Samos is a one of a kind island in the Eastern Aegean. It is known for its lush greenery, quaint villages, and stunning beaches. Uniquely, Samos is very close to the Turkish coast, so there are daily ferries to Kusadasi in Turkey. Samos is also a great place to hop to the nearby islands of Ikaria and Fourni.
Traveling to Samos
You can get to Samos by boat or by plane. The most common route is by plane, because boats can take over 9 hours from Athens. Samos International Airport “Aristarchos” is the airport on Samos Island. It receives flights from Athens, Thessaloniki, Chios, Lemnos, Mytilene and Rhodes. Once you get there, Samos is a great jumping-off point to other islands near Turkey. The port of Samos is also connected with Syros, Mykonos, Ikaria, Fourni and Chios.
Samos Beaches
Samos’s beaches of Kokkari, Lemonakia, Mikali, and Tsamadou are some of the most popular beaches on the island. These beaches are known for their pristine waters. Aside from the popular spots, Samos has a lot of private bays to choose from.
Kokkari Beach
Kokkari Beach is a pebbly beach which is long and organized. It is located north of the village and gets busy in summer. In this area, there are many tavernas, cafes, and coffee shops on the shore. Kokkari is usually windy, and there are watersport rentals and paddleboards available for exploring the area.
Mykali
Mykali is found east of Psili Ammos and is largest unorganized. It is not hard to find seclusion, and the water is clear and wave-free because of the cold currents coming through the straits. You can practically see Turkey from this point, because the eastern side of the island is so close.
Megalo Seitani
Unlike Kokkari and Mykali, Megalo Seitani (translating to “large Seitani”) is known for its fine sand and greenery around the beach. Many nature-lovers come here who like seclusion. There are no organized beach chairs here, and it is accessible only by a half an hour walk down a dirt trail. We still highly recommend the trip, though, because of the pristine waters. There is also a Mikro Seitani (small Seitani), but it is known for its nudists. If you’re traveling with family, rest assured that Mikro Seitani is 2 kilometers from Megalo Seitani.
Famous People From Samos
Samos was the home to Aesop and the math genius Pythagoras. Some famous philosophers like Epicurus and Melissus were also from Samos. Going further back, a myth says that the goddess Hera was from the island of Samos. The Ionic Dipteral Temple of Hera, the Great Altar, and the Sacred Road are two of the monuments that you should not miss.
The Archaeological Museum of Pythagorian Houses
This museum features 3000 items that were excavated from the ancient town of Samos and from around the island, dating from the 5th millennium BC until the 7th century AD.
Cave of Pythagoras
This is where the mathematician Pythagoras was hiding when Polycrates, the ruler of the island, was chasing him. It is on the east of Mount Kerkis and is the highest mountain in the Aegean. It is only three kilometers from Votsalakia beach but it is quite hard to access. There are in fact two caves. Pythagoras lived in one, and the other was for teaching. In the cave that Pythagoras used as a home, there is a spring you can visit where Pythagoras used to drink fresh water.
Tunnel of Eupalinus
This tunnel should be a wonder of the world. It is a water tunnel that used to be part of a large aqueduct. Its architect was Eupalinus, an engineer in ancient Greece. The tunnel is located on Panagia Spilani and was built in the 6th century B.C. The incredible thing about the tunnel is that it is built with rectangular stones that are stacked exactly one on top of the other. Water went through the pipes in the aqueduct below the tunnel, and many of them are in great condition.
Samiopoula Island
This small island is off the southern coast of the island and literally translates to “small Samos” and is reached from Limanaki or Pythagorion by speedboat. The trip takes one hour and the island has five residents.
Food in Samos
Some traditional foods in Samos include lamb in the oven with potatoes, chickpea patties, fried zucchini blossoms, and eggs fried with onion shoots (also known as “kampounia”). Of course, with every good Samos meal, there is a wine from Samos on the table. Samos is known for its distinct Muscat wine.
