Nea Kameni
Nea Kameni is the uninhabited volcanic island in the centre of Santorini’s caldera, formed by successive eruptions after the great Minoan eruption, most recently in 1950, a 3.4-square-kilometre cone of black lava, red scoria and steaming sulphur vents. It rises to 127 metres with a crater you can walk up to, no vegetation except a few hardy shrubs, and smells faintly of sulphur, still active and monitored.
All visitors arrive by boat from Fira, Old Port or Athinios as part of the caldera cruise that also includes Palea Kameni and its hot springs, walking the switchback path over warm rocks to look back at the white walls of Fira and Oia perched 300 metres above. There are no inhabitants and no shade, just the sense of standing on one of the youngest lands in Greece, black rock still cooling under your feet.
The active volcano in the middle of Santorini’s caldera
Nea Kameni is a small, uninhabited island of volcanic origin in the middle of the Santorini caldera, the peak of a volcano. It was created in the 16th century during an eruption and is actually the lowest volcano in Europe because it rises only about 130 metres above sea level. It is nearly round with a diameter of approximately 2 kilometres and an area of 3.4 square kilometres, located in the central part of an 8-kilometre diameter flooded caldera.
The island and its neighbour Palea Kameni — the new and old burnt islands — have formed over the past two millennia by repeated eruptions of dacite lava and ash, with last eruptions in the 20th century between 1925 and 1950. Today it is monitored closely by scientists from the Institute for the Study and Monitoring of the Santorini Volcano and is a protected scientific site, with many vents including an active sulfur vent named Jorgo and a carpet of red grassy succulents on thin soil in summer. Admission to the island costs 5 euros.
This is for you if you want to hike a real crater, crunch across black lava and feel sulfur vents in the middle of the world’s most famous caldera. It is not for beach time or staying overnight — it’s a stark, treeless volcanic park.
How to get there & around
There is no ferry service to Nea Kameni on its own — you can only visit on a private or group tour that includes the volcano and hot springs. Tours depart daily from the New Port of Athinios with departures at 09:45 in the morning, and after just a 15-minute boat ride you arrive at the volcano bay where you stay for about 1 hour 30 minutes to hike the crater. Boats then continue to Palea Kameni for the hot springs where you can swim in thermal sulfurous waters, plus stops at Red Beach, White Beach or the lighthouse. On the island itself you move on foot on marked paths up to the crater rim; bring closed shoes, water and sun protection as there is no shade.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nea_Kameni | nearly round diameter approximately 2 kilometers area 3.4 km2 monitored closely scientists Institute Study Monitoring Santorini Volcano ISMOSAV protected scientific site many vents active sulfur vent named Jorgo carpet red grassy succulents thin soil summertime
- https://www.tripadvisor.co.za/Attraction_Review-g297738-d478103-Reviews-NEA_KAMENI-Santorini_Cyclades.html | Admission costs 5 euros small uninhabited island middle Santorini caldera created 16th century volcanic eruption peak volcano lowest volcano Europe rises only about 130 m above sea level almost round diameter approximately 2 km
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00445-019-1283-3 | last eruptions occurred 20th century between 1925 and 1950 volcanic island Nea Kameni located central part 8-km diameter flooded caldera formed after last explosive caldera-forming eruptive activity
- https://www.viator.com/en-AU/Santorini-tours/Day-Trips-from-Nea-Kameni/d959-g12-c531 | How can visitors get to Nea Kameni from main island Santorini have to visit private group tour visits volcano hot springs Red Beach White Beach Lighthouse Palea Kameni
- https://www.getyourguide.com/en-au/nea-kameni-hot-springs-l149048/ | tour departs daily New Port Santorini departures 09:45 morning After 15-minute boat ride arrive volcano bay stay approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
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Last Updated on August 30, 2026 by admin