Samos Island Holiday Tips

Samos is 322 kilometres east of the Athens port of Piraeus and is as little as 1.5 kilometres from the coast of Turkey within the north-eastern Aegean chain of Greek islands. Like so many of the Greek beauty islands, Samos has superb sandy beaches, a picturesque landscape of mountains and plenty of tourist facilities so visitors can have fun. Package holiday groups of tourists descend on the island, mostly from Europe, and the plentiful seaside resorts are always busy.

Samos holiday tips

Olympic Airways and Air Manos fly daily to Samos, although they use different terminals. Flights depart the western airport at Athens and the trip takes about 45 minutes. The airport of Samos is 17 kilometres south-west of the capital. Buses link daily from the capital town of Samos to Kokari, Avlakia, Agios Konstantinos, Agios Dimitrios, Karlovassi, Mitilinii and Pithagorio, and from Karlovassi to Agioi Theodori, Pirgos, Koumandarei, Hora, Pithagorio, Samos, Marathokamos, Votsalakia, Agia Kiriaki and Drakei.

There are daily ferry hydrofoil trips from Vathi and Pythagorio to Kusadasi in Turkey (takes about 25 minutes) and to surrounding islands including Ikaria, Fourni, Agathonisi, Patmos, Lipsi, Leros, Kalimnos and Kos. Ferries to Samos usually leave the port of Piraeus at about 4-5pm and arrive at the island around 7am. In mid-2004, Samos had 145 hotels, a vast majority being two and three star accommodation with affordable rates.

There are about a dozen car hire firms on Samos

The cheapest hire car we could find on Samos in mid 2004 was a four seat Subaru Vivio asking US$51 per day, or US$327 over seven days... i.e. hire cars aren't cheap.

Samos covers 476 square kilometres and has a 159 kilometre coastline of sandy and pebbly beaches. About 45,000 people call Samos home, most living a predominantly traditional lifestyle. The island has a warm Mediterranean climate with little rainfall during the summer months. The highest mountain on Samos - and in the Aegean - is Kerkis, once a volcano, at 1,450 metres. Mt Kerkis is inaccessible because of its numerous ravines and concealed slopes. Farms produce olives, wine grapes, oranges and various fruits. Fish, wood and minerals are other island exports.

Quality beaches can be found on both the north and south coasts of Samos but they can be very crowded during the peak holiday travel season. If you're willing to venture off the beaten track you can find some holiday privacy on isolated beaches, many with pebbles. Noteworthy beaches include Tsamadou, Saint Constantine, Avlakia, Tsabou, Marathokamos Bay, Lemonakia, Psili Ammos, Votsalakia, Limnionas and Potami.

Kokari Beach is very attractive, Potami Beach has pebbles, Tsamadou Beach is usually busy and Hrissi Beach is considered by many locals to be the best on the island. The interior of Samos is mountainous and heavily forested, providing a holiday haven for trekkers, hikers, campers and cyclists.

Traditional mountain villages can be found, along with bubbling streams, dramatic ravines and lush valleys, all coated with greenery and seasonal wildflowers. Samos has three ports, making it a regional transport hub, as well as an international airport with several daily flights to and from Athens plus charters from various European countries.