Kalymnos Beaches
The beaches of Kalymnos lie mostly on the west coast, around the resorts of Myrties and Massouri. Massouri is the biggest and most organised, Myrties has the boats to the islet of Telendos, and Kandouni, Linaria and Platis Yialos cluster near the green village of Panormos. Quieter sand and pebble bays ring the north and east at Arginonta, Emporio, Akti and Rina. Sea temperatures run from about 23 to 27 degrees through the summer.
- Main coast
- West
- Biggest resort
- Massouri
- Boats to Telendos
- Myrties
- Sea temp
- 23-27 C in summer
Platis Yialos
Platis Yialos is one of the most beautiful beaches of Kalymnos, near the village of Panormos and north of Kandouni and Linaria. It has soft dark sand and clear azure water, and an excellent tavern stands on the beach. Platis Yialos is also the spot for the most striking sunset on the island.
Myrties
Myrties beach lies 8 kilometres north-west of Pothia, in front of the village of the same name. It is a fine pebble beach on both sides of a little harbour, with a wonderful view across to Telendos. The village has a few places to stay, fine tavernas and cafes, a mini-market and a bus stop, and little fishing boats sail from here to the opposite islet of Telendos.
Massouri
Massouri beach lies 9 kilometres west of Pothia, at the biggest tourist resort of Kalymnos. It is the most crowded and best-organised beach on the island in high season, with sun beds, umbrellas, water sports and canoes for rent and a snack bar on the sand. A bus stops at the settlement of Massouri, from where stairs lead down to the sandy beach, and the village has hotels, bars, tavernas and clubs.
Melitsahas
Melitsahas is a long sandy beach on the western coast near Myrties, with clean water and a small harbour. A few apartments to rent, tavernas and a traditional Greek kafenion sit near the beach.
Kandouni
Kandouni is a long sandy beach about 5 kilometres north-west of Pothia, a short walk from Panormos. It is the favourite beach of the locals and can get quite crowded, and the monastery of the Cross overlooks the sand from above.
Linaria
Linaria is a picturesque sandy beach near Panormos, a short walk from Kandouni and Platis Yialos. It is quieter than Kandouni, with a fine beach and crystal-clear water and a huge rock rising from the sea in the middle. Fish tavernas and cafes stand nearby, and rooms are available at Panormos or Kandouni.
Ksisitos
Ksisitos beach lies on the west side of Panormos, between Linaria and Platis Yialos, and is easy to reach by car, motorbike or on foot. The seabed and the shore are full of rocks that shape small canyons, so the sea can be rough in summer, but when it is calm the water is warm and crystal clear, which makes it a good spot for snorkelling.
Agios Nikolaos
Agios Nikolaos is a sandy beach near the village of Myrties, easy to reach and good for families. The beach slopes gently into the sea, which makes it safe for children to walk in, and small rocks reach into the water beside the mountains behind the shore.
Arginonta
Arginonta is a sand and pebble beach about 17 kilometres north of Pothia, curled into a picturesque bay. Umbrellas and sun beds are for rent, and a few rooms and tavernas sit near the beach or in the small hamlet of the same name. A bus runs regularly from Pothia and stops close to the beach.
Emporio
Emporio beach lies 24 kilometres north of Pothia, in front of the quiet village of the same name at the northern end of the island. It has smooth pebbles, scattered rocks and crystalline water, and no rentals or facilities, which keeps it very quiet. The local bus stops near the beach, and it can also be reached by a small fishing boat from Myrties.
Vlychadia
Vlychadia is a small sandy beach in a picturesque bay, reached by a little road that zigzags through the mountains from the village of Vothini, south-west of Pothia. Fine tavernas and a snack bar stand on the beach, and the beauty of the underwater life makes it a fine spot for scuba diving and snorkelling.
Gefyra and Therma
Gefyra and Therma are the beaches closest to Pothia. Therma is pebbly with rocks, shaded by several trees, with a diving platform beside it where the water is deep; thermal springs once ran here, rich in radium. Gefyra, the closer of the two, sits inside a cove of turquoise water, pebbly and green with rocks.
Akti
Akti is a quiet beach with fine sand and clear water on the eastern coast, near the road that leads to the valley of Vathy. A fine tavern stands on the soft sand, but there is no bus, so you need a bike or car to reach it.
Rina and the Vathy coves
Rina is the little port at the foot of the Vathy valley, with a pebbly beach and a few trees, tavernas and rooms to let. For more peace, tiny coves outside the port hold pebbly beaches at Limenari, Kampi, and Megales and Mikres Armyres, some reached only by boat. Locals can give you a ride to a nearby beach, and a small canteen sometimes serves souvlaki at Megales Armyres.
Quiet and naturist beaches
Kalymnos and the neighbouring islet of Telendos also keep several quiet and naturist beaches. The best known is on the east coast of Telendos, a 10-minute boat trip from Myrties: past the town beach lies an official naturist beach with umbrellas, sun beds and a taverna, and two smaller coves beside it. On Kalymnos itself, quiet naturist spots lie near the Kefala cave, around the boat-only coves of Rina, past Emporio to the north, and about 15 minutes' walk beyond Platis Yialos. Beach shoes help where the sea is rocky.