Samos Island

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Curiously enough, there was a period of more than half a century in the island’s history when no human being lived here: Samos stood uninhabited from the end of the XIV to the 60s of the XV century. For such a long period of time the islanders left their native lands and moved to the mainland, unable to withstand the endless attacks of sea pirates.

The island of Samos is located in the Mediterranean climate zone. There is always plenty of sunshine here – about 300 days a year. During the beach season, the air temperature stays around +33º…+35ºC, and the water temperature is +28ºC. However, the heat on this island is easily tolerated as refreshing sea breezes blow almost around the clock. Winter on Samos is short and mild. At this time of year the thermometer rarely drops below +15ºC, but the island is quite rainy.

What to see in the northern part of the island

At the northern tip of the island, just 5 km from its capital city of Samos, is Kokarion (or Kokkari). Once surrounded by green mountains, Kokarion was once a fishing port, but today it has become a popular tourist center, receiving many tourists. Windsurfers are the first to come here. The reason for this is the constant winds characteristic of the northern coast of Samos.

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If you walk from Kokkari for about half an hour in a westerly direction, you can reach the wind-protected shores. In the north of the island of Samos is the small settlement of Ai Nikolaos with a good pebble beach “Plaka”. Near it the mountains recede from the coast.

From Ay Nikolaos the road leads south to the village of Kondakeika, which preserved one of the oldest and most beautiful temples of Samos – Byzantine church Kimisis Teotokou, erected in the XII-XIII centuries. The area is very picturesque. The village is surrounded by low mountains covered with evergreen pines and cypresses. If you want, you can continue your way to the south, where there are colorful mountain villages Manolates and Stavrinides. From here many tourists make the ascent to the summit of Karvouni (1153).

Even further west, 30 km from the island capital are the quiet and sleepy streets of the town of Karlovassi. It appeared on the site of two seaports built by the Greeks in the ancient era and was the island capital for a long time. Today Karlovassi is the second most populous city on the island. It unites the settlements of Karlovassi, Limani, Neo, Ormos and Meseo. There are several family-owned factories here, which produce good textiles, ceramics and leather goods. And the town itself has a very interesting winemaking museum.

The old village of Paleo, located in a picturesque gorge, adjoins Karlovassi from the south. Local attractions are two churches with bell towers, built in the early 20th century, and several good taverns.

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Behind the town, on the northwestern tip of the island is the village of Potami. On weekends the locals like to come here, and the nice sandy-pebble beach of the village is packed to the brim. Next to the village stands the old temple of Metamorphosis, built in the 11th century. Behind the temple there is a Byzantine fortress and a very beautiful gorge with a picturesque waterfall.

From here, the west coast of Samos begins. It does not suffer from the influx of tourists, and nature here is almost untouched. In several places on the west of the island there are still buildings of old monasteries and temples. But there are not many roads here, and most of the coves can only be reached by sea.

What to see in the southern part of the island

The south of the island is home to Samos’ best resort and its historic center, Pythagorio. The town received its name in 1955 in honor of the ancient Greek scientist Pythagoras. Before that the settlement was called Fonias, after the cape on which it was built. Among the architectural sights in Pifagario are the ruins of the Temple of the goddess Hera and the ancient palace of Antonio and Cleopatra, the castle, erected in the XIX century and named in honor of the hero of the war of liberation against the Turks Lycurgus Logotesis, as well as the ancient monastery Spilianis with the temple of the Virgin Mary, arranged in a natural cave.

The ancient sanctuary of Geryon or the Temple of the Goddess Hera is located 5 km from the city and was once connected to it by a Sacred Road. The remains of this ancient stone road can be seen to this day. In ancient times, the Greeks believed that it was here that Hera was born, and the meetings of this goddess with Zeus took place. The sanctuary had a special status among other places honoring Hera built in Greece.

