Samos

The birthplace of Pythagoras, with the World Heritage-listed Heraion and Tunnel of Eupalinos, and Muscat wine produced among its green mountain villages and bays.

Samos lies in the eastern Aegean, part of Greece's North Aegean region, separated from Turkey's Mycale peninsula by a strait only about 1.6 km wide. It is the birthplace of the mathematician Pythagoras and the astronomer Aristarchus. The island covers about 480 km² and is mountainous and green, its hillsides covered in pine forests, vineyard terraces and olive groves. In the southeast, Pythagoreio, site of ancient Samos, is a World Heritage Site together with the ruins of the Heraion; the Tunnel of Eupalinos is a marvel of ancient engineering, and the town makes a good base. The capital, Vathy, has an archaeological museum and a wine museum. On the north coast, the fishing village of Kokkari is surrounded by famous beaches such as Tsamadou and Lemonakia, with wine villages such as Manolates and Vourliotes in the hills above. In the west are the Potami waterfalls, Seitani bay, reachable only on foot, and Mount Kerkis, the island's highest peak. The best season is May–Oct: Jun–Sep is ideal for the beach, while spring and autumn are the most comfortable for hiking; strong northerly winds often blow along the north coast in summer. You can fly from Athens in about 1 hour or take a ferry from Piraeus in about 8–10 hours; in summer, boats run to Kuşadası in Turkey for day trips to Ephesus (passport and visa required). Renting a car is recommended, as buses are infrequent. Allow 3–5 days.

Top sights

• Heraion of Samos – Said to be the birthplace of Hera, this was one of the largest temples in ancient Greece. Only a single column stub remains, and it is a Wo…
• Tunnel of Eupalinos – A water tunnel about a kilometer long, dug from both sides of a mountain in the 6th century BC. It is considered a marvel of ancient engine…
• Pythagoreio – A World Heritage port town on the site of ancient Samos. Its harbour uses the breakwater of an ancient mole, and it is lined with seafood r…
• Archaeological Museum of Vathy – A museum with treasures excavated from the Heraion. Its highlight is a marble kouros, a youth statue of over 5 m, one of the largest surviv…
• Kokkari – A traditional fishing village on the north coast, with stone houses and a small chapel set between two headlands. Its pebble beach and seas…
• Potami Waterfalls – A canyon waterfall near Karlovasi. After a forest trail, you need to wade or swim through a narrow gorge to reach the small falls in the de…
• Seitani Beaches – Two wild coves that can only be reached on foot or by boat. They are a protected habitat for the Mediterranean monk seal, with clear water…
• Manolates – A stone-paved mountain village on the slopes of Mount Ampelos, with pottery workshops and small tavernas. It can be reached on foot from th…
• Tsamadou Beach – A pebble beach to the west of Kokkari, enclosed by pine forest and cliffs. Its emerald water has earned it a reputation as one of the most…
• Lemonakia Beach – A small crescent-shaped cove near Kokkari, with fine pebble sand, bright blue water and full facilities, making it ideal for families.
• Psili Ammos Beach – A shallow, sandy beach on the southeast tip, looking across the strait to the Turkish coast. The nearby Ailiki salt marsh has flamingos in…
• Panagia Spiliani Monastery – A cave monastery on the hill behind Pythagoreio, with a Church of the Virgin inside a cave, a spring, and views over the harbor and the Her…
• Logothetis Castle – A 19th-century tower on a hill by the sea at Pythagoreio, built by a leader of the Greek War of Independence, with a church and ancient rui…
• Archaeological Museum of Pythagoreio – A modern museum showing statues, Roman emperor busts and sarcophagi unearthed from the ancient city of Samos, complementing the archaeologi…
• Vathy (Samos Town) – The capital of Samos, spread in terraces around a deep bay, with red-tiled old houses and narrow lanes in the upper town. It is the main fe…
• Vourliotes – A wine village above Kokkari, where small tavernas on the square are surrounded by vineyards. Nearby is the Frontzou Monastery, the oldest…
• Mount Kerkis – The highest peak on Samos, at 1,434 meters. A cave on its slopes is said to have been where Pythagoras took refuge, and the summit offers v…
• Votsalakia Beach – A long beach at the foot of Mount Kerkis, with a mix of fine pebbles and sand, clear water, and a cluster of guesthouses and seafood restau…
• Samos Wine Museum – A museum set in the converted 19th-century wine cellars of the Samos Wine Cooperative. It traces the history of Muscat wine-making, and you…

Where to eat

• Loukas Taverna – A family taverna at the top of Manolates village, under a grapevine with views over the mountains and sea; the mother c…
• Kalamies Seaside Restaurant – A family seafood taverna at the eastern end of Kokkari harbor with a seaside terrace, known for what is called Samos's…
• Kamara Taverna – A husband-and-wife taverna on Votsalakia beach where the chef describes the day's dishes at the door; generous portions…
• Ourania's Delights – A small family taverna in upper Vathy in Samos Town with no written menu; Ourania serves whatever she has cooked that d…