By the Samos-Island.com editorial team · · How we work
Short answer
Five Samos-based tours pass our bar of a 4.5 out of 5 rating with at least 10 reviews on GetYourGuide: a private boat charter, a Samiopoula boat trip with a barbecue lunch, an east coast boat trip with lunch, and two winery tastings (Kostaki and Vakakis). Method and ranking are below, read on 20 September 2026.
This page ranks excursions that start on the island itself, using only public ratings and review counts, and a formula you can reproduce. It does not rest on our opinion of the tours: we have not taken these excursions, and we do not claim to have.
We are an independent guide funded by affiliate links (GetYourGuide, marked as sponsored). Rank is never for sale: see our editorial standards for how listings are chosen and how we earn money.
Summarize this article with:
What are the best tours in Samos?
Of the 19 island-based excursions we read on the Samos page of GetYourGuide, only five meet the bar. Three are boat trips leaving from Pythagoreio (a private charter, a day trip to the islet of Samiopoula and a lunch cruise along the east coast) and two are winery tastings in the west and north-west of the island. The cards below are sorted by our ranking score; the rank, rating, review count, price and duration come straight from the data we read, so they cannot drift away from the text.
For each tour we only describe what its own listing states. Read the recent reviews on the listing before you pay: they reflect the season and the crew better than any table.
#1Samos: Private Boat Tours
- 4.80 (56 reviews)
- 6 hours
- From US$462 per group of up to 6
Ranking score 4.72: rating adjusted for the number of reviews.
Why it ranks here: It is the only private option here: the boat is chartered for your group of up to 6 people, with a captain, so the pace and the swim stops are yours to agree on. The listing names several east coast stops: Kasonisi, Mourtia, Klima and Mikri Laka, beaches and coves that also take in Poseidonio.
Best for: Couples, families or friends who want a boat to themselves, including birthdays and proposals, which the operator says it also covers.
Check availabilityWhat you get
- Captain
- Snorkelling masks and snorkels
- Sea towels
- Water and soft drinks
- Fruit platter, music and drone photos
Keep in mind
- The trip does not take place in bad weather, according to the listing.
- Group size is capped at 6, and the price is set per group, so it suits a full boat best.
- The listing shows free cancellation up to 24 hours before start: confirm on the page.
#2Samos: Boat Tour with BBQ Lunch to Samiopoula
- 4.74 (88 reviews)
- 8 hours
- From US$81 per person
Ranking score 4.70: rating adjusted for the number of reviews.
Why it ranks here: A traditional caique day out to the islet of Samiopoula with a swim stop, followed by a barbecue lunch on Kakorema beach. The listing describes a small-group format and includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, which removes the transport question.
Best for: Travellers who want a full day at sea with lunch on a beach and no driving.
Check availabilityWhat you get
- Boat trip in a traditional caique
- Barbecue lunch on Kakorema beach
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Drinks
Keep in mind
- Be at Pythagoreio port 30 minutes before departure.
- Under port regulations you must give each passenger's full name, date of birth, nationality and passport or ID number before departure.
- Not suitable for people prone to seasickness.
- The boat holds up to 30 people; the 1 to 8 participants shown is a booking quota, not the boat's capacity.
- Bring swimwear, a towel and sunscreen.
#3Samos: East Coast Boat Trip with Lunch and Drinks
- 4.77 (26 reviews)
- 6 hours
- From US$58 per person
Ranking score 4.65: rating adjusted for the number of reviews.
Why it ranks here: A shorter east coast trip on the traditional wooden boat Sea Spray, aimed at coves and beaches that the listing says can only be reached by boat, with a swim stop by the islet of Kasonisi. Lunch and drinks are included, which keeps the day simple.
Best for: Couples and adult groups who want a shared boat, a lunch and time in the water without committing to a whole day.
Check availabilityWhat you get
- Cold lunch
- Beer, wine, water and soft drinks
- Sea towels
- Sunscreen
Keep in mind
- Not suitable for wheelchair users, non-swimmers, people prone to seasickness or babies under one year.
- High heels and nudity are not allowed on board.
- Bring a towel and beach clothes.
- Departs from Pythagoreio: see our [Kasonisi guide](/destinations/kasonisi-islet) for the islet itself.
#4Samos: Wine Tasting at Kostaki Organic Winery
- 4.73 (12 reviews)
- 1 hour
- From US$23 per person
Ranking score 4.59: rating adjusted for the number of reviews.
Why it ranks here: A guided tasting of five organic, craft wines made from Muscat blanc à petits grains, served with small bites in a modern winery with a view over west Samos and the sunset. It is a short, focused visit rather than a full excursion.
Best for: Wine lovers staying on the west coast, or anyone who wants a relaxed hour around sunset.
