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| My Favourite Planet > English > Europe > Greece > Northern Aegean > Samos |
| Samos, Greece |
How to get to Samos |
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page 3 |
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A hydrofoil full of island-hoppers arrives at Pythagorio, Samos. |
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Please note:
Due to Greece's economic crisis, information about timetables,
opening times, ticket prices, etc. is changing continually.
Many tourist information offices have been closed, and many
official websites offer no indication of these changes.
If you have any more information you would like to share,
please get in contact. |
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Samos
transport |
By air |
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An airliner takes off from Samos Airport in Pythagorio Bay. |
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Samos Airport
Samos "Aristarchos" International Airport is on the southeast coast of the
island, 3 km west of Pythagorio, 15 km southwest of Vathy (Samos Town).
Tel: +30 22730 87800 and +30 22730 61222
IATA: SMI
ICAO: LGSM
Athens - Samos
There are 4 flights daily between Samos and Athens,
operated by Olympic Airways and Aegean Airlines.
Journey time 40 minutes.
Olympic Airways www.olympicair.com
Olympic Airways office in Vathy (Samos Town):
+30 22730 27237
Olympic Airways office in Pythagorio: +30 22730 61213
Aegean Airlines www.en.aegeanair.com
Aegean reservations within Greece (24 hours a day)
Tel: 801 11 20000 Fax: +30 210 626 1911
From a mobile phone abroad: +30 210 626 1000
Thessaloniki - Samos
There are 2 flights weekly between Samos and Thessaloniki,
operated by Astra Airlines www.astra-airlines.gr.
Journey time 60 minutes.
International flights
In summer there are direct charter flights to Samos from many European cities.
We have been unable to find information about bus services to or from the airport, and were told to take a taxi.
Many hotels offer a free bus transfer to and from the airport.
Check for transfer details when booking your hotel. |
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Samos
transport |
By ferry |
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The "Kuşadası Express" ferry, which carries passengers
between Samos and the Turkish resort of Kuşadası.
For further details see How to get to Kuşadası, Turkey. |
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NOTE 1: Due to the economic crisis in Greece many ferry services have been reduced or suspended and fares substantially increased. The latest accurate information is difficult to find, even on the websites of ferry companies. Always check at local travel agents, ferry ports and tourist information offices.
NOTE 2: Although some websites still state that Kallisti Ferries runs ferries to Samos, the schedules have not been updated since 2009, and it appears that this firm is no longer operating.
Samos Ports
Vathy (Samos town) Port Authority: +30 22730 27318
Karlovasi Port Authority: +30 22730 30888
Pythagorio Port Authority: +30 22730 61225
Piraeus - Samos ferries
There are regular ferries (usually 2 daily) between Piraeus, the port of Athens, and Samos and neighbouring islands. The journey time from Piraeus to Samos is around 8 to 14 hours, depending on the ferry and route.
Most Piraeus-Samos ferries to stop at the island's main port Vathy (Samos Town) and at Karlovasi on the north coast.
The journey time by ferry between Vathy and Karlovasi is around 1 hour.
High-speed catamarans from Piraeus stop only at Vathy.
Ferries are operated by NEL Lines and Hellenic Seaways.
Nel Lines www.nel.gr
Ferry routes:
Piraeus - Syros - Eydilos - Ag. Kirikos - Fourni - Karlovasi - Vathy -
Thessaloniki - Limnos - Mytilene - Chios - Vathy
Kavala - Limnos - Mytilene - Chios - Vathy
Kavala - Limnos - Mytilene - Chios - Karlovasi - Ag. Kirikos
Port Agents on Samos: By Ship Travel
e-mail: byship2@otenet.gr
Vathy Tel: +30 22730 22116 Fax: +30 22730 87279
Karlovasi Tel: +30 22730 35252 FAX: +30 22730 35220
Hellenic Seaways www.hellenicseaways.gr
Ferries, high-speed catamarans and flying dolphins.
Routes and timetables available at the website as PDF downloads.
Northeast Aegean route:
Piraeus - Syros - Mykonos - Eydilos - Karlovasi - Vathy -
Chios - Mytilini - Limnos - Kavala
Other ferry connections:
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1 ferry daily stopping at Naxos (6.5 hours), Paros (6 hours),
Mykonos, Ios, Santorini and Syros. |
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3 ferries daily to the island of Ikaria (2.5 hours) |
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1 ferry daily to Fourni (2 hours) |
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3 ferries a week to Chios (4 hours) |
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1 ferry a week to Lesbos (7 hours), Limnos (11 hours),
Alexandroupolis (20 hours) and Kavala (20 hours). |
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1 ferry a week to Leros (3.5 hours), Kalymnos (4 hours),
Kos (5.5 hours) and Rhodes (9 hours). |
Some ferries also call at Pythagorio.
Hydrofoils
Although hydrofoils, known in Greece as "Flying Doplhins", provide the fastest way to travel by sea, they are fair-weather vessels and do not run when the wind speed is too high. Even on less choppy waters it can be a bumpy ride. Since they are expensive to run and maintain some services around the Aegean have recently been suspended or cancelled altogether.
Two of the main websites with information about hydrofoil services in the Aegean are:
www.dolphin-hellas.gr
www.diavlos.gr/samos/by-ship/hydrofoil.html
According to theses websites there are now a number of daily hydrofoils to and from Samos.
