Getting from Spetses to Nisyros

If you are heading to Nisyros from Spetses you are making your way from a car-free island in the Saronic Gulf to one of the most geologically dramatic islands in the Dodecanese group, on the opposite side of the Aegean. 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 Spetses to Nisyros. Getting there means taking the Saronic ferry from Spetses to Piraeus, which runs up to 10 times daily and takes around 2 to 3.5 hours, and then either flying from Athens to Kos and taking the local ferry from Kos to Nisyros, which takes around 1 to 1.5 hours, or boarding the overnight Piraeus to Nisyros ferry. Flying is considerably more practical for most travelers.

Getting there by air

Nisyros has no airport. The nearest airport is Kos. Spetses has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Taking the Saronic ferry from Spetses to Piraeus, flying from Athens to Kos and then taking the local ferry from Kos to Nisyros gives a total journey time of around 5 to 6 hours. Check the Kos to Nisyros schedule before booking your flights as the service does not run daily. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the Saronic ferry from Spetses to Piraeus and fly from Athens to Kos, then take the local ferry across to Nisyros. Check the Kos to Nisyros schedule before booking your flights as the service does not run daily. Note that Spetses is car-free so if you are traveling with a car it would be at the mainland port of Kosta, from where you can drive to Piraeus and board the overnight Piraeus to Nisyros ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to the island.