Kalymnos is a tourist paradise with its excellent beaches, villages, taverns and delicious food. It attracts visitors with its untouched nature, simplicity and dazzling history. The story of how Kalymnos Island got its name is an extraordinary chain of events. According to Greek mythology, the Titans, the children of Uranus and Gaea, descend to earth before the Gods and the Olympians. They ruled during the Golden Age and became one of the first settlers of the Greek islands. According to mythology, the name of Kalymnos Island comes from this Titan Kalidnos.
Kalymnos is an island that has been affected by disasters and earthquakes for centuries. Especially in the earthquake in 535, the morphology of the island completely changed. Telendos, which was in Kalymnos before the earthquake, left the island after the earthquake and became a small island. Kalymnos, which remained in Venetian hands until the 13th century, was officially annexed to Greece on March 7, 1948.
Kalymnos, one of the northernmost islands of the Dodecanese Islands, is in the southeast of the Aegean Sea. It is 100 km northwest of Rhodes, with Leros Islands to the north and Kos to the south. It is known for its proximity to the Turkish coast in the south. The distance between Kalymnos, which is between Kos and Leros island, and Kos is approximately 12 km.
Although it is a small island with a surface area of 399.7 km², its population is over 16 thousand. Other names of the island, which is famous for its sponge hunting and rock climbing activities, are Kelemez and Kilimli.
The island is famous for its quiet beaches and natural routes perfect for walking, and its bays are sheltered. Vathy Bay, located in the east, is a narrow bay and extends into the island. Defined as a Climbing Paradise, Kalymnos is among the first islands that come to mind when it comes to climbing, diving tourism and sponge diving. Climbing is also supported by the island municipality to make it a safe activity on the island, where the rocks immediately attract attention.
A 2-3 day holiday will be enough to explore Kalymnos and visit the must-see places. If you want to add rock climbing and diving to your trip, you should keep this time longer. Kalymnos is a perfect tourist destination with its taverns, walking routes, beautiful beaches, museums and historical buildings. Pothia, Hellenika Region, Chrysocheria Castle, Diliou Temple of Apollo, Kalymnos Areology Museum, Neoclassiko Collection Building, Kalymnos Maritime Museum, Agios Savas Monastery and Papachatzis Sponge Factory are places that tourists enjoy visiting.
Spreading across the bay in the form of a long curve, Pothia is the center of Kalymnos and the Main Port Area. It attracts the attention of tourists with its unique architectural appearance. It looks like a natural amphitheater with its houses lined up on gradually rising slopes. Their houses are painted pink or mustard colour. Tourists who stroll through the streets lined with houses of neoclassical architecture feel the Italian breeze. Sponge Factory and Kalymnos Archeology Museum are in Pothia. Here you can find many shops selling local handicrafts and souvenirs, and after eating delicious food at Pothia restaurants, you can take an evening stroll in the harbour.
The famous "Lady of Kalymnos" statue is exhibited in the museum, which was opened in 2005. Many tourists come every year to see the work that reveals the Hellenistic art of sculpture. B.C. Coins, ceramics, jewellery, marble and bronze sculptures, frescoes and manuscripts from the Byzantine period and AD are also exhibited. In the museum, which also includes the ruins of the Temple of Delian Apollo and the Temple of Asclepius, decrees and inscriptions describing the life of the people of the period attract the attention of tourists. Visitors are welcome to enter the museum four days a week, for a certain fee.
14-16. Chrysocheria Castle, built in the centuries BC, is on a hill opposite the village of Chorio. It is known that the castle, located near the Cave of the Seven Virgins, was built by the Knights of St. John. In the rocky geography of the island, there is also a church with the same name as the castle built on the rocks. Chrysocheria Church is better preserved than the castle and is still visited. Inside the church, Hz. There is an icon of Mary holding a golden leaf in her hands. Those who claim that the name of the island means "woman with golden hands" strengthen their claims with the icon of Mary's hands.
In Chrysocheria Castle, decorated with Byzantine frescoes; Remains from the Hellenistic, Mycenaean, Byzantine and Neolithic periods have been identified. Entrance to the castle is free. In addition to the Chrysocheria Church, the castle also includes underground grain warehouses, medieval buildings, Saint George Church and a road paved with ancient stones.
Kalymnos, a rocky and barren island, is an island where sponge and sponge hunting have become a source of income. The people of the island refer to the sponge as "Kalymnos Gold". Rubber diving suits and diving helmets played a big role in the development of sponge hunting. Thanks to this suit and helmet, also called Skafandro, divers can stay underwater for longer. The people of the island, who filled their sponge warehouses by producing more sponges in this way for years, turned these warehouses into sponge factories. With the establishment of the sponge factory, sponge exports started. It is possible to see the stages that the raw sponge taken from the sea goes through and takes its final shape by visiting the Papachatzis Sponge Factory.
