Getting from Santorini to Kalymnos

Kalymnos is famous for two things above all and both of them are worth knowing about before you go. The first is sponge diving, a tradition that made the island prosperous for centuries and still shapes its identity, with a museum dedicated to the craft and an annual festival in September. The second is rock climbing. The island has become one of the premier climbing destinations in Europe, with thousands of routes on the limestone cliffs above the villages of Massouri and Myrties, and climbers from across the world coming every autumn to spend weeks on the crags. Beyond the climbing and the sponge history, Kalymnos is a working Dodecanese island with good food, a lively harbour at Pothia and some fine beaches in the north of the island.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Santorini to Kalymnos. The island is part of the Dodecanese network, connected to Piraeus via the Blue Star Ferries route that runs through Kos and Kalymnos. Getting there from Santorini means going through Athens first. From Kos, which is the nearest hub, Dodekanisos Seaways and local ferries run to Kalymnos frequently with the crossing taking around 25 to 45 minutes. The total journey from Santorini via Athens and Kos takes the better part of a day.

What about flying?

Kalymnos has its own small airport with domestic connections from Athens. The journey from Santorini goes Santorini to Athens and then Athens to Kalymnos, with total travel time around 4 to 5 hours. It is worth knowing that in Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights. Almost all island to island travel goes through Athens.

Your best option

Fly to Athens and connect to Kalymnos directly, or fly to Kos via Athens and take the short ferry across. The direct Athens to Kalymnos flight is the simpler option if it fits your schedule. Check the timetable before booking as the service runs a limited number of times per week.