51 Super Fun Things to Do in Samos Greece!

Are you planning to visiting the gorgeous island of Samos and brainstorming fun things to do? Our family is from this beautiful place and Tatiana grew up traveling to Samos every summer. We even got married there back in 2014!

After visiting Samos over 20 times, we compiled this list of must-do activities, must-see sights, and must-eat meals for your trip!

This post will give you 51 Super Fun Ideas for Things to Do in Samos!!

11 Things to Do in Pythagorion Samos

If you’re headed to Samos, you’ll almost certainly be visiting Pythagorion. Here are 11 things to do in and around Pythagorion Samos!

1. Take a picture with the statue of Pythagorus! – Samos 831 03, Greece
   • It’s not everyday you get to walk along a beautiful waterfront to see the father of the Pythagorean Theorem!
2. Walk the Instagram famous Blue Street & take photos! – Pithagorio 831 03, Greece
   • This is essentially a long alley with beautiful blue painting on the ground and on the homes lining it. It has a very quirky and eclectic vibe that makes great IG photos.
3. Shop the dozens of boutiques and souvenir shops!
   • The main road through Pythagorion is lined with boutiques, souvenir stalls, small cafes, ice cream shops & more! You could easily spend an hour shopping through here.
4. Have a beer along the waterfront
   • All along the port of Pythagorion, you will find snack bars and restaurants facing the dozens of ships and yachts docked there. Have fun watching people dock, board, and set sail with a delicious beer!
5. Swim at nearby Doryssa Resort! – Pythagorio, Samos 831 03, Greece
   • Just a couple minutes down the road from Pythagorion, you will find the Doryssa Seaside Resort. This is a very cool hotel/resort that is made to look like a typical Greek village, but what’s best about it is the beach!
   • The beach has very nice lounge chairs and huge umbrellas with beach service. The water is calm and quite shallow, great for families.
   • Be aware, these are some of the more expensive beach chairs on the island, but the comfiest. There are planes flying overhead occasionally from the nearby airport. There is also fun music playing all day.
6. Visit the cave church of nearby Monastery of Panagia Spiliani! – Pithagorio 831 03, Greece
   • Only 5 minutes up the hill from Pythagorion you will find the beautiful Monestary of Panagia Spiliani. It is a very pretty church, but what’s special about this place is the church within the cave on this hill. This church is from a time when the residents of Samos had to practice their religion in secret.
   • The temperature in the cave is also very cool compared to the heat of the island, making it a refreshing place to take some time, reflect, or pray.
7. See the Tunnel of Eupalinos! – Pithagorio 831 03, Greece
   • A little further up the road from the Monestary, you’ll find the famous Tunnel of Eupalinos which is an engineering marvel! It’s essentially an ancient tunnel that was excavated from both sides, thousands of years ago, with both teams of excavators meeting exactly in the middle. It’s honestly mind blowing!!
8. Swim the beach at Ireon – Ireo 831 03, Greece
   • If you’re already in Pythagorion, we recommend heading to the nearby town of Ireon for some more swimming, exploring, and food. Named for the goddess Hera, the town of Ireon boasts a beautiful beach and waterfront. It’s much quieter and less built up than Pythagorion, but still has a nice variety of beach chairs and restaurants.
9. Eat at Vouros Restaurant – Ireo 831 03, ireon 831 03, Greece
   • This restaurant at the end of the waterfront in Ireon is absolutely excellent! Enjoy a table full of delicious, home-style Greek staples under a canopy of grape leaves.
10. Explore the Heraion of Samos – the Temple of Hera!! – Pithagorio 831 03, Greece
    • It is fascinating to explore the ruins at the Temple. Keep in mind that most of the original statues from this temple are not kept here, but at the Archeological Museum in the capital city of Vathy.
11. Archeological Museum of Pythagoreion – Samos 831 03, Greece
    • Like a little history with your beach and souvlaki?! This is a great little museum in the heart of Pythagoreion that is worth your time! Entry fee is €10. You can read more about the museum on their official website here!

