Cash or card in Santorini — what do locals actually use?
Cards are accepted almost everywhere tourists go in Santorini — restaurants, hotels, shops, and tour operators in Fira, Oia, and Imerovigli all run card terminals without issue, and contactless payment is standard. That said, carry 50-100 euros in cash at all times. Small tavernas in villages like Pyrgos or Megalochori sometimes card machines "aren't working" (a phrase that means they'd prefer cash), and the ATV and quad rental outfits dotting the main roads in Kamari and Perissa frequently quote a lower price for cash. ATMs are available in Fira near the main square and in Kamari, but fees run 3-5 euros per withdrawal from Greek bank machines for foreign cards, and the machines run dry on August weekends. Locals themselves use a mix of both, leaning card for larger purchases but defaulting to cash for the kafeneion coffee or the guy selling fresh tomatoes at the roadside stands between Megalochori and Emporio. Don't arrive cashless and expect to sort it out on a Sunday afternoon.
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