General
Kalymnos belongs to the Dodecanese Islands in the Aegean Sea. It is located 183 nm SE of Athens and 85 nm NW of Rhodes, which is the capital of the region. Kalymnos is the fifth largest island in the Dodecanese (109km2) with a population of approximately 17,000 residents. Many smaller islands are nearby, three of which are inhabited: Pserimos, Telendos and Plati.
The capital of Kalymnos is Pothia – a lively and picturesque town built around the port and combining island traditions with the hustle and bustle of a modern town. The small, attractive villages of Panormos, Myrties, Masouri, Arginonta, Skalia and Emporios are to the west and north, while Vothini, Vlichadia and Vathi are to the south and east.
Although once known as “Isola Umbrosa”, the island of shade, today the island is virtually bare of trees. The impressive rocky landscape which gives the island its distinctive personality is, however, dotted with low vegetation. This barren land was what drove locals to the sea to earn a living; many men became sponge-divers, a traditional occupation for which the island was best known until the onset of rock climbing.
Getting there
Kalymnos is a small island, so it is relatively hard to reach. The trip usually involves at least one layover, and airfare to Kalymnos costs more than to most other European climbing destinations. On the other hand, once you get there, additional expenses are limited. Getting around the island is easy, so it is not necessary to rent a car. Also, room and restaurant prices are much lower compared to the rest of Greece and mainland Europe.
The most common ways to get to Kalymnos are the following:
1. Fly charter to Kos & take a boat from Kos to Kalymnos
A charter flight to the neighbouring island of Kos is probably the most economic and fastest solution. Between April and October, all major European airports offer charter flights to Kos with the price of a return ticket ranging between €150-400. An alternative solution is to look for a holiday package based in Kos, something you will not need to use but may still be a better value. One or two holiday companies offer packages based on Kalymnos (though the season is shorter than those for Kos).
Once you have landed in Kos, take a taxi to Mastichari port and catch the next boat to Kalymnos from there (see below). Mastichari port is 10 minutes by taxi from Kos airport and the taxi ride costs €10.
Regular ferries and smaller speed boats make the Mastichari – Pothia (Kalymnos) route daily. The ferry ride takes approximately 45 minutes and costs €3.50; the speedboat takes approximately 25 minutes and costs €6.00. There are several connections between Kos and Kalymnos every day (between 6-10 routes per day), year-round. In fact, many people from Kalymnos work on Kos, and they commute between islands daily. The sea connection between Kos and Kalymnos is only interrupted by severe winds. This does not happen often; when it does, though, and if your travel is not flexible (i.e. staying an extra night or rescheduling flights) you can use the ‘last-resort’ option of captain Arvithis. He ferries passengers between the two islands when all other sea transport is cut off (for the hefty fee of approximately 20 euros / person, but that, we suspect, is subject to the number of people). You can reach him on his cell phone: 0030-697-747-0993 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0030-697-747-0993 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0030-697-747-0993 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
When you arrive at Pothia (the main port in Kalymnos) you will find a number of taxis waiting. A taxi ride to Massouri costs between €10-15, depending on the number of passengers and luggage. Alternatively, you can rent a scooter or car, or inquire about the public bus schedule departing in front of the City Hall. There is a tourist information kiosk at the exit from the port.
Useful links and telephone numbers:
To check the Kos – Kalymnos ferry timetable, click here and enter ‘Mastichari’ and ‘Kalymnos’ in the respective fields.
You can also call the Port Authority of Kos for an automated timetable message in English on the following number: +30 22420 26594.
In the unlikely event that there is no taxi waiting at Pothia, call the taxi station on the following number: +30 22430 50300.
2. Fly to Athens, take a second flight to Kos & take a boat from Kos to Kalymnos
If you haven’t found a direct flight to Kos, you can fly to the Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) and then catch another flight to Kos. There are cheap flights to Athens available if you book in advance. Easyjet flies to Athens regularly from many major European cities. From the airport of Athens there are at least 3 daily flights to Kos on the two major Greek air carriers, Olympic and Aegean . A return ticket costs approximately €150.
To get from Kos to Kalymnos, follow the steps detailed on #1.
