Samos
Samos town is the port and administrative center of Samos, with a hillside old quarter, museums of Heraion finds and ferry links from Piraeus.
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Samos town is the port and administrative center of Samos, a Greek island in the eastern Aegean. It is also known as Vathy, a name that now usually refers to Ano Vathy, the old neighborhood climbing the hillside above the harbor. Its houses rise in an amphitheater around the bay, spreading from the water up the slope.
The town was founded around the middle of the 18th century as the harbor for the village of Vathy. It officially took the name Samos in 1958, and it stayed the island's administrative center after Samos joined Greece in November 1912. The town's central point is Pythagoras Square, built in 1864. The Archaeological Museum displays finds from the Heraion, a sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Hera, and churches such as Agios Nikolaos and Agios Spiridon are notable buildings. Piraeus ferries reach the town, and Samos Airport is about 15 km south.
Samos in five
- Use a car, and plan two basesThe island is mountainous, with the main towns on the north and east coasts. A car links Vathy, Kokkari and Pythagoreio with the inland villages; buses are limited.
- Visit Pythagoreio's ancient sites earlyThe harbor town has the Eupalinos tunnel and the nearby Heraion, both part of a UNESCO listing. Check opening hours and any closures with the culture ministry before you go.
- Taste Samian Muscat in the villagesThe island's sweet white wine comes from the hills, and cooperatives and small producers sell it. Ask for dry and sweet to compare.
- Check the ferry or flight to the island firstFlights from Athens are short; ferries from Piraeus take most of a day. Seasonal boats link Samos with nearby Aegean islands, so plan the route before booking a hotel.Getting around Greece
- Check entry rules before the short ferry to TurkeySeasonal boats cross to the Turkish coast from Samos. Entry rules differ by passport and change, so verify them on official government pages before you book.
Things to do in Samos
See all attractions in Samos
Need to know
- Airport
- Samos Aristarchos of Samos (SMI), near Pythagoreio
- Getting there
- Flights from Athens; ferries from Piraeus take most of a day
- Getting around
- Rental car; limited buses and taxis
- Best base
- Pythagoreio for sights; Kokkari for beaches; Vathy for the port
- Time needed
- 4–6 days for a relaxed loop
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh13°Low9°Mild, wetJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 217 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low10°Mild, wetFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 100 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet
- MarchClear10 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Spring, greenMarchClear
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, green
- AprilClear6 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Spring, EasterAprilClear
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, Easter
- MayClear5 rainy daysHigh23°Low17°Warm, openMayClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 25 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, open
- JuneClear3 rainy daysHigh28°Low21°Warm seaJuneClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 15 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Hot, peakJulyClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, peak
- AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh31°Low24°Hot, busyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- SeptemberClear2 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Warm sea, calmSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 14 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea, calm
- OctoberClear4 rainy daysHigh23°Low18°Mild, fewer boatsOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, fewer boats
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh19°Low15°ShowersNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 149 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°Mild, wetDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 196 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wet
Average daily high and low in Vathy, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Samos
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
18
- Feels like
- 16°
- Humidity
- 81%
- Wind
- 17 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Samos
10:46 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today20°18°100%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 20°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue19°18°100%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 19°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed21°16°78%Wednesday: Rain. High 21°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 78%.
- Thu19°14°0%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 19°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri16°13°0%Friday: Clear. High 16°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat17°12°0%Saturday: Clear. High 17°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun17°14°2%Sunday: Clear. High 17°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 2%.
Updated 10:45 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Ikariaferry from Samos, about 1.5–2 hoursA slow, hilly island with beaches and mountain villages.Read the guide
- Chiosferry connection; check the seasonMastic villages, Pyrgi and the old town.Read the guide
- Dodecaneseferry connections southPatmos and Leros are common stops on a longer Aegean route.Read the guide
Before you go to Samos
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Rules for Samos, checked
- Greece is in the Schengen Area. Check entry requirements on the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs site (mfa.gr) before you fly or sail.Source
- Non-EU visitors may be fingerprinted and photographed at the border under the EU Entry/Exit System. Check current EES guidance before you travel.
- Tourist boats run from Samos town to Kusadasi in Turkey. Carry your passport and check Turkish entry rules before you go.
- The emergency number in Greece is 112, which also works across the EU.
Plan around Samos
Samos and its neighbors, from Ikaria to Lesvos
Read the guideIkariaHilly island west of Samos with a slow rhythm
Read the guideChiosIsland of mastic villages and medieval Pyrgi
Read the guideDodecaneseThe island group south of Samos
Read the guideAll of GreeceAthens, the islands and the mainland
Read the guideBest time to visit GreeceHeat, wind and ferry season by region
Read the guideSamos FAQ
How many days do you need in Samos?
Four days covers Pythagoreio, a mountain village and a beach. A week allows a loop of the island with two bases and a day on the north coast.
Is Samos worth visiting?
Yes, if you like green hills, wine villages and fewer crowds. It is less polished than the Cyclades, which is part of its appeal, and the beaches are mostly pebble.
Do you need a car in Samos?
Yes for most trips. Buses link the main towns, but villages and coves need a car. Book early for July and August.
Where should you stay in Samos?
Pythagoreio for sights and a harbor, Kokkari for the beach and wind, Vathy for the port and city feel. Many travelers split between two.
Can you do Samos on a day trip from Turkey?
Seasonal ferries run between the Turkish coast and Samos, but entry rules apply. Check official government pages for your passport before you plan, and allow time for border checks.