Best time to visit Kalymnos
For swimming and good weather without the crowds: June or September. For climbing: March to May and September to November, with the festival in October. July and August are hot, busy and fully booked around August 15th.
Month by month
- January-February: quiet local life, many tourist places closed.
- March-April: climbing season starts, green hills. Easter is the island's biggest celebration.
- May: sea warms up, beach bars open. Good for walking and climbing.
- June: warm sea, long days, not yet crowded. Top month.
- July-August: full summer. Hot and lively. Busiest around August 15th. Book ahead.
- September: warmest sea of the year, crowds gone. Top month.
- October: climbing festival, sea still swimmable, west-coast tavernas open.
- November-December: island winds down. Mild, quiet, mostly local.
Frequently asked questions
When is the sea warm enough to swim on Kalymnos?
From June to October. September and early October have the warmest water of the year.
When is the Kalymnos climbing festival?
Usually in October. Dates change per year, so check the current programme before booking around it.