From Old Port:Volcanic Islands Boat Trip & Hot Spring Visit

Nea Kameni is the real star here: a rough volcanic island where you can walk up to Santorini’s active craters, then return to the sea for a swim near Palea Kameni. I like the short boat ride and the unusual mix of geology, views, and bathing in one compact outing. I also like the generous 90 minutes at the volcano, which gives you time to walk rather than simply snap a photo from the deck.

The catch is the final bill. The advertised $35 does not include the €5 volcano entry fee or the cable car, which costs €10 each way. The hot water can also be only mildly warm, and reaching the bathing area requires a long swim, so this is not a good choice for weak swimmers.

Key points to know before booking

• The Old Port sits below Fira: Reach it by a three-minute cable car ride or by walking down 587 steps.
• Nea Kameni gets the most time: You have about 90 minutes to hike toward the active craters.
• The hot springs are seasonal: Water temperature varies and may feel only slightly warmer than the sea.
• The swim is not short: You must swim a considerable distance to reach the warm-water area.
• The price is not all-inclusive: Add the €5 volcano fee, cable car costs, and your own towel.
• Two daily departures help: Choose 11:00 or 14:15, depending on your plans and preferred light.

A boat trip built around Santorini’s volcanic core

This three-hour excursion gives you a close look at the forces that shaped Santorini. From the Old Port, you travel by boat across the caldera to Nea Kameni, a dark, bare island formed by volcanic eruptions. The outing then continues to Palea Kameni, where warm mineral water enters a small bay near Agios Nikolaos.

I like this trip because it gets you away from Fira’s cliffside streets without taking up a whole day. You are not spending hours on a bus or waiting around at several stops. Instead, the schedule is simple: about 15 minutes by boat to the volcano, 90 minutes on Nea Kameni, 30 minutes at the hot springs, then the return to Fira.

The experience is best understood as a nature trip, not a luxury cruise. The boat is transportation and a viewing platform, while the real activities happen on foot and in the water. Bring sensible shoes, swimwear, and a towel. You will also want sun protection, since the supplied information does not describe much shade at the volcanic site.

Getting down to the Old Port below Fira

Your day begins at Santorini’s Old Harbor, also called Gialos, directly below Fira. The meeting point is the Santo Star travel office at the port, where you collect your ticket and receive final boarding instructions.

Getting there takes more planning than the short cable car ride suggests. The cable car trip takes about three minutes and costs €10 per person each way. That means a round trip adds €20 to your outing. You can also walk down 587 steps, with views of the caldera and cliffside cave houses along the way, but the descent is steep and the climb back can be demanding.

There is an important practical point here. The steps may not always be available for the return, as one booking experience found when a customer planned to walk back up. If you want the least uncertainty, budget for the cable car in both directions. The cable car cost is separate from the tour, and it is one of the main reasons the final price can feel much higher than the headline fare.

The port itself is small and sits under tall volcanic cliffs. Allow enough time to make the descent without rushing. You need to be at the Santo Star office before departure, and the boat cannot wait while you are still on the steps or in the cable car line.

The short crossing to Nea Kameni

Once aboard, the ride to the volcano takes about 15 minutes. This is a useful introduction to the caldera because you see Santorini from the water, with the cliffs rising behind you and the volcanic islands ahead.

The boat ride has been one of the more praised parts of the outing, and it is easy to understand why. The crossing is long enough to provide open-water views but short enough that most of your time remains at the actual sites. If you are sensitive to motion, sit where the boat feels most stable and keep in mind that the route is still a sea trip, not a land-based excursion.

The guide speaks English and gives information before boarding. The supplied details do not provide a guide’s name, and you should not expect a private guide assigned just to your group. This is a scheduled excursion with a live English guide.

Hiking Nea Kameni’s active craters

Nea Kameni is the most distinctive part of the experience. The island is volcanic, dry, and rugged, with a trail leading uphill toward its craters. You have about 90 minutes here, enough time to follow the path, stop for photographs, and look across the caldera from higher ground.

The word active matters, but it does not mean you are walking through a dramatic eruption. The interest comes from seeing volcanic ground and crater formations at close range. The island itself is stark rather than pretty in the usual Greek-island sense. Its appeal is geological: you are looking at the material and shapes created by eruptions over time.

Wear shoes with a firm sole. The information provided does not describe the trail surface in detail, but a hike to the top of a volcanic island calls for more support than flip-flops. The 90-minute stop also makes this more than a quick photo call. You should be ready to walk uphill and spend time in exposed conditions.

The views are a strong reason to make the climb. From the higher parts of Nea Kameni, you can look back toward Santorini’s caldera cliffs and the white buildings above them. The view gives context to the island’s shape: the steep cliffs and scattered volcanic islands are not separate scenery, but parts of one enormous volcanic setting.

Still, keep your expectations measured. This is not a polished park with elaborate visitor facilities or a long network of paths. One assessment found the hike and views more impressive than the volcano itself. That is fair. The reward is the combination of place, geology, and outlook, not a spectacular crater show.

The €5 volcano entrance fee is extra. It is small compared with the full cost of the day, but it should be part of your budget from the start.

