Volcano & Hot Springs Boat Tour

The cliffs of Santorini are the walls of a volcano, and the dark islets in the middle of the bay are the volcano itself, still very much alive. Nea Kameni, the New Burnt Island, rose from the sea in a series of eruptions from the early eighteenth century onward, with the last activity in the 1950s; its neighbour Palea Kameni, the Old Burnt Island, is far older. A volcano and hot springs tour takes you out to both. Boats leave from the old port below Fira, and some from Athinios, Ammoudi or Vlychada, crossing the caldera in about twenty minutes to a landing stage on Nea Kameni. From there a path climbs across a moonscape of black and rust-red lava, past craters and steaming fumaroles that smell of sulphur, to the summit, where the view takes in the whole ring of cliffs with the white villages along the rim. The walk takes around half an hour each way and is uphill on loose volcanic gravel with no shade, so it is hard work in the midday heat. Back on board, the boat sails to a bay of Palea Kameni where the water is warmed by volcanic springs; boats cannot get close, so you jump in and swim a short distance to where the sea turns orange-brown and noticeably warmer. Tiqets sells a range of versions: a short volcano and hot springs tour of about three hours, a guided version with a smaller group, and a longer volcanic islands cruise of around six hours that adds Thirasia, the quiet inhabited island on the far side of the caldera, and some versions continue to Oia for sunset. Most use traditional wooden boats or larger cruise boats with a bar on board, and the volcano park charges its own small entry fee, which may or may not be included, so read the inclusions.

Choosing your tour: the three-hour volcano and hot springs trip is the best value and fits into a morning, leaving the rest of the day free; the full-day volcanic islands cruise is more relaxed, with lunch time on Thirasia, where you can climb (or ride) to the village of Manolas or eat fish at the harbour of Korfos, and some versions end anchored off Oia for the sunset. Group sizes vary from around fifty to eighty on the larger boats, so if you dislike crowds, look at the guided small-group options or a catamaran trip instead. Check where your boat departs: the old port below Fira is reached by the cable car or the Karavolades steps, and some products include a transfer to Athinios.

What to bring and wear: sturdy shoes for the lava path (not flip-flops), a hat, sunscreen and water, because there is little shade on Nea Kameni; and a swimsuit you do not mind staining, as the iron-rich water of the springs can leave a rusty tinge on pale fabrics. Swimming to the springs is a short but open-water swim, so weaker swimmers should stay on board or ask about flotation aids. The volcano is monitored closely, and after the 2025 earthquake swarm, restrictions on the volcanic islands were in place for a time; by April 2026 most of them had been lifted as activity returned to stable levels.

When to go: tours run from spring to autumn, with the widest choice from May to October. In early November a few departures still run, and in winter only a handful of operators sail, weather permitting, so book ahead and keep plans flexible. In summer, a morning departure is cooler on the crater walk; afternoons are hotter but can be combined with a sunset return. Families with children over about six usually love the walk on a real volcano, while couples might prefer the longer cruise that ends with sunset at sea.