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Voykit pocket guide · Greece
Samos
Σάμος
Give Samos 3–4 nights: base in Vathi or Pythagorion, rent a car for two days, and keep one day for the Heraion and Eupalinos tunnel.
Samos is a large, green East Aegean island 2 km from the Turkish coast, with three ports (Vathi, Karlovassi, Pythagorion) and sights spread across the whole island. It suits travellers who want archaeology, mountain villages and beaches without the Cyclades crowds, and who will rent a car. Ferries reach it from Piraeus and the Cyclades; the airport sits next to Pythagorion.
- Country
- Greece
- Local name
- Σάμος
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–early Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heat, peak prices, Meltemi wind), and the first week of May when season pricing starts
- Stay
- 3–4 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards are widely accepted; card terminals are required in many businesses.
- Daily spend
- Budget €45–75 excl. bed · Mid €80–130 excl. bed · High €150+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Cosmote, Vodafone and Nova sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at the airport; a passport is needed to register.
- Emergency
- European emergency 112 · Police 100 · Ambulance 166 · Coast guard 108
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard European round two-pin plugs.
- Tipping
- Café: Leave the coins, €0.50–1.; Taverna or restaurant: 5–10% in cash on the table; not expected at gyros shops.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro.; Hotel housekeeping: €1–2 a night.; Boat crew or guide: €5–10 per person for a day trip.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Athens, Thessaloniki and most of the mainland. On many islands it is desalinated or hard: ask locally and buy bottled if unsure.
- Toilets
- Use cafés (buy something), museums and sites. Paper goes in the bin, not the toilet, in most places.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee or freddo espresso | €2.50–4.50 |
| Souvlaki or gyros portion | €4–7 |
| Taverna meal with wine, per person | €18–30 |
| Local muscat wine, bottle | €8–20 |
| Archaeological site or museum entry | €3–8 |
| Taxi across Vathi | €5–10 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €10–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SMI · Samos International Airport
- About 3 km from Pythagorion, walkable to town; daily flights from Athens (about 55 min) and Thessaloniki (about 65 min), plus seasonal European chartersAbout 1.9 mi from Pythagorion, walkable to town; daily flights from Athens (about 55 min) and Thessaloniki (about 65 min), plus seasonal European charters
Typical fares
- Ferry Vathi → Fourni
- about €10 one way, 1–1.5 h
- Ferry Vathi → Kuşadası, day trip
- about €36 adult return
- Taxi airport (SMI) → Pythagorion
- €10–15, about 5 min
Get around
Buses are infrequent and do not run on Sundays or some public holidays, and intermediate-stop times may not be listed. Rental cars, scooters and quads are available near the port in Vathi, often open late; a scooter can cost about €10 a day. Taxis exist but are limited. Vathi is walkable, and the sites around Pythagorion can be done on foot or by bike.
See and do
Known for
- Tunnel of Eupalinos
- Heraion (Temple of Hera)
- Pythagorion and its ancient harbour mole
- Muscat wine and mountain villages
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fourni | Ferry or excursion boat from Vathi or Pythagorion | About 1–1.5 h each way |
| Kuşadası, Turkey | Foot-passenger ferry from Vathy Port (customs), daily Apr–Oct, about 1 h | About 2 h door to door |
| Patmos or the Dodecanese | Hydrofoil from Vathi or Pythagorion | 2–4 h depending on the island |
Sleep
- Vathi (Samos town)
- The capital and main ferry port; waterfront tavernas, the archaeological museum and the Lion statue. Best for a first visit without a car.
- Pythagorion
- Next to the airport and the ancient sites; the harbour mole, the Eupalinos tunnel and the Heraion are all within a short drive. Best for archaeology and boat trips.
- Kokkari
- North-coast village with a protected architectural character and a beach; quieter, needs a car or scooter.
- Karlovassi
- Second port with an old town; useful for ferries and the western beaches, less polished.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Γεια σαςYAH sas |
| Thank you | Ευχαριστώef-kha-ree-STO |
| How much is it? | Πόσο κάνει;PO-so KAH-nee |
| The bill, please | Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώton lo-gha-ria-SMO pa-ra-ka-LO |
| Where is the port? | Πού είναι το λιμάνι;poo EE-ne to lee-MA-nee |
| Can I pay by card? | Μπορώ να πληρώσω με κάρτα;bo-RO na plee-RO-so me KAR-ta |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'kaliméra' (morning) or 'kalispéra' (evening) on entering shops and tavernas; avoid: Launching straight into a question
- Hospitality: Accept offered coffee, sweets or raki; it is part of the welcome; avoid: Refusing flatly — take a little
- Churches: Covered shoulders and knees; quiet voices; a small candle donation; avoid: Turning your back on the altar for photos during a service
- Gestures: Wave with the palm turned towards yourself; avoid: The open palm pushed forward (moutza)
- Conversation: Family, food and football are easy topics; avoid: Lecturing on the debt crisis, Türkiye or the name of North Macedonia
- Dinner at a home: Bring pastries or wine; arrive a little late; avoid: Leaving food on the plate if you have been served more
- Dress: Casual; long trousers or skirt for monasteries; avoid: Swimwear in town, shops and churches
Scams and watch-outs
- Most archaeological sites and museums close on Tuesdays.
- The two Vathi docking points are about 3 km apart — roughly 30 minutes on foot; check which one your ferry uses.
- North winds bring swell into Vathi and Karlovassi harbours; Pythagorion is the sheltered option.
- Summer forest fires happen almost every year; follow local instructions.
- The Turkey day-trip ferry works from Kuşadası to Samos, not the reverse in a day.
Samos is a low-crime island and safe for tourists; the real risks are scooter and quad crashes on mountain roads, summer heat and fire, and swimming where the Meltemi wind is up. Use 112 for anything urgent.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Samos yet. Suggested stay: 3–4 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Tunnel of Eupalinos
- Heraion (Temple of Hera)
- Pythagorion and its ancient harbour mole
- Muscat wine and mountain villages
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Samos, revision 5305809 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5305809
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
SamosΣάμος
Σε αυτή τη διεύθυνση, παρακαλώ
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies on Samos; the US embassy and most others are in Athens. Consular help for EU citizens: any EU embassy.
Sites and museums often close on Tuesdays — check before you drive.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/samos). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.