There are many hot springs on Ikaria, Greece that have powerful healing powers. But, there is one hidden gem near Ikaria’s airport. And it is Agia Kyriaki hot springs on Ikaria. Unlike the public thermal baths in Therma, Agia Kyriaki is free and less known to tourists. When we went there in May, we saw only a few locals. In this post, we share all you need to know about this unique spot at the beautiful longevity blue zone island of Ikaria.
How to Get to Agia Kyriaki Hot Springs on Ikaria
Agia Kyriaki hot springs on Ikaria, Greece are located just a walking distance from Ikaria’s airport.
We walked from our Airbnb in the village of Faros to Agia Kyriaki hot springs, which was very scenic and only took half an hour. You can also drive to these thermal baths on a passenger car. There was a dirt road manageable for any type of car leading to Almyrida fishing town, where Agia Kyriaki hot springs are located.
Calling Almyrida a town doesn’t exactly mean much, though, since there is not even a main street going through it. It is more like a place with a few houses located by the sea front.
The main attraction of this town is the hidden hot spring that it has access to. You will have to walk a small trail traversing among houses to the rocky beach of Agia Kyriaki.
Things to Know about Agia Kyriaki Hot Springs on Ikaria
When you get to the Agia Kyriaki hot springs, you will notice this changing booth that locals installed.
Agia Kyriaki hot springs water comes out in several spots. Ikarians found the strongest one and created a small enclosure from rocks.
The rock enclosure is great for two, maybe three people max. That is the only drawback of Agia Kyriaki hot springs. If there is someone there, you may have to wait until they are finished. We went there a few times and there was only once a local Ikarian woman bathing there. Overall, the water was pleasantly warm every time we were there.
How Agia Kyriaki Hot Springs of Ikaria Work
Many hot springs of Ikaria, including Agia Kyriaki, contain a mildly radioactive gas called radon. Radon enters our bodies mostly through inhalation and the remainder through skin when bathing in hot water. Most of it is expelled within an hour, while the remainder lingers in our bodies and induces various therapeutic effects.
When radon enters our bodies, it reduce inflammation, improves blood circulation and lowers pain. People with arthritis and other autoimmune diseases feel relief after radon baths treatments. There were numerous scientific studies proving this. For instance, here is one study focusing on radon spa therapy for rheumatoid arthritis patients.
The radiation levels vary by hot springs. The most radioactive hot springs accessible to public are located in Therma. In comparison to Therma’s hot springs, Agia Kyriaki is mildly radioactive (5-10x less radioactive). You can read scientific research about levels of radioactivity in thermal baths of Ikaria, Greece.
It is recommended to bath for no more than 20 minutes on an empty stomach 3 hours after your last meal. If you are going to visit the springs, be aware that the radioactive springs can induce a spa reaction in your body. You may feel various symptoms afterwards, including insomnia and fatigue, which we experienced.
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Visiting Therma Hot Springs of Ikaria
If you have a serious illness, it is probably best to visit Therma hot springs spas. Not only they are much more powerful, they also have medical staff. Each visit costs money, but it may be worth it to get more intense treatment. Therma has also a free communal bath that has radioactivity levels matching those at Agia Kyriaki. Take a look at our YouTube video where we cover all you need to know about visiting Therma hot springs of Ikaria.