Samos Town, known locally as Vathi, lies in the north east corner of the island with a transfer time from the airport of fifty minutes. It is a very attractive town with its mix of old and new buildings in pastel shades of blues and pinks and ochre. Samos Town sits along the shores of a horseshoe bay and is framed by low green hills. The harbour in the centre of the town is always a hive of activity with the comings and goings of ferries, cruise ships and pleasure craft. The town has a good range of restaurants and tavernas serving a wide variety of cuisine and there are bars and discos providing a lively nightlife.
Although Samos Town is the capital of the island and a popular holiday destination, it has not lost its traditional charm or its air of relaxation. It has many historic buildings and museums, great shopping and eating, and a lively nightlife. It also benefits from being fairly close to good beaches.
A Samos Town holiday is popular with couples of all ages. Apart from the attractions in the town itself, it is also a good base from which to explore the rest of the island. The harbour also offers many trips to neighbouring islands and to Turkey. It is also a popular holiday destination for walkers.
The season lasts from April to October with the hot dry summer months being the most popular to visit Samos Town. Walkers prefer early and late season when the temperature is lower.
Samos Town, known locally as Vathi, lies on the north east coast of the island and is its principle town. The delicate shades of the buildings contrast with the deep blue of the water and the verdant hills. The old town is fascinating with its narrow stepped streets and its Venetian architecture. The Archaeological Museum is well worth a visit as one of its exhibits is a five metre high stone statue, the largest of its kind in Greece. The Agios Spyridon is also high on the sightseers list of things to do in Samos town. The port is one of three on the island and is fairly busy with the fishing boats, the ferries and the pleasure craft. There are many excursions from the harbour including to Ephesus in Turkey.
The town beach is small and pebbly and the waters are clear. There are larger and better beaches in the vicinity which can be accessed via the local bus routes. Psili Ammos is a very popular sandy beach with good facilities. There are also a number of pebble and shingle beaches.
Samos is an island popular with ramblers and there are many organised coastal and hillside walks. They vary in length and difficulty.
Samos Town has excellent eateries providing for all tastes and shops to satisfy ardent shoppers. Its nightlife has something for everyone as it is lively without being raucous.
It is an island that enchants holidaymakers and over half a million come each year, many of them making repeat visits.
Samos is an island where evening entertainment is generally low-key. Samos Town’s nightlife is the liveliest on the island with an array of venues offering music and dance. Those seeking more sedate evenings will find many small restaurants and tavernas on the waterfront where peace and tranquillity can be enjoyed under the stars.
Samos Town is the main shopping centre on the island and its narrow streets will supply holiday memorabilia to satisfy most needs. The town also has a lively market. There is always an abundant supply of pottery, embroidered cloths, leather goods and jewellery.
Samos Town has a wide range of restaurants and tavernas serving a varied cuisine from traditional fish menus to international fare. Fish is obviously an important part of an island’s gastronomy and tavernas provide a wide variety of fish as well as meat dishes. There are a number of excellent restaurants overlooking the harbour. A good way to try traditional food is to order Mezedes, the Greek equivalent of the Spanish tapas, which includes a variety of bite-sized fish, meat and vegetables.
Local wines are pleasant and inexpensive.
Children are always made very welcome in restaurants and their tastes and portion size are usually accommodated.
