Whitewashed lane in the mountain village of Manolates

Samos · Towns & villages

Towns & villages of Samos

Harbour towns, mountain hamlets and the places where island life still follows its own rhythm.

View of Kokkari, Vathy, Samos
01
Vathy

Kokkari

Former fishing village on two little bays

Kokkari's waterfront of cafés and tavernas faces the sea on a small headland, with pebble beaches and the windsurfing bay of Lemonakia and Tsamadou just to the west.

  • Seafront tavernas
  • Lemonakia and Tsamadou beaches
  • Base for north-coast hikes
Discover Kokkari
View of Pythagorion, Pythagorion, Samos
02
Pythagorion

Pythagorion

Ancient capital on a pretty harbour

Built over the ancient city of Polycrates, the harbour town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk the old mole, the castle of Lykourgos Logothetis and the Eupalinos tunnel in a single morning.

  • Eupalinos tunnel
  • Archaeological Museum
  • Harbour-front dining
Discover Pythagorion
View of Manolates, Vathy, Samos
03
Vathy

Manolates

Stone village in the Valley of the Nightingales

High on the slopes of Mt Ampelos, Manolates has cobbled lanes, ceramic workshops and tavernas shaded by vines. Best reached on foot, up through the forest from the coast.

  • Valley of the Nightingales trail
  • Pottery shops
  • Mountain tavernas
Discover Manolates
View of Vathy (Samos town), Vathy, Samos
04
Vathy

Vathy (Samos town)

Neoclassical capital on a deep bay

The island's capital curls around one of the deepest natural harbours in the Aegean. Its old upper quarter, Ano Vathy, has steep lanes of 18th-century houses above the town.

  • Archaeological Museum of Samos
  • Ano Vathy old quarter
  • Samos Wine Museum
Discover Vathy (Samos town)
View of Karlovasi, Karlovasi, Samos
05
Karlovasi

Karlovasi

Old tanning town of the west

Samos's second town grew rich on leather. Today it is a relaxed university town with grand churches, old tannery buildings and the beaches and waterfalls of Potami close by.

  • Agios Nikolaos church
  • Potami waterfalls
  • Seitani coves
Discover Karlovasi
View of Potami, Karlovasi, Samos
06
Karlovasi

Potami

Beach, chapel and waterfalls

A long pebble beach just west of Karlovasi, with a small 11th-century church and a gorge leading to swimming pools and waterfalls under the plane trees.

  • Potami waterfalls
  • Metamorfosis church
  • Trail towards the Seitani bays
Discover Potami

Regions

Where to base yourself in Samos

01

Vathy

Samos town on its deep bay, the archaeological museum, Kokkari and the wine villages of the north coast.

02

Pythagorion

The ancient capital, the Eupalinos tunnel, the Heraion and the long beaches of the south-east.

03

Karlovasi

The old tanning town in the west, the Potami waterfalls and the wild coves below Mt Kerkis.

04

Marathokampos

Quiet south-west villages, long Votsalakia beach and the slopes of Kerkis.

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