Getting from Arki to Samos
If you are heading to Samos from Arki you are making your way from one of the smallest inhabited islands in the Dodecanese to an island in the eastern Aegean, relatively close in regional terms. It is green and mountainous with wine production dating back to antiquity and the UNESCO-listed Heraion sanctuary.
Take the ferry
There is a seasonal direct ferry from Arki to Samos running in summer via the Dodekanisos Seaways network. The service runs a limited number of times per week and is one of the more natural connections from Arki given the geographic proximity of the two islands in the eastern Aegean. It avoids going through Athens entirely and keeps the journey within the northeastern Aegean.
Getting there by air
Samos has an international airport with connections from Athens. Arki has no airport either. Taking the local ferry from Arki to Leros, flying to Athens and then Athens to Samos takes around 1 hour on the second leg. Total journey time is around 4 to 5 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.
Your best option
Take the direct seasonal ferry from Arki to Samos when the schedule works for your dates. It is the most natural and enjoyable connection and avoids Athens entirely. If the timing does not align, take the ferry from Arki to Leros and fly to Samos via Athens. Check the ferry schedule from Arki carefully before planning as services run only a limited number of times per week. Samos has two main ports, Vathy and Karlovassi, so check which port your ferry arrives at before booking accommodation.
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