Can you drive to the hot springs?

No. Palia Kameni is an uninhabited volcanic islet in the caldera and the bay is reachable only by boat.

Do you have to swim to reach them?

Yes, about 100 metres from where the boat anchors, because boats cannot enter the shallow bay. Life jackets are available on most boats.

Will the water stain your swimsuit?

Yes, permanently, if it is light coloured. The iron and sulphur turn fabric rust-orange, so wear black or another dark colour.

How long do you get at the hot springs?

Fifteen to thirty minutes, which is what the stop is worth. Boats treat it as one stop on a volcano trip rather than a destination.

Are the hot springs good for your skin?

The sulphur and iron are traditionally said to help skin conditions, but treat that as folklore rather than medicine.

Are they suitable for children?

Only for confident swimmers. The open-water swim of about 100 metres is the limiting factor, not the water temperature.

When are the hot springs quietest?

On the first boat of the morning or the last of the afternoon, when two boats are moored there rather than ten.

Plan a romantic getaway to Santorini in 2022 Archives

Q: How hot are the Santorini hot springs?

Roughly 30 to 35 degrees in the warmest corner of the bay at Palia Kameni, and considerably cooler as you move away from the seeps.

Q: How much does it cost?

Nothing on its own. It is included in a volcano or caldera boat trip, which runs roughly 25 to 40 euros in a group and more on a catamaran with lunch.

Q: Is it worth skipping?

On a one-day visit, yes. Akrotiri and a winery afternoon give far more back than twenty minutes in a warm patch of sea.

The santorini hot springs are a small rust-orange bay on Palia Kameni in the middle of the caldera, reachable only by boat and only by swimming the last hundred metres. The water is about 30 to 35 degrees in the warmest corner, the stop lasts twenty minutes, it is included in the volcano trip, and light-coloured swimwear is stained permanently.

Romance dominates and ties perfectly with the images offered by natural beauty, contributing to making Santorini the first choice for an unforgettable romantic getaway with your partner. So, you should plan a romantic getaway to Santorini in 2022 and book a tour with Santorini Tours. The landscape of Santorini, created by volcanic activity in antiquity, has helped to make the island one of the busiest places in the world.

People from all over the world aim to visit Santorini and admire the idyllic landscape up close and feel the romantic aura that exudes the jewel of the Aegean. Relax with your partner in the stunning view, in the idyllic sunsets and enjoy the unique experience of hospitality and relaxation.

Tour of Fira

Fira takes turns. Fira is the capital of the island and entertainment. There you will be able to walk in the cobbled alleys, to browse tourist shops, to taste Santorini cuisine and of course… to be led to the Caldera, one of the most beautiful and famous places in the world. With a view of the volcano you will be able to enjoy your walks in the area, while in the evening you can choose your favorite hangout, where you will drink your drink against the background of the active volcano of Santorini.

Walk on the path of Fira

In the summer in Santorini requires walks and explorations. If you like walking, the program includes a walk on the path from Fira to Firostefani. It is a unique experience, where you will be able to enjoy the view of the volcano during the day, to walk in the picturesque alleys of the island and to explore museums and churches, which you will find in your passage. Necessary stops are required for rest with photos and replenishment of forces in the nearby shops.

Diary for relaxation

If you are looking for relaxation on your holiday, then stopping at Imerovigli is a must. It is one of the most famous hot spots on the island, for romantic walks. Beautiful cafes with views offer comfort and options for you and your little friends. If you have a large enough budget, staying there is a must.

Take a romantic stroll in Oia for the best sunset in the world

Millions of travelers from all over the world flock to Santorini to enjoy the best sunset in the world. In particular, the reason for Oia, the famous lady of Santorini, who is literally flooded with travelers of all nationalities, who are not content to simply enjoy the sunset, but to immortalize it at any cost. Do not be surprised if you leave there with bruises, more and more tripods or self-propelled barges will find you. But if you exclude this ungrateful note, the sunset of Santorini alone can make the trip to Santorini unique! You can take a tour of Santorini!

Excursion to the volcano of Santorini in 2022

You cannot leave Santorini without visiting the active volcano. Book a volcano tour with us and take the descent to the old port of Fira. You can reach it, either on foot, the old-fashioned way with donkeys, or more modernly with the cable car. The sailing boat will be waiting for you along with dozens of tourists, who want to see the magic of the volcano up close.

Take a tour of Nea Kameni, capture the moment with photos and continue your tour of Palea Kameni with its hot baths. If you can stand it, you can dive in water, which reaches 26 degrees. If you are lucky, you may also see Sostis, the man who left everything and now lives alone in Palea Kameni.

The Red Beach of Santorini

It is not possible to go to Santorini and not have seen even close to the famous Red Beach. At first glance you will understand that you are in a different landscape, which has no equal. Red sand, red rocks and in the middle a blue beach invites you for a swim. To get to the source, however, you have to walk a rather difficult path, which becomes a little more difficult than it actually is, due to the dozens of visitors. Pay attention to the shoes you will wear, to be stable to avoid accidents

There are about 6,000 islands along the irregular coasts of Greece, although only about 200 were inhabited. Of these, none will make the romantics feel like sunny Santorini, which is the most visited.

The spectacle of the figurative structures of the white plaster of Santorini, which is located opposite the blue of the Aegean, makes the hearts rise. And to add a bit of risk, the sulfur emissions and the occasional red glow remind visitors that Santorini’s vibrant volcano is just asleep.

