A Boat Trip to the Volcano and Hot Springs in Santorini

Of everything you can do in Santorini with kids, the one that wins every time is getting out on the water for the caldera boat cruise. It turns the island’s dramatic geology into an actual adventure, and children remember it long after the pretty villages blur together.

The boats leave from the old port below Fira and sail out into the middle of the caldera to Nea Kameni, the small, still smoking volcanic island at its heart. You walk up a barren, otherworldly trail to the rim of the crater, where steam hisses from the rocks and the ground is warm underfoot, and kids feel like proper explorers on the surface of the moon.

Then comes the best part. The boat anchors near the hot springs, where warm, rust colored volcanic water flows into a sheltered bay, and everyone swims from the boat into the mineral warmth. The water stains swimsuits a little, so wear an old one, but the swim is pure fun.

Many cruises add a stop at the Red Beach or a swim spot, and some finish with the sunset from the water, away from the Oia crowds. Choose a shorter tour with younger kids, bring hats, water and reef shoes for the rocky landing, and go early in the day before the wind picks up.

See the whole Santorini plan in Santorini With Kids, or Work with me to build your trip.