8 Reasons to Visit the Greek Volcanic Island of Nisyros

Harbour of Nisyros. Crédit: Dreizung / CC BY 3.0

Nisyros is 1 of the astir beauteous Aegean islands inactive untouched by tourism growth. It is portion of the Dodecanese radical of islands, and is situated betwixt Kos and Tilos. The land extends implicit a aboveground of 41 km and its coastline is 28 km long.

According to mythology, it was created during the warfare betwixt Gods and Giants. Poseidon chased the Giant Polyvotis down to Kos, chopped a portion of it, and threw it to his enemy, sinking him everlastingly successful the bottommost of the Aegean Sea.

The legendary stone is the modern Nisyros, and it is said that the volcano’s explosions are the aggravated breathing of the defeated Giant. These explosions shaped the island, which is considered to beryllium the youngest volcanic halfway successful Greece inactive active—along with the volcanoes of Milos, Santorini, and Methana.

These are the apical 8 reasons to sojourn the island.

Amazing Villages, Mandraki largest 1 successful Nisyros

Mandraki, Nisyros Village. Crédit: Mike1979 Russia / CC BY-SA 3.0

There are respective quaint villages connected the island, the largest being Mandraki. It looks similar it is consecutive from a representation book, with its accepted architecture and large views.

In the constrictive pebble streets and squares astir the colony you tin instrumentality a stroll and consciousness arsenic though you person traveled backmost to an past time. Homes are made of volcanic rocks, insulated with pumice stone, and boast woody balconies.

Nightlife connected Nisyros has thing similar the hectic gait of the enactment islands of Greece. You volition find quaint section tavernas and bars wherever you tin bask your lazy summertime nights.

Nisyros’ past volcano

Nisyros Volcano. Crédit: S.Nikolakakos / CC BY-SA 4.0

You tin really spell to the halfway of the island, locomotion on the volcano rim, and ticker the boiling holes. The volcano hasn’t erupted since 1888 and is spectacular.

The Volcanological Museum successful Nikia

Located astatine the borderline of the caldera, the presumption is breathtaking and you tin larn a happening oregon 2 astir your surroundings. 3D animated images illustrating assorted aspects of volcanos and their enactment are available, truthful beryllium definite to cheque them out.

Paleokastro, Nisyros’s Acropolis

Paleokastro, Nisyros. Crédit: Mike1979 Russia / CC BY-SA 3.0

Dating backmost to the classical play and ruins of the past city, the Paleokastro is constructed from 1 of the hardest rocks successful each the world, basaltic andesite, which is simply a volcanic rock. This has helped sphere the acropolis passim the transition of time.

A Monastery Built successful a Cave

Monastery Panagia Spiliani implicit tiny municipality Mandraki . Crédit: Karelj, Public Domain

The Monastery of Panagia Spiliani sits astatine the apical of a elevation successful northwest Mandraki, the largest information of it being located wrong a cave. A genuinely unsocial experience, the cave is divided into 2 churches and is decidedly worthy a visit.

Nisyros’ Thermal Spas

At respective points on the seashore of Nisyros, you volition find spouting blistery h2o springs astatine temperatures varying from 30 to 60 degrees Celsius. The springs are known for being therapeutic for muscular and tegument issues.

Around 1.5 km eastbound from the larboard of Mandraki, you volition find the thermal spa of Loutra with blistery outpouring waters astatine 37 degrees Celsius.

Nisyros’s beauteous beaches and debased traffic

Pachia Ammos Beach. Crédit: DocWoKav / CC BY-SA 4.0,

Due to the debased postulation connected the island, the beaches of Nisyros are ace cleanable and relaxing.

You tin spell to a antithetic formation everyday, arsenic determination are galore to take from. Some favorites are Lefki formation oregon Gialiskari, Lyés, Páloi, Pachia Ammos, Katsouni, Aghios Savas, Aghia Irini, and Chochlakia.

Must Try Local Cuisine

There are galore accepted dishes that you volition brushwood connected Nisyros. Some emblematic “spitiko” oregon homemade flavors are pita, chickpea nuggets, and kapamas, which is stuffed goat. Of course, arsenic you are connected an island, determination is ever caller seafood available, too!

Getting There

You tin get to Nisyros from Kos oregon arsenic portion of a circuit of different islands of the Dodecanese, arsenic good arsenic from Piraeus port.