Nisyros the volcanic island
How to Reach
Travelling
Sights & Beaches
History
Links
Overview & Reasons to visit
Nisyros is a unique and fascinating island which lies between Kos and Rhodes in the Dodecanese group of islands. It consists of a volcanic caldera with a scattering of picturesque villages clinging to the sides of the caldera and a small port.The Stefanos volcano is still quietly active with gently steaming fumaroles. There are hot water spring and small beaches and a Crusader castle. The island can get busy in the middle of the day with day trippers visiting the caldera but is quiet for the rest of the day.
How to reach
Nisyros can only be reached by ferry or a day trip boat.
Dodecanese Seaways go from Rhodes via Kos to Nisyros on Wednesdays & Thursdays. Blue Star have a service from Piraeus to Nisyros which takes 13hours and arrive in middle of the night, you can also catch the boat at Kos or Rhodes
There are daily boats during the summer from Kardamena port on Kos
SAOS ferry F/B Stavros may also offer a service from Rhodes but details are not currently available
Travelling Around
Most visitors to Nisyros come on organised tours so travel options are a bit limited.
Local buses start from Mandraki but there are only 4 per day which go to Paloi,Emporeios and Nikia.
There are car and bike rentals in Mandraki and Paloi,which are the best way to see the island.
Guided tours are also available on the quayside in Mandraki which are somewhat regimented.
If you have your own transport it is best to avoid Nikia in the middle of the day when it is busy with day trippers. At busy times you may get asked if you are on a tour before you order!
Sights & Beaches
The obvious and most spectacular sight is obviously the caldera of Stavros volcano. You can drive down into the caldera itself and walk around the fumaroles or view it from a number of places around the rim.
The Volcanological Museum of Nisyros is on outskirts of Nikia and provides a fascinating insight into vulcanology of the island and in general. Tip: The car park here is a good place to leave your car while you explore the rest of Nikia.
Nikia is perched on the caldera rim and is a maze of small streets with a busy bijou main square with coffee shops tavernas and gift shops. There are several good spots to view the caldera.
Paloi is a small fishing village with a harbour and sandy beach and nearby Loutra has hot water springs and disused spa. There are a number of other beaches around the island most of which have dark sand or pebbles including Chochlakoi beach.
Just offshore from Nisyros is the island of Gyali, which is gradually disappearing due to the exploitation of pumice stone and obsidian. There are the remains of other mineral mines and infrastructure on Nisyros.
Paleokastro is a 6th-4th century BC era castle which has been partly restored.
The village of Emporios is also perched on the rim of the caldera and there you can experience one of the island’s apyries, or natural saunas.
The Venetian Castle of Nisyros hides within it the monastery of Panagia Spiliani and offers a panoramic view of Mandraki.
Mandraki as well as being the port for the island is the main town and has the town hall and in the Langadi neighbourhood there are traditional homes boasting ornate wooden balconies and stone stoops.
Mandraki also has a good selection of taverna and coffee shop as well as a number of souvenir shops catering for the day trippers from Kos.
History
According to Homer Nisyros took part in the seige of Troy.There is walls from a Kastro dating to 5th century BC and in Classical times Nisyros allied with Athens.
Genoese families ruled in 10th century under the auspices of the Byzantine empire
Along with most of the Dodecanese Nisyros was taken by the Knights of St John. In 1422, a huge volcanic eruption formed the large crater in the middle of the island.Then the Ottoman empire gradually took over the island followed by the Italians in 1912 before becoming part of Greece in 1948
Links
Link to Blue Star Ferry site
Link to website with information about Volcano Museum
Link to Dodecanese Seaways website