Nisyros: The 11 best highlights of the volcanic island

Nisyros, how beautiful you are! This little spot on earth is probably one of the most peaceful places, if it weren’t for an active volcano bubbling in the depths. Strictly speaking, Nisyros consists of only one volcano. Like the islands of Milos and Santorini, Nisyros is part of the volcanic arc of Greece.

“The island of Nisyros, which has just under 1,000 inhabitants, exudes a very special charm. Many holidaymakers fall in love with the small island right away.”

At the foot of the volcano lies the picturesque harbour town of Mandraki. With its narrow streets, whitewashed houses and colourful shutters, it offers countless photo opportunities. At the top of the volcano you will find the dreamy villages of Emporios and Nikia, where time seems to have stood still.

In the summer, Nisyros is used as a neighboring island of Kos daily by ferry and numerous day trippers want to visit the volcanic crater of the island. If you stay on Nisyros for more than a day, you will be enchanted and want to return again and again.

We’ve visited the island more than ten times now and we’ll tell you our best tips for your excursion to Nisyros:

Nisyros tour or on your own?

The Nisyros Island (also Nissiros) is only 42 km² in size, which corresponds to only a tenth of the city area of Cologne. But there is a lot to discover! Numerous idyllic hiking trails invite you to explore them. In conversations with the lovable locals, you always learn about new highlights.

You can only reach Nisyros by ferry, there is no airport. From the island of Kos, organized Tours to Nisyros offered. However, it is worthwhile to take the ferry to Nisyros on your own. By Kardamena and Kos Town In the high season, several excursion boats and ferries run daily to Nisyros.

Kardamena offers itself with only 45 min crossing to Nisyros as the shortest starting point. Ideally, tickets should be purchased one day in advance directly at the port, there is no online booking. The guided tours to the island (including with a pirate boat) are usually more expensive than the individual journey. Click on the link and get more information about the tours from GetYourGuide*:

➲ To the guided boat tour*

From May to October, the ships from Kardamena daily at 09:30 a.m. to Mandraki, the main town of Nisyros. Around 3:30 p.m., most Nisyros ferries depart again. For a one-way trip, you pay about €10 per ferry ticket as a foot passenger. From October, ferry traffic can be reduced.

The large car ferries of Blue Star, Saos Ferries and the catamarans of Dodekanisos Seaways depart from Kos Town. Prices are around €15 each way. You can find out the exact departure times on their homepage. Furthermore, a small supply ship (including Olympios Ermis or Joy Star) runs regularly to Nisyros.

→ Here you can find more information about the Nisyros excursions: Getting to Nisyros

#1 Mandraki: Capital of Nisyros

In Mandraki, you set your first foot on land. With around 700 inhabitants, Mandraki is the largest town on Nisyros and thus also the liveliest village on the island. In addition to numerous souvenir shops, the coastal town offers the best supply with many mini markets and shops.

During the day, the pretty alleys are bustling with day tourists from Kos. In the evening, peace returns to Nisyros. The cosy taverns and cafés invite you to linger. In the meantime, there are numerous beautiful self-catering holiday homes and some small hotels. Here you can find our recommendations: Nisyros Accommodations

The place is a typical Greek village with white houses and colorful shutters. On every corner there is a photo motif between colorful bougainvillea, sleeping cats and blue wooden balconies. Take a leisurely stroll through the picturesque alley and take a look at the floor more often.

Nisyros is known for its beautiful floor mosaics, along with other Dodecanese islands, such as Rhodes and Patmos. »Hohlakia« (Chochlakia). Various motifs are set by hand in mosaic form from light and dark volcanic rock. Many squares and house entrances in Mandraki have been embellished with sea pebble mosaics.

At the heart of Mandraki is the »Platia Ilikiomeni«, the village square with its large rubber tree and numerous taverns. Especially at lunchtime, the Platia is bursting at the seams. If you leave the maze of alleys to the north, you will come to the long harbour promenade, which stretches from the entrance to the village to behind the monastery.

Some cafés and taverns have settled here and offer a spectacular view of the setting sun, especially in the evening. When the sea is rough, the spray hits the harbour walls here. Freshly caught octopus is hung on leashes in a cat-proof manner, and every now and then a typical APE island tricycle passes by. Pure island idyll!

