Things to Know Before Visiting Samos: 20 Tips

What should you know about money on Samos?

1. Use euros, carry some cash and tip by rounding up. Cards work in most hotels, restaurants and shops in the towns, and the main towns have ATMs. Village tavernas, beach bars, buses and small shops may not take cards. Tipping is not compulsory: rounding up or leaving around 5 to 10% at a taverna is typical, and a small per-person charge for bread is normal.
2. Expect lower prices than in the Cyclades, except in August. Samos is generally cheaper than Santorini or Mykonos. August is the most expensive month for hotels and cars. See is Greece expensive.

What should you know about getting around?

1. Add time to every drive. Samos is mountainous, and crossing it from east to west takes roughly an hour or more. From the airport, Pythagoreio is about 10 minutes, Kokkari 30 to 40 minutes and the west coast 45 to 60 minutes.
2. Rent a car for the west coast and mountain villages. On the east coast a short stay works with taxis and tours. For Manolates, Marathokampos or Mount Kerkis a car is effectively essential. Drive on the right.
3. Check your rental insurance for mountain and unpaved roads. Some standard policies exclude them. Bring your driving licence, and an International Driving Permit if yours requires one. Narrow, winding mountain roads and scooters are where most accidents happen, so take your time and wear a helmet.
4. Do not rely on buses and taxis. The KTEL bus is infrequent, especially on the west side and on Sundays. Taxis add up over distance, so agree the price before you set off.

• Getting there and around
• Where to stay by area

What should you know about seasons and weather?

1. Peak season is July and August. It is hot, dry and busy, with the warmest sea and the most ferries and flights, but also the highest prices. June and September give similar weather at lower prices.
2. Expect closures from November to March. Many hotels, tavernas and tour operators close for winter, and some small family-run properties stay shut into April. Check that what you want is open.
3. Plan for the meltemi. Strong summer winds can create rough water and delay or cancel Aegean sailings. Kokkari's bay is windy on summer afternoons. Never schedule a ferry the same day as a flight home.
4. Hike in spring or autumn, and early in summer. Trails can be poorly marked with little water. Mount Kerkis (1,434 m) is a serious full-day hike. The Potami Waterfalls flow best after wetter months and can be thin by late summer.

• Best time to visit Samos
• Mount Kerkis guide

What should you know about health and safety?

1. Carry health cover and know the number 112. EU and UK visitors can use EHIC or GHIC, and everyone should carry travel insurance. 112 works across the EU. Pharmacies carry a green cross, and the main hospital is in Vathy.
2. Protect yourself from sun and fire risk. The strongest sun is at midday in July and August, so cover up and drink water. Summer fires are a risk across Greece: follow local instructions and never light fires outdoors.
3. Pack for pebbles and urchins. Tsamadou and Lemonakia are pebble beaches, and sea urchins live on rocky shores. Water shoes help. Many beaches have no facilities, so bring water and shade.

What should you know about etiquette and culture?

1. Cover shoulders and knees in churches. Samos is Greek Orthodox, and churches and monasteries expect modest dress and quiet.
2. Eat late, and expect quiet afternoons. Lunch is often late and dinner rarely starts before 8 or 9 pm. Shops in smaller places may close in the afternoon, and Sundays and religious holidays such as 15 August are quieter.

What should you know about booking and timing?

1. Book flights first, then accommodation. Direct flights from northern Europe are mostly seasonal and routes change year to year. Check what is scheduled for your dates. Outside summer you usually connect via Athens.
2. Book tours and cars early for July and August. The tours page lists boat trips and tours rated 4.5 stars or above on GetYourGuide. Check live price and availability on each listing.
3. Treat the Athens ferry as a long day. The conventional crossing from Piraeus is commonly 9 to 14 hours, and faster services run less often, mostly in summer. Consider a cabin on an overnight sailing.
4. Plan a Turkey day trip with your passport. A seasonal passenger ferry links Pythagoreio and Vathy to Kusadasi in around 1 to 1.5 hours, the gateway to Ephesus. Check Turkish entry rules for your nationality first.

What practical details are easy to miss?

1. Bring a European plug adapter if needed, and expect English in tourist businesses. Electricity is 230 V with European two-pin plugs (Type C/F). English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants and tourist businesses, less consistently in mountain villages, where a few Greek words (kalimera, efharisto) are appreciated.

What should you check before you book?

Frequently asked questions

Sources and further reading

• Your Europe: entry and exit rules for travel in the EU
• European Commission: Schengen border crossing
• Your Europe: healthcare during temporary stays (EHIC)
• Your Europe: driving abroad in the EU
• UK government: Greece travel advice
• Wikivoyage: Samos travel guide
• Wikipedia: Meltemi (Etesian winds)