Santorini Volcano (Nea Kameni)

The Santorini Volcano is the pair of volcanic islets in the middle of the caldera: Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni. Visitors land on Nea Kameni and walk a marked trail of about 2.5 km round trip to the summit craters, then usually swim at the warm springs off Palea Kameni. You can only get there by boat, the volcanic park charges a €5 entrance fee in cash, and a standard excursion takes half a day.

This trip is about geology, views and perspective more than comfort. You walk on dark lava and loose volcanic gravel, pass steaming vents near the summit, and look back at Fira, Imerovigli and Oia from the center of the basin instead of from the rim. If you want one excursion that explains why Santorini looks the way it does, this is it.

What you actually visit

When people say “the volcano,” they mean Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni (also spelled Palia or Palaia Kameni). Both are uninhabited. Nea Kameni is the larger islet and the one with the jetty, the ticket booth and the crater trail. Palea Kameni is smaller and older, and boats anchor in a bay on its shore so passengers can swim to the warm springs.

Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni at a glance

How the volcano formed

Santorini’s caldera took its present shape in the Late Bronze Age Minoan eruption around 1600 BC, when the center of the island collapsed into the sea. The Kameni islets are much younger. Eruptions inside the flooded caldera began in 197 BC, and Palea Kameni grew mainly during the eruption of AD 46–47.

Nea Kameni built up in stages. The 1570–1573 eruption created a small islet called Mikri Kameni, and the 1707–1711 eruption formed Nea Kameni proper, which later merged with it. The Georgios dome, the high point near the main crater at about 127 m above sea level, dates from 1866–1870. The most recent eruption, in 1950, added a small lava dome and flow. That is why the ground you walk on is so bare: most of it is only a few centuries old.

Is the Santorini volcano still active?

Yes, in the scientific sense. It is a live volcanic system that has not erupted since 1950, and it is monitored around the clock. In early 2025 an intense earthquake swarm between Santorini and Amorgos cut visitor numbers sharply. At a February 2026 briefing at the National Observatory of Athens, scientists described the 2025 crisis as a deep magma intrusion that did not rise toward the surface, and reported no signals pointing to an imminent eruption. Monitoring stations now operate on Santorini, Thirasia and Nea Kameni.

Greek Civil Protection also issued new access rules in April 2026 that stay in force until 31 March 2027 unless they are changed sooner. They include traffic controls at Athinios port, a restricted zone at the Old Port of Fira and the slopes above it (the cable car and the Fira to Old Port steps are not restricted), limits on vehicles on the road down to Ammoudi, and closure of the Ammoudi to Agios Nikolaos footpath. The authorities can tighten or lift these measures at short notice, so check the current situation with your tour operator before you go.

How to get there

You can only reach Nea Kameni by boat, and nearly everyone goes on an organized excursion. Budget trips on traditional wooden boats usually leave from Athinios port, while catamarans tend to sail from Vlychada Marina in the south or Ammoudi Bay below Oia. Some trips also use the Old Port of Fira. Because of the 2026 port restrictions, go to the meeting point your operator gives you, and allow extra time at Athinios when ferries or cruise ships are arriving.

Check the itinerary before you book. Wooden-boat volcano cruises dock at Nea Kameni so you can walk to the crater. Many catamaran cruises sail past the volcano and stop only for the hot springs swim, so they do not include the walk.

Our Santorini Volcano and Hot Springs Tour listing covers the classic version: a five-and-a-half-hour cruise run by Santorini Excursions (Dakoutros Bros) with the Nea Kameni walk, a swim at the Palea Kameni springs and free time on Thirasia. The indicative starting price was €37 per person when the listing was last updated in July 2026. Confirm the live price, and check whether the park fee is included, before you pay. To compare catamarans and private charters, see our guide to the best Santorini boat tours. For wine, food and sightseeing trips, see the best tours in Santorini.

What the walk is like

From the jetty, a marked gravel path climbs to the summit craters and loops back. It is about 2.5 km round trip with roughly 130 m of ascent, and takes about an hour at the pace tour groups move. None of it is technical, but the surface is loose volcanic stone, there is no shade, and the dark ground holds heat in summer. At the top you can see small fumaroles releasing steam and look straight across the water at the caldera villages.

Nea Kameni has no facilities, shops or water, so bring everything you need from the boat:

• Closed shoes with grip, not flip-flops or sandals
• At least 1 liter of water per person in summer
• A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
• Cash for the €5 entrance fee, ideally small notes or coins
• A dark swimsuit if your trip includes the hot springs

Stay on the marked path. The crust around the vents is thin and the fumaroles are hot, and walking off the trail also damages a protected geological site.

Entrance fee and tickets

The Nea Kameni Volcanic Park is managed by GEOTHIRA, a company owned by the Municipality of Thira. Under GEOTHIRA’s ticket rules for 2026, general admission is €5 per visitor wherever you buy it. You normally pay in cash at the booth when you land, and card payment is not something you can count on. Most boat tickets do not include the fee, so read what your booking covers.

GEOTHIRA also offers reduced and free tickets. Its published policy has given half-price entry to visitors over 65, students and children aged 5 to 18, and free entry to children up to 5, local residents of Thira and Thirasia, and people with a disability of more than 50%. Bring ID or the relevant card if you plan to claim a discount. The springs at Palea Kameni have no separate fee. GEOTHIRA’s office phone number is +30 22860 23021.

The Palea Kameni hot springs

The “hot springs” are a small bay on Palea Kameni where warm, iron-rich water seeps up from below and turns the sea a rusty orange. Tourism sources usually give the temperature as about 30–35°C, against roughly 20–25°C in the open caldera depending on the month. In practice it feels warm rather than hot. Boats anchor offshore and you swim the last stretch through cooler water, so this stop suits confident swimmers. The iron oxide can stain pale swimwear permanently, which is why crews recommend wearing something dark.

Who it suits best

The volcano trip suits first-time visitors, geology lovers, photographers and anyone who wants to see the caldera from inside rather than only from the cliff villages. It is less rewarding if you mostly want a relaxed day on the water. In that case a catamaran that skips the landing will probably suit you better. The walk also counts as one of the best hikes in Santorini, and the whole excursion is a good anchor for a first itinerary built from our list of the best things to do in Santorini.

Local tip: Treat the volcano as a half-day excursion, not a quick photo stop. It makes the most sense when you combine the boat ride, the Nea Kameni walk and the hot springs swim. From June to September, pick a morning departure so you reach the summit before the midday heat.

Frequently asked questions