All Greek
islands can claim to be unique and with some justification. Samos lays
strong claims. First of all, if you are going on holiday to find water
theme parks, lively discos by night and suggestively named bars, look
elsewhere. Samos is not the island for you.
On the other
hand, if you are looking for an island of great natural beauty,
fascinating mountain villages, peaceful beaches, great walking,
interesting places to visit and delicious white wine, then Samos may win
your affection.
Many visitors fall in love with the island and
return year after year. Its appeal is universal attracting visitors
from so many European countries that, unusually, no one nationality
predominates on the island.
It is the
sixth largest island in Greece with a population of around 50,000 people.
farming, fishing and tourism are the mainstay of the island's economy.
Much of the farming is devoted to growing vines for wine and terraced
vineyards grace the northern slopes of the island from sea level to around
3,000ft or more (1,000m). Samos is a very mountainous island and the only
area of plain is on the south side and is taken up in part by the
International Airport. The remainder of the available land grows oranges
and olives. The climate is mild enough in winter to farm olives at higher
levels in the mountains.
Where is
Samos?
Samos lies in
the eastern Aegean and very close to the shores of Turkey. Its nearest
neighbour to the north is the island of Chios with Patmos to the south and
the lesser known island of Ikaria out to the west.
How to Get
There.
 Charter
flights fly directly to the island from Britain and other European
countries from May until October.
April is a
particularly attractive month on the island for the wild flowers,
especially wild orchids, and for walking. Visitors travelling there in
April will need to change flights in Athens and pick up an Olympic
Airlines internal flight. Internal flights can be booked at the same time
as international flights. It will only be on the same ticket if the
journey is completed with Olympic Airlines.
Where to
stay.
Only the main
resorts are listed here.
Samos Town
(also known as Vathi)
Lying on the
north shore on the eastern side of the island, Samos town is the capital
of the island. Situated in a bay with a long promenade, it is an
attractive place to stay. It has a number of advantages, it is the hub of
the island bus service, there are some good hotels, a good selection of
eating places and there is a fairly lively atmosphere with the ferry boats
coming and going. The only disadvantages are that accommodation away from
the front is almost certain to be uphill and the beach area is small.
Kokkari
Lying along
the northern shore. Kokkari is a pretty fishing village now devoted to
tourism as much as to fishing. It has retained its village atmosphere and
size. An excellent base for walkers for two reasons. There is plenty of
exciting walking directly in the hills behind the resort and it lies on
the main bus route along the north shore which makes it convenient to
reach other good walking areas. Only small beaches within the village but
some excellent beaches outside.
Karlovassi
Lying on the
north coast on the western side of the island, Karlovassi is the second
main town on the island. In previous years it was more devoted to
industry, especially with its leather factories, than tourism. That has
now all changed and it is busy cleaning up its act and its image.
Certainly the port area is much improved with traffic diverted strictly to
the business end leaving an attractive area free for tavernas and bars.
It is a great
place to stay for walkers. The Kerkis range of mountains at this end of
the island offer the most challenging and rewarding walking on the island.
The nearest beach is at Potami which is a 45 minute walk or a taxi ride.
Pythagorion
Delightful
harbour resort on the south coast, not too far from the airport. Perhaps a
more upmarket resort than others on the island. Plenty of beach from
Pythagorion stretching around to the next resort of Ireon. Not so good for
getting around by public transport except to Samos Town.
Ireon
Strictly a
beach resort on the south side of the island. Small but good for a quiet
holiday.
Votsalakia
On the south
coast on the western side of the island. A great ribbon of sandy beach
with the resort stretching for miles alongside. An excellent resort for a
quiet beach holiday but otherwise isolated.
1. Take your
boots and enjoy some of the finest walking in Greece
2. Visit the
hill village of Vourliotes and lunch at Blue Chairs taverna
3. Visit the
hill village of Manolates and lunch at Loukas taverna
4. Enjoy the
song of the nightingales in the Valley of the Nightingales..... but only
in spring!
5. Take a day
trip to Turkey to visit Ephesus
6. Take a day
trip to Patmos to visit the famous monastery
7. Enjoy a
lunch at a fish taverna in Psili Ammos and relax afterwards on the fine,
sandy beach there
8. Sample the
atmosphere at the port in Karlovassi and enjoy a lunch there.
9. Walk up
the old trail from the port in Karlovassi to Paleo Karlovassis and visit
the pinnacle church of Ag. Triades.
10. Visit
Potami and make your way to the old Byzantine church and climb up to the
castle above. Afterwards, follow upriver to the waterfalls.
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