We are thinking of staying for a few days in Samos after the RS Best of Turkey tour. It mentions doing that in the pre planning info. Has anyone done this and would like feedback if it’s worth doing TIA
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
2989 posts
Several in my tour group did this and enjoyed it. You might check this recent trip report, specifically the 5/9 entry where they missed their ferry to Samos: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/13-day-turkey-tour-4-27-5-9
Posted by
Central California foothills and Portland, OR
101 posts
We recently ferried from Kuşadası to Samos after the RS 13 day tour. In fact, it was my trip report that CL gave the link to….and we are the people who missed the ferry.
There are several places to buy tickets. We bought ours on line through Meander Travel, though you can buy them at their office close to the pier, it’s a 5 minute walk from the last hotel on the RS Tour. I think tickets were $36 each one way. We missed the first day because we didn’t read the fine print that said you must check in at the Meander Travel office by 7:30 AM for a 9:00 departure…they did wait for us until 8:00 but we arrived about 8:10. Next time I would buy them from the office counter and ask exactly what time to be there…it may change throughout the season.
We were originally ticketed to go directly to Pythagoreio but when we changed our tix to the next day (Meander did so easily) the ferry only went to Vathi port and required a 10 minute, €20 euro taxi ride. The ferry took less than an hour. We stayed at the Samaina Hotel where owner Petros was a kind and helpful host. Pythagoreio village is small and easy to navigate, a bit hilly, charming in every respect.
We loved Samos, especially because we were there when it was uncrowded, before the season really started in a week or two. We had good food, good walks, discovered much more to explore on our next visit. I highly recommend the patisserie Χαλλλαρά απ' το Βορρά (Hallara from the North), open 24 hours a day for incredible pastries; our favorite was a tahini filled sort of doughnut shaped croissant.
I don’t know when your RS Tour is but Pythagoreio can get crowded during the high season and also hot and there is a club like atmosphere close to the small harbor. Even so, Samos is definitely worth visiting.
The ferry returns to Kuşadası each night about 5:30 or so ( check in 1-1/2 hours before) but we flew to Athens, a 1-1/2 hour flight. The airport is a 5 minute taxi ride from the village. By the way, I believe Petros told me the ferry doesn’t run before April and I think stops in late October.