Kalymnos is the easiest island to reach from Kos. Small ferries cross from Mastichari on the north coast of Kos to Pothia, the main town of Kalymnos, in about 25 to 45 minutes and run every day, even in winter. Bigger ferries and fast boats also sail from Kos Town, which suits you if you are staying there or arriving from Bodrum.
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Is there a sailing?
Stay near the port: Kalymnos
Getting around Kalymnos
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Short answer
As of 16 October 2026, the Kos–Kalymnos crossing takes 25–55 minutes (operators: ANEM Ferries, ANE Kalymnou, Lafasi, Dodekanisos Seaways and 2 more). Season: Year-round; fewer sailings outside June–September.
Data behind this answer: ferry fares 2026 (CSV) · 2027 timetable tracker · ferry map and route data
- Two routes: Mastichari to Pothia (ANEM Ferries, Lafasi, ANE Kalymnou) or Kos Town to Pothia (Dodekanisos Seaways, Blue Star Ferries, Saos Ferries and others).
- Crossing: about 25 to 45 minutes from Mastichari; about 30 to 45 minutes from Kos Town on Dodekanisos Seaways and Blue Star, and around 1 hour 10 minutes on Saos.
- Fares (as of October 2026): from about €5 to €12 one way depending on operator, according to Ferryhopper; Dodekanisos Seaways’ 2026 fare list starts at €12.
- Frequency: daily from Mastichari all year in Ferryhopper’s data, plus several sailings a week from Kos Town. Check the current timetable, as October 2026 already brought changes.
- Day trip: easy from Mastichari. From Kos Town, check that a return sailing exists on the same day.
- Documents: a domestic Greek route with no passport control, but carry your passport or ID card; Blue Star requires ID to board.
Mastichari or Kos Town?
Kos has three ports: Kos Town, Kardamena and Mastichari. Ferryhopper notes that Kos Town handles most ferry routes, but for Kalymnos the short hop from Mastichari is the workhorse.
| Mastichari | Kos Town | |
|---|---|---|
| Operators | ANEM Ferries, Lafasi, ANE Kalymnou | Dodekanisos Seaways, Blue Star Ferries, Saos Ferries; also ANEM and ANE Kalymnou on some days |
| Crossing | About 25–45 min | About 30–45 min (Dodekanisos, Blue Star); about 1 h 10 min (Saos) |
| Frequency | Every day in Ferryhopper’s October data | Several sailings a week per operator |
| Best for | Day trips, airport arrivals, staying in the west of Kos | Staying in Kos Town, connections from Bodrum |
Getting to Mastichari: KTEL Kos runs daily buses from Kos Town to Mastichari, and Kos airport says KTEL buses also run from the airport to Mastichari, with the stop about 50 m from the terminal. If you land on Kos and want to go straight to Kalymnos, that saves a trip into town. Check times on ktel-kos.gr, as the schedule changes through the season.
Kos Town: the harbour is a short walk from the old town and from Neratzia Castle. If you arrive from Bodrum, you are already there. Our Kos travel guide covers buses, taxis and where to stay.
Operators and crossing times
| Operator | Kos port | Crossing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANEM Ferries | Mastichari (some Kos Town sailings) | 30–45 min | Based in Mastichari; publishes its own timetables and sells online |
| Lafasi | Mastichari | 25–30 min | Every day in Ferryhopper’s data |
| ANE Kalymnou | Mastichari; Kos Town on some days | 30 min (Mastichari); 1 h 15 min (Kos Town) | |
| Dodekanisos Seaways | Kos Town | 30–35 min | Runs catamarans and a passenger/vehicle ferry across the Dodecanese |
| Blue Star Ferries | Kos Town | About 45 min | Large car ferry; Blue Star also links Kos with Leros and Piraeus |
| Saos Ferries | Kos Town | About 1 h 10 min | The slowest option |
Crossing times are from Ferryhopper as of October 2026. Ferryhopper marks its monthly tables as “according to last year’s data”, so treat them as a guide.
How often the boats run
October 2026: ANEM publishes separate Kalymnos–Mastichari timetables for 1 to 24 October and 25 to 31 October 2026 on its website. In Ferryhopper’s October data, ANEM and Lafasi each sail every day from Mastichari, while from Kos Town Dodekanisos Seaways runs about six days a week, Blue Star five and Saos four.
Winter 2026-2027: ANEM’s own winter timetable (Olympios Zeus, 1 November 2026 to 28 March 2027) has two round trips every day: from Kalymnos at 07:00 (08:00 on Sundays) and 14:30, from Mastichari at 09:00 and 15:30 (as published by kalymnos-news.gr; checked 2 November 2026). Ferryhopper’s November and December data show Lafasi every day from Mastichari and ANE Kalymnou three or four days a week. From Kos Town, Blue Star and Dodekanisos Seaways are listed five days a week. Ferryhopper’s figures are based on last year’s data; check the operators’ own timetables before you rely on them.
