The best Santorini day trips range from a caldera cruise to the active volcano and hot springs to the quiet island of Thirassia, and ferry day trips to nearby Ios and Naxos. There is plenty to explore beyond the main island. This guide covers the top excursions, the islands and how to plan a day trip from Santorini.
Day trips add variety to a stay, a rewarding part of the wider Santorini travel guide. The caldera and nearby Cyclades beckon. The sections below cover the options.
What is the best day trip from Santorini?
The best day trip from Santorini is a caldera boat cruise to the active volcano of Nea Kameni and the warm hot springs, often combined with the cliffs of Thirassia and a sunset over Oia. It is the classic Santorini excursion, putting you on the water at the heart of the caldera.
The signature day trip from Santorini takes to the water. A caldera cruise sails across the flooded crater to the dark volcanic islet of Nea Kameni, where a short hike climbs to the steaming craters, then to the warm, iron-rich hot springs of Palea Kameni for a swim, often continuing to the quiet island of Thirassia and finishing with the famous sunset viewed from the sea off Oia. Available as budget-friendly group boats or relaxed catamaran cruises, it is the must-do excursion, showing the island’s volcanic heart from the best vantage of all, the water, set within the wider Santorini boat tours. The volcano is the highlight.
What is the volcano and hot springs trip?
The volcano and hot springs trip is a half-day caldera cruise to Nea Kameni, where you hike about 20 minutes up to the craters, then swim in the warm hot springs at Palea Kameni. Costing around 20 to 40 euros for the basic boat, it is a fun, active outing popular with families.
The volcano and hot springs make a classic half-day on the water. Boats leave from the Old Port below Fira and head out to Nea Kameni, the bare, brown-black islet at the centre of the caldera, where a marked path of volcanic gravel climbs about twenty minutes to the crater area among rising sulphur fumes. The cruise then anchors off Palea Kameni so you can swim in to the warm, rust-coloured volcanic springs. The basic group tour costs around 20 to 40 euros and lasts three to four hours, while catamaran versions add swimming stops and comfort. It is a memorable, active trip and a hit with children, set out alongside the guide to the Santorini volcano. Thirassia offers a quiet escape.
Can you day trip to Thirassia?
You can day trip to Thirassia, Santorini’s quiet sister island across the caldera, by small ferry from Ammoudi Bay below Oia or the Old Port, a 10 to 15 minute crossing. It is the finest way to leave the crowds behind, with the clifftop village of Manolas, old churches, trails and seaside tavernas.
Thirassia is the perfect antidote to Santorini’s crowds. The small island just across the flooded caldera, once part of the same landmass, is home to only around 270 people and has stayed almost untouched by tourism. A day trip there, by the small public ferry from Ammoudi Bay below Oia or from the Old Port, takes only 10 to 15 minutes to reach the port of Riva, from where steps climb to the peaceful clifftop village of Manolas with its traditional houses, sweeping views back to Oia and seaside tavernas. Many caldera cruises also stop at Thirassia for lunch. Check the limited ferry times carefully, set out alongside the guide to Thirassia. Other Cyclades islands are within reach.
What about ferry day trips to other islands?
You can take ferry day trips from Santorini to nearby Cyclades islands, most easily to Ios, just 35 to 60 minutes away, with its beaches and Chora, and to Naxos, around 1.5 to 2.5 hours, with its beaches, town and mountain villages. Check return ferry times to make the day work.
Santorini’s position in the Cyclades opens up several island day trips by fast ferry. The closest and easiest is Ios, just 35 to 60 minutes away by high-speed boat, known for its golden beaches and its hilltop Chora of white lanes, bougainvillea and 365 churches, lively in peak season but relaxed in the shoulder months. A little further, around 1.5 to 2.5 hours, lies Naxos, the largest Cyclades island, with superb sandy beaches, an atmospheric old town and castle, and mountain villages, a rewarding contrast to volcanic Santorini. The key with any ferry day trip is to check the outbound and return times carefully, as schedules are limited, set out alongside the guides to the Santorini to Ios ferry and Santorini to Naxos ferry. Land tours are easy too.
How do you plan a day trip?
You plan a day trip by booking boat cruises and tours ahead in summer, checking ferry times for island day trips, and considering a guided private tour to cover several land sights in a day. The caldera cruise is the standout; island ferries suit those with more time and a flexible plan.
A little planning makes day trips smooth and rewarding. For the boat excursions, the caldera, volcano and sunset cruises, book ahead from June to September, especially for the smaller catamaran and sunset trips that sell out. For island day trips to Ios, Naxos or Thirassia, the crucial step is checking the ferry timetable in both directions, since limited sailings can make or break the day. On land, a guided private tour or excursion is an efficient way to combine several of the island’s own highlights, such as Akrotiri, a winery, the villages and a beach, in a single day with a driver and local insight, set out alongside the guides to Santorini private tours and a Santorini itinerary. The questions below cover the points travellers ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best day trip from Santorini?
The best day trip is a caldera boat cruise to the active volcano of Nea Kameni and the warm hot springs, often combined with the island of Thirassia and a sunset over Oia. It is the classic Santorini excursion, available as group boats or relaxed catamaran cruises.
Can you take a day trip to another island from Santorini?
You can day trip by fast ferry to nearby Cyclades islands, most easily Ios, just 35 to 60 minutes away, and Naxos, around 1.5 to 2.5 hours, as well as the quiet sister island of Thirassia just across the caldera. Check the return ferry times carefully to make the day work.
How long is the Santorini volcano day trip?
The basic Santorini volcano and hot springs boat trip lasts about three to four hours, hiking up Nea Kameni’s craters and swimming in the warm springs at Palea Kameni, for around 20 to 40 euros. Longer cruises adding Thirassia or the sunset take five hours or more.