Santorini / The verdict
Is the Santorini volcano and hot springs tour worth it?
Depends on what you want from it: the crater walk is the draw, and the springs are a swim from the anchored boat that one logged report found cold.
By The Real Traveler Experiences team. We earn a commission if you book through our links. It never changes a verdict.
The Santorini story
Santorini is the caldera. Everything the island is famous for sits on the rim of a drowned volcano: the white villages of Oia and Imerovigli pinned to the cliff edge, cruise ships anchored in the crater, a sunset that packs the lanes every evening. The view is that good, the cave-house architecture is unlike anywhere else in Greece, and behind the rim sits a quieter agricultural side most visitors never reach.
The verdict in 30 seconds
It depends
Depends on what you want from it: the crater walk is the draw, and the springs are a swim from the anchored boat that one logged report found cold.
Go if
- You want to walk a volcanic crater rim on a short boat trip: the operator lists 1 hour 30 minutes at the volcano
- You are a strong open-water swimmer: the operator says the boat stops about 30 to 40 meters from the thermal water
- You have limited time: the operator lists the whole tour at 3 hours, with departures at 11:00 or 14:30
Skip if
- You expect a hot bath: one logged report found the water cold on entering and not hot
- You are not a strong swimmer: the operator says only strong, skilled swimmers should swim at the springs
- You cannot manage a moderate walk on uneven ground: the operator describes the hike as moderate walking
What it costs
- Volcano and hot springs boat tour, adult: €25 (From-price on the operating company's own page; the volcano entrance fee is excluded). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Nea Kameni crater admission: €5 (Set by the municipal park company Geothira and paid at the entrance; official page could not be loaded on 2026-10-13; price as last confirmed). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Cable car Fira to Old Port, one way: €10 (General admission, non-refundable; the steps down are the free alternative). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
What travelers report
Based on 2 traveler reports (Apr 2025 to Sep 2025) and the official sources linked on this page. 0 were negative.
What people like
- One logged report finished the roughly hour-long gravel hike despite chronic back pain, saw a sulfur vent, walked the full crater rim and called it an accomplishment.
- One logged report was impressed by the caldera scenery around the springs, even though the water disappointed.
What people complain about
- One logged report says the springs are not hot and a companion called the water cold on jumping in from the boat.
- One logged report warns that the iron-rich water can stain light swimsuits.
- One logged report found the idea of the hour-long hike daunting beforehand.
How to do it right
- Pick the shared boat trip from Fira's Old Port; the operator lists it at 3 hours with departures at 11:00 or 14:30.
- Reach the Old Port by cable car or the 600 steps (the operator estimates about 30 minutes down) and arrive at least 45 minutes before departure.
- Have the 5 EUR crater admission ready to pay at the entrance; the operator lists it as excluded from the fare.
- Wear comfortable shoes and bring a sun hat and water for the hike, as the operator advises.
- Swim to the springs only if you are a strong swimmer, and wear dark swimwear because the water can stain light fabric.
The trap to avoid
Expecting a hot bath. One logged report found the water cold on entering, and the operator says guests swim about 30 to 40 meters from the boat to reach the thermal water. Plan the day around the crater walk.
What to do instead
Why this verdict
The evidence log is thin for this tour: two first-person reports, both blogs, both from 2025. Treat the verdict as provisional. Within that limit, the reports split along the same line as the operator’s own itinerary, which gives 1 hour 30 minutes at the volcano and 30 minutes of swimming at the springs.
The volcano half earns the praise. One traveler took the short boat ride from the Old Port and did the roughly hour-long hike up a gravel path despite chronic back pain. She saw fumes rising from a sulfur vent, walked the full rim with views back to Fira and Oia, and called finishing it an accomplishment, even though the idea of the hike had scared her beforehand. The operator describes the hike as moderate walking, so the effort is real, though that report suggests a hesitant walker can manage it.
The springs half is where expectations slip. The other report opens with a warning that the water is not hot and notes a companion calling it cold after jumping in from the boat; the writer liked the caldera scenery but not the water. The operator publishes no water temperature, and says only strong, skilled swimmers should go in because the boat stops about 30 to 40 meters from the thermal water. That report also warns that light swimwear can stain, and the operator advises dark swimwear too.
That mix is why the verdict is depends. If you want a short boat trip with a volcanic walk, the from-price of 25 EUR on the operator’s page, plus 5 EUR for the crater and the cable car or the steps at the Old Port, covers the day. If the hot springs are your reason to book, the reports give you cause to lower your expectations.
Timing and tickets
The operator lists two departures from the Old Port, 11:00 and 14:30, and asks guests to arrive at least 45 minutes early. The crater admission is paid at the entrance and is excluded from the fare. Check the operator’s page for the current schedule before you plan the day around it.
Book or check times
Boat company tour page with itinerary and from-priceSantorini cable car price listVisit Greece Santorini destination page
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Where to stay
Staying in Santorini?
Which area of Santorini to stay in, based on traveler reports. Search Santorini hotels on Expedia partner site
Questions
How much does the volcano and hot springs tour cost?
The operating company lists the boat trip from 25 EUR per adult. The 5 EUR crater admission is extra, and the cable car down to the Old Port is 10 EUR one way on its official 2026 price list, or you can take the steps.
Is the hot springs water actually hot?
Not reliably. One logged report found it not hot, and a companion called the water cold on jumping in from the boat. The operator does not publish a water temperature.
Do I have to hike the volcano?
No. The operator says the 5 EUR fee applies if you decide to visit the volcano. It lists 1 hour 30 minutes at the volcano and describes the hike as moderate walking.
How long is the tour and when does it leave?
The operator lists 3 hours in total, with 30 minutes of swimming time at the springs. Departures from the Old Port are at 11:00 or 14:30, and it asks guests to arrive at least 45 minutes early.
Pack for it
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