Transport
Pothia is 3 km away, about 10 minutes and €10 by taxi; the climbing villages of Myrties and Massouri are 20 minutes and about €20. There is no airport bus.
Read more: TransportGuide to Kalymnos Airport
Kalymnos Airport (JKL) opened in 2006 on a levelled hilltop above Argos, 3 km north-west of Pothia, the port and capital. The runway is short and only small turboprops use it: Olympic Air and Sky Express fly from Athens daily all year, and in summer the Dodecanese island-hopper calls on the way to Leros, Astypalaia, Kos and Rhodes. There are no international flights.
Kalymnos is the sponge-divers’ island and, since the 1990s, one of Europe’s great rock-climbing destinations, with the climbing villages of Massouri and Myrties 20 minutes from the airport. Most climbers still fly to Kos and take the boat from Mastichari; the airport is the shortcut for those who book early.
Local tips
- Compare the direct flight with Kos plus the boat: Kos has jets and charters from all over Europe, and the Mastichari boat lands in Pothia in 40 minutes. For most climbers it is cheaper and easier.
- Small aircraft, small allowances: a rope and rack push the baggage limit. Check the weights before you pack.
- Forty-five minutes to an hour before departure is enough; the terminal is one room and check-in is a table.
See also
Prices and timetables are indicative and change seasonally. Confirm before you travel.