How to Get to Samos: Flights, Ferries and Which One to Pick

Most visitors to Greece fly into Athens, and from there Samos is one short domestic flight or one overnight ferry away. For a first trip, fly. The hop takes 50 minutes and hands you an extra day on the island. The ferry from Piraeus suits budget travelers and anyone who enjoys a night at sea.

How do you get to Samos from Athens?

Flying from Athens

Flights land at Aristarchos of Samos, which handles both domestic and international traffic. From Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" the flight takes 50 minutes. Aegean Airlines, Olympic Air and Sky Express fly to Samos, with Sky Express running from May to October.

Taking the ferry from Piraeus

Ferries leave from Piraeus, the big port about 9 miles (15 km) south of central Athens and 28 miles (45 km) from the airport. You can get there by taxi, car, bus, metro or suburban railway. Give yourself plenty of time, especially if you landed from the States that morning. Boats to Samos depart from gate E7, and overnight sailings run year-round. Blue Star Ferries serves both Vathy and Karlovasi with up to 3 routes a week, and Hellenic Seaways and Seajets also run the route. Frequency shifts with the season, so check the current timetable before you plan around a particular day.

Is it better to take the ferry or fly to Samos?

Flying is the better choice for most people. It turns a full night of travel into less than an hour, and if you want a rental car, the airport is the easiest place to collect one. The ferry is usually the cheaper way across, and since the crossing is overnight, you sleep on board and save a night in a hotel.

The short version:

• First trip: fly and book early.
• Family with luggage: fly if you can, and spare the kids a long night on a boat.
• Tight budget: take the overnight ferry, and check cabin options with the operator if you want real sleep.

Whichever you pick, strikes in the transportation sector are common in Greece and can interrupt seaports and airports. Demonstrations can also disrupt transport with little notice. Build one spare day into the end of your trip so a canceled boat doesn't cost you your flight home.

How long is the ferry to Samos?

Shorter crossings fit easily into a day. From Kusadasi in Turkey, the trip takes between 30 minutes and 1.5 hours. If your ferry calls at both island ports, the leg between Karlovasi and Vathy takes about 40 minutes.

How do you get to Samos without going through Athens?

From northern Greece, the flight from Thessaloniki takes 1 hour 25 minutes. In summer, direct flights reach Samos from several European cities, among them Amsterdam, Milan, Prague and Munich, so if your trip starts elsewhere in Europe, you may be able to skip Athens entirely.

Turkey is right across the water. Ferries connect Kusadasi with Pythagoreio and Vathy several times a week in summer, which makes Samos an easy add-on to a trip along the Turkish coast or a tour that ends in Kusadasi.

How do you get to Samos from other islands?

Samos fits neatly into an island-hopping trip. In summer, direct ferries link it with its neighbors Ikaria, Fourni, Chios and Lesvos, and boats also run to Mykonos and Syros. Once a week, the route from Alexandroupoli to Rhodes connects Samos with the islands of the North Aegean and the Dodecanese.

Two routes work well. You can head west through tiny Fourni and on to Ikaria, then ride the ferry back to Athens. Heading south, you can reach Patmos and quiet Leros, carry on through the Dodecanese to Kos or Rhodes, and catch a flight back to Athens from either one. Allow at least two nights on each island. Smaller islands have thinner schedules, so book your last flight as soon as you know where you'll finish.

How do you book ferries to Samos?

Book online, either directly with the operator or through a ferry search site that compares companies. Operators serving Samos include Blue Star Ferries, Dodekanisos Seaways, Hellenic Seaways, Ido and Meander Travel. Sketch your route early, then lock in tickets once schedules are published. July and August are the peak of the tourist season, so book those months as soon as sailings appear.

How do you get from the port or airport to your hotel?

Check which port your ferry uses before you book a room. Vathy, the capital, has the island's main port in its lower town, Kato Vathy, and the old town, Ano Vathy, climbs the hillside above it. Karlovasi sits on the northwestern shore, about 18 miles (30 km) from Vathy. Pythagoreio, near the ancient sites, takes the boats from Kusadasi.

A public bus stops in front of the terminal, and KTEL Samou buses from the airport arrive at Samos station.

A car is the best way to see Samos. Beaches, viewpoints and monasteries are scattered across the island, and the roads are good. Rental agencies operate at the airport and near the ferry ports, and picking up a car on arrival makes sense. A round-trip taxi to Kokkari costs almost as much as two days' rental. Scooters are another option. Try not to leave passports, valuables or luggage in a parked rental car, since thieves in Greece are known to break into them.

KTEL buses leave from Vathy and link it with Pythagoreio, Koumeika and other towns, beaches and historical sites. Fares are inexpensive, but routes and schedules are limited, so a car buys you far more freedom on a short stay. If you ride, buy and validate your ticket, because traveling without a valid one can bring a fine of up to 60 times the basic fare.

What should Americans know before they go?

U.S. citizens may enter Greece without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business. Your passport needs at least three months of validity beyond your planned departure date, and you may be asked for proof of sufficient funds and a return ticket or other evidence of departure. A passport reported lost or stolen won't get you into Greece, so travel with one in good standing.

If you plan to rent a car or scooter, Greek law requires a valid U.S. driver's license, and insurance companies may require an international driver’s permit. Motorcyclists must wear a helmet, using a phone while driving is illegal, and police run random alcohol tests. Carry your passport or another photo ID at all times, and keep it on you, not in the car.