3. Fly to Athens & take a second flight to Kalymnos
The Kalymnos airport opened in 2006. Olympic Air flies from Athens to Kalymnos (and back) once a day, and a return ticket costs approximately €150. Now you’re probably wondering, “Then why do people fly to Kos instead of directly to Kalymnos?” The problem with the Kalymnos airport is that it is small; its runway can only accommodate smaller prop aircraft, and if the weather is bad or windy the Athens – Kalymnos flight is cancelled. The much bigger airport of Kos is able to accommodate larger aircraft in all weather conditions, so to be sure many travelers just book for Kos. Unfortunately there is no way to know beforehand if your flight to Kalymnos will be cancelled, as the decision is made on the same day. What to do if you arrive at the Athens airport and find out your flight to Kalymnos was cancelled? Run over to the Olympic Air ticketing desk and ask to get on the next flight to Kos. If the ticket to Kos is more expensive, you will be asked to pay the difference.
To get from Kos to Kalymnos, follow the steps detailed on #1.
4. Fly to Athens & take the ferry to Kalymnos
The ferries to Kalymnos depart from the main port of Athens, Piraeus. From the Athens International Airport (see #2) there are two ways to get to Piraeus: the metro or the X96 express bus.
Metro (total time approximately 1hr): The metro departs every 30 minutes and costs €6.00. Follow the signs in the airport toward the station. Take the metro (line 3) to Monastiraki Station. Get off at Monastiraki and transfer to the green line (line 1) which ends at Piraeus. When you get off at Piraeus station (the terminal station), go across the street on the bridge and into the port. You will see a bus stop inside the port; a free bus stops here every 10-15 minutes. Take the free bus to Gate E1 (at the western edge of the port, about 5-10 min on the free bus) which is where the ferries to Kalymnos depart. The booking office is just opposite the departing boats. Unless it is summer or Easter, you don’t need to book in advance.
Express Bus #X96 (total time approximately 1hr 15min): The bus departs every 20 or every 40 minutes, depending on the time of day, and it costs €3.20. The buses are stationed just outside the ‘Arrivals’, between exits 4 and 5, at the Athens airport. Take the X96 to the main train station at Piraeus. Get off and you will see the port. Go inside the port and take the free bus to gate E1 (see above, ‘metro’ details).
Typically, there are ferries from Piraeus to Kalymnos every 2 days. They usually depart in the evening and follow the Piraeus-Patmos-Leros-Kalymnos-Kos-Rhodos line. The journey from Athens to Kalymnos takes about 12 hours and the one-way economy ticket costs approximately €40, while a one-way ticket with cabin costs approximately €60. Prices change often, so we will do our best to keep them up-to-date.
Ferries travel year-round; however, timetables change every month. Therefore, it is essential that you check the ferry timetable a month prior to your travel dates to make sure you get the latest schedules. Sea travel in Greece is continuous, and it is only interrupted if weather conditions are very severe (wind speed exceeds Force 8). This is rare, and usually lasts no more than a day. To be sure, though, always check the weather forecast 1-2 days before your departure and possibly bring forward your departure from the island.
Please note that ferry timetables become available at the beginning of each month, as they change every month.
To view the ferry timetable and / or book your tickets click on the following links:
www.ferries.gr
www.openseas.gr
5. Fly charter to Rhodes & take a ferry from Rhodes to Kalymnos
A less popular but equally possible alternative is to fly to Rhodes then come to Kalymnos. A charter flight to Rhodes (or Rodos) is quite cheap, as Rhodes is one of the most important and busiest destinations in Greece. Once you fly to Rhodes you would have to go to the port; from there, a ferry, catamaran or other speedboat connects to Kalymnos. Between April and October speedboats connect Rhodes to Kalymnos daily and the journey takes approximately 3 hours. A return ticket costs about 65 Euros. There are no speedboats during the winter months, although ferries of the Rhodes-Piraeus line do travel daily to Kos and Kalymnos (about 5 hours). While you’re at it, it is truly worth seeing the Medieval City in Rhodes before you embark on your journey for Kalymnos.
To view the ferry timetable and / or book your tickets click on the following links:
www.ferries.gr
www.openseas.gr
Accommodation & amenities
Hotels and rental rooms in Kalymnos are widely available –the latter at very reasonable prices. There are places to stay throughout the island, so no matter which part of Kalymnos you stay in you will never be too far from a good selection of climbing crags. On the other hand, there is no organised campsite on Kalymnos, and unregulated free camping is strictly prohibited.
