Situated between Tilos and Kos in the Dodecanese, Nisyros is a small island with a big heart and a wealth of ancient and modern history for visitors to explore. If you’re taking a sailing charter in the region the we recommend making a stop at this island, but it can also be visited on a day-trip from one of the near-by islands and some guests even choose to fly in by helicopter—the next big thing to arriving on your own personal yacht.
Nisyros is a volcanic island and there are still some indications of this destructive history today, including the Stefanos crater, which is said to have been formed over 100,000 years ago. The winds on this island can also be very strong thanks to something known as the Etesian winds, which leaves its mark on the island’s western and eastern perimeter during the summer months.
Don’t let that put you off though—this is no longer an active volcanic region and they don’t even get that many earthquakes.
Nisyros also plays a unique role in Greek history and mythology. It was apparently formed when Poseidon ripped off a piece of neighboring island Kos and threw it at a retreating giant, and it was of great importance to the ancient Greeks, who built an acropolis here over 2,500 years ago, and the Knights Hospitaller, who settled here in the 14th century.
Obviously, there are no remains of that great mythological battle between the sea god and a fleeing giant, but visitors to the island can still see some ruins that are over 2,500 years old and they can also see a lot of the medieval history left by the Knights Hospitaller.
There are also a number of beautiful churches and monasteries on the island of Nisyros, in addition to an ancient castle. In other words, there is more than enough to sate the appetite of any history-hungry tourist.
The anchorages on Nisyros:
