Kalymnos
Photo: Greece Field Guide
The Verdict
A bare limestone island of sponge divers and rock climbers: steep cliffs, deep water, and a season that runs outside summer.
Why go
Kalymnos is limestone from top to bottom and steep everywhere, which makes it one of the best climbing destinations in Europe and an awkward place to farm. The diving past is still alive in the harbour at Pothia — sponges are sold on the quay and the boats that went out for them are remembered in a small museum. The coast road runs the length of the island with coves below it, and the village of Vathi sits at the head of an inlet that looks like a fjord. Come in spring or autumn for the climbing; the island is at its best when it is not August.
Understand the place
A Dodecanese island of steep grey cliffs above deep blue water, known for its sponge-diving past and now for its rock climbing.
Towns & villages
Pothia
The capital of Kalymnos, arranged round a horseshoe harbour with sponge shops on the quay and houses climbing the hills behind.
“A lively harbour town of sponges, fishing boats and steep streets, and the working heart of Kalymnos.”
Vathi
A small village at the head of a deep inlet in northern Kalymnos, ringed by hills with a narrow entrance from the sea.
“A village at the head of an inlet so enclosed it reads as a fjord, with a few tavernas and water you can swim in.”
Easy to combine with
Logically reachable by transport. Confirm current ferry/flight schedules before booking.
Nearby
Related
Sources
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