Nisyros is an almost round volcanic island in the Dodecanese, south of Kos. In myth, during the war between gods and giants, Poseidon broke off a piece of Kos and hurled it at the giant Polybotes, who stayed buried beneath it: his sighs are the volcano's fumaroles.
A large caldera opens at the centre of the island; the most spectacular crater, Stefanos, is about 260 metres across and you can walk down into it, among fumaroles, sulphur crystals and bubbling mud. The volcano is considered active, but its last significant activity was hydrothermal, in the 19th century.
What to see
| Place | Why |
|---|---|
| Stefanos crater | The crater floor with its fumaroles; best visited early, before the day trips from Kos |
| Mandraki | The main town, with colourful houses and the monastery of Panagia Spiliani inside the Knights' castle |
| Paleokastro | Massive walls of the ancient acropolis, in large blocks of volcanic stone |
| Nikia and Emborios | Villages on the caldera rim, with views over the volcano |
Beaches are of pebbles or dark sand, such as Pachia Ammos and Lies; at the Loutra spa the hot water was once used for cures.
Getting there
Boats from Kos (Kardamena and Kos town) in about an hour, and ferries from Rhodes and Piraeus. There is no airport.