What to wear on a santorini boat tour comes down to clothes you don’t mind getting salty, sandy, or faintly sulfur stained, plus a few small things most packing guides skip. Here’s what I’d actually do: pack like you’re going swimming three separate times, not once, since nearly every boat on this route stops at a beach, a second beach, and the hot springs in the same afternoon.
I’m grounding this in what the boats themselves actually hand you and what they leave out, not a generic beach vacation list. Some cruises supply towels and wind jackets, others hand you nothing but a safety briefing, so what you pack genuinely changes depending on which boat you’ve booked. If seasickness is more on your mind than packing, my safety and seasickness page covers that separately.
Ready to see prices? Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise, from $122.4 See times What Should You Wear Under Your Clothes?
Swimwear, worn from the start, is the one non negotiable here. Every product on this route stops at least once for swimming, usually twice, and changing on a moving boat with other passengers around is awkward at best. I’d wear it under whatever you’re traveling in and skip the need to find a bathroom stop entirely.
I’d specifically pack a darker colored swimsuit rather than a light one. The hot springs near Palea Kameni run through sulfur rich volcanic vents, and that mineral water will tint pale fabric with a faint yellow or brown cast that doesn’t always wash out.
Do You Need a Change of Clothes?
Yes, and I’d treat this as mandatory rather than optional. After the hot springs stop, you’ll smell faintly of sulfur and your swimwear may carry a slight stain, so a dry top and shorts for the ride home make a real difference. Several listings mention this directly as a reason to pack old clothes you don’t mind sacrificing to the volcanic water.
My honest take: I’d pack the change of clothes in a dedicated plastic bag separate from everything else in your day bag, since a damp swimsuit touching your phone or wallet is a bad combination on a rocking boat.
Want a closer look? Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise, from $122.4 See timesWhat Shoes Should You Bring?
This depends entirely on which stop matters most to you. For the volcano hike at Nea Kameni, I’d wear closed, sturdy shoes with real grip, since the crater path is loose, uneven volcanic rock with no railings and no guide checking in on you. Flip flops are genuinely a bad idea here.
For the hot springs swim, you may step off the boat into shallow water rather than a clean dock, so shoes you don’t mind getting wet, or water shoes specifically, beat anything you care about keeping dry. My full breakdown of the terrain and why the hike is unguided lives on the volcano hike page.
Short on time? Santorini Dream Catcher Sailing Cruise, from $139.09 See timesIs Sunscreen Different Here Than on a Beach Trip?
A little, yes. I’d pack reef safe sunscreen in cream form rather than spray, since at least one popular small-group cruise explicitly bans aerosol cans onboard. Cream also survives a breezy open deck better than a spray that mostly blows away before it lands on your skin.
I’d reapply more often than you think you need to. There’s no shade once you’re in the water at any of the swim stops, and the reflection off open sea intensifies the sun more than a shaded beach chair ever does.
Should You Bring Your Own Towel?
Check your specific listing first, since this genuinely varies. The Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise and the Santorini Dream Catcher Sailing Cruise both supply towels onboard, while the budget Santorini Volcano and Sunset Caldera Cruise does not, so you’ll want your own if that’s the one you’ve booked.
My honest take: I’d pack a lightweight quick dry travel towel regardless of which boat supplies one, just as a backup. A thin towel takes almost no space in a day bag and saves you from sitting in wet swimwear for the ride home if the boat’s own towels run out.
Want a closer look? Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise, from $122.4 See timesDo You Need Cash, and How Much?
Yes, specifically for the volcano. The entry fee to walk up Nea Kameni’s crater runs around five euros, paid in cash on site, and it is not bundled into any cruise price I’ve seen on this route. I’d carry small euro bills just for this, since it’s an easy detail to forget when you’re focused on the boat price alone.
Beyond that, cash or card covers extra drinks and snacks from an onboard bar on the cheaper cruises that don’t include a meal. I’d bring a little more than you think you’ll spend, since not every boat confirms card payment is accepted.
Short on time? Santorini Dream Catcher Sailing Cruise, from $139.09 See timesWhat About a Jacket or Layer?
I’d pack a light windbreaker even in peak summer. The open sea genuinely runs cooler than the land, and boats moving at speed create their own breeze on top of whatever the actual weather is doing. The bigger catamaran cruises often hand out wind jackets for the breezier stretches, but a traditional sailboat like the Dream Catcher tends to feel windier on deck, so I’d pack your own rather than rely on the boat.
Evenings matter even more. If your cruise ends near sunset, the temperature drop once the sun is down can catch people off guard who packed only for midday heat.
Ready to see prices? Santorini Volcano and Sunset Caldera Cruise, from $33.38 See timesShould You Bring a Hat?
Yes, and I’d go further than most generic advice here: pick one with a chin strap or a tight enough fit that wind won’t take it. I’ve seen enough mentions of breezy decks across these listings to know a loose sun hat ends up either lost overboard or constantly held in place instead of actually protecting you.
A hat matters most during the volcano hike, where there’s zero shade on the crater path, and during any long stretch of open water sailing between stops.
Want a closer look? Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise, from $122.4 See timesDo You Need Sunglasses?
