The beaches flanking the climbing village of Massouri — pebble coves with turquoise water directly below the limestone crags, and the most dramatic view in the Dodecanese: Telendos island sitting in the channel 600 metres away, with climbing routes visible on its sea-facing walls.
A long sandy beach at the northern tip of the island — broad, calm and genuinely beautiful, with a small village taverna and one of the finest views north toward Leros. The furthest beach from Pothia, which means it is the least crowded.
A pebble cove south of Myrties, below the road, with exceptionally clear water and a small seasonal taverna. Quieter than the Massouri beaches and more sheltered from the afternoon wind. One of the island's best-kept secrets.
A small cove immediately below the Armeos climbing sector — accessible on foot from the crags. The combination of a morning on the rock and an afternoon swimming below the routes you just climbed is one of the signature Kalymnos experiences.
The small beach at the mouth of the Vathi inlet — sheltered, calm, with the mandarin groves above and the sea ahead. The water here is warmer than the west coast and completely calm even when the meltemi is blowing.
A pebble cove on the south coast of Telendos island, reached by a short walk from the harbour. The water here is among the clearest in the channel, and the submerged ruins of the ancient city are directly accessible by snorkelling.
