Kalymnos, the craggy island of the Dodecanese

The island of Kalymnos is famous for its rock climbing and sponge production. Not far from Leros and Kos, if you’d like to visit this island, here’s what we’ve selected for you during our trip. so here’s what to do on Kalymnos

As soon as you arrive in Kalymnos, the towns of Pothia and Horio give you the feeling of a traditional, hard-working island. The port of Pothia may not have much charm, but the rest of the island is full of hidden treasures. Indeed, at first glance, the island seems “closed”. This is partly due to its geography, as it is very hilly. And with good reason: the east and north of the island are made up of immense cliffs.

The charming villages of Vathy and Myrties are opening up to tourism. Resolutely sea-facing, they are the starting point for excursions to neighboring islets.

Many people have fallen in love with Kalymnos and set down roots here.

Wondering what to see and do in Kalymnos, Greece? Check out our Top 7 must-sees and practical tips.

1 – Enjoy the pleasures of the sea on the island’s west coast

From the western part of the island, you’ll be able to admire sumptuous sunsets.

Myrties, Massouri and Arméos, seaside towns

The three villages form a small tourist area in their own right. Hotels, restaurants and bars are concentrated here. Tourist beaches offer the services of a real seaside resort. It’s not unusual to come across Anglo-Saxons who have fallen in love with the island and chosen to settle here.

Panormos and its sandy beaches

A little further south, Panormos is a charming village. From the village, you can access two sandy beaches, Linaria and Kantouni. Both beaches have pleasant tavernas and bars where you can linger at the end of the day.

2 – Take a caique excursion to the nearby islet of Telendos

The island of Telendos, which can be admired from Myrties and Masouri, is a surprising islet where vehicles are prohibited. The island was once attached to Kalymnos, but is said to have been separated by an earthquake. It is located just 10 minutes by boat from Myrties.

Although the islet has accommodation and tavernas, it’s mainly a day trip by caiques. The islet has few accessible beaches, so a boat trip is recommended. You can then discover the neighboring islets of Kalolymnos, Pserimos and Telendos, or visit the caves, notably those of Kefalas in the north of the island. Caves steeped in mythology, since they were home to Ulysses’ famous mermaids in Homer’s Odyssey.

3 – Discover the north of the island

North of Masouri, the road runs along the coast, which becomes wilder as you pass a pebble beach surrounded by cliffs with a very special atmosphere.

Heading even further north, you’ll reach the village of Emborios, at the end of a road running along the cliff and not much else. While the village itself is not particularly interesting, the surrounding pebble beaches are well worth a visit. These wild beaches give you the impression of being at the end of the world.

From Emborios, you can easily reach Palionisos, the only beach to the east of the island. Here again, the decorum is majestic: cliffside roads and monasteries built in the most unlikely places.

4 – Horio, the island’s ancient capital

Horio is the island’s historic village. The ruins of the Kastro, a pirate-proof building, can be found high up on the hill. We also recommend a visit to the interesting little Museum of Popular Art.

5 – Visit the stunning village of Vathy

Getting to Vathy, south-east of Kalymnos, is a magical experience. Vathy is a geographical curiosity, with a fjord-like isthmus about 1 km deep and very narrow. Vathy” means “at the bottom” in Greek. In the background, then, you’ll find a small fishing village with a few stores and tavernas. The island’s oldest chapel is also worth a visit.

Unfortunately, there’s very little excitement, as Vathy is the preferred stopover for organized excursions from Pothia, Kos and even Bodrum. The huge boats unload their streams of tourists and the small village is submerged….

In short, you need to choose the right moment to enjoy it to the full. Avoid lunchtime!

6 – To do on Kalymnos, a paradise for climbers and climbing enthusiasts

Thanks to its mountains, the island enjoys a worldwide reputation for the quality of its climbing spots. In fact, the Kalymnos Climbing Festival is organized every two years. The cliffs, caves and panoramic views over the Aegean Sea are exceptional for climbing enthusiasts.

What’s more, the island’s mild climate means that this sport can be enjoyed over a wide season, from April to November. Sporting activities attract a younger tourist segment that differs from other islands.

If you want to enjoy climbing in complete safety and peace of mind, we recommend this introductory outdoor climbing course, designed for indoor climbers or beginners on rock. Or this climbing course for climbers with some climbing experience who want to learn multi-pitch techniques. Rock climbing on the shores of the Aegean Sea!

7 – Sponges, a speciality of Kalymnos

We recommend that you visit one of the stores selling sponges. Because it’s been the island’s specialty for centuries.

Thesponge is a flower and the peach is deep. It can be done in apnea or with a diving suit. In those days, there were often decompression accidents, and the island is marked by this demanding fishery.

In Horio’s stores or in Pothia’s factories, you can buy sponges and see how they are fished and processed.

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In short, there’s plenty to do on Kalymnos.

Didier Pesson

Didier, one of our readers, lover of the Dodecanese and founder of Dodeca.online, shares his passion with us. So we offered him this platform to tell us about the island of Kalymnos. Find all the best addresses in Dodecanese and Kalymnos on its website Dodeca.Online .

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Now that we’ve inspired you to visit Kalymnos, here are a few practical tips for your stay on the island. The best time to visit Kalymnos is between April and October, when temperatures are warm and the weather is sunny.

How to get to Kalymnos

By ferry: It’s easy to get to Kalymnos by ferry. Either from the port of Piraeus in Athens, or from Kos and Leros, the neighboring islands you can easily visit before or after your stay in Kalymnos. To find ferry timetables and book your trip, we recommend the following website Ferry Hopper. Quick and easy to use.

By plane: Kalymnos also has an airport with connections to Athens. You can view the different flights on the Aegean Airline. As well as being in English, the site also offers excellent customer service. The neighboring islands of Kos and Leros also have airports.

Getting around and staying in Kalymnos

Sleeping on Kalymnos

Before you leave, we recommend that you rent accommodation. The island has a great offer on Booking:
hotels, apartments with sea views, privately rented houses… Feel free to read the comments to get an idea of the rental. What’s more, many accommodations offer free cancellation.

Getting around Kalymnos

Here are several transport options for visiting the island of Kalymnos:

• Bus: the Kalymnos municipal bus service connects Pothia with the island’s main villages, including Kasteli, Emborios, Vathy, Vlyhadia, Masouri, Myrties, Skalia… Timetable for information only.
• The scooter: ideal if you’re alone or a couple, a little less so if you’re a family with children.
• The car: this is our preferred means of transport, so that we always have our beach bag with us, and can scout out pretty vistas and quiet, secluded beaches, being autonomous and free to leave whenever we like. We recommend Rentalcars which compares the various offers available on the island. You’ll also find rental companies on site.
• Cabs: for those who don’t want to cover every inch of the island
• On foot!