Where to stay in Samos? Compared to other Greek islands, the choice here will be easier. In this guide, weâll explore the best areas to stay in Samos so you donât end up in the middle of nowhere (unless you want to) and the most strategic areas for getting around.
Samos is a less-known and less-visited Greek island compared to others. It is one of the closest islands to Turkey and is sometimes sadly in the news due to immigration phenomena. However, that doesnât make it an unsafe islandâquite the opposite.
Samos is also a very green island, with little urbanization, and in the southwest, even very few roads, making some areas still unreachable or untouched. This is why lodging options are mostly limited to the islandâs few small towns. Lastly, accommodations in Samos are generally quite simple: youâll rarely find large resorts, 5-star hotels, or luxurious establishments.
Where to stay in Samos – map of the best areas
Before we begin, here is the map of the areas to stay in Samos that we cover in this guide: in green the most convenient towns for getting around and fully equipped with services, in red other alternatives which are less recommended.
Pythagorio
Pros: Has all services, close to the airport, possibly the islandâs main nightlife, a beautiful town center and pedestrian avenues.
Cons: Difficult parking near the hotel.
Pythagorio (or Pythagoreio) is the first area weâll discuss to stay in Samos and probably also the most popular on the island.
Itâs a small village a short distance from the airport, built on a bay that faces southeast and is therefore somewhat more sheltered from the “meltemi” wind that blows from the north. This can be a relief when the wind is so strong it makes being on the beach unpleasant, though during particularly hot weeks, Pythagorioâs bay could become an oven; thereâs no hard-and-fast rule here.
You may like: The beaches of Samos – map
Pythagorio is one of the most scenic towns on the island, with its lovely harbor lined with boats, bars, and restaurants with views, as well as some tree-lined streets with shops, bakeries, and other small businesses. Although itâs a fairly busy place, youâll also find some spots where you can eat well.
If you choose Pythagorio as your base in Samos, youâll definitely have all services at hand but also a fair amount of tourist activity, especially in the evening, as itâs one of the islandâs few âlivelyâ centers.
A couple of kilometers from Pythagorio youâll also find some pebbly beaches; theyâre not particularly scenic, but they are served by beach bars, some of a fairly high standard, with nice loungers.
Staying in this area of Samos makes it fairly easy to get around the island as itâs located in a central position. In an hour (along inevitably winding roads), you can reach the southwest of the island, while in half an hour or a little more, you can get to the north, along Samosâs main (and better maintained) roads.
For those who like having their car just outside the door, keep in mind that if youâre staying in the heart of Pythagorio (which is largely pedestrian), you wonât be able to drive up to the accommodationâyouâll need to leave the car in one of the villageâs parking lots; alternatively, choose lodging on the outskirts where street parking is possible.
Lastly, letâs talk about prices: staying in Samos is fairly affordable across the island, with no major differences. What you should pay attention to are the conditions of the accommodations. Many places in Samos are quite old (or old-fashioned), and itâs often hard to find even a simple shower curtain or even a hook to hang the showerhead. Check the photos of the place or write to the host for confirmation.
Pythagorio is the best place to stay in Samos:
- for those who want to enjoy a bit of nightlife without driving at night;
- if you donât like the wind;
- for convenient travel in all directions.
I would not recommend staying in Pythagorio if:
- youâre looking for real relaxation and donât want to see too many tourists (though itâs never overly crowded);
- you donât want to waste time parking far from your room;
- Sandalis Hotel: a few steps from Pythagorioâs pedestrian street, the place where I stayed: absolutely basic but reasonably priced, run by an elderly lady, the entrance gives off a mix between a private living room and an inn, while the rooms have private bathrooms, wifi, A/C, payment on site possible, and street parking available in front of the hotel;
- Stratos hotel: 2-star hotel in the heart of the village, rooms with private bathroom, a/c and wifi;
- Lithos hotel: if you prefer to upgrade to a 3-star slightly farther from the center, you might consider this one with double rooms including breakfast.
Kokkari
Pros: Very charming village for walking both day and night; has all services, fairly strategic location, flat area;
Cons: Facing north so it may get windy.
The second area weâll look at for staying in Samos is Kokkari. After Pythagorio, Kokkari is the second town in Samos to become an attraction thanks to its small alleys and seafront. Both are small villages you can walk through in half an hour: but if you enjoy a cute town, Kokkari could be the perfect choice for staying in Samos.
In Kokkari youâll find all necessary services, seafront venues, bars and restaurants as well as a large beach right next to the village, with both free and serviced areas. If you want to walk to the beach or sit by the shore after dinner without using the car, Kokkari is probably a better choice than Pythagorio.
Kokkari also has a modest nightlife: to be clear, nothing like Ibiza (Samos isnât the right island for that), but youâll find a couple of disco bars with loud music, as well as various bars and restaurants where you can enjoy drinks and relax until late.
Another detail that might be helpful for those pushing strollers is that Kokkari is almost entirely flat, whereas Pythagorio has slight slopes, particularly as you move away from the bay.
