A donkey, decked out in colorful beads and an evil-eye amulet, awaits the day’s passengers on the stairs leading up to the village of Fira, on the island of Santorini.
When visitors arrive to Santorini’s Old Port via cruise ship or boat, they have three ways to make it up to the town of Fira: climb the (almost) 600 stairs, ride a donkey (€5 one way), or ride the cable car (€4 one way).
Riding a donkey is controversial. Animal rights organizations, such as the Donkey Sanctuary, and some visitors say it is cruel, whereas the local government assures visitors, via signs posted at the port, that the animals are well-cared-for by veterinarians and offered regular periods of rest.
If you choose to tackle the path with your own feet or ascend via cable car (we did both, but we chose not to ride a donkey) beware of donkey droppings and hoof encounters with the first option, and potential vertigo spells with the second one.
We saw one tourist whose foot was accidentally stepped upon by a donkey’s hoof, and the woman exclaimed how painful that was.
We found the walk up the stairs to be great exercise. The cable car, on the other hand, offered a beautiful view of the caldera and cliffs, even though it was a quick ride.
Where in the World?
Planning Pointers:
- If you’re looking for a cozy studio apartment in Santorini, consider the Phaos Santorini Suites (formerly Rhapsody Apartments) in Imerovigli. We spent one week here. The owner, George, was helpful and friendly. He even shared delicious Santorini zucchini from his own garden with us. We loved the apartment’s quiet location. It was still a walkable distance to Fira, the island’s public transportation hub. The sunrise views from our balcony were extraordinary, too!
Photography & text © Tricia A. Mitchell. All Rights Reserved.
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