Kalymnos, which has become increasingly popular in recent years, is developing day by day in terms of tourism. It increases the number of visitors every year with its historical structure, mountain climbing nature and unique beaches. To meet the increasing need for accommodation, you can stay in neoclassical style houses in the center of the island and enjoy your holiday by watching the magnificent sea view from the balcony. There are also hotels and hostels along the beach. It is recommended for those who want to stay right by the sea and enjoy the sea.
If you came to the island for rock climbing, you should choose to stay in one of the towns of Armeos, Myrties or Masouri, which are close to the climbing areas. Apartments or rooms suitable for every budget can be rented here.
Since the number of visitors is high during busy seasons, it is necessary to make early reservations for hotels on the island.
Kalymnos Luxury Hotels;
Hotel Porto Potha
Plaza Hotel
kantouni
Galini Hotel
La Playa Boutique Hotel
Kalymnos Affordable Hotels;
Andromeda Studios
traditional studio
Panormitis Studios
Kalymnos Recommended Hotels;
Villa Marzi Kalymnos
sunset
hermes
At least a few festivals are held on the Greek islands throughout the year. Kalymnos Island is one of these islands with its colorful festivals. The most famous festival is the Rock Climbing Festival. Don't forget that if you come across one of the festivals held in June, July and August during your Kalymnos holiday, you will witness colorful and original moments.
Kalymnos Climbing Festival, held every year in May, is a festival that all climbers attend free of charge. Kalymnos has a perfect nature for those who are closely interested in mountain sports. During the festival, participants and visitors will be filled with fun and excitement for an average of 4 days with presentations, parties, climbing races, photography contests and other competitions.
The festival, held every year on June 24, is an event full of music and entertainment. With the sunrise, small fires are lit on all beaches and ports and people jump over the fire. The fun continues all day.
The festival, held on July 27, is held in memory of St. Panteleimon and begins with a grand ceremony. After the ceremony, prayers are said for healing in the monastery and celebrations continue.
The Virgin Mary Festival, which has an important place in the Christian world, is held every year on August 15. The festivities continue on the island on the same day and the following days.
It is a known fact that there are many similarities between Greek food culture and Turkish food. Because Greeks and Turks have lived together for many years. For this reason, we find the taste of Anatolian and Balkan cuisine in Greek cuisine. There is no need to mention its similarity with the Aegean cuisine. Tourists love the taste of meals served overlooking the sea, accompanied by olive oil dishes, fresh seafood and live music. You can have fresh seafood accompanied by the best appetizers, and enjoy fish raki with Greek ouzo and raki.
Prioritizing customer satisfaction, Kalymnos offers a very economical holiday opportunity with affordable food varieties.
Recommended Restaurants;
Paradise
Miltos
sunrise
Tavern Malova
It is Super Mario Beach Bar. Although most restaurants do not charge a service fee, some do, so do not be surprised if a service fee is requested.
Seafood is consumed the most in Kalymnos, of which octopus is the most consumed. Local cheese and olives adorn the dining table in every restaurant. Tomato jam, goat cheese with thyme, aniseed bread, fried goat cheese, calamari with cheese inside and shrimp saganaki are offered to tourists as delicacies unique to the island. There are also restaurants serving fast food in Kalymnos, where people who are not good with seafood are considered.
Most of the shops selling souvenirs are in the center of the island. You can find many traditional souvenir product options on the island in Kantouni, Pothia, Myrties and Emporios. In addition to face and body care products made from plants grown on the island, make-up products and sun products are also sold. Aromatic oils and herbal teas attract a lot of attention from tourists.
Olive and olive oil products, local honey, sponge, ceramic products, household appliances and handmade jewelry are sold as products unique to the island.
Greek raki, ouzo, wine and mastika are products sold in souvenir shops for drink lovers. Hondos Center, which is close to the center of Pothia, is a large shopping center that serves tourists who want to buy souvenirs after their holiday. Here you can find beauty products and accessories from famous brands and also browse new brands.
Kalymnos Shop is a shopping point close to the Archaeological Museum. Handmade buckles combining past and present-day modern lines are offered to customers with many options at Kalymnos Shop.
The "Kalymnos Package" has been prepared for those who cannot decide what to buy. With the Kalymnos package consisting of popular products, the job of those who have difficulty choosing a gift becomes easier.
There are connecting flights and ferry services to go to Kalymnos. There are no direct flights or ferries. It is possible to reach the island by transferring Athens and Thessaloniki from Istanbul, and Rhodes and Kos from Bodrum. Reaching the island from Kos takes 30-45 minutes by ferry. By purchasing a Kos Kalymnos ferry ticket, you can reach the island with a pleasant ferry ride. Yeşil Marmaris lines are among the choices for Kalymnos ferry tickets.
It is important not to leave purchasing a roundtrip or roundtrip Yeşil Marmaris lines ferry ticket to the last minute. Those who will be traveling by car, those who are alone or with children, and those who will buy a one-way or round-trip ticket can purchase ferry tickets online, and can make the ferry journey at more economical prices by purchasing a round-trip ticket.
Ferry tickets can be purchased online via the tourism company's website. Determine your Kalymnos holiday dates, buy your ticket online and go to Kalymnos without disrupting your holiday plan.
