Hiking across the lunar landscape of the Nisyros volcano feels like stepping into a science fiction film. A one-of-a-kind experience on an island unlike any other in the Aegean.
The aura of the volcano, the picturesque settlements with pebble-paved squares, the thermal hot springs, its wild allure and energy, make Nisyros a distinctive destination in the Aegean for holidays beyond the ordinary.
How would you feel about walking on an active volcano? On Nisyros you can have this one-of-a-kind experience. The island's most important attraction is undoubtedly its volcano, which you can visit. Hiking through this otherworldly landscape feels like stepping into a science-fiction film.
Nisyros: The newest active, large volcano in the Aegean
Northwest of Rhodes, between Kos, Tilos and Astypalea, Nisyros is a volcanic island that is part of the volcanic arc of southern Greece. 25,000 and 15,000 years ago, two eruptions of the volcano 'gave birth' to today's caldera with a diameter of 4 km. It is the newest active, large volcano in the Aegean. The oldest rocks are 160,000 years old, while the newer (prehistoric) ones are 15,000 years old, covering the entire island.
"Polyvotis", the volcano's largest crater, has a diameter of 260 m and a depth of 30 m. In the area there are another five craters, the largest of which is "Stefanos", with a diameter of 30 m and a depth of 30m, which is open to visitors. You can walk into the heart of the crater after a hike of about two and a half hours that starts from Mandraki, the island's capital. It's best to be there by 11 in the morning to avoid the buses with day-trippers.
As you descend into the vast crater, the yellow and white hues, the bubbling vents, the huge fissures and the smell of sulfur make the experience otherworldly. Here you'll truly feel the earth's warm breath beneath your feet.
Don't miss
- The picturesque village of Nikia with its famous pebble-paved Porta Square and panoramic views of the volcano is one of the places you shouldn't miss if you find yourself on Nisyros. There you'll see the beautiful Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, as well as Greece's only Volcanological Museum where you'll learn exactly how the island was formed.
- Emporios, with its distinctive architecture, is another village worth discovering. Wander through the neighborhoods of Panagia, Sotiras, Pyrgos, Moustafa, Ai-Nikolas, Kafka and enjoy the wonderful view toward the caldera.
