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Nisyros is a small, round volcanic island just south of Kos, and almost everything about it, from the black pebble beaches to the stone villages, comes back to the volcano at its centre. Most visitors come for a day from Kos to walk into the Stefanos crater. Those who stay find a quiet island with hill villages, hot springs and marked walking routes, which became a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2025.
Short answer
- Getting there: no airport. Fly to Kos, then take a regular ferry from Kos Town (about 50 to 90 minutes) or, from May to October, a day boat from Kardamena. Ferries also run from Rhodes, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
- The volcano: the Stefanos crater is about 13 km from the port. As of October 2026, Visit Greece lists €3 admission and daily opening 08:00–20:00 from 1 April to late October.
- Base: Mandraki, the port and main town, has most of the places to stay.
- Getting around: a municipal bus links Mandraki with Loutra, Pali, Emporios and Nikia; otherwise taxis, hire vehicles or a tour.
- How long: a day trip covers the crater and Mandraki. Stay two or three nights to walk the geopark routes and see the villages.
- Clock change: Greece goes back to winter time on 25 October 2026; from then on Turkey is one hour ahead.
Getting there
By air
Nisyros has no airport. The Municipality of Nisyros points visitors to flights to Kos or Rhodes and a connection from there. Kos is closer and has the most boats; see our Kos travel guide for flights and Kos airport transfers for getting from the terminal to Kos Town or Kardamena. KTEL buses run from Kos airport to both.
Regular ferries from Kos Town
Dodekanisos Seaways, Blue Star Ferries, ANEM Ferries and Saos Ferries sail from Kos Town to Mandraki all year, but each operator only runs on a few days a week. Ferryscanner showed about six sailings a week from June to September and about three a week in quieter months, as of October 2026.
| Operator | Crossing | From (one way, as of Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Dodekanisos Seaways | About 45–50 min | €15–17 |
| Blue Star Ferries | A little over 1 h | €7.50 |
| ANEM Ferries | About 1 h 30 min | €9 |
| Saos Ferries | About 1 h 30–40 min | €7.60 |
Crossing times and fares are from Ferryhopper; Dodekanisos Seaways’ own 2026 fare list gives €15 for Kos–Nisyros. ANEM publishes a Nisyros–Kos timetable for October 2026 on its website. Full details are on our Kos to Nisyros ferry page.
Summer boats from Kardamena
From May to October, day boats leave Kardamena on the south coast of Kos. Ferryhopper lists Sailaway Kos daily at about 50 minutes and Enetikon Travel on four or five days a week at about an hour, both from €10 one way as of October 2026. These are the boats most day-trippers use.
From Rhodes and the other islands
Visit Greece gives about 1 hour 30 minutes from Rhodes to Nisyros, and Dodekanisos Seaways’ 2026 fare list includes Rhodes–Nisyros. Ferryhopper lists Blue Star Ferries, Dodekanisos Seaways and Saos Ferries on the Rhodes route all year, with up to six departures a week in high season. The slower ferries between Rhodes and Kos also stop at Symi and Tilos; Tilos–Nisyros takes about 40 to 60 minutes. From Piraeus, Visit Greece gives about 13 hours 30 minutes, and Ferryhopper shows Blue Star at least twice a week. Plan multi-island legs with our ferry route planner.
Getting around
Ferryhopper describes a daily local bus on the route Mandraki–Loutra–Pali–Emporios–Nikia, and the municipality publishes its municipal bus timetables on its website. We could not read a current timetable, so check times locally when you arrive. The bus is not a reliable way to reach the crater; day tours include transport there, and otherwise you need a taxi or a hire vehicle.
Ferryhopper notes that you can bring your own vehicle or rent one on the island. Some of the regular ferries from Kos carry cars; check vehicle space with the operator and whether your Kos rental agreement allows ferry travel. The Kardamena day boats show no car fares.
Walking is the other option. The geopark has marked “georoutes”, including Caldera–Lakki (6.05 km, rated easy), Evaggelistria–Emborios (6.43 km) and Pali–Lies (6.27 km). A free geopark app covers the routes.
Things to see
The volcano
Visit Greece describes a well-preserved caldera about 4 km across, with the last strong activity recorded in 1888. Discover Greece says the present caldera was formed by two eruptions around 25,000 and 15,000 years ago, and names three craters: Stefanos, Alexandros and Polyvotis. The geopark describes the Lakki plain as the core of the island’s active hydrothermal field.