- Veroniki Studios: small soundproof apartments for 2 people with kitchenette, wifi, A/C, parking and pets allowed: just steps from the town’s beach and the heart of the village itself;
- Eftopia apartment: for those who want to go big, an apartment for up to 4 people with sea view, right on the village’s northeast tip.
Ireon
Pros: Extremely quiet neighborhood and probably the cheapest on the island, not far from the airport
Cons: No particular attractions or evening life.
Let’s now look at Ireon (or Ireo, or Iraio): a “neighborhood” good for staying in Samos on a budget.
Just a grid of streets with houses and buildings without particular attractions, with paved roads and an extremely quiet and residential atmosphere, a few km from the airport.
If you’re looking for a relaxing holiday, this can be a good choice for staying in Samos. The downside of Ireon is that there’s little going on in the evening and you’ll need to travel for any needs.
- Sunrise Hotel: a 3-star hotel with pool, rooms with wifi, a/c, breakfast and parking;
- Rania Beach: 2-star hotel a short distance from the beach with a/c, wifi and terrace.
Vathy (city of Samos)
Pros: Large and busy town, full of services, quite central for getting around;
Cons: busy area, gives little of the green feeling that Samos is known for.
Vathy (sometimes also just called Samos) is the island’s “capital city”. Here youâll find the largest urban area on Samos, the main port from which ferries depart to other islands, modest nightlife (also frequented by locals), and lots of cars and roads.
In my opinion, there are no particular attractions in choosing Vathy to stay in Samos, except for those on a road trip who need to catch a ferry at inconvenient hours and want to stay near the port.
The location is still convenient for traveling north and southeast, while prices in Vathy are a bit higher than elsewhere.
- Roditses Apartment: just outside the busy center, in a green setting, apartments for up to 4 people with private kitchen, wifi, a/c, free parking;
- Paradise Hotel: 2-star hotel with well-kept furnishings, 24h reception, free parking, breakfast, wifi, a/c.
Marathokampos
Pros: neighborhood with a long beachfront, equipped with all services;
Cons: great distance from any other destination, the only roads out are long winding ones.
Letâs now move to the southwest of the island and specifically to Marathokampos, the largest coastline in this area.
Facing south, it is often in a sheltered position from the wind and is a good choice for those who plan not to move much, to enjoy beach life mainly on the long beach in front (Votsalakia) and have moderate nightlife among various bars and restaurants along the seafront (also accessible by car).
The area of Marathokampos is also almost entirely flat, for those who donât like elevation changes.
The biggest “problem” with staying in Samos in this area is the difficulty in getting around. Getting from Marathokampos to the “rest of the island” (either east or north) takes at least an hour by car on winding roads that are completely dark at night and therefore take more time.
Marathokampos is therefore a good option only for those who plan to stay mostly in the same area without moving too much.
- Smaragda Hotel: 2-star hotel near the beach offering soundproof rooms with kitchenette, wifi, private bathroom, a/c, wifi;
- Sirena Residence & Spa: 4-star apartments with kitchenette for 2 to 4 people, wifi, breakfast, wellness center with massages, pool, hot tub and hammam.
Other areas to stay in Samos
Of course, the island doesnât end here. If youâre not particularly interested in movement, tourist crowds and urban centers, my advice is to open the map and look for any accommodation surrounded by nature or near a beach.
Where NOT to stay in Samos? One area I don’t recommend for staying in Samos is the town of Karlovassi, in the northwest of the island. Itâs a town that in some ways is the “industrial area” of Samos: it has no particular attractions and, in my opinion, isnât even that pleasant to look at. Not least, the time it takes to travel from Karlovassi to any other area on the island makes it a poor choice logistically.
Another area I donât recommend is Chora (Xora): usually this name on Greek islands represents the main urban center, the most historic, well-kept, lively… or simply beautiful. In Samos, Chora (a few kilometers from the airport) unfortunately doesnât represent any of that: just a simple, almost deserted village where, aside from a short pedestrian street, the rest seems to be under demolition.
Hotels in Samos near the airport
If youâre stopping briefly on the island and looking for a hotel in Samos near the airport, check out the area of Pythagorio (if youâre looking for a town center) or Potokaki beach, which is closer as itâs just behind the runway.
Where to stay in Samos for young people?
Pythagorio or Kokkari: these are the two most active areas in the evening with a moderate nightlife. In the quiet island of Samos, there are no areas frequented exclusively by young people, but in these two youâll never be alone.
Where to stay in Samos with children
Those traveling with children should stay in areas without too much slopes and with a quiet beach. So prefer the southern areas of the island such as Pythagorio or Marathokampos, but also Kokkari, paying attention to the beach in case of rough seas.
Where to stay in Samos on a budget?
This time, some good news… Samos offers budget accommodations all over the island! Especially in Ireon, Pythagorio or Kokkari.
Now that you know everything about where to stay in Samos… itâs also time to check out the map of Samos beaches and find a cheap flight using the box below that compares all available options for your dates:
Finally, if driving or Samosâs winding roads arenât for you and you’re looking for a cheap private transfer to get between the airport and your hotel, check out WelcomePickups direct transfer!
Was this guide helpful? Share it with friends or follow the official Facebook page to help the site grow! đ
Send a Tip đ
