios.

From the quay you have three ways up to Fira: the cable car, which takes about three minutes to climb the 220-metre cliff face and runs continuously in season; the 588 stone steps, a steep 30-45 minute walk with no shade; or a donkey ride along the same path. All three converge at the top near the cable car station in Fira.

There is no fixed cable car fare here, and prices vary by source and year, so check the current rate before you queue, especially when several cruise tenders arrive together and the line backs up fast.