Stefanos is the most famous and accessible crater; Visit Greece calls it one of the largest and best-preserved hydrothermal craters in the world. You can walk down into it. Polyvotis, the largest, is 260 m across. Stay in marked areas and follow signs and staff instructions: the crater is part of an active hydrothermal field.
As of October 2026, Visit Greece lists general admission at €3, with reduced tickets, daily opening 08:00–20:00 from 1 April to late October and free entry in winter.
Mandraki
The port town is also the capital. Visit Greece describes pebble-paved squares and houses built of volcanic stone. Above the town, the Knights of St John built a castle in 1315 on a rock about 150 m high. Inside, in a cave, is the 18th-century Monastery of Panagia Spiliani, known across the surrounding islands for its icon. Discover Greece says the mid-August celebrations for the Virgin last nine days.
Paleokastro
On the hill above Mandraki stand the walls of the ancient acropolis, built of dark volcanic stone. The Municipality of Nisyros dates an inscription on the wall to the third quarter of the 4th century BC and gives the walls an average width of 3.50 to 3.80 m. Visit Greece notes the view over Mandraki and the islet of Gyali.
Nikia and Emporios
The two hill villages lie inland, and Ferryhopper says Nikia has the best panoramic view of the volcano. Nikia has a square called Porta with an elliptical pebble mosaic, and the Volcanological Museum, housed in the old primary school; Visit Greece calls it the first of its kind in Greece. Emporios is topped by the ruins of the Pantoniki fortress and has the volcanological observatory. Ferryhopper notes that Emporios was abandoned after an earthquake, and that a small stone room at its entrance, the “hot cave”, is warmed by volcanic air.
Pali and the hot springs
Pali is a small harbour village on the north coast, about 4 km from Mandraki. Between the two, at Loutra, is the old spa building with hot mineral springs. Sources disagree on its age: Ferryhopper dates the municipal baths building to 1872, while Discover Greece describes an early 20th-century spa about a kilometre from Mandraki. We could not confirm current opening times; ask in Mandraki.
Museums
The municipality lists four museums: archaeological, folklore, church and volcanological. We could not find current opening hours or tickets from an official source.
Beaches
Nisyros has volcanic beaches: expect black pebbles and dark sand rather than golden sand.
- Mandraki and Chochlaki: near the port, with large, smooth black stones.
- Pali: a long beach near the village with tamarisk shade, about 4 km from Mandraki. Sources describe the sand differently, from fine dark sand to white.
- Lies: small coves on the east coast with dark sand and some pebbles.
- Pachia Ammos: black sand beyond Lies, reached on foot along the shore and without shade.
- Gialiskari: a small beach between Mandraki and Pali.
- Avlaki: in the far south, with large black pebbles and a small harbour.
Bring water and shade for Lies and Pachia Ammos; facilities are minimal.
Where to stay
We do not have a Nisyros where-to-stay page. Visit Greece says Mandraki has hotels and apartments for visitors, and it is the practical base: the ferries dock there and the bus starts there. Pali is a quieter alternative by the sea on the north coast. Nikia and Emporios suit travellers who want a hill village and have their own transport. The island is small and fills in mid-August around the Panagia Spiliani festival, so book early for those dates.
Hotels and rooms on Nisyros
See which hotels, guesthouses and apartments on the island are free for your dates, with a map view, on Booking.com. On small islands rooms run out early in high summer.
Day trip or stay?
Day trip: the Kardamena boats and organised tours from Kos are designed for a few hours at the crater plus time in Mandraki or Nikia. From Kos Town, the regular ferries run only on some days, so check that a same-day return exists before you go.
Stay: two or three nights let you visit the crater outside the busiest midday hours, walk between the villages and swim at Pali or Lies. Nisyros also works as a stop on a slower ferry between Kos and Rhodes, together with Tilos and Symi; see our Symi travel guide.
Organised tours
A tour earns its place here: it solves the transfer to Kardamena and the trip from the port up to the crater. Doing it yourself on the Kardamena boat is cheaper if you are staying nearby and are happy to arrange transport to the volcano on Nisyros.
Nisyros Island Tour from Kos
Pickup near your hotel on Kos, boat tickets, an English-speaking escort and lunch listed as included; the volcano entrance fee is extra.
