Fira Old Port & Cable Car

36° 25.1′ N · 25° 25.7′ E

Skala, Fira's old port, is a small quay at the foot of the caldera wall. A cable car, a zig-zag stepped path and the donkey trains climb to Fira. It is where the cruise-ship tenders and volcano tripper boats land.

Western Cyclades Central Cyclades

Practical

Sailingissues: 'treat Skala as a difficult anchorage rather than a port.' The rocky bottom snags anchors and chains, depths plunge to abyssal levels a few boat lengths off, and it is open to SE and NW with frequent cruise-ship wash. Options: stern-to the outer side of the pier (inside is very shallow) with a strong trip line, if the tripper boats and tenders leave room; a shared metal buoy south of the pier (keep your rigging clear); or one buoy under the funicular shared by several shore-tied yachts, the author's preference when conditions suit. Port Authority VHF 12, +30 22860 22239; you may be told to leave. Several large cruise-ship mooring buoys lie between here and Nea Kameni (OpenSeaMap). Quay light Q R. The cable car is run by the Loula & Evangelos Nomikos Foundation (scc.gr); the alternative is the stepped path. Animal-welfare groups criticise the donkey trade, so walk or ride the cable car. After the 2025 earthquakes the port was closed, then reopened under controlled access; under the 2026 decision (to March 31, 2027) access is generally allowed but one zone of the port stays restricted.

Fira Old Port & Cable Car

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