Hot Springs in Greece

Greece is a perfect destination for any kind of vacation. Magnificent beaches, beautiful islands, crystal lakes, and rolling mountains are just part of the natural beauty you can find in Greece.

The number of hot springs and thermal basins in Greece exceeds seven hundred. Tourists and locals use the natural thermal lakes and pools for bathing, while some even drink their mineral water. It is believed that the thermal hot spring water has rejuvenating and regenerating properties.

Let’s have a look at the most popular hot springs in Greece, where they are located, and what visitors can expect.

Hot Springs in Greece

The Greek hot springs and thermal lakes date from ancient times. For thousands of years, people used hot thermal water to relax, regenerate, and rejuvenate. People believed that the thermal water was miraculous as it healed the bodies after a tough battle or hard work.

The ancient Greeks were fascinated by furthering medicine. Hippocrates, the most popular and celebrated physician in ancient times, spent a lot of time studying the therapeutic properties of hot springs and their thermal water.

Greece abounds with thermal baths and hot springs scattered throughout its territory. The most popular area is Aedipsos, a town in central Greece with around eighty thermal springs. The waters of these thermal springs have temperatures ranging from 82°F and going up to 176°F.

The healing properties of Greek’s hot spring waters date from ancient times. The sulfur and other mineral content have a beneficial impact on treating skin diseases and relieving muscular pain.

Another unique feature about the hot springs in Greece is that you can find semi-thermal sea waters at some beaches. These thermal waters are hot springs that flow into the sea.

Greece Hot Spring Regions

Islands

Greek islands are mainly mountainous and have active or inactive volcanoes that heat the underground water and cause it to rise on the surface, forming thermal baths. There are numerous thermal pools on the Greek islands, but we decided to select the most popular of them.

Hot spring name	Region	Location
Thermal Springs of Alykes	Kanava Island	Thermal Springs of Alykes
Nea Kameni Hot Springs	Santorini Island	Nea Kameni Hot Springs
Therma Loumakia	Ikaria Island	Therma Loumakia Recommended Public Hot Spring
Eftalou Hot Springs	Lesvos Island	Hot Springs EFTALOU
Thermes Gera Hot Springs	Lesvos Island	Thermes Gera Hot Springs

Central Greece

Central Greece has numerous mountains and water areas, including hot springs. Part of the hot springs in the central region are natural thermal pools available to everyone, while the other part is within hotel complexes.

Here, we chose some of the most attractive hot springs that are free of cost and available year-round.

Hot spring name	Region	Location
Thermal Baths Loutra Edipsou	Edipsou	Thermal Baths
Roman Emperor Sylla’s Spa Cave	Edipsou	Roman Emperor Sylla’s Spa Cave
Ypati Thermal Springs	Lamia	Ypati Thermal Springs
Lake Vouliagmeni	Vouliagmeni	Lake Vouliagmeni
Kouniaviti Thermal Baths	Kamena Vourla	Kouniaviti thermal baths (beauty baths)
Kokkino Nero Thermal Spring	Platia Ammos	Ιαματικά Λουτρά Κόκκινου Νερού

Peloponnese

Peloponnese is the region with the smallest number of hot springs you can visit.

Hot spring name	Region	Location
Orea Eleni	Agias Foivis	Orea Eleni Natural Thermal Spring
Kaiafas Thermal Springs	Zacharo	Kaiafas Thermal Springs
Radon Thermal Spring	Near Methana	Radon thermal spring.

Northern Greece

Northern Greece is the richest thermal water region. There, you can find hundreds of discovered thermal pools and basins that nature created itself, as well as hotel complexes with multiple hot spring water basins.

Some of the northern Greece hot springs are near rivers, meaning you can enjoy the hot spring water as well as the cold waterfall from the river. It is believed that the drastic water temperature change improves blood flow, circulation, and cardiovascular health and reduces pain.

Hot spring name	Region	Location
Lagada Baths	Loutron	Lagada baths
Loutra Pozar Thermal Baths	Loutraki	Pozar Thermal Baths
Sidirokastro Baths	On Struma River	Sidirokastro baths
Krinides mud baths	Near Kavala	Krinides Mud Baths
Thermal Spa Agia Paraskevi	Halkidiki	Thermal Spa Agia Paraskevi

The Most Popular Hot Springs in Greece

Kaiafas Thermal Springs

Kaiafas Thermal Springs are located in a cave. The water of these springs is rich in minerals (sulfur and calcium) and has therapeutic effects that relax and refresh the body. The water temperature of the Kaiafas lagoon ranges from 89°F to 93°F.

This thermal bath is located in the municipality of Zacharo, a quiet and tranquil place on the Peloponnese.

There is an ancient story about this thermal basin. It is believed that the Centaur Nessus washed the wounds here caused by Hercules’s arrows. The water helped him recover faster and return to the battlefield.

Loutra Pozar

Loutra Pozar thermal baths are located on Kaimaktsalan mountain in the Pella region. These baths are the most popular and most visited baths in Greece. What we like the most about Loutra Pozar baths is the availability to bathe in natural basins and basins within the hotel complex.

The natural basins are located next to a river with cold waterfalls and have free access. The access to other pools within the complex is only 2€, slightly more than $2.

The water temperature reaches 99°F and has therapeutic effects. These thermal baths are recommended for people with cardiocirculatory, rheumatic, dermatological, respiratory, and gynecological conditions.

Kokkino Nero Thermal Spring

Kokkino Nero (Greek – “red water”) are thermal baths with red water, according to which they received their name.

The water in these springs is cold, HCO3-CA-MG-CO2 hypotonic water (better known as Sodium Bicarbonate) and has a beneficial impact on people with gastrointestinal and urinary system issues. The water from these springs is suitable for drinking.

Types of Hot Springs in Greece

Geothermal Hot Springs

Greece is a mountainous country (80% of its territory) and has six volcanoes. Three of them are inactive, while the other three are considered to still be active. Geothermal hot springs are common in active volcanic areas, which is why Greece has so many geothermal baths and springs on the mountains and hills.

The geothermal hot springs water is heated by the Earth’s interior, or when it gets in touch with the magma’s hotspot. In these hot springs and thermal basins, the water might reach over 50°C on the surface.

The most popular geothermal hot springs in Greece are located on Ikaria island and Santorini.

Coastal Hot Springs

There are numerous coastal and semi-thermal hot springs in Greece. This means you can enjoy both warm thermal water and the sea at the same time. Many of the coastal thermal baths in Greece are located on islands and are generally close to the beach.

Some of the most famous Greek coastal hot springs are:

• Therma Beach on Kos Island
• Hot Spring Agiou Georgiou (St. George) on Halkidiki
• Kallithea Springs on Rhodes Island
• Nea Kameni – Volcanic hot springs of Santorini Island
• Thermal Spa Agia Paraskevi – Kassandra Halkidiki
• Therma Loutra Edipsou – thermal baths in Edipsos
• Thermes Gera on Lesvos Island
• Hot Spring Ilion – Edipsos

Thermal Lakes

Certain hot springs found their way into the “middle of nowhere” and formed thermal lakes. The thermal lakes in Greece have incredibly clear water, and some even have turquoise color and look like lagoons.

Some thermal lakes in Greece have an unusual smell because of the high sulfur content. However, you can easily adapt to the smell and enjoy the natural therapy under the open sky, knowing the minerals will work on improving your skin and overall body condition.

• Vouliagmeni lake
• Orea Eleni in Peloponnese
• Thermal Springs of Alykes
• Kaiafas Thermal Springs – Zacharo
• Methana lake in Vromolimni
• Kamena Vourla – Fthiotida
• Kyllini baths