Check availabilityWhat you get
- Guided tasting of 5 organic craft wines
- Small bites
- View over west Samos and the sunset
Keep in mind
- Reach it by car or taxi only: there is no public transport in the area, and the winery is about 10 minutes by car south of Karlovasi.
- You park along the road and walk about 70 m through the vineyard.
- The tasting room is upstairs (a few steps); the ground floor can be arranged on request.
- Taxi is not included, but the organiser can help you arrange one.
- Not suitable for pregnant women or under-18s. A light jacket is advised in the evening.
#5Samos Guided Winery Tour & Authentic Wine Tasting Experience
- 4.58 (12 reviews)
- 1 hour
- From US$17 per person
Ranking score 4.53: rating adjusted for the number of reviews.
Why it ranks here: A guided visit at Vakakis Winery, run by the Vakakis family, that explains winemaking and grape varieties inside the traditional stone hut known as a patitiri, then a tasting of four wines with local bites. The listing states that transport to the winery is included.
Best for: Travellers without a car who want to understand how Samos wine is made, in a private group.
Check availabilityWhat you get
- Guided tour of the traditional stone patitiri
- Explanation of winemaking and grape varieties
- Tasting of 4 wines with local bites
- Transport to the winery, according to the listing
Keep in mind
- Tastings are by appointment: book ahead.
- Private group format.
- Not suitable for under-18s.
- Check pick-up details on the listing, then confirm them with the operator.
Ratings, review counts and prices were read on 20 September 2026. They change, so check the live listing before booking.
How did we rank them?
Population. We read the Samos page of GetYourGuide on 20 September 2026 and kept excursions based on the island: 19 in total. Trips that leave from Turkey or other islands are not part of the ranking.
Eligibility bar. A tour must be rated at least 4.5 out of 5 and have at least 10 reviews. A perfect rating on 3 reviews is not evidence. Five of the 19 pass.
Score. Ranked tours are ordered by a Bayesian average, score = (v × R + m × C) / (v + m), where R is the tour's rating, v its number of reviews, C = 4.5 (our bar, used as the prior mean) and m = 20 (the number of reviews at which a tour's own average weighs as much as the prior). The point is to stop a perfect score on very few reviews from beating an excellent score on many. Example: 5.0 on 3 reviews gives (3 × 5 + 20 × 4.5) / 23 ≈ 4.57, while 4.74 on 88 reviews gives ≈ 4.70.
What the ranking does not measure. The intrinsic quality of a tour (we have not taken these excursions), the weather, the season, or whether reviews are recent or old. Read the latest reviews on each listing.
Limits. Ratings, review counts and prices change, and we only rank what is publicly readable. Nobody pays for a rank: the links are affiliate links, so we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
| Tour | Rating | Reviews | Score | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samos: Private Boat Tours | 4.80 | 56 | 4.72 | 6 hours | US$462 per group of up to 6 |
| Samos: Boat Tour with BBQ Lunch to Samiopoula | 4.74 | 88 | 4.70 | 8 hours | US$81 per person |
| Samos: East Coast Boat Trip with Lunch and Drinks | 4.77 | 26 | 4.65 | 6 hours | US$58 per person |
| Samos: Wine Tasting at Kostaki Organic Winery | 4.73 | 12 | 4.59 | 1 hour | US$23 per person |
| Samos Guided Winery Tour & Authentic Wine Tasting Experience | 4.58 | 12 | 4.53 | 1 hour | US$17 per person |
Ratings, review counts and prices were read on 20 September 2026. They change, so check the live listing before booking.
Which tour fits which traveller?
| Traveller | Tour to look at | Why | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Couples | East coast boat trip with lunch, or the private charter | A shared boat for the price of a lunch out, or a private boat for a special occasion | The shared boat is not private and is not suited to non-swimmers |
| Families with children who swim | Private boat tour | Your own group and pace, with masks, snorkels and sea towels supplied | The trip does not run in bad weather, and the price is per group of up to 6 |
| Tight budget | A wine tasting, or the east coast boat trip | The wine tastings have the lowest outlay of the five; among boats, the east coast trip is cheaper per person than the Samiopoula day (see the price column above) | Wine tastings are short and need a car, taxi or included transport |
| Wine lovers | Kostaki Organic Winery and Vakakis Winery | Kostaki: five organic wines at sunset. Vakakis: a guided visit with four wines | Kostaki needs a car or taxi; Vakakis is by appointment only |
| Friends or a birthday | Private boat tour | The operator says it also handles special occasions | Capped at 6 people |
| Prone to seasickness | One of the wine tastings | Two boat listings say they are not suitable; the private charter listing does not say | Ask the operator before booking any boat |
| Limited mobility | Vakakis Winery, or Kostaki with the ground floor | Kostaki's tasting room has a few steps, with the ground floor on request | The east coast boat trip is not suited to wheelchair users |
| A full day out with no car | Boat tour with BBQ lunch to Samiopoula | Hotel pick-up and drop-off, lunch and drinks included | Passenger identity data is required before departure |
Suitability comes from what each listing says. It is not medical or safety advice.