I’d call these close to essential rather than optional. Glare off open water is noticeably harsher than glare off sand, and you’ll be looking at bright reflected light for most of a multi hour trip. Polarized lenses specifically cut that water glare better than standard tinted ones, which is worth the small extra cost if you’re buying a pair before the trip anyway.
Short on time? Santorini Dream Catcher Sailing Cruise, from $139.09 See timesWhat Should You Bring for Snorkeling?
Most cruises provide snorkeling gear as part of the price, so I wouldn’t buy your own mask and snorkel just for this trip unless you already own a set you prefer. What’s worth packing yourself is an underwater safe phone case or action camera, since the private bay stops on cruises like the Dream Catcher are genuinely photo worthy spots you won’t get a second chance at from land.
Ready to see prices? Santorini Volcano and Sunset Caldera Cruise, from $33.38 See timesIs There Anything You Should Specifically Leave at Home?
I’d leave anything light colored and precious to you, since the sulfur water stains fabric and the salt air isn’t kind to delicate materials either way. I’d also skip bringing valuables you’re not comfortable getting a little damp or sandy, since storage on most of these boats is a shared open deck rather than a locked cabin.
My honest take: treat this trip like a snorkeling day, not a dinner outing. Anything you’d hesitate to wear into the ocean probably shouldn’t come along.
Want a closer look? Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise, from $122.4 See timesDoes What You Pack Change by Season?
A little. In shoulder season, May, June, September, and October, I’d add one extra layer compared to peak summer, since evenings cool off faster once the sun drops and the water itself runs a touch colder for the hot springs swim. My best time to go page breaks down month by month sea temperature and wind if timing is still an open question for you.
Short on time? Santorini Dream Catcher Sailing Cruise, from $139.09 See timesDo You Need Motion Sickness Medication?
If you’re at all prone to it, yes, and I’d pack it rather than hope you won’t need it. At least one small-group cruise notes plainly that there’s no doctor onboard, so you’re responsible for managing your own seasickness. A catamaran’s twin hulls run steadier than a traditional single hull sailboat, but open water is still open water. My full breakdown of safety and seasickness across every product on this route lives on the safety and seasickness page.
Ready to see prices? Santorini Volcano and Sunset Caldera Cruise, from $33.38 See timesShould Kids Pack Anything Different?
A little extra. I’d pack a spare full change of clothes for kids specifically, since they’re more likely to get fully soaked rather than just damp, and a labeled water bottle so it doesn’t get lost among a dozen identical ones on a crowded deck. My family boat tour page goes further into which specific products actually suit traveling with kids.
Want a closer look? Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise, from $122.4 See timesWhat Should You Pack in a Day Bag Versus Leave at the Hotel?
I’d pack light and specific: swimwear worn already, a change of clothes in a sealed bag, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a light jacket, cash for the volcano fee, and your phone in a waterproof case or pouch. I’d leave anything bulky, anything electronic you’re not using, and any paperwork you don’t need at your hotel, since storage space on these boats is genuinely limited.
Short on time? Santorini Dream Catcher Sailing Cruise, from $139.09 See timesDoes Packing Differ for the Self-Drive Boat Rental?
Yes, a little. On the Santorini No-License Private Boat Rental, there’s no crew serving food or handing out wind jackets, so you’re more self sufficient than on a group cruise. The boat does supply a sun canopy and a cooler with ice and water, but I’d still pack your own snacks, sunscreen, and a hat, since there’s no onboard shop to buy anything you forgot.
Ready to see prices? Santorini Volcano and Sunset Caldera Cruise, from $33.38 See timesMy Honest Packing Priority List
If I had to rank it, I’d say: swimwear and cash for the volcano fee matter most, since forgetting either genuinely changes your day. A change of clothes and reef safe sunscreen come next. Everything else, the hat, the jacket, the towel, the sunglasses, improves comfort but isn’t going to ruin the trip if you forget one of them.
For the full picture of what’s actually included on each boat versus what you need to bring yourself, comparing every Santorini boat tour’s inclusions side by side before you pack is worth the extra five minutes.
Want a closer look? Santorini Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise, from $122.4 See timesFrequently Asked Questions
What shoes should I wear on a Santorini boat tour?
Closed, sturdy shoes for the optional volcano hike at Nea Kameni, and shoes or sandals you don’t mind getting wet for the hot springs stop, since you may step into shallow water rather than a dry dock.
Do I need to bring my own towel?
It depends on your specific cruise. Some, like the Luxury Catamaran Day Cruise, supply towels, while the budget volcano cruise does not, so I’d pack a lightweight travel towel as a backup regardless.
Will the hot springs ruin my swimsuit?
Not ruin exactly, but the sulfur rich water can tint light colored fabric with a faint stain, so I’d wear a darker swimsuit on purpose and plan to change afterward.
How much cash should I bring on a boat tour?
Enough for the roughly five euro volcano entry fee at minimum, plus a little extra for onboard drinks or snacks on cruises that don’t include a meal.
For general background on the volcanic water you’ll be packing for, see the Wikipedia page on Santorini.
every santorini boat tour’s real inclusions →
Short on time? Santorini Dream Catcher Sailing Cruise, from $139.09 See times