Today, all that remains of the magnificent temple are picturesque ruins, one tall column and several copies of ancient Greek statues. From June to September, this archaeological complex is open every day and welcomes tourists from 8.30 to 19.30. And in the low tourist season Herion is open from 8.30 to 15.00. The entrance ticket here costs 3 euros.

In Pythagorio is also interesting to see the preserved ruins of the ancient capital of the island – Tigani, uncovered as a result of archaeological excavations: an underground aqueduct to supply fresh water to the ancient city, the ancient port dam-mol, defensive structures and thermae. All these unique monuments are under special protection of UNESCO.

The underground “Eupaline Tunnel” was dug to supply the city with water under Polycrates – in the 5th century B.C. It is 1046 km long and was named after the Greek engineer who built it. Only part of this ancient aqueduct is open to tourists. You can visit on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from 8.30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The centuries-old history of Pythagorio is worth exploring at the city’s archaeological museum, which is located in the basement of the city hall. From May through October, the museum’s collections are open daily – from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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Those who want to see places associated with the life of the ancient Greek mathematician Pythagoras, can visit the monument to the thinker, placed on the seashore – on the central promenade of the city, as well as the famous cave named after him. It is located at the foot of Mount Kersis (or Kerkitis), the highest peak of the island of Samos (1433 meters). According to one source, the ancient Greek scholar lived in this cave for about 10 years, hiding from the persecution of the tyrant Polycrates. Other legends claim that Pythagoras came here when he needed solitude for reflection.

The hike to the cave is not very easy. To reach it, you have to climb uphill, gaining considerable altitude. At first, the climb follows the road, past the olive groves of the convent of Evangelistas, and the last meters – on a path carved in the steep rocks. A small church is built in the cave itself.

South of Pifagorio is the modern tourist resort center of Ireon. There is a nice pebble beach, popular with vacationers. And to the north begins a series of colorful villages, where pottery has long been developed: Kumaradei, Pagondos and Mili. In the south of the island is also the port of Maratocambos, from which tourists like to take short boat trips.

Sights of the island capital

The island capital, like the island itself, has been officially named Samos since 1830, but locals more often call this city Vafi – after the bay on the shore of which it is built. The central part of the city is quite cozy and clean, but is not distinguished by something special. And in the suburb of Ano Wafi you can see several mansions built in neoclassical style, as well as colorful residential buildings of the XIX century.

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Once in Samos, it is worth visiting the local archaeological museum, which has a rich collection of artifacts found on the island. The museum welcomes visitors from Thursday to Sunday and is open from 8.30 to 15.00. The entrance ticket costs 3 euros. It is not difficult to find the museum. It is located near a small park in the city center. The museum collection occupies the old Paskhallion mansion, which stands near the town hall, which was built in the XIX century.

The Monastery of the Life-Giving Spring (Zodohas Pigi) and the Triple Chapel, built in the 17th century, are also considered tourist attractions of the island capital. In addition, it is interesting to visit the ruins of an ancient castle, which are located in the mountain village of Paleokastro – 3 km from the city.

Beaches

Many travelers specifically come to Samos for the delights of a leisurely beach vacation. The beach season here is long – from mid-April to the end of October. The water in the coastal lagoons has an amazingly beautiful turquoise color, and light winds from the sea fill the air with humidity and make it easier to bear the heat of the day.

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Most of the beaches of the island are located in small and very cozy coves. Some of them are equipped for beach recreation, and some of them remain “wild”, and there with pleasure spend time lovers of secluded recreation.

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The town of Samos has no beaches of its own. But at some distance from the island capital there are several equipped places for beach recreation.

The equipped beach “Gagou” is located just 2 km west of Samos town – a 15-minute walk from the seaport. There are good cafes and restaurants, sun loungers and umbrellas.

On the eastern side, 9 km from Samos town, near the village of Paleokastro is the beach “Kervelis”. The role of beach umbrellas on it play spreading tree crowns, which perfectly protect tourists from the scorching sun rays. The sea near this beach is always calm, big waves are very rare, and the entrance to the water is very gentle. In addition, in the nearby taverns you can taste delicious Greek cuisine.

