This nearly round island of only 41 square kilometers lies to the south of Kos and to the northwest of Tilos in the Dodecanese. Nissiros (also often spelled Nisiros, Nisyros, and Nissyros) is quite well known for its triple-crater volcano, still venting and hissing and spewing smelly sulfur. Certainly any visit to this island, whether for a short or long holiday, or on a daytrip from nearby Kos or Rhodes, must include a visit and descent to the crater floor. The island's coastline is only 28 kilometers long, and while its beaches are not its main feature, there are some really nice ones that require either a long walk or a short ride by motorbike.

The port and capital of the island is called Mandraki, situated on the northwest coast of the Nissyros island. The majority of the island's year round population of 1,200 or so make this their home. It's a very pretty little town, with houses packed densely together and tiny alleyways leading here and there. Within the town are many tavernas and small bars.

The history of Nissiros is very similar to that of its neighbors, but its mythology is interesting. There once was a mean old giant called Polybotes, whom Poseidon, god of the sea, wanted to kill.  He picked up a rock (actually a piece of the island of Kos) and hurled it at the giant who was crushed, but not killed, beneath the rock. The rock was Nissiros, and the giant was now firmly trapped beneath it forever more. Rumbling, growling, and hissing (metaphors for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions), the giant continues to protest his entrapment to this day.