Getting from Athens to Samos

If you are heading to Samos from Athens you are going to one of the most beautiful and most underrated islands in the Aegean. Samos is green and mountainous, with wine production that dates back to antiquity, a coastline of good beaches and a history that produced Pythagoras, Aristarchus and Epicurus. The island sits close to the Turkish coast, separated from the ancient city of Ephesus by just a few kilometres of water. The UNESCO-listed Heraion, temple of the goddess Hera, is one of the most important ancient sanctuaries in Greece. The town of Vathy has a fine archaeological museum and a working port atmosphere that feels nothing like the Cyclades.

Take the ferry

The Piraeus to Samos ferry runs several times a week year-round, taking around 8 to 13 hours depending on the vessel and the stops along the way. The overnight crossing is the practical approach if you want to travel by sea. Samos has two main ports, Vathy in the northeast and Karlovassi in the northwest, so check which port your ferry arrives at before booking accommodation as the road between them takes around 1 hour.

Getting there by air

Both Athens and Samos have airports. Daily connections from Athens to Samos take around 50 minutes. This is the fastest and most practical approach for most travellers.

Your best option

Fly from Athens. The daily flight takes around 50 minutes and is considerably more practical than the long ferry crossing for most travellers. If you want to travel by sea the overnight ferry from Piraeus is a comfortable crossing, but flying is the right choice for most people.