Recent changes: Dodekanisos Seaways announced modified itineraries for its two catamarans from 2 to 18 October 2026, and Blue Star published weather-related itinerary changes for 13 to 15 October 2026. Strong winds can cancel the small Mastichari boats too, so keep a spare day before a flight.
Fares
Adult one-way fares, as of October 2026:
| Operator | Route | From | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Star Ferries | Kos Town–Pothia | €5–6 | Ferryhopper |
| Saos Ferries | Kos Town–Pothia | €5.90 | Ferryhopper |
| ANEM Ferries | Mastichari–Pothia | €8 | Ferryhopper |
| Lafasi, ANE Kalymnou | Mastichari–Pothia | €10 | Ferryhopper |
| Dodekanisos Seaways | Kos Town–Pothia | €12 (list range €12–42) | Dodekanisos Seaways 2026 fare list; Ferryhopper |
Dodekanisos Seaways’ fare list notes that rates follow the national shipping scale and may change with season and demand. Ferryhopper also showed some Kos–Kalymnos dates at more than €30, so compare a few departures. Blue Star’s conditions say children under 5 travel on a free ticket issued with an adult’s.
Tickets, check-in and luggage
Booking: ANEM sells online through its own booking system, and Dodekanisos Seaways has online booking on its website. Ferryscanner also sells tickets on this route. In July and August, book ahead if you are taking a car.
Check-in: Blue Star asks passengers to be at the embarkation area at least one hour before departure, with or without a car. Other operators set their own rules, so check the time printed on your ticket.
ID: Blue Star asks passengers to carry an identity card, passport or driving licence and may refuse boarding without one. Non-EU travellers should carry their passport.
Luggage: Blue Star allows up to 50 kg free. Ferryhopper says Dodekanisos Seaways allows up to 40 kg. Pets must be declared when booking on Blue Star.
Cars and scooters
Some boats on this route carry vehicles. Ferryhopper lists an indicative fare of about €33 for two adults and a car from Mastichari to Kalymnos as of October 2026, and its Kos–Kalymnos table also has car fares. If you hired your car on Kos, check that the rental agreement allows you to take it on a ferry. On Kalymnos itself many visitors manage with buses, taxis and a hired scooter. More background in taking a car to the Greek islands.
Arriving in Pothia
Ferries from both Kos ports arrive in Pothia, the island’s main town and port. Greeka says taxis wait at the port and municipal buses run from Pothia to Masouri, Myrties, Vathy and Emporios.
Kalymnos in brief
Kalymnos lies just north-west of Kos across a narrow strait. It is known for its sponge-diving past and, today, for sport climbing.
Pothia: the Maritime and Folklore Museum on the seafront tells the story of the sponge divers, according to the Municipality of Kalymnos. The Archaeological Museum, opened in 2009, displays the bronze known as the Lady of Kalymnos. We could not find current opening hours or prices on an official source.
Chorio and its castle: the old capital is about 3 km from Pothia. Above it stands an abandoned fortified village; Greeka says a steep path of 235 steps leads to the entrance.
West coast and Telendos: Myrties and Masouri are the main beach villages, and small boats cross from Myrties to the islet of Telendos in about 10 minutes, according to Greeka.
Climbing: the 2025 guidebook promoted on climbkalymnos.com lists 4,216 routes. Do not head to the crags without experience or a guide.
Vathy: a long, narrow inlet in the north-east at the end of a valley of citrus groves, and a stop on several boat cruises from Kos.
Day trip or stay?
Day trip: from Mastichari, the frequent short crossings make a day on Kalymnos straightforward: Pothia’s museums and harbour, or a taxi or bus to Chorio or Myrties. Check the last boat back on ANEM’s current timetable before you set off. From Kos Town, a day trip depends on the ferry times on your date.
Stay: two or three nights suit climbers, walkers and anyone who wants Telendos and the west coast. Kalymnos also works as the next stop on a longer hop north to Leros and Patmos.
Combining Kalymnos with the Turkish coast
Many island-hoppers start in Bodrum. The dependable route is Bodrum to Kos Town by ferry, then on to Kalymnos from Kos Town or, after a bus, from Mastichari. Tilos Travel’s 2026 timetable shows the Sea Star Kos sailing four times a day each way between Bodrum and Kos until 24 October, and twice a day from 25 October to 1 November. See Bodrum to Kos ferry and, for the way back, Kos to Bodrum ferry.
