Samos Island (North Aegean), Greece: Towns, Beaches, Wine & Hotels
Samos is a large, green island in the North Aegean of Greece, so close to the Turkish coast that the mainland of Turkey is visible from the east of the island. Three places anchor a visit: the fishing resort of Pythagorion in the south-east near the airport, the capital Vathi (Samos Town) on the north-east coast, and Karlovasi in the north. High mountains, pine forest and olive groves fill the interior, and the sweet white wine of Samos is famous. Hire a car to reach the parts of Samos the buses miss, covered in our Samos car hire guide.
- Region
- North Aegean
- Highest peak
- 1,437 m
- Main resort
- Pythagorion
- Airport
- Samos (international)
The island of Samos
Samos is one of the larger and greener islands of the Aegean. It lies in the far east of the sea, close to the Turkish coast, and from the east of the island you can see mainland Turkey. The landscape is exceptionally green, above all in the north along the coast and in the west, with pine forest, olive groves, wild flowers and wild herbs. Samos can be reached by ferry from other Greek islands such as Rhodes and Kos, and it has an international airport near Pythagorion.
The towns of Samos
Pythagorion is a small fishing and tourist resort on the south-east coast, near the airport; it was named Tigani until 1955 and is quiet in the mornings and busy on summer evenings. Vathi (Samos Town), the capital in the north-east, has an impressive harbour front, a main square with lion statues, a narrow parallel shopping street lined with small tavernas, and churches to visit in Vathi and the higher quarter of Ano Vathi; four small beaches sit on the edge of town, with more just outside at Gangou Beach. Karlovasi lies on the north coast. For the capital in detail, see the Samos Town guide.
Mountains, villages & landscape
Samos has high mountains: Mount Kerketefs in the west reaches 1,437 metres, one of the highest peaks in the Aegean Sea, and Mount Ampelos in the middle of the island rises to 1,150 metres. Mountain villages sit among them, including Ampelos, Pirgos and Koumaradei, and the picturesque village of Vourliotes with its brightly painted houses and churches, reached by following the signs from the northern coastal villages of Kampos, Avlakia and Agios Konstantinos. Isolated western beaches lie below the villages of Paleochori, Kallithea and Drakei. For each of these towns and mountain villages, see the Samos villages guide.
The wine of Samos
The sweet white wine of Samos is famous. Alongside the wine, the island produces tobacco, olive oil and citrus fruit.
Sights of Samos
Pythagorion and the ancient sanctuary of Heraion (Ireon) are on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and a regular bus runs between the two. In the east, roads from the village of Palaiokastro lead to a district full of beautiful churches and the monasteries of Agia Zoni and Zoodochou Pigis, together with several pebble beaches. For the temples, aqueduct, museum and monasteries in full, see the Samos sights guide.
Beaches of Samos
Samos has beaches around the whole coast, from the small town beaches at Vathi and Gangou to pebble coves in the east near Palaiokastro and isolated stretches in the west below Paleochori, Kallithea and Drakei. For the full list, see the Samos beaches guide.
Where to eat on Samos
The best tavernas on Samos are in Chora (Hora) just above Pythagorion, above all Antonis, while fish tavernas gather at Ireon and simple family tavernas run along the beaches of Kokkari, Votsalakia and Limnionas. Every place is rated from a visit in person on the Samos restaurants page.
Where to stay on Samos
Most hotels, apartments and guesthouses on Samos are in the coastal villages of Pythagorion and Kokkari, in the capital Vathi, and in other villages along the coast; apart from the 4 and 5-star hotels they are usually not expensive. Smaller hotels with a sea view and a quiet location, or a studio with a kitchen, suit a Samos stay best. See all of them on the Samos hotels page, or rent a whole house from the Samos villas page.
Ferries & flights
Regular ferries, including superfast ferries, connect Samos with nearby islands such as Ikaria, Lipsi, Leros and Patmos, as well as Rhodes and Kos. The international airport near Pythagorion has flights from several countries during the tourist season and good connections from Athens. Check times and prices before you travel, especially for a superfast ferry in high season.
