Located in the southeast of the island of Santorini, a short distance from the capital Fira, Santorini Thira Airport is one of the busiest airport destinations in the Greek Islands. The airport has recently benefited from major investment as part of development programme to dramatically increase capacity.

There are direct flights to Santorini Thira Airport from virtually every European city making it the gateway to exploring this gem in the Cyclades Islands.

If you are planning a road trip around Santorini, our friendly Avis team at Santorini Thira Airport is on hand to provide the perfect rental car for your trip.

You’ll find our Avis counter at Santorini Thira Airport in the arrivals hall of the terminal building. The rental car park is a short distance from the terminal entrance with a shuttle service available.

Santorini Thira Airport is on the east coast of the island and from your Avis pick-up point, the capital Fira is just a 5.6km, 10min drive away on the west coast. You’ll be following signs for ‘Fira’ which are written in English as well as Greek.

Fira, Santorini’s compact sun-soaked capital is picture postcard with domed churches and narrow winding streets. The brilliant white houses cling to the clifftops, cobalt blue doors and shutters contrast with the turquoise blue waters of the Aegean Sea below. The island’s capital is steeped in history. The Museum of Prehistoric Thira houses artefacts from the bronze age.

Don’t miss the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral with its soaring white arches and perfect view of Santorini’s famous volcano and caldera.

The whole of Santorini is an Instagram dream and you’ll find one of the most photographed locations in Greece - the 3 bells of Fira - at the Catholic Church of Koimisi Tis Theotokou.

It may be small – just 76 sq km or 26 sq miles – but driving around Santorini offers a taste of paradise and there are several road trips that give a visitors a real sense of island life.

Oia (pronounced Ia)

Just 25min drive from the airport, aim to get here well before sunset to explore the narrow streets and Byzantine castle before soaking up the atmosphere at a clifftop restaurant as the sun sinks low and turns the sky orange.

Akrotiri

Drive south to Akrotiri village which has a bronze age history. This most peaceful part of the island is known as the Greek Pompei as it was once buried in volcanic ash. Don’t miss Akrotiri’s remote lighthouse or the Red Beach, named after its deep red volcanic sand.

Pyrgos

The tranquil and unspoilt village of Pyrgos, 8km south of Fira, is the highest point in the island and well worth a visit to enjoy panoramic views across Santorini.

We’d say yes, it is worth hiring a car to get the most out of your Santorini holiday. There are buses around the island but having a hire car gives you the freedom to explore some of the more remote corners of Santorini as well as enabling you to reach some of the most popular destinations either early in the morning or later in the evening. Apart from anything else, the roads are quiet – especially at low season - and it is easy to navigate around the island.

Hiring a car on Santorini is a popular option for independent travellers. Be aware that as in the rest of mainland Europe, you’ll be driving on the right-hand side of the road in Greece. Santorini’s villages often have narrow cobbled streets where taking things at a slow pace is recommended.

If you have not driven in this part of the world before, we’d advise familiarising yourself with the road rules of Greece before you travel. Our guide offers advice on aspects like speed limits on rural roads and unique rules for driving in Greece.

As well as designated parking in many of its more popular locations, you’ll find plenty of on street parking in Santorini’s small towns and villages. However do watch out for no parking signs and where streets are narrow, make sure that there is plenty of room for other traffic – especially the tour buses that criss-cross the island.