Hot Springs
Hot Springs
3.5
About
These dark, reddish natural hot springs are found in a cove off the eastern side of the volcanic island Palea Kameni, and are believed to have healing and therapeutic properties for various ailments. Despite its name, the waters aren't technically "hot"—it is warmer during summer though, also when it's the busiest. The springs are usually part of Santorini boat tours exploring the caldera; depending on the type of tour you choose, you might have to swim a short distance from the boat to get to the springs. Remember to wear dark-colored or old swimwear as the iron and manganese in these warm sulfuric waters are known to leave an orange stain. – Tripadvisor
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3.5
309 reviews
Excellent
62
Very good
82
Average
100
Poor
38
Terrible
27
MonikaLuka123
Beijing, China18 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
Stunning place. We had a chance to visit and stay in Fira, visit Oia for a meal and sunset as well as take a boat trip around Santorini (volcano, hot springs and nearby village). Without the sun it was a bit cold. The food was nice and fresh in all the places we visited but the service sometimes was a bit rude.
Written 30 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
João B
1 contribution
July 2021 • Friends
The “hot springs” weren’t hot, nor beautiful. The water was as hot as everywhere else. The boat trip we took was with sunset oia (95€), it was nice because we were with friends, the food was very good and there was free wine. However, there was nothing to see here. The staff said that once upon a time the water was warm there, but not anymore for years. Also, the red beach and the white beach weren’t anything special or beautiful
Written 2 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David P
Washington DC, DC99 contributions
Oct 2022
I loved experiencing the hot springs. I admit I had never been in hot springs before, so I was startled by the quick change between warm and cold water temperatures. But once you're deep in the spring, it's mostly warm. The boat ride to the springs was fun too! Just note that depending on your tour, you may have to swim a bit to the springs from your boat.
Written 26 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melanie R
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Family
We went to the hot springs as part of a tour to the volcano followed by a swim in the hotsprings. As mentioned below, the water is luke warm at best and leaves a brown film on your body.
I would call the experience a quick swim in merky water at best. The boat that brought us on the tour was a nice though.
I would call the experience a quick swim in merky water at best. The boat that brought us on the tour was a nice though.
Written 15 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mairwen1
United Kingdom11,168 contributions
June 2023 • Couples
Jumping off our boat into the hot springs was a fun thing to do on our Santorini sunset cruise. Most cruises take you to the hot springs and stop for a while so you can swim.
The hot springs are just off the volcanic islands of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni, which were formed by a series of volcanic eruptions.
Don’t expect sauna-like conditions. The ‘hot’ springs are only slightly warmer than the normal water. We were there in June so it wasn’t very hot at all - I’ve had warmer baths.
It’s quite deep here so be aware that if you’re jumping off the back of a boat, you won’t be able to touch the bottom and you have to swim a little way out to the springs.
We were warned that the sulphur will turn white bathing costumes a pale shade of yellow. I could definitely see the darkly red, mineral-rich colour in the water but no-one on our boat had a white costume so no-one had any trouble with staining or marks on their swimwear. The only thing I noticed was that it left a faint sulphur smell, but that was hardly unexpected.
We were also warned that the water would affect silver jewellery but gold was OK.
There are some that swear by the medicinal properties and health benefits of swimming in thermal waters. I’m not sure I was convinced by this but either way, it was a novel and fun thing to do.
The hot springs are just off the volcanic islands of Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni, which were formed by a series of volcanic eruptions.
Don’t expect sauna-like conditions. The ‘hot’ springs are only slightly warmer than the normal water. We were there in June so it wasn’t very hot at all - I’ve had warmer baths.
It’s quite deep here so be aware that if you’re jumping off the back of a boat, you won’t be able to touch the bottom and you have to swim a little way out to the springs.
We were warned that the sulphur will turn white bathing costumes a pale shade of yellow. I could definitely see the darkly red, mineral-rich colour in the water but no-one on our boat had a white costume so no-one had any trouble with staining or marks on their swimwear. The only thing I noticed was that it left a faint sulphur smell, but that was hardly unexpected.
We were also warned that the water would affect silver jewellery but gold was OK.
There are some that swear by the medicinal properties and health benefits of swimming in thermal waters. I’m not sure I was convinced by this but either way, it was a novel and fun thing to do.
Written 22 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SamWorld
Kolkata (Calcutta), India1,891 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
Visited this place during our island tours... first of all you should know swimming... they dont provide any life jacket... there is nothing much to do... just a small kind of beach with many rocks around near valcano mountain.... you can skip this without any regrets...
Written 12 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dr_rp186534
Glasgow, UK16 contributions
May 2015 • Couples
When translated from Greek Tourist Board marketing speak into plain English the Hot Springs is an altogether different experience than you might imagine.
Hot = Luke Warm (26 degrees to be exact. Around the temperature of a bath you've been sitting in for too long).
Springs = Filthy Water (again, not dislike the colour of a bath you've been sitting in for too long... that is if you are prone to excreting in it and sitting there in your own filth, something I stopped doing after attending therapy for a childhood incident that i'd rather not go into).
As you swim from the clear blue ocean towards the 'Hot Springs' the first thing you notice is the stench. The smell is sulphur apparently but is more akin to that of my bathroom the morning after a meal at the local Indian Buffet (which I have to say offers fantastic value for money, but that's a story for another day). Then the water begins to turn murky brown and you notice what can only be described as floaters appearing with increasing frequency. These have to be dodged as you make your way towards the centre of the 'Springs'.
