Itinerary help & Samos

Jean --- someone from Hungary, who can get to Greece in a few hours, for a few hundre €€€ will have a different outlook, certainly worthwhile, but not as applicable to someone who comes halfway around the world. I'll give you my (somewhat dated) info based on a very interesting trip to the East Aegean about a dozen years ago...

SAMOS -- it's an ideal "springboard" to see several islands... we stayed at Hotel Pythagoras, which is n Vathy, about 300 meters north of the ferry pier, riht on the water. Family-run place, with a street-floor cafe. Super-handy for Samos Visit. First, theother "stops"

• EPHESUS - I think a day trip is great, if you can find the excursion. The travel agency right at the pier fixed it up for us ... in season there are ferries at 7:30 AM or so they may be going from the other town ... Pythagoras, I forget. if you stay more than 1 day there's a bunch of paperwork, because then u are officially visiting in Turkey -- for 1 day, they just hold your passport and you pay I think 25E or so as "entry fee." You can do it without a "tour". Just take the ferry & get a taxi from the port to the ancient site (do homework beforehand in guidebooks &online so u know what you are seeing). Often a "tour" will drag you offsite to go to rug shops. Ugh Here is the Turky-Travel website: https://turkeytravelplanner.com/trans/index.html Other important plan-links:
Ephesus Ferry boking - http://www.feribot.net/index.php
Ephesus Map - http://www.planetware.com/map/ephesus-map-tr-eph.htm
http://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/ephesus-tr-iz-ep.htm
Temple of Artemis - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Artemis#Ephesian_Artemis

• CHIOS - Magic!! Requires 1 overnight! Stay n port town... rent car & go to "mastic Villages" and amazing deserted monastery scene of 1826 Turkish Massacre (25K killed in one day; women & children taken back to turkey into slavery) Mastic villages unforgettable, beautiful beaches, here's a good Chios trip report = https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g189476-i2411-k10944884-Chios_Trip_Report_Sept_30_Oct_10_2017-Chios_Northeast_Aegean_Islands.html NOTE: only 2-3 ferries per week,and often leave/return iin middle of night... still, totally worth it!!!

• PATMOS - there are 1-day excursions here too... best part is vista of St John monasteryon approach, but actual visit to it, meh. If you are rushed, skip it.

. SAMOS --- a Great Island! too much to say & I'm off to a meeeting... more later.

I agree with Scythian. Spend just a couple of days in Samos and expand your time in Turkey.

After Ephesus and a night or two in Selcuk, rent a car and drive 150 miles south to Dalyan and spend a couple of nights. There you'll find a sea turtle nesting beach and a sea turtle hospital, which the boys might enjoy. There are Lycian tombs carved into the cliffs along the river. We enjoyed the Kilim Hotel, with a great view of the tombs. Dalyan is a great little town, a favorite of British tourists.

From Dalyan, it's a short drive to Marmaris, where you can catch a ferry to the island of Rhodes. Spend a couple of days on Rhodes ... lots of history there, including the Palace of the Grand Master. Then fly back to Athens.

Different strokes. We much preferred Patmos to Samos. Understand, we enjoyed Samos, but had a better time on the other isle.
If ever in Selcuk, be aware that it is one of the best places on the planet to buy leather coats and jackets at prices significantly less than North America. Excellent quality, excellent deals.
I am done. The end.

Well, we're not on the Turkey site, but several people seem to think Turkey is where you should be ... frankly I'm not a fan of Turkey these days with what's going on there.. and besides Jean did not request info on Turkey tourism. If that's what she wants, fine. If she wants to know more about Samos, I'm available.

I would do Aegean Turkey as its own separate thing and not waste time with the hassles of moving between Greece and Turkey. The quality of the ancient ruins is better in Turkey than in Greece, IMHO, and there are at least 3 major sites you'll not want to miss in the area: Ephesus, Priene, and Dydima. That will take at least 3 days in itself. Now, for the islands. We visited Samos last year and were disappointed - the major classical ruin is the Temple of Hera in Pythagoras, and it's barely a foundation with one lonely column left standing in a desolate setting; you'll have to really use your imagination. Vathy is beautiful from a distance, but note that the migrant population is very visible in this city (the camp is nearby, whereas in Lesbos and Chios, they are out of the way.) I feel terrible saying this, but it is a valid consideration. The archaeological museum is first rate. Samos is unusual in that it's very lush. The northern coast is dotted with low-key coves and beaches, and there are a couple high-mountain villages. We found that the tourists were mainly from Scandinavia and the vibe was dour and not fun, even in the high season. Chios, on the other hand, was fabulous. This isn't on the tourist route, though we met many Greek Americans visiting ancestral homes. No classical ruins (though Homer was supposedly born here), but the Nea Moni complex has breathtaking Byzantine mosaics in an equally breathtaking setting, and the ruined beauty of the old Italian mansions is very evocative. The Mastichoria region, including two beautiful villages and a new museum of mastic (it was closed when we were there!) is magical. The main city of Chios has several beautiful arcades and lots of good restaurants, many with Turkish influences. On to Patmos. This is the single most beautiful island in Greece (IMHO naturally), and I would stay here. There is something about the quality of the light that makes it special. It's small enough to walk around, and the monastery of St. John is moving, even if you're not into that sort of thing. The other island we loved in the region is Ikaria, though perhaps it'll be too rough in March. In fact, all of these islands may be half asleep in March, so you should confirm, including the transportation options, which may not exist.

scythian is right. We here in the USA don't have the best president, either. And although I don't know Orban (Hungarian president), never heard him speak, so cannot say for myself but I read that he is not the best, either. And, of course, we all read the same about Turkish president.

I have not visited Turkey but I have a close friend from there who has discouraged us from visiting. She has family there who she visits. The stories she tells are concerning.

Everyone has their own comfort zone but it is not unreasonable to avoid visiting Turkey at this time.

Hi all,

Thank you for all the responses. We would like this to be a Greek trip. I know a day trip from Samos to Ephesus is easily accomplished and so that it what we had in mind. We do not have the necessary visa for an overnight trip to Turkey and would prefer to stay in Greece at this point.

The suggestion for Chios is very interesting and I am reviewing that.

Our plans are very fluid at this point. So I will continue researching.

Thanks.

Hi all
I would not go to Turkey now also. I would also visit Samos for few days as it is not period for swimming. I would also propose Chios but the best for me is Mytilini. Beautiful island, green, good food, relatively cheap and perfect old houses. The architecture is great. You can also visit Molyvos a village in a castle. Google pictures.
Another completely different island I'd Rhodes or Corfu. All of them are big with many alternatives as the weather will not be so hot for swimming