A number of Dodecanese islands have laid claim to being the sponge fishing center of the Aegean but relatively quiet Kalymnos has a better claim than most. Yet to embrace mass tourism, Kalymnos is a medium-sized island north of Kos that hides its attractions behind superficially forbidding mountains and one of the largest and most dour of island towns in the Aegean. First impressions are, however, misleading, for between the mountains lie dark pockets of verdant vegetation, and there is certainly enough on the island to see if you don't mind poking around in dark holes to find it. In fact, holes are something of an island specialty. Not only are they abundant in the island's sponges, but Kalymnos has three caves visited by irregular excursions, and a whole lot more scattered around the island in which you can risk getting irrecoverably lost.



Pothia (also known as Kalymnos Town), which fills the floor of a sheltered bay on the mountainous south coast, is the capital of the island. Also the object of daily excursion boats from Kos Town, the Italiensque waterfront is arguably one of the best of its type in the Dodecanese. Lined with trees and tavernas, it manages to offset the unappealing size of the town that sprawls behind it surprisingly well; offering an active spot in which to watch the world go by.

Most tourists seem to spend a day in the capital and then rapidly head on over the hills to the expending resort/beach strip running along the north-west coast, opposite the island of Telendos. At the center of this strip is the resortified village of Mirities which has a pretty dire pebble beach. Thereafter the road takes you to the northen finger of Kalymnos which is very quiet, with a limited bus service. Despite this, it is worth visiting thanks to an interesting cave just outside the village of Skalia and the blissful isolation of the pebble beach village of Emporio which is attracting a growing number of those in the know.

The rest of Kalymnos tends to be little explored. The best and most popular alternative destination is the deep inlet of Vathi on the east coast. Set in a citrus-filled market-garden valley, the harbor of Rena offers accommodation properties and a notable sea cave.



Our website has been designed to help you find the right accommodation in Kalymnos for you and your friends or family. We have many different properties like studios, apartments or hotel rooms which you can book online at great rates and without any booking fees. In addition you can also book your car online through our website so you can have it waiting for you at the port or have it delivered at your hotel. In our pages you can find a detailed map of the island and a live webcam. Enjoy your holidays in beautiful Kalymnos!