Tour of Samos island
Samos is one of the most beautiful and visited islands of the North-Eastern Aegean.
The evergreen island, the birthplace of the world famous mathematician Pythagoras and the goddess Hera, with its large sandy beaches and crystal waters, its natural beauties, its traditional villages, its important archaeological sights, will offer you unforgettable holidays.
Samos has a good tourist infrastructure, offers many facilities for entertainment and sports and disposes a good road network and local transport system.
VATHY
At the head of the bay of Samos lies the harbor of VATHY and the genteel capital of the island also called SAMOS, spreading out next to it with its fine neoclassical buildings.
The town has a fine Archaeological Museum, containing finds from the Heraion, pottery, Hellenistic sculpture, etc.
There is also an art gallery, a municipal library, an Ecclesiastical and Byzantine Museum in the Archbishopric and a Folklore Museum.
Just outside the town are the Byzantine monasteries of Zoodochos Pighi and Agia Zoni, and the little church of Ai-Giannaki at Ano Vathy is an example of post-Byzantine architecture.
Tour of Samos island
PYTHAGORION
PYTHAGORION, called Tigani by the locals on the account of its shape, is built on the ruins of ancient Samos, 13 kilometers south of the town, on the south coast of the island.
The Archaeological Museum, housed in the Community Offices building has fine exhibits from the excavations in the area – sculptures, architectural members, etc.
Pythagorion was encircled by the fortifications of Polykrates (circuit 6.222 meters), remains of which survive, with towers and gates.
It is worth visiting the tower of Logothetis, a two-storey building of 1824 designed like a fortress, the ancient theater, the Roman bath-house and the tunnel of Eupalinos, a major technical feat of the ancient world, completed in 524 BC under Polykrates.
Pythagorio has a beautiful beach with sand, pebbles and clear waters.
In the area you will find a lot of restaurants, taverns, coffee shops and bars which offer some of the traditional hospitality.
A short distance away, near Myli, is the tower and church of the Sarkinis (1560).
HERAION – AGIOS KONSTANTINOS
HERAION, a sanctuary at which the goddess Hera was worshipped, of which only a single column survives. Hellenistic and Roman buildings and an Early Christian Basilica have been found in the area of the sanctuary.
AGIOS KONSTANTINOS is a village located 20 kilometers north-west of the capital, on the street to Karlovasi. It is built on a unique location, drowned in the green. In the village you will see mainly rural residences and hotels of various categories.
Tour of Samos island
KARLOVASSI
The second largest town and harbor on the island is KARLOVASSI (32 kilometers north-west of Samos town), which has imposing mansions, impressive churches, a shipyard in the harbor, a tannery and pottery workshops, attesting to its commercial flowering in the 19th c.
The town is divided into five sections: Old, New and Middle Karlovassi, the bay and the harbor.
It has great natural beauty and many sights worth seeing.
The Historical & Folklore Museum of Karlovassi houses some interesting exhibits like agricultural tools, textiles, decorative objects, carved mirrors, etc.
Below the remains of the Byzantine castle at Potami is the church of the Metamorphosis (11th c.) and in the town itself some of the 19th c. mansions are impressive: the Porphyrias School, the Hatzigiannis Mathematics School, the Governor’s Residence.
Other villages of interest on Samos are: VOURLIOTES, nestling in a verdant setting with vines and a superb view over the sea.
MYTILINII is a verdant mountain head-village in the heart of the island, with fine houses and churches. In the Palaeontological Museum here are displayed the fossils of animals that lived 8 – 10 million years ago, which came to light during excavations in the region.
MARATHOKAMPOS is a traditional inland village with narrow streets, arches, old churches and caves. The beach of Ormos Marathokampou attracts many visitors with its fine sand and its crystal waters.
Tour of Samos island
KOKKARI is a picturesque coastal settlement located 10 kilometers north-west of the capital.
During the last years, Kokkari has been developed into a cosmopolitan resort.
Here the visitor can find hotels, bungalows, apartments, rooms to let and many restaurants, taverns, cafes and bars.
BEACHES
The island has many beautiful and idyllic beaches all with crystal clear waters.
Near the city of Samos you will find GAGOU beach.
There is a beach bar and restaurants nearby, sun beds and umbrellas are available for hire.
AGIA PARASKEVI is located 6 km. from the capital.
In the region of KOKKARI you will find Tsamadou a nice pebbled beach and Lemonakia with thin sand, pebbles and crystal blue waters.
A part of the beach is organized with sun beds, umbrellas.
You will find a beach bar and tavern.
Also near the port of KARLOVASI, MEGALO SEITANI 5 km. from Karlovasi is a protected area of the Monachus-Monachus seal, and POTAMI a long pebble beach with clear waters.
MIKRO SEITANI is a unique small beach with pebbles and surrounded by rocks between Megalo Seitani and Potami beach.
Samos Beaches
POSEIDONIO is a small sea side settlement with a fishing port and a small quiet sandy beach with crystal blue waters.
In the area you will find taverns serving fresh fish.
PSILI AMMOS is a fine sandy beach 7 km to the south of Samos between Mykali and Klima a very nice quiet beach with deep blue waters, located at the south east part of Samos, between Psili Ammos and Poseidonio beach at a distance of about 5 km from Vathi.
MYKALI is a white pebbled beach.
KERVELI is a very quiet beach located on the east coast of the island with tamarisk trees, calm and warm waters ideal for families with children.
POTOKAKI is a long beach with fine sand and pebbles west of Pythagorio.
Samos Beaches
The beach of HERAION is located near the homonym archaeological site and has several large trees for shade.
There are a couple of smaller beaches nearer the resort, most notably PAPA BEACH which is a small cove of shingle and stone.
Sun beds and showers are available.
Also LIMNONAKI, VARSAMO a small bay at the west part of the island and KAMPOS a nice sandy beach.
In the area you can find many isolated bays and beautiful sea-caves.
PLAKA is a small seaside settlement with a small rocky beach at the west part of Samos.
MOURTIA is a beautiful beach located at the east part of Samos next to Agia Zoni monastery.
TSAMBOU beach is located just outside Avlakia.
It is magic with crystal clear waters and pebbles.
Sun beds and umbrellas are available.
VOTSALAKIA is a very large beach with pebbles and sand located on southern Samos.
Tour of Samos island
NEARBY ISLANDS
Opposite the south coast of Samos lies the small island of SAMIOPOULA, which has just one settlement and a few rooms for rent.
It can be visited by boat from Pythagorion daily, the trip from Pythagorio to Samiopoula takes about one hour with a small boat.
The beaches on Samiopoula are of the best that you will find on Samos, with fine sand and crystal clear waters.
TRADITION – EVENTS
There are cultural events and various churches hold traditional festivals, with eating, drinking, dancing and music.
On the 6th August the victory against the Turks is celebrated, at the wine celebration that takes place at Pythagorio. Celebrations take place on the 8th September at the Monastery of the Virgin Mary.
LOCAL PRODUCTS
The Samian products that you have to taste are: the olive oil, the famous Muscat wine, known since antiquity and exported all over the world, the ouzo produced in Vathy and Karlovasi and the honey of fine quality.
You can find fresh fish daily at the fishing ports in Karlovasi, Marathokampos, Vathy, and Pythagorio.
Souma is an alcoholic beverage produced from the stems of the grapes which are left over crushing.
The products of handcrafted artistic is a heritage on Samos since antiquity. In the area of Karlovassi you can find craftsmen and their amazing creations.
