Samos is a mountainous, green island among the North-East Aegean islands, separated from the Turkish coast by a strait less than two kilometres wide. In the 6th century BC, under the tyrant Polycrates, it was one of the most powerful cities in the Greek world. It was the birthplace of the mathematician Pythagoras, the astronomer Aristarchus, who first proposed that the Earth goes round the Sun, and the philosopher Epicurus.
What to see
| Place | Why |
|---|---|
| Tunnel of Eupalinos | A tunnel over a kilometre long, dug in the 6th century BC from both sides of the mountain, which met with minimal error: a masterpiece of ancient engineering |
| Heraion | Sanctuary of Hera, who in myth was born on Samos; one standing column and the foundations of a huge temple remain |
| Pythagoreio | Ancient and modern harbour, a UNESCO site together with the Heraion |
| Archaeological museum | In Samos town, with an archaic kouros over 5 metres tall |
| Kokkari | Fishing village on the north coast, a windsurfing base |
| Potami waterfalls | Pools and small falls in the greenery near Karlovasi |
| Mountain villages | Manolates, Vourliotes, Pyrgos, among vineyards and woods |
Samos is famous for its Muscat wine, sweet and fragrant, grown on mountain terraces. Beaches: Tsamadou and Lemonakia near Kokkari, Potami, Psili Ammos in the south-east, Mikro Seitani and Megalo Seitani in a protected area on the north-west coast.
Getting there
The airport has flights from Athens and summer charters. Ferries from Piraeus take 8-12 hours; there are links with Ikaria, Patmos, Chios and Kuşadası in Turkey.
See also Pythagoras and Ikaria.