Getting from Chios to Nisyros

If you are heading to Nisyros from Chios you are making your way from one of the most overlooked islands in the northeastern Aegean to one of the most geologically dramatic islands in the Dodecanese group, on the opposite side of Greece. The entire island sits inside a volcanic caldera and the crater at Stefanos is one of the most accessible volcanic landscapes in Europe.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Chios to Nisyros. Getting there by sea means taking the ferry from Chios to Samos and then connecting south through the Dodecanese network to Kos, from where the local ferry to Nisyros takes around 1 to 1.5 hours. Alternatively take the overnight Chios to Piraeus ferry and then fly to Kos, followed by the local ferry across to Nisyros. The total journey by sea takes the better part of two days.

Getting there by air

Nisyros has no airport. The nearest airport is Kos. Chios has its own airport with daily connections from Athens. Flying from Chios to Athens and then Athens to Kos, followed by the local ferry from Kos to Nisyros, gives a total journey time of around 4 to 5 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Fly from Chios to Athens and then fly to Kos and take the local ferry across to Nisyros. Check the Kos to Nisyros schedule before booking your flights as the service does not run daily. If you are traveling with a car, take the overnight ferry from Chios to Piraeus and board the overnight Piraeus to Nisyros ferry, which takes your vehicle.