Volcanoes in Santorini
Santorini's volcano is a short boat trip from the caldera. Nea Kameni, a small uninhabited island in the middle of the flooded crater, has a rocky trail to the top and vents that puff steam and sulfur. Many visitors add a warm swim in the hot springs nearby, which come from the eruption of 1570. It is one of the most direct ways to see the island's volcanic past up close.
Places to go
Nea Kameni
Nea Kameni is a small, uninhabited volcanic islet in the flooded Santorini caldera. Visitors land at a jetty and climb rocky slopes to look into the smoking crater.
Hot springs of Palea and Nea Kameni
Warm sulfur-water springs in the sea around Palea and Nea Kameni, the small volcanic isles inside Santorini's caldera. You swim in natural pools, not in a spa building.
Tours to book
Prices are per person, booked with our partner, Shore Excursions Group.
What to expect
Most visitors start with a ferry from Thira to Nea Kameni, about 20 minutes away. The island is nearly barren and is visited daily by many tourist boats through the summer, so the trail can be busy at midday. A rocky path climbs toward the top of the volcano, 2.6 km in total. Along the way you pass steam and sulfur vents, which you view from a safe distance. Near the top you can walk a full circuit of the crater rim and look down into the smoking crater.
Many boat trips also stop at the hot springs of Palea and Nea Kameni, formed after the 1570 eruption. At Agios Nikolaos Bay in Palaia Kameni, the boat anchors just meters away and you can swim in the warm sulfur waters for about 30 minutes. Some visits go on to the old port of Thirassia. Half-day tours on this theme usually run three to six hours, so the day can be short and simple or fill most of the afternoon. The trail and crater are best suited to people comfortable on uneven ground.
Where to go
- Nea Kameni. A barren volcanic island with a rocky trail to the crater rim, where you can look into the smoking crater and see the steam and sulfur vents. 20-minute ferry trip from Thira.
- Palea and Nea Kameni hot springs. Warm sulfur-water swims at the isles formed after the 1570 eruption, usually reached on a boat trip from Fira bay. Near Nea Kameni, reached by boat from Fira bay. A trip that goes here: Santorini Volcano and Hot Springs, 3 Hours, $82 a person
- Agios Nikolaos Bay, Palaia Kameni. A swimming stop in warm hot-spring water where the boat anchors just meters away, for about 30 minutes. By boat.
Getting there
Ferries leave from Thira for Nea Kameni, a ride of about 20 minutes. Boats also run between Fira, Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni, and tickets are sold at ticket offices in most ports.
When to go
Summer brings red succulents to the crater, but the island is very hot from May onward. Spring and early autumn are milder for the climb, and weather can delay ferries and shuttles in winter.
Good to know
- Wear closed shoes with good grip, since the trail is rocky and uneven.
- Bring water and a hat, especially in summer when there is little shade.
- Keep a safe distance from the steam and sulfur vents at all times.
- Bad weather can delay or cancel ferries, so check the return time before heading out.
Questions
Can you climb the volcano in Santorini?
Yes. Nea Kameni has a rocky trail of about 2.6 km to the top, with uneven ground and steep sections. You can walk the rim of the crater and look into it, keeping a safe distance from the steam and sulfur vents.
How do you get to the Santorini volcano?
Ferries run from Thira to Nea Kameni in about 20 minutes. Many visitors also go on a boat trip that adds the hot springs at Palea and Nea Kameni, where you can swim in warm sulfur water.
Can you swim in the hot springs near Santorini's volcano?
Yes. Boat trips stop at Agios Nikolaos Bay in Palaia Kameni, where the water is warm. The swim is about 30 minutes, and the boat anchors just meters away.
