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- Samos
Samos
The easternmost island of the Aegean, Samos, was one of the
first Greek islands to take advantage of the package tour boom that
began in earnest in the 1980s. Today it has become 184 square miles
(477 sq km) of holiday resort, its beaches dotted with sunbeds and
encircled by hotel rooms, and its waterfronts lined with tavernas,
bars and cafes. Tourism may be on the increase, but that does not
mean that this lovely island has lost its traditional charm, its
laidback feel, or its scenic beauty. The very fact that it remains
such a popular destination testifies to the fact that it has a
great deal to offer the holidaymakers who come to enjoy themselves
each year, many returning again and again.
In ancient times when the great mathematician Pythagoras was
born here in the 6th century BC, Samos flourished, as evidenced by
the now few remains of its magnificent architecture, which included
a temple and marble paved road lined with 2,000 statues (now
largely covered by the airport runway). The course of its more
modern history has seen the island in a tug of war between Greece
and Turkey, but since 1913 Samos has been indisputably Greek.
Samos town curls around a semi-circular bay with its pretty
pastel-coloured buildings rising in tiers up a green hillside from
its busy, and somewhat tacky touristy waterfront. Numerous other
coastal towns and villages encircle the island, all offering
holiday accommodation. Inland there are some delightful mountain
villages with picturesque alleyways and friendly locals, which, out
of season anyway, still maintain the illusion of being unspoilt by
mass tourism.
Samos has always been known as being blessed with natural
beauty, and this has not changed. The dramatic, indented coastline
is dotted with sand and shingle coves, while inland the slopes of
the mountains and hills are covered in vines and verdant
forest.
All in all, for a classic Aegean summer holiday with hot
weather, lively tavernas, sights to see, shops to browse and a
selection of good beaches, Samos comes up trumps.
Information & Facts
Climate
Sunshine is the order of every day in Samos during the summer
months, but temperatures remain comfortable with the help of the
'meltemia', northern winds that cool the sun-drenched island.
Rainfall is heavy, but most of the rain falls in winter. From
mid-April until mid-October the weather is almost completely
dry.
Getting Around
The island has three major ferry ports (Pythagorio, Karlosvassi
and Vathy) and most ferry connections to Samos are via Turkey.
Local KTEL buses provide transport for visitors on Samos, stopping
at most villages and cities on the island (Note: the bus service
only runs till 8pm). The best way to see the island is by car or
moped, and rental offices are available in Samos town. Many of the
large hotels also arrange motorcycle and car rentals for guests.
There are taxis available on the island and in the port of Samos
there is a price-list of taxis fares. There are taxi-boats
available during the summer between Samos town and Pythagorio, as
well as a boat that sails around the entire island.
Kids Attractions
A holiday on the beautiful island of Samos has plenty of
attractions for children. There are waterfalls like Satami for kids
to duck and dive under, beaches like Psili Ammos to play on, and
castles like Lykourgos to conquer, as well as plenty of historical
ruins and monuments for children to explore.
Language
Greek is the national language, but English is widely
spoken.
Money
The Euro (EUR) is the official currency, divided into 100 cents.
Banks and bureaux de change are widely available and travellers
cheques and major credit cards are widely accepted. ATMs are
widespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenient
method of obtaining euros.
Night Life
Samos Island has a number of nightlife options ranging from
restaurants, taverns and cafés to bars, bouzoukia (clubs with live
Greek music) and nightclubs. Most people spend their evenings in
Pythagorio, Vathi and Karlovassi, which offer the best night spots.
The Pythagorio Harbour has a couple of good café bars, and the
discos in town open late at night. Cinema fans will have to travel
to Mytilini, a small village between Pythagorio and Vathy, to catch
a movie.
Shopping
Shopping on Samos offers a wonderful variety of goods, from
local produce to international designer fashion. The towns of
Pythagorio and Vathi have the widest selection of stores and the
best buys include Muscat wine, handcrafted jewellery and ceramics,
locally produced honey and ouzo.
Pythagorio main street has a number of souvenir shops, jewellery
stores and clothing stores for shoppers to browse, as well as a
good bakery for midday treats. At the main church in Pythagorio
there's a shop selling hand-made bouzoukia (long-necked, fretted
lute). The pedestrian street in Vathi, near the harbour, has many
shops selling local souvenirs, shoes and clothing.
Visitors can buy fresh fish daily from the ports in Karlovassi,
Vathi and Pythagorio, or from vendors in most villages. In
Marathokambos you can purchase fruit and vegetables irrigated with
spring water, and the oranges from Miloi are the best. There are
beautiful hand-crafted ceramics available in Karlovassi.
Sightseeing
The island of Samos has a diverse range of attractions to offer
visitors and is known for its gorgeous beaches. Some of the best
beaches include white pebbled Mykali, secluded Megalo Seitani, and
the nudist beach of Tsamadou, however the nearest beach to the town
of Samos is Gagkou. If you manage to pull yourself away from all
this, a visit to the ancient Temple of Hera (a UNESCO World
Heritage Site) is a sightseeing must. Explore Pythagoras Cave to
get historical and philosophical perspective on the island, and
visit the Ancient Theatre of Pythagorio for more cultural
insights.