Palea Kameni and the swim to the warm water

After Nea Kameni, the boat heads to Palea Kameni and the small bay of Agios Nikolaos. The boat stays for about 30 minutes, giving you the chance to swim toward the thermal water and mud baths formed by volcanic activity.

This stop needs a clear warning. You must be a strong, capable swimmer to take part because the swim to shore is long. The boat does not simply place you beside a shallow pool where you can step in and stand. If you are not confident in open water, stay aboard and enjoy the setting from the boat.

The water temperature changes with the season. It is generally warmer than the surrounding sea, but it is not guaranteed to feel hot. In late autumn, it may be less tempting to swim, and even during warmer months the springs can seem only mildly warm. A recent booking experience specifically found that the water was not actually hot. That is not necessarily a failure of the excursion, since temperature varies, but it is an important correction to the phrase hot springs.

The mud bath adds a slightly rough-and-ready quality. This is not a spa treatment with changing rooms, towels, or attendants. You are swimming in a volcanic bay, and you need to bring your own towel. The tour does not include towels.

The 30-minute stop is short, especially once you allow time to get into the water and swim out. You should not book this expecting a long, lazy soak. Think of it as a quick volcanic swim that breaks up the walking portion of the trip.

What the timing means for your day

There are two departures, at 11:00 in the morning and 14:15 in the afternoon. Both follow the same basic plan, with three hours on the water and at the islands.

The morning departure leaves more of the day open afterward. It can work well if you want time for Fira, another meal, or a second activity later. The afternoon departure may suit you if you prefer a slower morning, but the return could take you into the later part of the day.

The schedule also affects how the water feels. The supplied information does not promise a particular temperature for either departure, and the springs vary by season. Choose based on your wider plans rather than assuming one departure will guarantee warmer water.

The boat stays about 90 minutes at Nea Kameni and 30 minutes at Palea Kameni. Those fixed periods give the trip a clear rhythm, but they leave little room to extend either stop. If you are a keen hiker, you may want every minute on Nea Kameni. If you are mainly interested in swimming, the half-hour at Palea Kameni may feel brief.

The true cost of the $35 experience

At $35 per person, the boat trip looks like a low-cost way to see Santorini’s volcanic islands. The basic fare covers the boat excursion, the visit to the volcano for about 90 minutes, and the 30-minute swim stop.

Your actual outing costs more. Add the €5 entrance fee for Nea Kameni. Then add the cable car at €10 each way if you do not want to use the steps. A round-trip cable car adds €20 per person, and that can bring the total much closer to €55 before food, drinks, or other extras.

This is not a reason to reject the tour. It is a reason to compare the advertised fare with the amount you will really spend. The value is strongest if you already plan to visit the Old Port and are comfortable paying for the cable car. It is less attractive if you see the $35 figure as the complete cost of the outing.

I appreciate the free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the option to reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Santorini schedule is still changing. They do not remove the need to check the departure time and allow enough time to reach the port.

Who will enjoy this Santorini excursion

I would recommend this trip to you if you want a short, active introduction to Santorini’s volcanic setting. It suits people who enjoy a moderate walk, open-water scenery, and unusual natural sites more than polished attractions.

It is also a good match if you have only part of a day available. The excursion does not require a full-day commitment, and the route keeps the focus on two clear stops.

You may want to skip it if you dislike steep steps, uphill walking, or swimming in open water. The route to the Old Port can be tiring before the boat even leaves, and the hot-spring swim is not suitable for weak swimmers.

I would also think twice if your main goal is a genuinely hot bath. The water can be warmer than the sea, but the temperature changes by season and may disappoint you. Treat the swim as a volcanic-water stop, not a guaranteed hot spa.

The experience has a rating of 4.4 from 195 ratings, which fits the overall picture: the boat ride and the two activities are appealing, but the extra costs, swim distance, and variable water temperature need to be understood.

Should you book the Nea Kameni boat trip?

Book it if you want good value in time, not necessarily a fully inclusive price. The volcano hike is the strongest part, and the boat provides an easy way to reach scenery that is difficult to experience from Fira alone.

Before booking, add the €5 volcano fee and cable car cost to your budget. Bring a towel, wear sturdy shoes, and only swim if you are strong and comfortable covering a long distance. If you accept those conditions, this is a practical, compact way to see Santorini’s volcanic side.

FAQ

Where does the boat trip depart from?

It departs from Santorini’s Old Port, also called Gialos, below Fira.

How do I reach the Old Port?

You can take the cable car from Fira, which takes about three minutes, or walk down 587 steps.

How much does the cable car cost?

The cable car costs €10 per person each way and is not included in the tour price.

What time does the tour depart?

Daily departures are scheduled for 11:00 and 14:15.

How long is the full excursion?

The excursion lasts about three hours.

How long do you stay at Nea Kameni?

You have approximately one hour and 30 minutes at the volcano.

Is there a volcano entrance fee?

Yes. The €5 entrance fee is not included in the tour price.

How long is the hot-spring stop?

The boat remains near Palea Kameni for about 30 minutes.

Do I need to be a strong swimmer?

Yes, if you plan to swim to the warm-water area. The distance to shore is long, and the swim is intended for strong, skilled swimmers.

Are towels included?

No. You need to bring your own towel.