The Perfect Day Trip from Kardamena: Nisyros Island Volcano Tour

If you are staying in Kardamena, you have a massive advantage over tourists staying anywhere else on Kos: you are right at the gateway to the volcanic island of Nisyros.

Taking a day trip to Nisyros is an absolute must-do. Here is why it is the perfect excursion and how to do it.

The Journey Begins at Your Doorstep The ferry boats to Nisyros depart directly from the Kardamena port every morning. Because you are staying at Pittas Studios, you don't need to wake up at dawn or catch a 45-minute bus ride across Kos to get to the boat. You can enjoy a relaxed breakfast and take a short, pleasant walk down to the harbor. The boat ride itself takes about 45 to 60 minutes across the beautiful Aegean Sea.

Walking Inside an Active Volcano Nisyros is not just a rocky island; it is an active (though sleeping) volcano. The highlight of the trip is driving up into the island's center to visit the Stefanos Crater.

• The Experience: You can actually walk down into the massive crater. You will see bubbling mud pools, smell the sulfur in the air, and feel the heat of the earth beneath your feet. It is a surreal, lunar-like landscape that you won't easily forget.

Exploring Mandraki Village After the volcano, the tours usually take you back to Mandraki, the capital and port of Nisyros. This village is picture-perfect.

• Wander through narrow, labyrinth-like streets lined with white-washed houses and bright blue doors.

• Visit the Panagia Spiliani monastery, which is built high up inside a cave overlooking the sea.

• Sit in the charming Ilikiata square under the shade of massive trees and try Soumada, a traditional sweet, non-alcoholic drink made from local almonds.

Exclusive Pittas Studios Perk: How to Book While anyone can buy boat tickets from the kiosks along the harbor, our guests get VIP treatment. We have partnered with the best and most reliable tour offices in Kardamena to offer exclusive, discounted prices just for Pittas Studios guests. Whether you want a fully guided volcano tour with a bus transfer on the island or just a simple ferry ticket to explore at your own pace, we've got you covered. Just speak to us during your stay, and we will happily arrange the perfect excursion for you at a better rate than you'll find on the street!