Not far away is the popular beach “Psili Ammos”. Its name translates from Greek as “fine sand”. This beach is famous for its shallow waters and is very popular with parents with children. Interestingly, “Psili Ammos” is the shortest distance to Asia Minor – only about 2 km. During the Ice Age, the island of Samos was part of Asia Minor, but later the Darbogas Sea Strait was formed between the island and the mainland.

In the east of the island, 12 km from the town of Samos, spreads the beach “Mourtias”. It is preferred by lovers of a quiet, uncrowded vacation and local fishermen. On the opposite side of Samos, 9 km from the island capital, is the beach “Nisi”. This place is also very much loved by fishermen, and local taverns masterfully prepare fish and seafood dishes.

Klima beach near Poseidonio is famous for its bars and cafes, as well as a quaint taverna with good Greek food. It is considered on the island as a great place to relax and meet friends.

Klima beach near Poseidonio is also famous for its bars and cafes, as well as for its original tavernas with good Greek cuisine.

In the southeastern part of Samos, you can have a good time at the beach “Mikalis”. A victorious naval battle once took place in these parts, and the beach is sometimes called “Kavos Fonias” in honor of it. This beach is fully equipped for beach vacations. However, on “Mikalis” you need to be careful, as near the shore the sea current is quite strong.

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Those who like cooler water for swimming will appreciate the beach on the southwestern tip of the island, which is located near the village of Votsalakia on the way to the Pythagoras Cave. Here it is pleasant to spend a whole day, alternating swimming and sunbathing with visits to the small restaurants built along the beachfront.

Local cuisine

Interestingly, Galen and Hippocrates wrote about the quality of island cuisine in their writings. The strong muscat wine “Vafi”, which is produced on the island of Samos, is known far beyond the borders of Greece. It was the main export product of Samos in ancient times. The islanders also grow excellent olives and citrus fruits, as well as delicious dairy products. Yogurts and brine cheeses in Samos are a must-try!

Local taverns and cafes have passed down culinary secrets from generation to generation, so the quality and variety of dishes they offer to tourists is enjoyed by all lovers of Mediterranean cuisine.

Like everywhere else in Greece, the island has excellent moussaka with baked eggplant, stuffed peppers and tomatoes. In any Samos tavern you can order a traditional Greek salad of coarsely chopped vegetables, which is usually dressed with olive oil and feta cheese. Samos is surrounded on all sides by the sea, so various seafood and fish dishes are very popular on the island.

Souvenirs

Many travelers who have been to Samos choose beautiful locally made leather goods, textiles and ceramics as souvenirs. Among the tasty souvenirs from the island are strong wine “Vafi”, excellent olive oil and honey from the village of Pyrgos, which is famous for centuries-old traditions of beekeeping and is considered the honey capital of Samos.

Transportation

There are several bus routes around the island, as well as cab services. For independent travel it is worth getting a Samos card, which can be purchased at any stall or store, or taken free of charge at the local airport at the information desk. Islanders welcome new travelers warmly and are always happy to explain the way and tell you about the traditions of local life.

How to get there

The town of Samos has a large seaport that receives large commercial and tourist ships. And 2 km west of the small town of Pythagorio, there is an international airport, named after the ancient Greek scientist Aristarchus, who once lived on Samos.

The most convenient way to get to the island is by air. The flight from Moscow to Athens lasts about three hours. And from the capital of Greece to Samos you can fly in an hour. In summer (from May to October) from several European cities to the Greek island organize charter flights.

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In addition, Samos can be accessed from within Turkey. Sea ferries from the Turkish ports of Kusantasi and Kusadasi reach the Greek island in two hours. During the summer, Samos authorities organize visits to the island from Turkey on a visa-free basis.

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