Discover Kálymnos

Discover Kálymnos through its distinctive cultural sites in Pothia and the island’s nature and outdoor activities. Museums focus on archaeology, seafaring and folk culture; nearby, you’ll also find a castle, churches and windmills. When choosing a holiday apartment, consider whether Pothia’s urban history or the trails, climbing and coastal landscape will be the focus of your stay.

Museums and urban history in Pothia

The Archaeological Museum of Kalymnos is in the Agia Triadha district of Pothia and opened in 2009. Its works include the bronze sculpture “Lady of Kalymnos”. The Maritime Museum of Kalymnos is located in Pothia’s coastal area and was founded in 1994. Its themes include the island’s tradition, history and methods of sponge diving and sponge fishing. It also features objects from ancient shipwrecks and exhibits on sponge processing.

A large section of the Maritime Museum is devoted to the skandalopetra: a rounded, streamlined stone, usually made of marble or granite, weighing 8 to 14 kilograms. Kalymnian sponge divers used it as a diving aid from antiquity until a few years ago. The Folklore Museum of Lykeion Ellinidon in Pothia displays local costumes and wedding dresses, household objects and traditional furniture. These include the krevatos, a large family bed with a child’s bed above it. Icons by local artists can be found in many of Pothia’s churches; the Vouvalis Mansion is considered an exceptional example of 19th-century urban architecture.

Castle, churches and windmills nearby

Chrysocheria Castle lies nearby, between Chora and Pothia. The Order of the Knights of Saint John had the castle built in the mid-15th century. On its eastern slopes stands the Church of the Transfiguration of Christ, while the Church of Saint John the Baptist is on its western side. Both churches are decorated with post-Byzantine frescoes dating from the late 15th to the early 16th century. Three old windmills still stand a few metres northeast of the castle. The castle, churches and mills each offer a different perspective: medieval history, sacred art and a striking feature of the landscape.

Trails, climbing and the underwater world

On Kálymnos, hiking trails run through the mountains and along steep coasts. Two routes offer specific guidance: above Kantouni Bay, a trail leads to the Church of Saint Photis; it is considered fairly easy and suitable for almost all hikers. The paved Italian Path crosses low hills between Vathy Valley and Pothia. The two trails differ in their destination, surface and location, and do not form a single route.

Sport climbing is another activity on the island: Kálymnos has almost 2,500 well-equipped routes. The grades range from easy routes for beginners to extremely difficult ones for experts. Kálymnos also has facilities for scuba diving, while the seabed around the island is rich in vegetation and marine life. The landscape can be experienced in different ways: on trails on land, on climbing routes and in the underwater world.

Thyme honey and choosing a location

Pure thyme honey is produced on Kálymnos. According to Strabo, Pliny and Ovid, its quality was already praised in Hellenistic and Roman times. This historical praise gives the local product a distinct place alongside the island’s cultural and natural attractions.

If you want museums, churches and architecture to shape your stay, choose Pothia as the location for your holiday-apartment search. For hiking or climbing days, base your plans on the specific destinations: the trail to Saint Photis is above Kantouni Bay, while the Italian Path runs between Vathy Valley and Pothia. This way, you can take your preferred focus—culture in Pothia or activities at the locations described on Kálymnos—into account when choosing an area to search.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Kampos, Astypálaia, Partheni, Emporios, Skalia, Masouri, Vlychadia, Agia Marina

Back to the main travel overview: Kalimnos.