Getting from Symi to Nisyros

If you are heading to Nisyros from Symi you are making your way from one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese to one of the most geologically dramatic islands in the same group, to the north. 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 a direct ferry connection from Symi to Nisyros via the Dodecanese network. Getting there means taking the ferry from Symi north through the Dodecanese, with Dodekanisos Seaways connecting several times a week and taking around 2 to 3 hours. This keeps the journey entirely within the Dodecanese without going through Athens or Piraeus. Check the schedule carefully before booking as departure days vary by season.

Getting there by air

Nisyros has no airport. The nearest airport is Kos. Symi has no airport. The nearest airport is Rhodes. Taking the ferry from Symi to Rhodes and flying from Rhodes to Athens and then to Kos, followed by the local ferry to Nisyros, is considerably less practical than the direct ferry connection within the Dodecanese. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Symi north through the Dodecanese to Nisyros. It keeps the journey entirely within the Dodecanese and avoids Athens entirely. Check the schedule carefully before booking as departure days and times vary by season. The two islands make a natural pairing given their dramatic settings and a visit to both in the same trip is well worth planning. Note that Symi is car-free so if you are traveling with a car it would already be in Rhodes, from where the conventional ferry continues north through the Dodecanese to Nisyros.