In addition to many souvenir shops, interesting shops have also settled along the main street to the monastery of Panagia Spiliani, including the pretty boutique Loles Kores, where owner Alkiste offers original textiles for every age group. Find self-catering in the delicatessen Frou Frou from Anna offers a wide range of organic products.

In the late evening, many hours after the last day tourist has left the island, you can enjoy the heavenly peace and tranquility on Nisyros. When you linger in the cafes and restaurants on the waterfront, everyday life is usually very far away. And if you listen closely, you won’t hear anything. Absolute silence and solitude.

#2 Monastery of Panagia Spiliani

Already from the ferry you will see the white monastery enthroned on a hill above Mandraki on arrival. The Monastery of Panagia Spiliani is embedded in the remains of an old Venetian castle. Inside the complex there is a cool rock grotto with an altar and numerous icons. In a small museum, various religious finds from the last centuries are also exhibited.

Panagia Spiliani is an important pilgrimage site of Greece and every year on August 15, thousands of people from all parts of the country make a pilgrimage here to take part in the procession of the Holy Mother of God.

From the upper complex with its magnificent Hohlakia, you have a fantastic view of the rooftops of Mandraki. The Monastery of Panagia Spiliani charges a small entrance fee of €2 per person for the maintenance of the buildings.

#3 Hohlakia Beach

At the foot of the monastery behind the Oxos tavern, a path leads around the rock to the Hohlakia Beach. It is a magical beach and it only reveals its very special beauty when you listen closely. Instead of white sand, turquoise blue sea and palm trees, you will only find black round stones on the shore and crystal clear water.

At the most popular beach of Nisyros there are hardly any shady trees. Sit on the shore of the beach, close your eyes and listen as the surf sets the round volcanic stones in motion. A meditative place and at the latest now you will feel the magic of Nisyros. A swim in the warm sea is worthwhile. So don’t forget to bring your swimsuit.

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#4 Pali: Fishing Village and Marina

We leave Mandraki with a rental car and drive along the coastal road along the flanks of the volcano. That fishing village of Pali or Paloi is the next stop on our Nisyros island tour. Sleepily, the boats sail here in the harbor pier. On the shore, the beautiful blue and white Apostle Church shines. The marina of Pali is a popular anchorage, especially for sailors.

At the port there are some taverns serving freshly caught fish and typical Greek cuisine offer. The road continues along the sea, past the oldest bakery on the island. In the Pali Bakery bread and pastries are still traditionally made by hand. Here you can get provisions for exploring the island.

Thermal Springs of Nisyros

The Thermal Springs of Nisyros were known throughout Europe until the beginning of the 20th century. Even from Egypt, people traveled to Nisyros. Even the ancient physician Hippocrates of Kos is said to have cured patients here. Even today, you can relax in a small thermal bath in the village of Loutra (between Pali and Mandraki).

If you drive out of Pali, you can see the big Nisyros Thermal Building made of volcanic rock. In the 1920s, investors from Rhodes began to build the sanatorium. The Second World War destroyed parts of the complex and reconstruction came to a standstill in the 1970s for financial reasons. Since then, the huge building has been empty.

Directly opposite the thermal hotel is the Church of Panaghia Thermiani, which was built into the ruins of an ancient Roman bath. The coastal road leads past Cape Katsouni with bizarre pumice caves to Lies beach. This stretches for miles along the east coast and is covered by dark volcanic sand and pebbles.

#5 Pachia Ammos Beach

At the end of the coastal road you will come near the Oasis Tavern to a parking space. Here you can park your vehicle and continue on the footpath to the Pachia Ammos Beach.

For about 10 minutes you walk along a narrow path along the cliffs. Behind the last rocky cliff, the view opens up to you on one of the most beautiful beaches in the Aegean Sea. Large dark sand dunes cover the bay of Pachia Ammos.

The water is crystal clear and the chocolate-brown beach is covered with tiny stones. In some places near the shore, warm thermal water emerges from the seabed. Until the end of June, it is still quiet here and you usually have the bay all to yourself.

From July to the beginning of September, the beach is populated by numerous wild campers. Then it will be difficult to get a free place between the numerous tents. Many visitors then switch to the less frequented Moulari Beach at the parking lot. Occasionally, the free-roaming cows of Nisyros Island wander right onto the beach.

#6 Emporios: Village in Sleeping Beauty

We drive the road back to Pali and follow the serpentines up to the edge of the caldera. After about ten minutes, the road branches off to the right to Emporios and from afar you can see the pretty white houses. 100 years ago, 700 people lived here.

