Ferry Routes to Kalymnos
Navigating the ferry routes to Kalymnos is easy with a swift 45-minute catamaran ride across the Dodecanese. Dodekanisos Seaways and Blue Star Ferries transport thousands of rock climbers and vacationers here annually. These regular routes make it simple to continue your journey south to Kos or north to Leros.
How to get to Kalymnos from Kos
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The Sponge Diver Island: Ferry routes to Kalymnos
Kalymnos is located in the Dodecanese chain, very close to the coast of Turkey and just north of Kos. The largest ferry operators in the region include Blue Star Ferries, Dodekanisos Seaways, and ANE Kalymnou. The island handles a steady flow of hundreds of thousands of passengers every year.
Here are 5 tips for getting to Kalymnos by ferry:
- 1. The Kos shortcut: The absolute best way to reach Kalymnos is to fly to Kos airport. From there, take a 10 minute taxi to the port of Mastichari and catch a 30 minute fast boat to Kalymnos.
- 2. The Athens long haul: If you take the Blue Star ferry from Athens, prepare for a very long trip. It takes between 10 and 12 hours. It is cheap, but you lose a whole day or night of your holiday.
- 3. Watch out for Kos Town: Kos has two ports. The big ferries leave from Kos Town. The small, fast local boats to Kalymnos leave from Mastichari. Know which port you need before you call a taxi.
- 4. Buying local tickets: For the short Mastichari boat, you do not need to book weeks ahead. You just walk up to the little wooden booth on the pier and buy a ticket for the next boat.
- 5. Baggage for climbers: Kalymnos is world famous for rock climbing. If you bring heavy climbing gear, you will not be charged extra on the big ferries, but be prepared to carry it yourself up the steep ramps.
The sea between Kos and Kalymnos gets very choppy in the late afternoon. If you have a choice, take a morning boat. The ride is much smoother and you will not get splashed if you sit outside.
“Do not panic if you arrive at Kos airport late at night. The local ANE Kalymnou boats usually schedule their last trip around 10:30 PM or 11:00 PM just to catch the late flight arrivals from Northern Europe.”