10 Things to Do in Karlovasi Samos

If you’re exploring the area of Karlovasi, a vibrant university town in Samos, you’re in for a treat! Here are 10 things to do in and around Karlovasi Samos.

1. Sunset at Agia Triada – Karlovasi 832 00, Greece
   • This is a beautiful church perched on the highest point in Karlovasi, in an area known as Paleo (or old) Karlovasi. You can hike up to this church from sea level in around 20 minutes, and along the way, you will be meandering through the oldest, narrowest, cutest streets in Karlovasi. This is a great place to view sunset!
2. Dinner at Akamatra – Agias Triados, Neo Karlovasi 832 00, Greece
   • Also in Paleo Karlovasi, this small restaurant is as charming as it is delicious! Again, you shouldn’t attempt to drive here if you value your deposit on your rental car, but you can walk up from sea level.
   • We recommend coming here for dinner after viewing sunset from Agia Triada.
3. Walk along the Limani at night – Karlovasi 832 00, Greece
   • In addition to being a university town, Karlovasi is also a port town. It has a very cute waterfront that comes alive at night! Buy an ice cream, meander the Limani after dark, and enjoy the happy vibes and people watching!
4. Potami Beach – Karlovasi 832 00, Greece
   • Potami Beach is one of the most photographed spots on the island of Samos for good reason! It is a beautiful stretch of rocky beach with crystal clear, cool water.
   • There are two main beach restaurants with restrooms, beach chairs, and beach chair service.
   • You can also set up you own towel on the other end of the beach that’s completely undeveloped (this is our favorite part of Potami!!)
   • If you’re not sure how to enjoy the rugged, rocky beaches of Greece comfortably, make sure to check out our travel packing list for Greece where we cover everything we bring for a beach day!
5. Photos at Agios Nikolaos – Neo Karlovasi 832 00, Greece
   • This church is completely unique! One of the only churches on the island with modern architecture, this church was designed to mimic a sail. It has unparalleled views over Potami Beach and boasts stellar sunsets. This is a great place to take photos … we actually took our wedding photos here in 2014!!
6. Hike the Potami Waterfalls – Ποτάμι, Neo Karlovasi 832 00, Greece
   • Just across from Potami Beach you will find Samos hiking trail #2 to Potami Waterfalls. You start the hike through the forest before having to swim through a natural gorge to get to the first waterfall. You can continue hiking to access 3 additional waterfalls if you still have energy.
   • Please be careful! Absolutely no jumping from the waterfalls, as many people have broken bones trying to jump into these shallow pools.
   • You do have to swim or at least wade through water on this hike, so bring good water shoes.
7. Eat lunch at Archontissa – Επαρ.Οδ. Καρλοβάσου – Λέκκας, Neo Karlovasi 832 00, Greece
   • Just before arriving at the first waterfall on the Potami Waterfall hike, you will find a winding wooden staircase on your left that snakes up through the gorge! After about a 10 minute climb up the stairs, you will get the amazing restaurant Archontissa.
   • The food here is some of the most delicious home cooking on the island!
8. Hike to Micro & Megalo Seitani – Karlovasi 832 00, Greece
   • A little past Potami, you can drive to the trailhead for Samos hiking trail #1. This is a hike to a beautiful beach called Micro Seitani (about 45 minutes) and then to Megalo Seitani (an additional 45 minutes). These beaches are both beautiful and completely undeveloped, but the hike itself is stunning and worth the trip!
   • Bring lots of water and your own snacks!! We recommend at least 2L of water per person.
9. Shop and meander through downtown Karlovassi
   • Downtown Karlovassi is a fun maze of alleyways and streets containing eclectic clothing stores, boutiques, cafés, restaurants, and souvenir shops.
10. Go wine tasting at Domaine Vakakis – Μεγάλη Λάκκα, Neo Karlovasi 832 00, Greece
    • Make sure to book a tasting at this highly-rated winery in advance! Click this link to schedule your tasting at one of the most popular vineyards on the island.

