What are the beaches of Samos like? Well, they are almost all made up of pebbles or large stones, while sandy beaches in Samos are very few. So for those who love pebbly beaches, you’ll be in paradise!
However, there’s a downside: the beaches of Samos (at least those accessible by land) are all quite similar to each other: similar formation, backdrop, and seabed. Lastly, they are all relatively small: except for a couple of them, you won’t find kilometer-long beaches in Samos.
Do you sense a bit of disappointment in these words? Indeed, I can’t hide the fact that the beaches of Samos didn’t really excite me, actually less than other Greek islands (even though I love pebbly beaches!). But I don’t want to influence you further: let’s get to the point!
Map of the beaches of Samos
As always, we start the guide with the map of the beaches of Samos we’ll talk about, so you can better understand their location. Don’t forget also to check out the guide to best areas to stay in Samos so that you can choose your most convenient place to avoid wasting hours driving.
Red pins, on the other hand, indicate other less interesting beaches that might still be worth a stop if you have more time.
A note is also necessary regarding the layout of the island of Samos. The majority of drivable roads are located in the eastern area of the island and along the northern coast. Much of the rest of the island is still wild, and there are dirt roads that are not accessible without a 4wd. In the southwest, in fact, some beaches can only be reached by boat.
This is one of the reasons (but not the only one) why most of the beaches in Samos that we’ll discuss are located in the east. We’ll look at the specific details case by case.
Mourtia Beach
Overall rating: 8/10
Services: A bar van depending on the season
Accessibility: Easy
Type of beach: Mixed sand and small pebbles
We start the list of beaches in Samos with Mourtia beach: a beach surrounded by nature and greenery, accessible only with your own car or motorbike (like almost all beaches in Samos).
Mourtia beach stands out for its particularly calm waters, being one of the few beaches sheltered from the winds facing east, as well as for the scenery, with various colorful boats anchored (or abandoned).
Although it’s a fairly natural beach, on peak days it might still be quite visited (but never at the level of more famous islands). Here, relaxation should be easy to find, except for potential music from the bar van or the arrival of some cars, since parking is available right under the trees behind the beach.
There are no sunbeds or other services, so bring water, food, and whatever you need.
Kerveli Beach
Overall rating: 7/10
Services: bars/restaurants and sunbeds
Accessibility: Easy
Type of beach: Pebbles
Kerveli Beach is a small and narrow beach in Samos but worth mentioning. It could be your salvation if you’re in Samos on days so windy that it’s impossible to lie down peacefully: Kerveli beach is the most sheltered of all.
Characterized by pebbles and calm waters, it offers some sunbeds free for customers of the adjacent restaurants and a small free area under some trees at the southern end of the beach. Obviously, space is not abundant.
Psili Ammos
Overall rating: 8/10
Services: bars/restaurants and sunbeds
Accessibility: Easy
Type of beach: Sandy
Let’s now look at one of the most commercial beaches in Samos and the only one that is completely sandy: Psili Ammos.
This is perhaps the only beach in Samos with fine sand and no pebbles. This beach also faces east and therefore usually has calm waters.
The wide range of services (sunbeds, umbrellas, tavernas with beach views) and gradually sloping seabeds make it a great beach for those with children. Most of the beach is occupied by rental umbrellas, but there’s also free space behind.
Samos is one of the cheapest islands in Greece. So don’t expect outrageous prices for sunbeds anyway.
Psili Ammos offers a clear view of Turkey, right in front of your eyes. For this reason, you might occasionally see a coast guard vehicle passing behind the beach.
An important tip for those living in an EU contry while on this beach and any beach close to Turkey: turn off mobile data on your phone. It will forever remain a mystery why Turkish cell towers over 5 km away are preferred over the nearby Greek ones (who knows what insane powers the Turks are transmitting with…), but if the “Welcome to Turkey” messages pops on your phone you may be charge insane amount of money for extraEU roaming.
Another tip for Psili Ammos: parking. There’s a paid parking lot near the beach for €3, but if you take a look at the two surrounding roads, you might also park for free along the roadside.
Mykali Beach
Overall rating: 7/10
Services: None
Accessibility: Easy
Type of beach: Stones and pebbles
A short distance from Psili Ammos we find Mykali Beach, a beach with a completely different style: probably the longest beach in Samos, with over 3 km of pebbly coastline, almost completely natural and without services.
Along this beach, you will surely find your own peaceful spot, and with a bit of luck, even a tree under which to lie down.
This beach in Samos, unlike the previous ones, faces south but has no shelter behind it. On very windy days, you’ll feel it all (I remember a day when it was almost impossible to walk against the wind!), and again you’ll clearly see Turkey in the background, as shown in the photo.
The water becomes rougher and the pebbly seabeds require more caution, especially if you have children.
Potokaki beach and surroundings
Overall rating: 6/10
Services: Yes
Accessibility: Easy
Type of beach: Mixed stones and sand
We now move near Pythagorio Town, one of the most visited on the island.
Near Pythagorio, there’s a series of beaches, starting with the “city” beach followed by Potokaki beach.