From Vathy (Samos) and Pythagorio to Kuşadası (around 30 minutes)
From Vathy (Samos) and Pythagorio
to Patmos, Lipsi, Leros, Kalimnos, Kos
to Ikaria, Fourni, Patmos, Lipsi, Leros, Kalimnos, Kos
From Kos
to Kalimnos, Leros, Lipsi, Patmos, Pythagorio, Vathy
to Kalimnos, Leros, Lipsi, Patmos, Fourni, Ikaria, Pythagorio, Vathy
Samos to Patmos (50 minutes)
Pythagorio to Patmos
There are 6 ferries a week between Pythagorio and Patmos. The small ferry departs from Pythagorio Sunday-Friday at 8 am, and departs from Patmos for the return trip at 4 pm. Journey time around 2.5 hours. Return fare around 35 Euros. This ferry does not carry vehicles.
The ferry is very small, and the crossing can get rough when the waves are up. Best avoided on windy days, but otherwise a pleasant crossing. 5 hours on Patmos gives you just about time to see Skala and Hora. The monasteries close at 1.30 pm!
Ferries to/from Kuşadası, Turkey
For information about Ferries between Samos and the nearby Turkish resort of Kuşadası
(near Ephesus), see How to get to Kuşadası, Turkey. |
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Samos
transport |
Getting around Samos |
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The road between Pythagorio and Vathy, Samos.
Along the main roads between towns and villages little provision has been made for pedestrians:
there is often no sidewalk, hard-shoulder or space to get out of the way of the fast-moving traffic.
This causes stress and can be dangerous. |
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By bus
KTEL Samos bus services: +30 22730 27262
Vathy urban bus services: +30 22730 25276
As ever in Greece, buses are the cheapest way to get around. However, local KTEL buses on Samos are infrequent even in summer, and service stops at 8 pm.
Buses per day from Vathy (Samos town):
13 to Kokkari and Pythagorio,
8 to Agios Konstantinos and Agios Dimitrios,
7 to Karlovasi,
6 to the Heraion (Sanctuary of Hera, near Pythagorio),
5 to Mytilinii,
2 to Ormos Marathokampou, Avlakia and Votsalakia.
In summer there are also daily buses to the beaches at the Heraion, Tsamadou and Psili Ammos.
From Pythagorio to the Heraion 6 buses daily buses,
2 to Mytilini and Karlovasi.
From Karlovasi daily buses to Agioi Theodori, Pirgos, Koumandarei, Vathy, Pythagorio, Hora, Ormos Marathokampou, Votsalakia, Agia Kyriaki and Drakei.
We have been unable to find information about bus services to or from the airport (see above), and were told to take a taxi.
Many hotels offer a free bus transfer to and from the airport.
Check for transfer details when booking your hotel.
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KTEL bus stop on the road
between Vathy and Pythagorio.
Although the sign says
"Local bus stop", all buses on
Samos are local buses: it's not
as if you can catch a bus to
Athens or Vladivostok from here. |
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By road
The main roads connecting the settlements are mostly narrow but generaly well built. There are also many smaller minor roads and dirt tracks in remoter areas.
For hikers and cyclists there are several footpaths, although they are not marked on most maps.
There are several firms renting cars, jeeps, motorbikes and scooters. Your hotel may be able to recommend a company and even help you book a vehicle.
By taxi
Taxis in Greece cost about 1 Euro per kilometre. Deals can be negotiated with taxi drivers for excursions.
A list of taxi fares for various destinations is available in Vathy.
Fares range from 5 to 40 Euros.
Vathy (Samos town) taxi: +30 22730 28404
The taxi rank is opposite the National Bank of Greece.
Pythagorio taxi: +30 22730 61450
The taxi rank is on the waterfront at Lykourgou Logotheti.
Vathy taxi: +30 22730 91100
Karlovasi taxi: +30 22730 30777
Marathokampos taxi: +30 22730 31000
Kokkari taxi: +30 22730 92585
Mytilinii taxi: +30 22730 51400
By Taxi boat
In the summer small boats (often fishing boats) provide a water taxi service between Vathy and Pythagorio, as well as excursions to remote beaches.
There is also a twice weekly excursion boat from Pythagorio that sails right around the island.
Price 40 Euro. |
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| Samos |
Area map |
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Interactive map of the North Aegean islands
Colour key for Greek island groups (west-east)
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Argo-Saronic |
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Sporades |
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Cyclades |
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Northern Aegean |
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Dodecanese |
See also our interactive map of Greece. |
Photos, maps and articles: © David John 2003-2019,
except where otherwise specified.
All photos and articles are copyright protected.
Images and materials by other authors
have been attributed where applicable.
Please do not use these photos or articles without permission.
If you are interested in using any of the photos for your website,
publication or project, please get in contact.
Higher resolution versions are available on request.
Some of the information and photos in this guide to Samos
originally appeared in 2003-2004 on davidjohnberlin.de.
My Favourite Planet makes great efforts to provide
comprehensive and accurate information across this website.
However, we can take no responsibility for inaccuracies or changes
made by providers of services mentioned on these pages. |
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George Alvanos
rooms in
Kavala's historic Panagia District
Anthemiou 35,
Kavala, Greece
kavalarooms.gr
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Olive Garden Restaurant
Kastellorizo,
Greece
+30 22460 49 109
kastellorizo.de
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Papoutsis
Travel Agency
Kastellorizo,
Greece
+30 22460 49 286
greeklodgings.gr
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