Is Santorini Safe in December 2026?

Restaurants in Oia village charge €50–100 per person for a basic dinner, justified by the famous sunset view. Quality rarely matches the price, and some add undisclosed service charges and cover fees.

How to avoid: Eat dinner before sunset and simply walk to the viewpoint free of charge. If dining with a view, check menu prices including all fees before sitting.

ATMs in Fira's main shopping street and at Santorini Airport actively prompt tourists to pay in their home currency rather than euros. Selecting this option — dynamic currency conversion — applies exchange rates 5–12% worse than the card network rate. The prompt is designed to look like a helpful service, and many visitors accept without realizing they are paying a premium.

How to avoid: Always select "pay in EUR" or "pay in local currency" when prompted at ATMs and card terminals. Decline any offer to convert the amount for you. Use bank ATMs (Piraeus, Alpha Bank) rather than private ATMs when possible.

Quad bike and ATV rental operators across Santorini routinely charge tourists for pre-existing damage, withholding deposits entirely. This is one of the most commonly reported scams on the island.

How to avoid: Film a complete walk-around video of the vehicle before riding. Email the footage to the rental company immediately as a timestamped record.

Private minibus operators at the old port of Skala (below Fira) charge tourists three to five times the standard KTEL public bus fare for the switchback road up to Fira town. Drivers represent their service as the only available transport, ignoring the presence of the public cable car and the publicly subsidized bus stop a short walk away.

How to avoid: Use the public cable car (€6 one-way) or the KTEL blue bus that departs from the top of the old port steps for a fraction of the cost. Walk the 580 steps for free if you have luggage limits.

Donkey rides up the cliff path from the old port to Fira are a famous Santorini tradition, but operators inflate prices for tourists and add "tips" not disclosed at the start.

How to avoid: Agree on the total price upfront. The official rate is posted. Be aware of the controversy around donkey welfare in Santorini — consider the cable car as an alternative. Tipping is expected but optional.