What I had imagined in my minds eye was a secluded spot with a collection of natural clear blue pools bubbling away in the summer sun. What I experienced was something more like an elephants watering hole, both in terms of the dark brown dirty water and the clientele, many of whom were overweight and had the battered-looking leathery skin of the aforementioned mammal.
Overall this is not an experience I'd recommend.
Hot = Luke Warm (26 degrees to be exact. Around the temperature of a bath you've been sitting in for too long).
Springs = Filthy Water (again, not dislike the colour of a bath you've been sitting in for too long... that is if you are prone to excreting in it and sitting there in your own filth, something I stopped doing after attending therapy for a childhood incident that i'd rather not go into).
As you swim from the clear blue ocean towards the 'Hot Springs' the first thing you notice is the stench. The smell is sulphur apparently but is more akin to that of my bathroom the morning after a meal at the local Indian Buffet (which I have to say offers fantastic value for money, but that's a story for another day). Then the water begins to turn murky brown and you notice what can only be described as floaters appearing with increasing frequency. These have to be dodged as you make your way towards the centre of the 'Springs'.
What I had imagined in my minds eye was a secluded spot with a collection of natural clear blue pools bubbling away in the summer sun. What I experienced was something more like an elephants watering hole, both in terms of the dark brown dirty water and the clientele, many of whom were overweight and had the battered-looking leathery skin of the aforementioned mammal.
Overall this is not an experience I'd recommend.
Written 19 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
roamifiwant2
miami beach179 contributions
Oct 2017 • Friends
This was a stop during a half day catamaran tour. We were there late Oct. The water was very cold!!! I almost didn’t do it. Thank goodness I realized soon enough (the boat stopped for 30 mins only) that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to swim in a volcano.
The water gets gradually warmer as you swim closer to the spring. There’s brown yucky stuff floating around. It’s sulphur, and it gets worst as you get closer. Once there, there’s sulphur yuck floating all around and covering the rocks, making them very slippery. It’s a bit disgusting. One must have a true spirit of adventure! Once there, there is nothing to do, really.
The catamaran crew members did not warn us that the sulphur will tarnish white gold jewelry. My engagement ring turned a little yellow. A fellow passenger’s wedding band tarnished completely. So please remove your jewelry before jumping in the water.
Expect to get water hosed after climbing back on board. the crew did not informed this before we began our swim. I found it very rude and unprofessional, but I understand the need to remove the sulphur to maintain the boat clean and in good shape.
I do recommend this activity, but make sure you’re OK to swim in cold water.
The water gets gradually warmer as you swim closer to the spring. There’s brown yucky stuff floating around. It’s sulphur, and it gets worst as you get closer. Once there, there’s sulphur yuck floating all around and covering the rocks, making them very slippery. It’s a bit disgusting. One must have a true spirit of adventure! Once there, there is nothing to do, really.
The catamaran crew members did not warn us that the sulphur will tarnish white gold jewelry. My engagement ring turned a little yellow. A fellow passenger’s wedding band tarnished completely. So please remove your jewelry before jumping in the water.
Expect to get water hosed after climbing back on board. the crew did not informed this before we began our swim. I found it very rude and unprofessional, but I understand the need to remove the sulphur to maintain the boat clean and in good shape.
I do recommend this activity, but make sure you’re OK to swim in cold water.
Written 22 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FitzroyCathy
23 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
In Santorini during early winter we weren’t sure if this tour was operating - we read somewhere that a boat left the old port at 11am and thought we’d just rock up and wing it. We gunned it down the nearly 600 steps to find the boat about to take off - the guy leading the cruise had literally closed the boat door and we ran up and asked if we could join. We had no tickets - he very nicely and calmly said to the skipper to wait while he signed us up. Fortunately there was one other late person so in the end we didn’t feel too bad about holding everybody up for a few minutes. We arrived at the volcano about 20mins later and had an hour and 10 minutes which was just perfect. Enough time to get up to the highest point, take lots of pics, see the steam coming out of the ground, explore the trails etc. we then re-boarded and headed for the hot springs where a few punters jumped off the boat and paddled around before heading back into the old port. A great few hours but top marks to the guy running the cruise (3/12/19) - didn’t catch his name. Very calm, friendly and caring. He put an arm out for everyone boarding to make sure they had a steady hand. He asked all swimmers about their confidence levels and gave the unsure swimmer a noodle. He kept a very watchful eye over everyone. Very very nice person and well operated. Had a great time!
Written 3 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
antigravity
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK7 contributions
Sept 2018 • Couples
The water is not hot. Not sure if the slightly warm patches are the 'hot springs' or simply just the result of hundreds of tourists that are ferried in every 10 mins taking a wee in the water.
Written 26 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How deep is the sea from where one need to swim to reach the hot springs in caldera santorini?
Written 20 October 2018
You defenitely can't reach the ground, but you get to swim for maybe 5 metres from the boat towards the shore and it gets shallow very quickly. The water is up to your hips.
Written 20 October 2018
limorf2018
Kefar Sava, Israel
רציתי לדעת כמה זמן הפלגה מפירה
לכמה זמן השייט ומה העלות
תודה
Written 5 June 2018
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