10 Things to Do in Vathy Samos

The capital of Samos is the busy port town of Vathy (sometimes also called Samos). Despite that, there is still plenty of heart here and things to explore!

1. Archeological Museum of Samos – Gimnasiarchou Κatevaini 24, Samos 831 00, Greece
   • This is a very impressive museum with tons of statues and ruins from the Herion of Samos as well as artifacts from around the Northern Aegean. Well worth the €5 entrance fee!
2. Have a coffee on the waterfront
   • The beautiful waterfront of Vathy hosts numerous coffee shops and restaurants. Enjoy a freddo cappuccino with a view!
3. Wine Museum of Samos – Μαλαγάρι (κόμβος, Samos 831 00, Greece
   • Take a 45 minute tour and enjoy a wine tasting to learn about the unique, sweet wines of Samos! Fun fact, there is also a “satellite” location of this museum in Karlovasi, which offers tastings but not tours.
4. Walk through the stair-filled alleys and streets of Vathy
   • As busy and overwhelming as the waterfront of Vathy can be, if you venture just one or two streets deeper into town, you will find it to be very charming, authentic, and calm. As the town is built on big hills, there are numerous staircases winding through the town that you will enjoy getting lost in.
5. See the ancient theater of Vathy – Samos 831 00, Greece
   • High on the hill in town, you can see the ancient open air theater of Vathy. Here, you can get wonderful views over the bay and out into the Aegean
6. Livadaki Beach – Αγ. Παρασκευή 831 00, Greece
   • From Vathy, it is a short drive to the sheltered beach of Livadakia, which along with its beach bar, is one of the most famous beaches on the island.
7. Walk around the quaint town of Paleokastro
   • Just a short drive from Vathy is the small town of Paleakastro. After parking, walk around and enjoy the meandering streets of the town.
8. Eat a delicious meal at Triantafillos – Παλαιόκαστρο 831 00, Greece
   • In the main courtyard of Paleokastro you’ll find this excellent local restaurant! Have a delicious meal at one of the top restaurants on the island, according to locals.
9. Drive to Posidonio for a waterfront meal
   • Not far from Vathy, there is a beautiful fishing village called Posidonio. Especially recently, it has become better known and you will find there are more catamarans and yachts in the harbor than there are homes in the whole village! The restaurant in town offers delicious waterfront meals.
10. Swim at Klima Beach
    • Just another couple kilometers from Poseidonio is Klima Beach. It is a thin beachfront with a couple cute restaurants. This is perfect if you’re looking for peace and quiet with your beach day!

10 Things to Do in the Mountains of Samos Greece

Samos Greece is HOT in the summer just like most of the country. Beat the heat with some shopping, dining, hiking, or even movie going in the mountains!

