The terrain of the fourth largest island of the Dodecanese is mountainous, except for two fertile valleys, but it boasts of many natural attractions - caves, lovely beaches, unspoilt scenery - that make it a mini earthly paradise.

Kalymnos is widely known as the spongefishers' island, since such a large portion of the population is engaged in this ancient occupation.

For hundreds of years the sponges were fished around Kalymnos, but as the industry grew, fishermen were forced to sail further away, around Crete and even in deeper waters off Africa and Cyprus.

Kalymnos has many lovely beaches, like Massouri, Mirties, Arginondas and Emborios along west coast and Vlyhadia in the south. Near Panormos, a pretty village 5 km from Pothia, you will find the beaches of Kantouni, Linaria and Platis Gialos.