Booking platforms also list a direct Turgutreis–Kalymnos boat, but we could not confirm that it ran in 2026; our Turgutreis to Kalymnos ferry page sets out what is known.
A neat loop in season is Bodrum → Kos → Kalymnos → Leros → Bodrum. Dodekanisos Seaways, Blue Star and Saos link Kalymnos and Leros, and Tilos Travel sailed Leros–Bodrum daily until 25 October 2026. See Kos to Leros ferry, Bodrum to Leros ferry, island hopping from Turkey and the ferry route planner.
Time zone: Greece moves its clocks back on 25 October 2026; from then until late March, Kos and Kalymnos are one hour behind Turkey.
Turkish citizens on the express visa: the visa is valid only for the island you applied for, so it does not allow onward travel from Kos to Kalymnos, according to Ertürk.
Organised tours
You do not need a tour for Kalymnos: the Mastichari ferry is cheaper and gives you more time ashore. Boat cruises from Kos Town harbour suit you if you want a lazy day with swimming stops and only a short visit to Kalymnos.
Kos Town: Kalymnos & Pserimos Day Cruise & Optional Transfer
The Poseidon from Kos port to Pserimos, Vathy on Kalymnos and the islet of Plati, with lunch and drinks listed as included and optional hotel pickup.
Check price & availability
From the Port of Kos: Full Day Boat Cruise to 3 Islands
A wooden boat from Kos harbour to Kalymnos, Plati and Pserimos with swim stops; suits families who prefer an organised day.
Check price & availabilityOur Kos three islands boat trip guide compares them.
Trip toolkit
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FAQ
How long is the ferry from Kos to Kalymnos?
About 25 to 45 minutes from Mastichari, and about 30 to 45 minutes from Kos Town on Dodekanisos Seaways or Blue Star. Saos Ferries takes around 1 hour 10 minutes.
Which port is better, Mastichari or Kos Town?
Mastichari has the most frequent and shortest crossings and is the better choice for a day trip or if you are arriving from the airport. Kos Town is simpler if you are staying there or coming from Bodrum.
Do the ferries run in winter?
Yes. Ferryhopper’s November and December data show daily sailings from Mastichari with Lafasi and several a week from Kos Town, based on last year’s data. Check the operators’ timetables for exact days.
Do I need a passport for Kos to Kalymnos?
There is no border control on this domestic route, but carry a passport or ID card. Blue Star may refuse boarding without identification.
Timetables, prices and entry rules change; check the official source before you travel.
Sources
- Ferryhopper – Kos to Kalymnos and Mastichari to Kalymnos (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryhopper – Kalymnos to Mastichari (accessed Oct 2026)
- ANEM Ferries: Kalymnos–Mastichari winter timetable from 1 November 2026 (PDF) (accessed 2 Nov 2026)
- kalymnos-news.gr: Olympios Zeus winter timetable Kalymnos–Mastichari (October 2026) (accessed 2 Nov 2026)
- Ferryhopper – Kos to Nisyros (ports of Kos) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ferryhopper – Dodekanisos Seaways (accessed Oct 2026)
- ANEM Ferries – October 2026 timetables and online booking (accessed Oct 2026)
- Dodekanisos Seaways – 2026 passenger and vehicle fares (PDF) (accessed Oct 2026)
- Dodekanisos Seaways – company site and online booking (accessed Oct 2026)
- Dodekanisos Seaways – schedule changes 2–18 October 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- Blue Star Ferries – general conditions of travel (accessed Oct 2026)
- Blue Star Ferries – itinerary changes due to bad weather, 13–15 Oct 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- Municipality of Kos – Getting around (accessed Oct 2026)
- KTEL Kos (accessed Oct 2026)
- Kos Airport – public bus (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greeka – Kalymnos ports (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greeka – Kalymnos buses (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greeka – Chorio castle (accessed Oct 2026)
- Greeka – Telendos (accessed Oct 2026)
- Municipality of Kalymnos – Maritime and Folklore Museum (accessed Oct 2026)
- Municipality of Kalymnos – Archaeological Museum (accessed Oct 2026)
- Climb Kalymnos (accessed Oct 2026)
- Discover Greece – 8 top things to do in Kalymnos (accessed Oct 2026)
- Tilos Travel – 2026 sailing plan, Bodrum–Kos and Bodrum–Leros (accessed Oct 2026)
- Ertürk – Gate visa conditions (Turkish) (accessed Oct 2026)
- timeanddate.com – Clock changes in Greece 2026 (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide – Kos Town: Kalymnos & Pserimos Day Cruise (accessed Oct 2026)
- GetYourGuide – From the Port of Kos: Full Day Boat Cruise to 3 Islands (accessed Oct 2026)
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