After several waves of emigration at the end of the 19th century, as well as the severe earthquake (see article: Greece Earthquake) in 1953, the village was almost deserted until a few years ago. Slowly the village is waking up from its slumber and old stone houses have been extensively renovated.

Directly at the entrance to the village is the fascinating Natural sauna of Nisyros. In this small grotto it gets well over 40 degrees warm and even if it smells a bit musty, the ethereal volcanic fumes are said to be good for the respiratory tract, according to locals.

In the parking lot below the village you can park your vehicle and walk into the village. After a few meters you will come to the small village square of Emporios. There are two traditional taverns where you can recharge your batteries. Several steps take you from the Plateia to the ruins of the former Kastro of Emporios.

On the highest point stands today only the medieval church of St. Michael the Archangel (13th century) with a neat church square made of sea pebbles. From up here, you can see the huge caldera of Nisyros on one side, and the deep blue Aegean Sea and the neighboring islands of Gyali and Kos on the other.

Tavernas in Emporios

In summer, tables and chairs are set up in the village square in the evening, and live music plays from time to time. The rustic ambience in the ruined village exudes an extraordinary charm, so that individual tourists and locals like to linger until late into the night. The church festivals (including Easter and the Assumption of Mary) of Emporios are particularly atmospheric.

The Tavern To Balkoni offers delicious appetizers (meze) and daily specials, as well as a magnificent view of the volcanic crater of Nisyros. In the tavern Apyria next to the blue and white Koimisis Theotokou Village Church awaits you delicious Greek comfort food all day on weekends and evening food during the week.

The owners of the tavern Apyria, the brothers Triantafilos and Gianni, are good-hearted people and always have an ear free for a chat. Especially the Skordalia dip with almonds, the chickpea thalers and the meat dish Sheftalies (minced lamb balls) are delicious! You can find even more tips for Nisyros in our Kos travel guide.

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#7 Volcano of Nisyros

We return to the junction for Emporios and turn right towards the volcano. A winding road winds its way down into the impressive Caldera of Nisyros, the so-called Lakki Valley. On the terraced mountain slopes, the vegetation is still very lush.

The further you go into the Nisyros volcano the more barren the landscape becomes. The different rock layers and numerous lava domes make every geologist’s heart beat faster. At a ticket booth, you pay €5 entrance fee to visit the crater.

However, before you make a pilgrimage to Stefanos Crater with the masses, we recommend a small detour to the lesser-known Polyvotis Crater . Hardly anyone gets lost here, although the twin craters are no less impressive.

At the toilet house, follow the beaten path on the right. Even from a distance you can see several hills in magnificent colors. Behind it are hidden other craters. Even if you can’t go down, you will get a good impression of this natural wonder.

The steaming sulphur fumaroles glow neon yellow and are a reminder that an active volcano is still slumbering underground. Caution is advised, the rock is partly porous and there are no barriers!

Descent into the Nisyros volcano

The heart of the Lakki Valley is the spectacular Stefanos Crater. You can descend into the 4,000-5,000-year-old crater with a diameter of 330 meters, as long as you can withstand the strong smell of sulfur.

Full of awe and admiration, you stand in the middle of one of the largest hydrothermal crater in the world. In some places, the ground is very thin and even if the permeable areas are more or less closed off, you should still be careful.

Nisyros volcano visit tip: If you visit the caldera of Nisyros and its fascinating crater landscape before 10:30 a.m. or in the late afternoon, you will escape the great rush of day tourists. Descending into an active volcanic crater is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. There are probably only very few craters in the world that are accessible at all.

#8 Church Prophet Elias

We drive out of the caldera again and put our Nisyros Island Tour towards Nikia. The road leads along the edge of the volcano and you can enjoy a fantastic view of the Aegean Sea, the mainland of Asia Minor and the neighboring island Tilos.

Shortly before Nikia, a road goes up on the right side to the Church of Profitis Iliad. The location of this blue and white beauty is dreamlike and the panorama from the front of the church is breathtaking. We could stay here for hours and soak up this heavenly atmosphere.

On the forecourt of the church there are free high-performance binoculars, through which you can look into the caldera as well as the village of Nikia and the Aegean Sea. On days with good visibility, the view even extends to the islands Astypalea and Saria (Karpathos).

