Santorini is a safe island for travellers, but it always helps to have the right numbers ready in case something unexpected happens. Whether you need a doctor, a taxi, or simply want to check ferry times with the port authority, this guide brings together the numbers that visitors ask about most often, along with a few tips gathered from people who have actually needed them.
Emergency numbers
If you are ever in a genuine emergency, the number to remember is 112, which is the European emergency number covering police, ambulance and fire brigade. This line is answered in English as well as Greek, so there is no need to worry about a language barrier when every second counts. Alongside this, Greece also has separate direct lines that locals tend to use, including 100 for the police, 166 for the ambulance service and 199 for the fire department. If you would rather speak to someone trained to help tourists specifically, the tourist police can be reached on 171, and staff there are used to dealing with visitors and can usually help in several languages.
Police
For general help, reporting a lost item or a problem that is not life threatening, the Santorini Police Department can be contacted on +30 22860 22649. There is also a Municipal Police Office on +30 22863 60186 that deals with more local matters such as parking or noise complaints. Many travellers on forums mention that officers are generally helpful and patient with tourists, even if English is not always fluent, so keep things simple and calm when explaining your issue.
Hospital and health centres
Health care on the island is centred around Fira. The Santorini General Hospital in Fira can be reached on +30 22863 60300, and this is the number to call for anything from a bad fall to food poisoning. There is also a private clinic in Fira on +30 2286 021728 which some visitors prefer for quicker appointments, and smaller health centres exist in villages such as Emporio and Kamari, although these tend to have shorter opening hours than the main hospital. If your situation is not urgent but you still need help outside normal hours, a twenty four hour medical assistance line is available on +30 698 65 10 050.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies in Santorini are well stocked and staff often speak English, which makes getting medication straightforward. Rather than trying to remember individual pharmacy numbers, the easiest option is the pharmacy hotline on 14944, which will tell you which pharmacy nearest to you is currently open. This is particularly useful late in the evening or on Sundays, when only certain pharmacies stay open on a rota system. If you already know you will need a specific pharmacy, the main ones in Fira include the Fira pharmacies on +30 2286 022700 and +30 2286 024501, with further options in Oia, Kamari, Perissa and other villages.
Port authority and ferries
Santorini has two main ports, and it helps to know which one applies to your journey. The Athinios Ferry Port Authority can be reached on +30 22860 25015, and this is the port that most large ferries use. The Old Port in Fira, which mainly handles cruise tender boats, can be contacted on +30 22860 22239. Forum posts from returning visitors often mention double checking your port before travelling, since arriving at the wrong one can mean a long taxi ride to reach your actual ferry in time.
Airport
Santorini International Airport, also known by its code JTR, can be reached on +30 22860 28400. If you are flying with a specific airline and need to check a delay or change, Aegean Airlines has a Santorini office on 801 11 20000, and Sky Express can be reached on +30 801 112 8288.
Taxis and getting around
Taxis are one of the most talked about topics among visitors, mainly because Santorini only has around forty licensed taxis on the whole island. This means that during busy summer months, waiting times can stretch to an hour or more, so booking ahead is strongly recommended rather than hoping to hail one on the street. The main local taxi radio number is 22860 22555, and calling ahead is especially useful if you are staying somewhere away from the main taxi ranks at the airport, the port, or the central square in Fira and Oia. If you would rather use your hotel or a restaurant to call one for you, be aware that this sometimes comes with an extra fee, as the venue calling on your behalf usually receives a small commission. For buses, the KTEL Santorini bus service can be reached on +30 22860 25404 for timetables and route information.
Roadside assistance
If you have hired a car or a quad bike and run into mechanical trouble, the national ELPA roadside assistance number is 10400, and there is also a local roadside assistance service on +30 22860 31115 for issues specific to the island.
Tips for calling numbers in Santorini
A few small details trip up a lot of first time visitors. The country code for Greece is +30, and the local area code for Santorini is 22860, so if you are dialling from abroad you will need to include both. If you are already on the island, you generally only need to dial the local number without the country code. It is also worth saving these numbers directly into your phone before you leave home, since mobile signal and data can occasionally be patchy in more remote parts of the island, particularly around the caldera edge and smaller villages.
Having these numbers ready will not stop things going wrong, but it will make sorting them out a great deal easier, leaving you free to enjoy the sunsets, the beaches and the wonderful food that Santorini is famous for.