Which popular tours did not make the list?
This is the only place on the site where we show excursions rated below 4.5, and they are flagged as such. Several of them are widely booked, so travellers will meet them anyway. The table shows exactly why each one is left out of the ranking, using the same data as above.
| Tour | Rating | Reviews | Meets our bar | Why it is not ranked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samos: Full-Day Boat Cruise with Lunch (and bus transfer) | 4.37 | 210 | No | Rated below 4.5 |
| Votsalakia Samos: West Coast Boat Cruise with Lunch | 4.37 | 71 | No | Rated below 4.5 |
| Votsalakia Samos: Samiopoula Boat Cruise with Lunch | 4.33 | 46 | No | Rated below 4.5 |
| Samos: Half-Day Kasonisi Boat Trip (and bus transfer) | 4.34 | 26 | No | Rated below 4.5 |
| Samos East Coast by Boat with Beachside BBQ | 4.15 | 35 | No | Rated below 4.5 |
| Samos: Full-Day Island Bus Tour (Starting from East Samos) | 4.30 | 65 | No | Rated below 4.5 |
| Samos: Full-Day Island Bus Tour (Starting from West Samos) | 4.87 | 8 | No | Fewer than 10 reviews |
| Samos: Megali Lakka Cruise with Lunch and Drinks | 5.00 | 3 | No | Fewer than 10 reviews |
| Samos East: Wine Museum Tour with Tastings and Transfers | 4.60 | 7 | No | Fewer than 10 reviews |
| Samos Art Workshop: The Gypsum Craftsman's Path in Karlovasi | 5.00 | 6 | No | Fewer than 10 reviews |
A tour with few reviews may be excellent and simply too new to judge. We revisit the list when the review counts change.
Ratings, review counts and prices were read on 20 September 2026. They change, so check the live listing before booking.
What should you check before you book a Samos tour?
- Cancellation. The listings we read show free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start and a reserve now, pay later option. This is the marketplace's wording: verify it on the listing for your date.
- Weather. The private charter does not take place in bad weather, according to its listing. Boat days in the Aegean depend on wind and sea state, so keep a spare day in your plan.
- Transport. Some tours include hotel pick-up (the Samiopoula day, the Vakakis tasting), others do not (Kostaki needs a car or a taxi, with no public transport in the area). Confirm the meeting point.
- Identity data on boats. The Samiopoula listing states that passenger names, dates of birth, nationalities and passport or ID numbers must be supplied before departure under port regulations. Keep your documents to hand.
- Swimming and seasickness. The east coast listing rules out non-swimmers and people prone to seasickness, and the Samiopoula listing rules out the second group.
- Cash and extras. Check what is included: drinks, towels and sunscreen differ from tour to tour.
- Age limits. Both winery tastings are not suitable for under-18s, and the Kostaki listing also excludes pregnant women.
- Drinking and driving. If you drive to a winery, agree who will not taste, or use a taxi.
What about day trips to Turkey or Patmos?
Excursions from Samos to Patmos and to Ephesus via Kusadasi exist, and so does a return ferry to Kusadasi. The listings we read for them did not meet our 4.5 bar, so they are not ranked and we link no booking for them here.
If you plan to cross to Turkey or another island, start with our getting there guide, and check the ferry operators' current timetables and the entry rules for your nationality with official sources: rules and schedules change.
Frequently asked questions
The five listed above meet our bar of a 4.5 rating with at least 10 reviews: three boat trips from Pythagoreio and two winery tastings. Pick by what you want to do, not only by score: see the traveller table above.
No. The ranking uses only public ratings and review counts and a published formula. We describe what each listing states and do not claim direct experience.
Because they are rated below 4.5 or have fewer than 10 reviews. They appear only in the comparison table above, with the reason for each.
The listings we read show free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. Conditions can differ by date and product, so check the listing before you pay.
Not always. The private boat tour does not take place in bad weather, according to its listing. The meltemi, the strong north wind of the Aegean, blows roughly from mid-May to mid-September and can affect sailing.
Not for the boat trips from Pythagoreio or for the Vakakis tasting, which includes transport. For the Kostaki tasting you need a car or a taxi: see [getting there](/getting-there).
Yes. The booking links are affiliate links, marked as sponsored. We may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you, and nobody can pay for a higher rank.
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