Alternatively, you can walk up to the church from the parking lot of the village of Nikia. The trail starts behind the Volcano Museum. The climb is short but quite steep. For individual tourists, the visit at sunset is worthwhile.

#9 Nikia: Picture-book village of Nisyros

Nikia is the picture-book village of the island of Nisyros. With its white houses and red roofs, it immediately inspires visitors. You can enjoy the most beautiful view just outside the village from a small park bench. You can park your vehicle free of charge at the entrance to the village, the entire village is considered a pedestrian zone.

On the right side of the parking lot is the Volcano Museum of Nisyros. It is one of the best geological museums in the whole country. Here you will get a lot of background information about the formation of Nisyros and the volcanic activity of the entire Aegean Sea. The museum is open every day except Sundays, and admission costs €5.

The narrow, picturesque main street of Nikia runs through the village like a hose. After a few meters you will come to the heart of Nikia, the »Porta Nikia«. The Platia has already been voted one of the most beautiful squares in Europe and rightly so. Between the white houses, the sky and the Aegean Sea seem to merge into one color.

If you climb the steps to the Church Issódia tis Theotókou you can enjoy a great view of the village square decorated with sea pebbles. A visit to the church interior with its imposing marble iconostasis is worthwhile. Donations for the preservation of the church are welcome.

Time out at Porta Nikia

On the picturesque village square of Nikia there are two cafes. The owners of the Café Porta are our long-time friends Nektaria and her husband Efthimios. Here you can order a cool drink and delicious Greek meze. For chocolate addicts, we recommend the legendary “Volcano chocolate cake” with vanilla ice cream.

If you follow the alley to the end of the village, you will come to another square that Panoramic View Point of the Volcano. Here you can enjoy an excellent view of the caldera. Especially in the evening, the atmosphere on the platform is magical. For us personally, this is one of the best places to enjoy the sunset on Nisyros!

In Nikia, we like to take time for a long walk through the charming alleys. Outside of the tourist hours, you hardly meet anyone except for a few cats and there is something very calming about walking through this silence.

We continue our island exploration on Nisyros and drive back to the port town of Mandraki. Before the Hotel Romantzo the road branches off to the left up to Palaiokastro and the monastery of Evangelistria.

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#10 Palaiokastro: Acropolis of Nisyros

On a hill above Mandraki, the cyclopean walls of a Hellenistic Acropolis of Nisyros. The huge stone blocks of the ancient fortress were layered exactly on top of each other and adapted. The grounds of the Palaiokastros of Nisyros are extensive and partly overgrown by nature.

With a bit of luck, you will discover a short-eared owl in the numerous oak trees during the day. On information boards you can find out about the origin of the Palaiokastro (also Paleokastro). From the fortress, the panorama of Mandraki, the Aegean Sea and the offshore island of Gyali is magnificent.

The gigantic walls (around 330 BC) are among the best preserved of their kind in the whole of Greece. In some places, the wall with the stone blocks stacked exactly on top of each other is up to 3.50 m thick. The similarity with sites from other parts of the world (including Inca culture in South America) is striking. Admission to the Palaiokastro is free.

Archaeological Museum of Nisyros

In the archaeological Museum of Nisyros in Mandraki, among other things, finds from Paleokastro are exhibited. You will also get an insight into the island’s important past. In the early Middle Ages, up to 12,000 people are said to have lived on Nisyros. The compact museum houses numerous remarkable artifacts from different eras. Admission to the museum costs €4 (closed on Tuesdays).

#11 Hike to the highest mountain of Nisyros

On the way back to Mandraki, a road branches off to the right to the Evangelistria Monastery. From here you can take a hike up the highest mountain on the island at 698 meters, the Diavatis or Profitis Iliad, with his snow-white Prophet Elijah chapel.

You hike through beautiful nature, past ruined houses from pre-Christian times and terraced grounds, the hanging gardens of the Diavatis. Below the summit you come to the Church of Panagia Diavatiani. Opposite is an old cistern and some fig trees line a kind of church square.

This is also where the hiking trail seems to end. Only a hard-to-see trail leads up to the summit. The snow-white chapel shines from afar and when you reach the top, it seems as if you can touch the sky. From the top you have a wonderful panoramic view of the Dodecanese Islands.

Inside the chapel there is heavenly peace. Light a candle and pause for a moment. A magical place where you are mostly all alone. For the hike (there and back) you have to plan about 2.5 hours. We therefore recommend that you only tackle the hiking tour if you spend the night on the island.

