Informations about Kalymnos
Geographical & Historical Outline
Kalymnos lies between Leros to the north and Kos to the south.
It is a mountainous, greatly fragmented island with many sheltered bays, striking rocks, small valleys and caves.
It has an area of 111 square kilometers and a total of 96 kilometers of coastline.
Kalymnos is well-known as the island of the sponge-fishers, since a great number of its inhabitants are occupied with sponge-fishing and diving.
The island is considered one of the most important climbing destinations in the world.
Kalymnos has a rich mythological tradition and history.
It has been inhabited since Neolithic times and is called Kalydnes by Homer.
The many caves on the island were used as dwellings by prehistoric man, as is clear from the rich finds that have come to light in them.
The earliest inhabitants were Karians.
In the Middle Ages it was Byzantine, and during the XIII Century it was used by Venice as a naval base. In 1310 it became a possession of the Knights of Rhodes and later it was often attacked by the Ottomans which conquered it in 1522.
On May 1912 during the Italo-Turkish War, Kalymnos was occupied by Italian sailors.
Italy took control of the island along with other islands of the Dodecanese until 1947, when the Dodecansese finally were united with mainland Greece.
Informations about Kalymnos
HOW TO GET THERE
By ferry boat:
Kalymnos is connected with Piraeus port by ferry boat (183 nautical miles, 10 – 13 hours).
It is also connected with Patmos, Kos, Leros, Lipsi and Astypalea islands.
By airplane:
Kalymnos is connected by airplane with Athens.
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS
- ANEK
ANONYMOUS FERRY COMPANY
MUNICIPALITY OF KALYMNOS
Enoria Agios Nikolaos
Tel: + 30 22430 29612
anekalymnou.gr/en
- Port Authority of Piraeus
Tel: + 30 210 4226000
Tel: + 39 210 4511310 – 7
Tel: + 30 213 2147600
- Port Authority of Kalymnos
Tel: + 30 22430 24444
- ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS
Athens International Airport
Tel: + 30 210 3530000
- Airport of Kalymnos
Tel: + 30 22430 59370
Tel: + 30 22430 59302
- Public Buses of Kalymnos
Tel: + 30 22430 51760
- Kalymnos Taxi Station
Tel: + 30 22430 50300
- Kalymnos Post Office
Tel: + 30 22430 28340
- Municipality of Kalymnos
kalymnos.gov.gr
- Vouvalio
Kalymnos General Hospital
Health Center
kalymnos-hospital.gr
- Archaelogical Museum of Kalymnos
Tel: + 30 22430 23113
Tel: + 30 22430 59092
- Nautical Museum of Kalymnos
Tel: + 30 22430 51361