Santorini has an active nightlife, centered in Fira and, to a lesser extent, Oia. During the day, go for a hike, if you want to do something different than staying at the beach all day. The best time to visit Santorini is October, when the crowds dilute. Tourist attractions remain open until November.

Santorini Hot Springs: The Short Answer

The santorini hot springs are a small bay on Palia Kameni, the older of the two volcanic islets in the middle of the caldera, where warm sulphurous water seeps out of the seabed and stains the rock and the sea rust-orange. You reach them only by boat, you swim about 100 metres from where the boat anchors, and the water is roughly 30 to 35 degrees in the warmest corner and cooler as you move away.

The santorini hot springs are a curiosity rather than a spa. There are no pools, no changing rooms and no facilities of any kind. Most people spend twenty minutes there, take a photograph and swim back, and the boats treat it as one stop on a volcano trip rather than a destination.

Wear a dark swimsuit to the santorini hot springs. The iron and sulphur in the water stain light-coloured fabric permanently, and no amount of washing gets it out.

What the Visit Actually Involves

Getting there. Every volcano boat trip from the old port below Fira, and most caldera cruises, include the santorini hot springs as a stop.

The anchorage at the santorini hot springs. Boats cannot enter the shallow bay, so they moor outside it and you swim in. That swim is the part nobody mentions in advance.

The distance. Around 100 metres each way in open water. You need to be a reasonably confident swimmer, and life jackets are available on most boats.

The temperature at the santorini hot springs. The caldera water is cold; the bay is warm in patches. Expect a strong contrast rather than a bath.

The colour. Rust-orange from iron oxide, with a faint sulphur smell.

Time allowed at the santorini hot springs. Fifteen to thirty minutes, which is enough.

Cost. Included in the volcano trip, which runs roughly 25 to 40 euros for the group version and more on a catamaran with lunch.

See the volcano trip.

Is It Worth It?

Our honest position on the santorini hot springs, as people who take visitors out there most weeks.

Worth it if. You are already on a volcano trip, you swim comfortably, and you like the idea of floating in warm water inside an active caldera. As a geological curiosity the santorini hot springs are genuinely interesting.

Not worth it if. You expect a thermal spa, a pool, hot water throughout, or anything resembling the hot springs of Iceland or Hungary.

What disappoints people about the santorini hot springs. The swim, the cold water on the way in, the crowd of boats in August, and the fact that the warm patch is small.

What surprises people pleasantly. The colour of the rock, the smell of sulphur and the realisation that the seabed under them is a live volcano.

Our recommendation. Take the boat for the caldera, the volcano climb and the swimming stops. Treat the santorini hot springs as a bonus rather than the reason for the day.

Practical Advice

Dark swimwear only. The staining is permanent. This is the single most useful thing anybody can tell you about the santorini hot springs.

Rinse after the santorini hot springs. Sulphur clings to skin and hair; most boats have a shower on deck.

Sun. There is no shade on the water and no shade on Palia Kameni.

Footwear. The rock is sharp where you climb out; swimming shoes help.

Not for weak swimmers. Ask for a life jacket, and skip it entirely if open water worries you.

Not for small children. The swim is real and the current can push slightly across the bay.

When the santorini hot springs are quietest. The first boat of the morning and the last of the afternoon, when there are two boats instead of ten.

When the santorini hot springs are cancelled. On windy days. The meltemi closes the whole volcano trip, not just this stop.

Santorini Hot Springs: Frequently Asked Questions

How hot are the santorini hot springs? Roughly 30 to 35 degrees in the warmest corner of the bay, and considerably cooler as you move away from the seeps.

Can you drive to the santorini hot springs? No. Palia Kameni is an uninhabited islet and the bay is reachable only by boat.

Do you have to swim? Yes, about 100 metres from where the boat anchors. Life jackets are available.

Will it stain my swimsuit? Yes, permanently, if it is light-coloured. Wear black or a dark colour.

How long do you get? Fifteen to thirty minutes, which is what the stop is worth.

How much does it cost? Nothing on its own; it is part of a volcano or caldera boat trip at 25 to 40 euros in a group, more on a catamaran with lunch.

Are they good for your skin? The sulphur and iron are said to help skin conditions. Treat that as folklore rather than medicine.

Is it suitable for children? Only confident swimmers. The open-water swim is the limiting factor, not the temperature.

What is the best time of day for the santorini hot springs? The earliest boat, before the fleet arrives.

Is it worth skipping? On a short trip, yes. If you have one day, Akrotiri and a winery beat the santorini hot springs comfortably.

We Will Tell You Honestly Whether to Bother

We are a local operator running private tours and transfers in our own vehicles, and we are happy to say when something is worth the time and when it is not. The volcano is worth a morning, the caldera from the water is worth the whole day, and the santorini hot springs are worth twenty minutes if the sea is calm and you like swimming.

Tell us your dates and we will build the week around the things that repay it: Akrotiri before the coaches, the wineries after four, the villages once the ships have gone, and Oia at an hour when the main street is empty.

Prices are per vehicle rather than per person, hotel pickup anywhere on the island is included, we guide in twelve languages, and an 80 EUR deposit confirms a date.

See the personalised tour, the caldera tour, or contact us.