Getting from Tinos to Kalymnos

If you are heading to Kalymnos from Tinos you are making your way from the most venerated pilgrimage island in the Cyclades to an island in the Dodecanese group, known above all for its sponge diving tradition and its status as one of the premier rock climbing destinations in Europe.

Take the ferry

There is a direct Blue Star ferry from Tinos to Kalymnos running around once a week, taking around 6 hours. It is a long crossing that spans the full width of the Aegean from the Cyclades to the Dodecanese but keeps the journey entirely by sea without going through Athens or Piraeus. Check the schedule carefully before booking as the service runs only once a week and departure days vary by season. Alternatively take the ferry from Tinos to Syros and connect south through the Dodecanese network to Kalymnos, which takes around 8 to 9 hours in total.

Getting there by air

Kalymnos has its own small airport with connections from Athens. Tinos has no airport. The nearest airport is Mykonos. Taking the short ferry from Tinos to Mykonos, flying from Mykonos to Athens and then Athens to Kalymnos gives a total journey time of around 5 to 6 hours. Alternatively fly from Mykonos to Kos and take the short ferry from Mastichari to Kalymnos, which takes around 30 to 45 minutes. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

If the weekly direct ferry fits your schedule, take it. Six hours by sea between two islands as distinct as Tinos and Kalymnos is a rewarding crossing. If the timing does not work, take the short ferry from Tinos to Mykonos and fly from Mykonos to Athens then Athens to Kalymnos. Check the direct ferry departure day well in advance as missing it by a day means waiting a week.