Check price & availability
Kos: Ferry Tickets between Kardamena and Nisyros Island
Boat tickets only, one way or return from Kardamena port, for travellers who want to plan their own time on Nisyros.
Check price & availabilityCombining Nisyros with Turkey
There is no direct ferry from Turkey to Nisyros. The way in is through Kos: Bodrum to Kos Town, then the regular ferry from Kos Town or a bus to Kardamena for the summer boat. Tilos Travel’s 2026 timetable shows the Sea Star Kos sailing four times a day each way between Bodrum and Kos until 24 October and twice a day from 25 October to 1 November. See Bodrum to Kos ferry and Kos to Bodrum ferry. A night on Kos is the realistic plan, since Bodrum–Kos–Nisyros and back in one day means four sea crossings and four passport checks.
Turkish citizens on the island visa should note that, according to Ertürk, the visa is valid only for the island of entry, so a Kos visa does not cover a trip to Nisyros.
When to go
- May to October: the Kardamena day boats run and the crater has its summer hours. In July and August, go early or late to avoid the busiest midday hours at the crater.
- Mid-August: the Panagia Spiliani festival in Mandraki is the island’s busiest time.
- Late October: the volcano’s summer hours end, the clocks change on 25 October, and day boats stop.
- Winter: regular ferries from Kos run on fewer days and some months show little data on booking sites. Check with the operators before planning a winter visit.
See the ferry season calendar for routes by month.
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FAQ
How do you get to Nisyros?
Fly to Kos and take a regular ferry from Kos Town to Mandraki, about 50 to 90 minutes, or a summer day boat from Kardamena. Ferries also run from Rhodes, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Can you visit Nisyros as a day trip from Kos?
Yes, from May to October by Kardamena boat or organised tour. On the regular Kos Town ferries, check for a same-day return first.
How much does it cost to enter the volcano?
As of October 2026, Visit Greece lists €3 general admission, with reduced tickets and free entry in winter.
Is Nisyros volcano active?
Visit Greece records the last strong activity in 1888, and the geopark describes an active hydrothermal field at Lakki. Follow signs and staff instructions in the crater.
Is there a bus on Nisyros?
Yes, a municipal bus links Mandraki with Loutra, Pali, Emporios and Nikia, according to Ferryhopper. Check current times locally.
Are there sandy beaches on Nisyros?
The beaches are volcanic: black pebbles near Mandraki and darker sand at Lies and Pachia Ammos. Pali has the longest beach.
Timetables, prices and entry rules change; check the official source before you travel.
Sources
- Visit Greece: Nisyros (accessed Oct 2026)
- Visit Greece: Nisyros’ volcano (accessed Oct 2026)
- Visit Greece: Walk through the city of Mandraki (accessed Oct 2026)
- Discover Greece: Nisyros (accessed Oct 2026)
- Municipality of Nisyros: How to get to Nisyros (accessed Oct 2026)
- Municipality of Nisyros: Museums and sights (accessed Oct 2026)
- Municipality of Nisyros: Paliokastro (accessed Oct 2026)
- Nisyros UNESCO Global Geopark: georoutes and app (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greek City Times: Nisyros Geopark joins UNESCO Global Geoparks Network (10 Sept 2025) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryhopper: Nisyros destination guide (accessed Oct 2026)
- Chasing the Donkey: Nisyros beaches (updated Mar 2024) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryhopper: Kos to Nisyros and Kardamena to Nisyros (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryscanner: Kos to Nisyros (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryscanner: Tilos to Nisyros (accessed Oct 2026)
- ANEM Ferries: October 2026 timetables (accessed Oct 2026)
- Dodekanisos Seaways: 2026 passenger and vehicle fares (PDF) (accessed Oct 2026)
- SAOS Ferries: lines served (accessed Oct 2026)
- Kos Airport: public bus (accessed Oct 2026)
- KTEL Kos (accessed Oct 2026)
- Tilos Travel: 2026 sailing plan, Bodrum–Kos (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ertürk: Gate visa conditions (Turkish) (accessed Oct 2026)
- timeanddate.com: Clock changes in Greece 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide: Nisyros Island Tour from Kos (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide: Kos, Ferry Tickets between Kardamena and Nisyros Island (accessed Oct 2026)
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