Most hotel rooms in Kalymnos cost around €40-60 per day (depending on season) with breakfast. Studio apartments with private bathrooms cost approximately €20-30 per day, and they feature kitchenettes so you can prepare your own meals.
Which areas in Kalymnos are closest to the climbing crags? The villages of Armeos, Massouri and Myrties are the preferred choice of climbers. The villages face the small (but steep!) island of Telendos as they are built along the road above the west-facing shoreline. Besides hotels and rental rooms, these villages of Kalymnos feature a number of restaurants, coffee shops, small bars, mini markets, clubs, an internet café, shops to hire a scooter or a car, souvenir shops, a laundry and two climbing shops. There is an ATM machine (cash machine) at the centre of Massouri, which works primarily in the spring and summer months. If this ATM is not working, the next available ATM machine is about 7 minutes away by scooter, in Elies (on the way from Massouri to Pothia) just opposite “Marinos” restaurant. Furthermore, there are several cash machines in Pothia. Most shops in this area are open from April through early November. Tap water in Kalymnos is not drinkable, but there are two springs in Massouri where you can fill up your bottles with drinking / cooking water. Finally, there is no longer a Laundromat on the island, but ask your hotel / landlord whether they provide laundry services (most do).
Panormos, Kantouni, Linaria and Platis Yialos are situated between the most popular climbing sectors and Pothia, the capital of Kalymnos. It only takes a few minutes from here to reach the climbing areas by scooter. The petrol / gas station closest to the climbing sectors is in the village of Elies.
Arginonta, Skalia and Emporios are tiny villages situated northwest, in the quietest part of Kalymnos, yet near some of the most outstanding climbing sectors.
Accommodation advertised in the Kalymnos Rock Climbing Guidebook is highly recommended, as it includes facilities open for business year-round and aimed mostly at climbers. We would strongly suggest you book your accommodation in Kalymnos in advance, especially if you are visiting Kalymnos in May or October.
Local Transport
If you stay in Massouri or Armeos you can easily reach the most important climbing crags of Kalymnos (from Poets to Kastelli). Most crags can be approached on foot in 15-60 minutes. Still, the cheap and enjoyable alternative preferred by most climbers on Kalymnos is to hire a scooter. The distance to the climbing sectors in Kalymnos is usually short (4-5 km). Hiring a scooter will cost about €7-10 per day and a driver’s license is required. The scooter can easily accommodate two passengers plus all their equipment, especially if the scooter has a space at the driver’s feet for extra storage. If you’d rather avoid a scooter, you can rent a car for approximately €30 per day. If your budget can’t cover either solution you can take the public bus, which costs €1 (price in 2009/10). The bus schedule is not very frequent. Busses between Pothia and Massouri run every hour in the summer months, and every 2 hours the rest of the year. Busses between Pothia and the villages of Arginonta, Skalia & Emporios are less frequent (twice per day, in the morning and afternoon). Many important crags are situated along the road to these villages (for example, sectors Arhi, Ghost Kitchen, Amphitheatre, Galatiani, Local Cave, Summertime and others). The bus timetable changes depending on season, but it is posted at the bus stops. You can buy bus tickets at most mini markets and convenience stores. The bus timetable is displayed at the bus stops. Last but not least, a ‘greener’ (and usually quieter) option is to rent a bicycle for about €3 per day.
Please remember to drive carefully and always, always wear your helmet!
Useful numbers
Area code +30 22430 (unless noted otherwise)
| Port Authority | 29304 / 24444 |
| Taxi station | 50300 |
| Tourist information | 59056 |
| Tourist kiosk at port | 50879 |
| Police | 22100 |
| Hospital | 23025 |
| Climbing info desk | 59445 |
| Aris Theodoropoulos | +30 694 450 5279 |
| Travel agencies | |
| ANEM (Ferries from Kos) | (+30 22420) 59124 / 59027 |
| Kalderis | 28186 / 29031 |
| Kalymna Yachting (Kalymnos Dolphin) | 29430 / 29125 |
| Kouremeti | 28651 |
| Magos | 28777 /28652 |
| Mahias Travel | 22640 /22909 |
| Olympic Airways (Karellas-Travel) | 29265 |
Internet
Official Web site: www.kalymnos.gr