Hi, my husband and I will be on the RS 13 day Tour of Turkey that starts Sept. 18th from Istanbul and ends Sept. 30th. From there we go to Samos Island for two days, then fly to Athens the third day. Does anyone have suggestions as to what things one can do while on Samos? Where are the best beaches, most interesting historical sites, etc?
Posted by
Belfair, WA, USA
32 posts
Last September after my RS tour completed I spent two days on Samos (before taking the jetfoil to Patmos).
I would encourage a visit to Pythagoras and the "Tunnel of Eupalinos" just outside of town. Many consider its construction one of the great feats of engineering in the ancient world.
Posted by
Crown Point, Indiana, USA
3 posts
You can rent a car and travel most of Samos around the edges of the "rabbit" in a day. Look at a map, Samos is shaped like a rabbit. All the beaches are beautiful but are rock so you need rubber clogs. Stay in Pythagoria right on the Aegean and then move around from there. There is an airport in Pythagoria which flies direct to Athens everyday. From there you can travel to Vathi the Capitol. One of the nicest beaches was Psili Amos not to far from Pythagoria. We ate family style at a restaurant on the beach and tasted shark, octopus, and squid.
I am also traveling to Turkey on a tour October 1-16 with Grand European Tours, recommended by AARP, let me know how it goes. [email protected]
Posted by
Vancouver, BC, Canada
175 posts
There's lots to do on Samos over two days.
Besides the above suggestions, if you have a car you
can drive to the south coast and visit the lovely sandy
beaches (note: sandy).
On the north coast, the hilltown of Manolates is
charming with its winding streets, gorgeous views and
intersting shops.
The museum in Vathi is really great - besides having a
huge kouros, it houses a great collection of votives
from the temple of Hera. It's a nice size too - perfect
to while away a hot afternoon.
Lots of great little restos in both Pythagoria and Vathi.