Getting from Athens to Nisyros

If you are heading to Nisyros from Athens you are going to one of the most geologically dramatic islands in Greece. Nisyros is an active volcano and the entire island sits inside a caldera. The crater at Stefanos is one of the most accessible and visually extraordinary volcanic landscapes in Europe, a wide sulphurous basin of steaming vents and yellowed rock that you can walk across and stand inside. The main village of Mandraki is beautiful, with whitewashed houses, a black pebble beach and a castle above the town. The island is quiet, the food is good and it has a physicality and rawness that sets it apart from almost anywhere else in the Aegean.

Take the ferry

There is a direct ferry from Piraeus to Nisyros operated by Blue Star Ferries, running twice a week year-round. The crossing takes around 13 to 14 hours and is a long overnight journey through the Dodecanese. It is a feasible option if you want to arrive without flying, but the twice-weekly frequency means you need to plan carefully around the departure days. Nisyros is also connected to Kos and Rhodes by more frequent local Dodekanisos Seaways services, which are the more practical approach for most travellers.

What about flying?

Nisyros has no airport. The nearest airports are Kos and Rhodes. Flying from Athens to Kos takes around 1 hour and from Kos the local ferry to Nisyros takes around 1 to 1.5 hours with several daily crossings. Total travel time via Kos is around 3 to 4 hours. Flying to Rhodes and connecting by ferry is also possible but adds time.

Your best option

Fly to Kos and take the local ferry across to Nisyros. It is the fastest and most practical approach by a significant margin compared to the 13-hour direct ferry from Piraeus. Check the Kos to Nisyros schedule on Ferryhopper before booking your flights.