Dodecanese, Greece – A Day in Nisyros (September 2025)
Last updated on : December 9, 2025
In September 2025, during our trip through the Dodecanese in Greece, we spent a few days on the sunny island of Kos — an ideal base for exploring the smaller neighboring islands. As I often do when planning my travels, I browsed several Facebook groups dedicated to Greece, which are always full of valuable tips and firsthand experiences.
It was in one of these groups that I first heard about Nisyros, a small volcanic island described as a true hidden gem. A traveler mentioned regretting not being able to include it in their itinerary… and that single comment sparked my curiosity. With a bit more research, I discovered that the island is home to an active volcano that can be visited on a day trip from Kos.
Since our stay in the Dodecanese was limited to ten days, I wanted to see as many islands as possible without adding complicated transfers. The excursion to Nisyros checked all the boxes: easy to access, doable in a single day, and completely different from everything else we had planned.
And so, Nisyros naturally found its place in our itinerary — a wonderful opportunity to add a fourth island to our journey, after Rhodes, Kos, and Symi.
Here is the story of our day on Nisyros: a surprising island built around an impressive volcanic heart.
Excursion : Nisyros Island
For our cruise to the island of Nisyros, we booked through Kos Activities. They picked us up in Kos Town and drove us to the Port of Kardamena, where we boarded the boat to Nisyros.
The highlights of this excursion were:
- the visit to the volcano (the true centerpiece of the day for us),
- and free time in Mandraki, the island’s main village.
This excursion was booked through Getyourguide.
First Step: Port of Kardamena
We were picked up around 8:00 a.m. at a meeting point near our accommodation by a bus gathering all the participants for the excursion. It was our first time experiencing this kind of pickup (outside of a typical all-inclusive hotel lobby), and honestly… we weren’t quite sure what to expect.
Each time a bus arrived, we wondered if it was ours – nothing was clearly indicated, no sign, no logo, nothing. One or two buses passed before the right one finally showed up, and every time we asked the driver, “Nisyros?” Needless to say, we were a little nervous about missing it!
Once onboard, the bus made several stops to pick up other travelers, which made the journey longer than expected. If I remember correctly, we only reached the Port of Kardamena around 9:00 a.m.
And then… another organized-chaotic ballet awaited us.
As we got off the bus, multiple groups from different pickups all converged toward the docks. An employee asked us to follow him to an embarkation area, then handed us colored cards that corresponded to our language and our assigned boat. We didn’t fully understand the system – but clearly, they did!
At the port, several boats were already waiting – including the Princess Maria, which would be ours. People were boarding in all directions, some already seated, others trying to figure out where to go… It felt rather disorganized at first glance, but looking back, everything eventually fell into place.
Finally, the Princess Maria left the port around 9:30 a.m. for a crossing of about one hour.
Second Step: Mandraki Village
This excursion was a little different from the one we took to Symi, as a guided tour was required for part of the visit in the village of Mandraki. Although our guide was friendly and shared interesting information, I personally would have preferred more free time to wander at my own pace. Mandraki is a charming, authentic village with a peaceful atmosphere – and I felt as though I didn’t have quite enough time to explore it the way I would have liked.
Fortunately, we still enjoyed the two hours of free time that followed. We first walked along the seaside path leading to Paralia Chochlaki, a volcanic beach known for its large dark pebbles. The contrast between the stone walkway, the black rocks, and the powerful waves crashing against the shore created a truly stunning scene. Even without swimming, it’s a beautiful place to see.
We then climbed the short staircase to the Panagia Spiliani Monastery (2€ per person in cash, not included in the excursion). Perched at the top of the hill, this small white and peaceful monastery offers an incredible panoramic view over Mandraki. The visit is brief, as the site is quite small, but it also includes a tiny museum of religious artifacts – simple but interesting.
Back in the village, we wandered through a few narrow streets before returning to a restaurant we had noticed earlier: Vegos Restaurant. The shaded terrace – beneath large trees – was the perfect spot for a lunch break. The portions were generous, the service warm, and a lady even greeted us in a bit of French, explaining that she had family in Québec. A lovely, unexpected moment that added charm to our day.
Time, however, was limited. Before visiting the volcano, we had about a 15-minute walk to reach the meeting point for the bus. We ate a little faster than we normally would have, but the meal remains a fond memory.
Third Step: The Volcano and Stefanos Crater
After our free time in Mandraki, we boarded the bus again and headed toward the Stefanos Crater, one of the most impressive volcanic sites in the Aegean Sea. For an additional 5€ per person (not included in the excursion), visitors can enter the site and walk directly inside the crater.
The experience is both strange and fascinating. From the very first steps, you notice the fumaroles rising from small cracks in the ground, the strong smell of sulfur, and above all, the heat radiating beneath your feet. The scenery feels almost lunar: a vast white basin streaked with shades of yellow and orange, surrounded by rocky cliffs that enhance the impression of standing in another world.
We took our time descending into the crater, walking slowly to observe the details of the ground and to take in this extraordinary landscape. For us, stepping inside the crater was truly a highlight – a special, almost surreal sensation that comes from walking inside an active volcano. It’s an experience completely different from anything we usually do while traveling, and that’s exactly what makes it so memorable.
Even though the site is spectacular, the visit itself is fairly short: around 30 minutes is enough to walk around, take photos, and fully absorb the atmosphere of the place.
After our time there, we boarded the bus once again and headed back to the port, where our boat was waiting to take us back to Kos.
If I Had More Time
Even though visiting the volcano is a unique and impressive experience, I still felt that we didn’t have quite enough time to fully enjoy the island. Mandraki is the kind of peaceful, delicate village that deserves to be savored slowly – its waterfront and narrow streets naturally invite you to slow down.
Between the mandatory guided tour and the travel time needed to reach the volcano, our free time in the village went by very quickly. I would have loved to:
- linger a bit longer by the water, simply sit and watch the waves crash against the black pebbles;
- take the time to wander through the narrow streets, without checking the time, just following my own rhythm;
- soak in more of the village’s atmosphere, which becomes so pleasant when you can slow down and truly settle into the moment.
It’s not necessarily an island where I would have spent the night – unlike Symi, it doesn’t offer the same kind of experience – but an extra hour or two would have made a real difference. With a little more time, we could have experienced Mandraki differently: less like a tightly timed stop on an itinerary, and more like a place where you can simply be.
In Conclusion
Nisyros was a very different kind of day compared to the other islands we visited in the Dodecanese: rawer, more volcanic, more mysterious. Walking inside the Stefanos crater will undoubtedly remain one of the most unusual moments of our entire trip – a simple yet unforgettable experience that reminds us just how powerful nature can be.
Even though the excursion was well organized and the volcano absolutely worth the journey, I was left with the feeling that the island still had more to offer. Mandraki charmed me with its softness, its whitewashed alleys, its volcanic shoreline… and I would have loved to linger there a little longer, just to feel the place at a slower pace.
Nisyros doesn’t have the postcard look of Symi, nor the historical grandeur of Rhodes, but it carries a personality of its own – shaped by the living earth beneath our feet. And it’s this contrast, between the peaceful village and the strength of the volcano, that makes the island so memorable.
If I had to do it all again, I would return without hesitation.
In Video
To complete this travel story, here is a visual glimpse of our day on Nisyros. Discover Mandraki, the volcanic beach, and the descent into the Stefanos crater – a striking landscape unlike anything else in the region.
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