These beaches are all made of mixed stones and sand, and they don’t have particular aesthetic merits, but what makes them special is the presence of various beach bars, from simple ones to more classy ones like Asterias Beach Bar, which make this area a bit more VIP than others.
Pappa Beach
Overall rating: 8/10
Services: Yes
Accessibility: Medium
Type of beach: Rocky
Pappa beach is “the last” beach of Samos in the south-central part of the island accessible by car.
It’s a very small rocky beach or with pebbles, around which a well-kept beach club has been built, placing umbrellas and loungers on multiple levels, some even elevated above the sea.
At Pappa beach you can only stay if you rent one of the 30-40 umbrellas available: there is no free space.
To reach Pappa beach pay attention to the last stretch of road, a dirt path branching off from the Ireon area: finding the entrance to this road might not be easy if you’re using a navigator, instead look for some small and worn-out signs indicating the name of the beach.
Balos Beach
Overall rating: 8/10
Services: Yes
Accessibility: Easy
Type of beach: Stones and pebbles
We now move on to see the beaches of Samos in the southwest area of the island. To reach this area, it should be noted, you need to take a winding road that takes at least an hour from the airport (so even more if you’re staying in the northeast).
You might also be interested in: best areas to stay in Samos
It’s advisable to visit all the beaches of southwest Samos in one single day to minimize the long travel times.
Balos beach is a long beach of stones like others we’ve already seen. Here, space never lacks, especially for those who want to carve out a spot away from everyone, as it stretches for a couple of kilometers.
Kaladakia beach
Overall rating: 7/10
Services: Yes
Accessibility: Easy
Kaladakia beach is a Samos beach a bit different from the others: small and features rocks.
It’s probably more suitable for a short visit and a swim, as it offers a slightly different view from the previous ones, and then you can move on elsewhere.
Votsalakia Beach – Marathokampos
Overall rating: 6/10
Services: Yes
Accessibility: Easy
Type of beach: Mixed sand and stones
Votsalakia beach and particularly the entire coastal area of Marathokampos represent a long beach lined by a promenade (also accessible by car) where you can find accommodations, bars, restaurants, and all the necessary services. This area also has a modest evening and nightlife.
The type of beach is the usual mix of sand and stones, without any special features. It’s worth mentioning more for the chance to dine by the sea than for the beach itself.
Tsamadou – Lemonakia – Tsambou Beach
Overall rating: 8/10
Services: Yes
Accessibility: Easy
Type of beach: Stones and pebbles
Let’s now look at the beaches of Samos on the northern side. Tsamadou Beach (in the photo), Lemonakia Beach, and Tsambou Beach are three similar Samos beaches, close to each other and facing north.
These beaches are among the most popular on the island but not excessively crowded, and there is space both for those who want to rent a sunbed (though the prices are among the highest on the island) and for those who prefer to lie down freely.
These beaches are made of medium-to-large stones and pebbles, and the northern exposure makes the sea rough on windy days.
Watch out for parking, which for Tsamadou and Lemonakia beach is on the elevated main road, from which you then descend via a path or staircase. Along the road, the beaches are not well signposted, so use the map to understand exactly where to stop. 😉
At Tsambou beach, instead, you can park directly in front of the beach.
Potami Beach
Overall rating: 6/10
Services: Yes
Accessibility: Easy
Type of beach: Stones
Potami Beach is apparently the most famous beach of Samos, as it’s featured in many photos of the island. But it was also the biggest disappointment.
Why? It’s easy to explain. On Google you can see some photos of Potami Beach uploaded online with the usual excessive filters. Below you can see how we found it, on a hot summer week:
Besides that, it’s a beach in a “remote” location in the northeast of the island, which takes more than an hour to reach if you’re staying east. In my opinion, it’s a beach you can easily skip.
Livadaki Beach
Livadaki beach is a very small beach on the northeastern tip of the island of Samos, reachable after a long unpaved road (one of the few that some rent-a-car agencies allow you to take, normally unpaved roads are prohibited).
You might also be interested in: Car rental guide for Samos
It lies within a long and narrow bay. Some say there’s even a kayak available for free to paddle around. Unfortunately, I couldn’t visit it myself, so I can’t say whether it’s true or just a legend. 🙂
Rather, if you have time and the desire for a kayak or boat excursion, you might consider one of the following, more interesting ones.
Boat or kayak tours in Samos
If the beaches of Samos seen so far look too few or too similar to each other, you might also consider some interesting boat or kayak tours to mix things up:
- This boat trip that takes you to the island of Samiopoula where you’ll also be served a barbecue lunch: free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance;
- A kayak tour in one of the many corners of the island: the destinations are decided a few days in advance depending on wind conditions; I personally tried the tour that goes from Mourtia beach to a couple of small coves reachable only by sea and it was worth it!
Now that you know everything about the beaches of Samos…
All that’s left is to find the most strategic area to stay in Samos, a rental car, and a cheap flight: run a search in the box below which compares all possible flights to Samos:
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