More tips for the island of Nisyros

Getting to Nisyros

You can only reach Nisyros by ferry. The island is served several times a day from Kos from May to October from the ports of Kardamena, Kos Town and Kefalos. In addition to smaller passenger ferries, there are also large car ferries from Piraeus via Kos or from Rhodes.

You can buy the tickets for the small excursion boats directly on site on the boat. For the large ferries such as Blue Star, SAOS and Dodekanisos Seaways, we recommend booking online through our partner Ferryhopper*:

➲ To cheap ferry tickets*

If you don’t want to translate on your own, you can also arrange a guided tour here via our partner GetYourGuide* Day trip to the island of Nisyros book:

➲ To the Volcano Island Tours*

From Kos Town to Nisyros

• Blue Star Ferries (large car ferries): approx. 3x per week
• Saos Ferries (car ferry): 2x per week
• Dodekanisos Seaways (speedboat/ catamaran): Tuesday and Thursday
• Supply ship (e.g. Joy Star): up to 4x per week, tickets in Kos Town at Adris Nissia Travel

From Kardamena to Nisyros

• Passenger ferries: 2-3 ferries daily, including Captain Dimitris, Agios Konstantinos and the ship IRO, departure 9:30 am, return 3:30 pm
• Pirate Boat Tours: Ticket sales through the Sailaway agency, departure 12:00 pm, return 6:30 pm (Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri)
• Supply ship (including Joy Star): 1-2 per week

From Kefalos to Nisyros

• Kamari passenger ferry: daily in high season, Tuesday and Sunday from September to October, departure 9:30 a.m., return 3:30 p.m.
• Supply ship (including Joy Star): 1-2 per week

→ An up-to-date overview of the ferries to Nisyros can be found here: Diakomihalis Travel

Car rental in Nisyros

It is not absolutely necessary to book a guided tour to Nisyros. There are several car rental companies directly at the port of Mandraki. With a rental car or scooter, you can explore the island of Nisyros at your own pace.

In addition, you have the opportunity to head for the beautiful places against the crowds. For example, it is recommended to drive first to Nikia and then down into the crater. Or to stroll through Mandraki right at the beginning and then drive up to Emporios. We can personally recommend the following rental companies:

Manos K. Rent a car & motorbike, Mandraki

Manos and his daughter Popi have their extensive rental car rental directly at the port of Mandraki. Vehicles of all sizes, as well as quads, buggies and scooters are offered. The process is quick and uncomplicated, it is advisable to contact Manos before arriving in Nisyros.

→ You can find more information at:

• Facebook: Manos Rent a Car
• Home page: nisyros-rentacar.gr

Diakomihalis Travel, Mandraki

In addition to robust compact cars (including Suzuki Ignis and Jimny), Haris’ travel agency also rents out quads and scooters. A scooter is a good way to explore the island of Nisyros. The Diakomihalis Travel office is located in Mandraki, next to the Café Alexandros on the main square of Mandraki.

→ You can find more information on the homepage ofDiakomihalis Travel

Accommodations and hotels in Nisyros

In contrast to Kos, Nisyros still attaches importance to soft tourism. So you won’t find any large hotel castles and resorts on the island. Old stone houses have been restored and rebuilt in the traditional style as guest houses.

The furnishings are tastefully minimalist and exude their very own charm. You simply have to experience the special atmosphere in the traditional Greek houses.

Is it worth spending the night on Nisyros?

We advise every Kos holidaymaker who is looking for the original Greece to at least one overnight stay on Nisyros. There are worlds between the turbulent island of Kos and the quiet neighboring island of Nisyros. Especially friends of Greece island hopping will be thrilled by the island.

When the excursion boats have left Nisyros in the afternoon, peace returns to the volcanic island. Without all the crowds, you will feel the special magic of Nisyros. The main town of Mandraki invites you to take an evening stroll with its magnificent waterfront promenade.

The pretty villages of Nisyros are not only outwardly inspiring. The return and reflection on the essentials are also the architectural cornerstones of the island. You will feel as though you have travelled back in time when you stay in the traditional accommodation of Nisyros.

The guesthouses on Nisyros have been restored with a lot of love and effort, and the overnight prices are correspondingly higher. However, the unique location, seclusion and magnificent sea views alone are worth every penny.

Nisyros sights in video

Impressions of the island can be found in the video by Thomas Polasek © :

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