Europe · #2 in Greece
Dialysis in Santorini, Greece
Travelling to Santorini and need holiday dialysis while you're there? Below are 1 dialysis center in and near Santorini. Tell us your dates and we'll confirm availability and book your sessions.
Dialysis centers in Santorini
Centers we've identified in or near Santorini. Confirm availability and details directly — Dialysis Go verifies and books your session as part of arranging your visit.
Get travel medical insurance before you go
Dialysis abroad only works if you're covered for it. Check each policy's wording on pre-existing conditions before you rely on it.
Santorini Renal Nephrology and Dialysis Centre
Pyrgos, Santorini (~1 km from Fira, 2 km from the airport)
Tel: +30 22860 27107
First specialized renal unit in the Cyclades, operating since 2010; accepts EHIC/GHIC.
Highest-rated hotel nearby: Santorini Heights — 10.0/10 (87 reviews), 2 km from downtown Pyrgos
Planning dialysis in Santorini
- Centers listed
- 1
- Typical cost per session
- $120–$250 (if paying privately)
- Peak season
- June–September (island units are busiest in July and August)
- Nearest airport
- Santorini (JTR), or ferry from Piraeus
- Language
- Greek
Costs are indicative ranges for Greece, not quotes. Estimate your whole trip.
Who pays for dialysis in Santorini?
- EU/EEA and Swiss residents: a valid EHIC covers dialysis at public units in Greece, and at private units contracted to the national health system, on the same terms as local patients. The session still has to be arranged with the unit before you travel.
- UK residents: the UK GHIC (or a UK EHIC that hasn't expired) works the same way for state-provided dialysis. Ask the unit to confirm it accepts GHIC when you book.
- Everyone else, or at a private unit outside the public system: you pay per session and claim back through your travel insurance or home insurer where your policy allows.
- US Medicare patients: Original Medicare generally does not pay for dialysis outside the US. Some Medicare Advantage and private plans include limited cover abroad, so check yours before you go.
When to book
Island units have few chairs and fill months ahead for summer — book 3–4 months ahead for July and August, and at least 6–8 weeks ahead otherwise. Peak season in Santorini: June–September (island units are busiest in July and August).
Emergency numbers in Santorini
In an emergency, call 112 for an ambulance. Tell the operator you're on dialysis and which unit treats you, and keep your access details and medication list with you.
112Ambulance, police and fire112 is free and works from any mobile or landline across the EU, including foreign phones on roaming.
What the unit in Santorini will ask for
- Your current dialysis prescription (dialyser, dry weight, access, anticoagulation).
- Blood results from the last 4–6 weeks, including virology (hepatitis B and C, HIV).
- Records from your last few sessions and a current medication list.
- A referral or fit-to-travel letter from your nephrologist.
- An MRSA screen and recent ECG, if the unit asks for them.
Each unit has its own list — read the full travel guide or check entry requirements for Greece.
Wheelchair rental in Santorini
Long days, dialysis fatigue and unfamiliar streets add up. Renting a wheelchair or mobility scooter for your stay in Santorini saves your energy for the things you came to do.
- Book a few weeks ahead in peak season and ask for delivery to your hotel, so the chair is waiting when you arrive.
- Tell the supplier your weight, seat width and how you'll use it — a lightweight folding chair for taxis, or a power chair or scooter for longer distances.
- Ask your airline for free wheelchair assistance at both airports when you book your flight; it's separate from renting a chair for your stay.
- Check the dialysis unit and your hotel have step-free access, and whether the unit can lend a chair between the entrance and your station.
Things to do in Santorini around dialysis
Most people feel tired after a session, so keep treatment days light and save the big outings for days off. Effort ratings are a rough guide — you know your own energy best.
On session days
Easy
Pyrgos village
A quiet hilltop village close to the island's dialysis unit, with lanes, small churches and views across the island.
Easy
Akrotiri archaeological site
A Bronze Age town preserved under volcanic ash, under a cover roof with flat walkways.
Easy
Fira to Firostefani caldera path
A short, mostly level stretch of the caldera path with famous views. There are some steps.
On free days
Moderate
Oia
The postcard village for sunset. It gets very crowded at sunset, and there are lots of steps.
Strenuous
Volcano boat trip
A cruise to the volcanic islands in the caldera. The volcano walk is uphill on loose ground and the hot springs mean a swim.
Moderate
Red Beach and Perissa
Volcanic beaches in the south. Red Beach needs a short rough scramble; Perissa's black sand is flat.
Tips for Santorini on dialysis
- Fira's old port is hundreds of steps below the town. Take the cable car rather than walking.
- Dialysis capacity on the island is very limited, so book three to four months ahead for summer and confirm the unit accepts your EHIC or GHIC.
Tickets and tours for Santorini: Tiqets · KKday · Welcome Pickups Sightseeing. Timed tickets make it easier to plan around your sessions. More on sightseeing with dialysis.
Dialysis in Santorini: common questions
- Is there a dialysis center in Santorini?
- Yes. We list 1 dialysis center in and near Santorini: Santorini Renal Nephrology and Dialysis Centre.
- How much does holiday dialysis cost in Santorini?
- If you're paying privately, expect roughly $120–$250 per haemodialysis session in Greece. The clinic sets the exact price, and we confirm it with you before anything is booked.
- Can I use my EHIC or GHIC for dialysis in Santorini?
- Yes, at public units and at private units contracted to the national health system, as long as you arrange the sessions with the unit before you travel. Everyone else, or at a private unit outside the public system: you pay per session and claim back through your travel insurance or home insurer where your policy allows.
- How far ahead should I book dialysis in Santorini?
- Island units have few chairs and fill months ahead for summer — book 3–4 months ahead for July and August, and at least 6–8 weeks ahead otherwise. Peak season in Santorini is june–September (island units are busiest in July and August).
- What can I do in Santorini on a dialysis day?
- Keep treatment days short and low-effort — for example Pyrgos village, Akrotiri archaeological site and Fira to Firostefani caldera path. Save bigger outings like Oia and Volcano boat trip for days without a session.
- Which airport is closest to Santorini?
- Santorini (JTR), or ferry from Piraeus. Try to book your first session within a day or two of landing so you don't go too long between treatments.
- What is the emergency number in Santorini?
- Call 112 for an ambulance in Santorini (ambulance, police and fire). You can also reach the ambulance service directly on 166. Tell the operator you're on dialysis and keep your access details and medication list with you.
- Can I rent a wheelchair in Santorini?
- Yes — mobility equipment suppliers in and around Santorini rent manual wheelchairs, power chairs and scooters by the day or week, and many deliver to your hotel. Book ahead in peak season, and ask your airline separately for free wheelchair assistance at the airport.
Athens plus most of the larger islands run seasonal capacity for tourists. Book early for July and August. Holiday dialysis across Greece.