If you want greek feel stay in Pothia, this has a large greek population for the size of the island. Myrties is part of a ribbon development 3-4 mi in length from north of Massouri to Plati Yialos. It isn't britished in the sense of say Kardamena Kos, or Lindos/Pefki/Faliraki Rodos.

I was in Kalymnos as part of a 2 centre package with Kosmar end of September/early October this year. This is my trip report, as originally posted on another site, hope it helps - any specific questions, please ask:

Kalymnos is quite a rugged looking island, mainly rocky with scrubby vegetation and a couple of small fertile valleys, with olive and citrus trees. It's actually quite popular with climbers, who seemed to be based mainly in Massouri and could be seem riding around on motor cycles with their ropes on their backs.

The airport is still "under construction" but seeing the number of visitors, I'm not sure how the island can justify its own airport, mass tourism would ruin the island.

We stayed in Kosmar's Kantouni Beach apartments, as their name implies, right on the beach with a swimming pool and pool bar. We got a spacious one bedroom apartment with no supplement. They were clean - the cleaners popped in every day to empty the bins and changed sheets and bed linen mid-week. The bathroom even had a shower curtain!

Kantouni is a small resort with 2 beaches of dark grey-brown sand and no sun-beds (most beaches were either dark sand or shingle). It has some good tavernas and a few bars and mini-markets. We didn't have a bad meal and generally paid between 25 and 30 euros (for starter, main course a large beer, half a litre of house wine and a bottle of water). Most times we got a free dessert to share "on the house".

We hired a car for 3 days, which was more than ample to see most of what is a relatively small island. It did however let us see things at our own pace, stop along the roadside to admire the view or park up for a walk or at an almost deserted beach.

We visited Myrties, another small resort with a sand and shingle beach and took the short ferry ride over to Telendos, a tiny island with a handful of traditional tavernas. Next resort, and the biggest (but not what you'd call a huge place) was Massouri, with a sandy beach with sunbeds and plenty of tavernas. The main town of Pothia has a attractive harbour with restaurants and a few tourists shops but back from the harbour it was a busy working town. Its narrow streets busy with so much traffic, that we decided the whole population of the island must drive in there in the morning and spend their day going round and round the one-way system! There were other tiny "resorts" or rather villages with small beaches and a couple of tavernas like Emborios and Vlihadia and a pretty harbour at Vathi.

There are a couple of castles at Chora, the Great castle reached by steep stone steps from the back of the village, if you can find them. It's not very well signposted. Inside was undergoing some restoration, mainly to the little churches of which there are quite a few. There's not much left of the other castle but it does make a good view point.

We had to arrange our own transfer but this was no trouble. A 10 euro taxi ride took us to Pothia harbour. The rep told us the time of the ferry, which cost 4 euros each for the 40 minute journey and the taxi ride from Mastihari to Kefalos for the 2nd week cost 25 euros.

Many thanks - I guess the answer is really to go see for myself!!!

Hi Elenitsa

I realised my post was rather more fact than opinion - if you're a Greece lover, I'd give it a try. We generally like the quieter areas in Greece and certainly enjoyed our week there. For us, who like to explore, we found a week long enough, though we got the impression that there were many people who came year after year. From what I saw, I think Kantouni or Myrties good places to stay - it would be lovely to take the ferry over to Telendos for an evening meal. Public transport was good, and the island small, so you didn't really near a hire car but we like the flexibility and were able to explore every nook and cranny! I didn't think it over "Britished" and found the people very friendly. Kos airport was however horrendous - but that's another story...

Just a thought - if you didn't want to spend an entire week on Kalymnos, how about a couple of days on the volcanic island of Nisyros, a 45 minute boat ride to the south of Kos. We visited on the day trip to see the volcano, which is wierd and impressive, but we would have loved a couple of days there to explore the little villages and volcanic landscape further. It all depends what sort of thing you like to do in Greece.

Thanks Maria - didn't mean to sound facetious, its just that what one person likes another doesn't (for example, for some obscure reason I love Heraklion on Crete, its dirty, traffic congested, but I love it - most people go "yeuch")

Anyway - already been to Nissyros about 8 years ago wehen I spent the summer on Tilos, am saving a return trip for another time.

I haven't been to Leros since 1991 so am thinking I'd like to re-visit, but Kalymnos is new ground (come to that so would be Kos, but it just doesn't appeal for more than one day!)

Helen

It's OK, I didn't think you were being facetious - I just realised I hadn't actually said whether I liked it or not It is difficult to make recommendations, as you say, we all have different expectations. I write from the point of view of a 40-something couple who enjoy the quieter side of Greece, hire a car to get out and about explore the area, spend a little (but not all) of our time on a quiet beach to relax and don't enjoy noisy clubs and bars

We actualy spent our 2nd week on Kos - which I was unsure about beforehand - but we really enjoyed that too. We stayed in Kefalos, which is relatively low key and there is still plenty to explore on the island for more traditional Greek lovers - loads of fantastic ruins, mountains and even quiet beaches, if you get out and about. Avoid Kardemena and don't go high season, unless you are into "lively" holidays, but Kos still has something to offer for those of us who prefer the quieter side of Greece.

Well - just have to pack the rucksack and am off to Kalymnos for the first time tomorrow Anyone else been or is going to this island????

Will report back!

We've stayed in Kantouni twice. Myrties is very attractive, with stunning views over to Telendos, but the beach isnt much to write home about. Kantouni is much more peaceful with a nice sandy beach and a small selection of pleasant beach tavernas. You can easily walk over to Myrties either by following the road or (better) by taking the quieter track over the hill.

If you go to Kantouni, take the old donkey zig zag track up to the wonderful white monastery which clings to the hillside overlooking the bay. The views from there are stunning and the atmosphere electric.