Nisyros Island Mandraki, Greece
Frequently Asked Questions
Ships anchor offshore and tenders land passengers at the small port of Mandraki, the island's main town, where cube houses with blue shutters and pebble-paved lanes set the tone.
Yes, and it is the highlight of the call. The Stefanos crater, about 300 m across, opens at the edge of a caldera 3 to 4 km wide, and a path leads down inside. At the bottom fumaroles hiss, mud bubbles and the hot ground gives off the eggy smell of sulphur.
By shuttle or organised excursion, about twenty minutes' drive from the port. The road crosses the island's interior to the caldera rim.
Good shoes and water. There is no shade at the bottom of the crater, the ground is hot and the air heavy with sulphur. It is not dangerous, but it is demanding in strong heat.
Wander the lanes of Mandraki, built of volcanic stone and too narrow for cars, climb to the monastery of Panagia Spiliani set inside a cave, or head for the villages of Nikia and Emporios on the caldera rim.
About 270 from the port. The effort is repaid with a plunging view over the flat roofs of Mandraki and the Aegean. Just below lie the remains of Palaiokastro, an ancient acropolis with cyclopean walls of black basalt.
Yes. Chochlakia beach, behind the monastery, is lined with black pebbles polished by the waves; Lies and Pachia Ammos further along the north coast offer dark sand and clear water. The Loutra thermal baths, 1.5 km east of the port, use hot springs at around 37 degrees.
No, and the island makes no apology. No major ruins, no nightlife: Nisyros offers a direct encounter with the geological forces that shaped the Mediterranean. It is a nature call, not a heritage one.
A local almond drink found almost nowhere else, served in the cafés on Mandraki's main square. It is the refreshment to order on your way back from the volcano.
The euro and Greek. English gets by in the cafés and shops of Mandraki, but bring cash: the island is small and cards are not accepted everywhere.