1. Cine Rex – cool off watching a fun flick under the stars!
   • In the town of Mitilini up in the mountains of Samos, you’ll find this adorable outdoor cinema!! The movies are often English-speaking new releases with Greek subtitles. In past years, we’ve seen the newest Indiana Jones, the new Mission Impossible, and other Hollywood blockbusters there!
   • The kind owners even pass out sweets during the intermission (oh yeah, they always include an intermission!)
2. Beelove Samos – Honey shop in Mitilini
   • In the same town of Mitilini, you’ll find the BeeLove Samos honey store!! We love this place, where you can learn about apiary culture on the island and buy 100% pure Samian honey!
   • Stock up on several bottles to take home, and don’t forget that Samian Honey makes a great souvenir for friends!
3. Explore Picturesque Manolates
   • This incredibly quaint mountain town is everything you picture when you think of villages in the Dodecanese. Park at the entrance to the village and explore the town’s meandering alleys and staircases on foot!
   • Browse for souvenirs in the many unique stores throughout Manolates. They mainly sell artisan crafts – olive wood products, glass wear, handmade jewelry, etc!
4. Prophet Elias
   • Not quite a “mountain,” but Prophet Elias is a cute tiny chapel perched high on a hill in Samos. It can’t be found on Google Maps as of this posting, but you can find it on the left as you’re driving from Karlovasi to Vathy. You park at the base and take a very easy 10 minute hike up a goat path to get there. You’ll almost assuredly pass lots of cute goats with bells on!
   • Although the small church is sweet, the real reason to go up there is for the beautiful views over the coast!
5. Cave of Pythagorus
   • Want to get active? You can hike up to the Cave of Pythagorus, where many believe the most famous Samian spent much of his time. Many believe it was not only his home, but also his classroom for much of his life!
6. Dinner at Tavern in Konteika
   • “Κέντρο” or simply “Center.” The Center restaurant is located in the small mountain village of Konteika. This family-run restaurant is a hidden gem nestled in a lovely town center. The atmosphere is extremely relaxed and welcoming, the people are very kind, and the food is always excellent and well priced.
7. Sunset Dinner in Ydroussa
   • Tavern Ydroussa has stunning views looking down and out towards the many towns of Samos and the big blue Aegean sea. The food here is some of the best on the island and very reasonably priced.
8. Dine at Orizontas
   • This excellent mountain top restaurant is well known for its modern take on Greek food and has stunning mountain views of the north and south side of the island. Over the years, Orizontas has become quite popular for its scenic views, even among tourists. The prices are steep, but the views and dishes are memorable!
9. Climb Mount Kerkis, Samos
   • This is the highest point on all of Samos, so as you can imagine, the view from the top is stunning!! It can be a long hike (several hours each direction), particularly depending on the path you take. Many people take the trail from Kampos in the southwest of the island.
   • Pro tip: You can also combine the trek with a visit to the Cave of Pythagorus!
10. Monestary of Megali Panagia
    • If you’re looking for a beautiful monastery with a lot of history, and to cool off a bit in the mountains, you need to check out the Monestary of Megali Panagia in Koumaradei.
    • It has a stunning church (one of the most ornate and beautiful on the whole island, in our opinion) as well as a small shop where you can buy icons, religious wares, and some other small items all made by the monks.

10 Best Things to Do in Southwest Samos

This area of Samos is very underrated because it is far from the three big cities. But this Southwest zone of the island is stunning, boasting some of longest beaches on the whole island! Even when the winds and waves are horrible everywhere else, this part of the island will almost always be calm and swimmable!!

1. Kaladakia Beach
   • This beautiful beach is nestled along cliffs and has fun caves to explore! Beach chairs with service are available. Restrooms onsite. After parking, be prepared to walk a steep hill down to the beach. 
   • This beach is almost always calm with very little waves. Be careful, it gets deep quickly!
2. Lunch at Sama Restaurant
   • Search for “Sama” on your navigation system, and you’ll find the restaurant is located on an “Unnamed Road.” With an Unnamed Road location, Sama is not likely to be on most tourists’ radar, but we can’t recommend this hidden gem enough! Every bite is delightful, and the town setting is perfectly quaint. We loved this place so much, we ate there twice during our latest visit.
3. Votsalakia Beach
   • This is a very calm, long beach with dozens of restaurants lining it. It is easily accessed from the main road, with plenty of roadside parking. You’ll find multiple sets of beach chairs to choose from, and the restaurants have restrooms to use, as long as you order something.
4. Tavern Angelos
   • Located along Votsalakia beach, this is a relaxed, traditional, no frills type place. Come as you are and enjoy a refreshing beer with sea views. The restaurant also offers beach lounge chairs at no additional cost! You’ll love this very casual and chill spot with authentic Greek staples at an affordable price.
5. Psili Ammos/Chrissi Ammos Beach
   • This beach went by Psili Ammos forever, but due to confusion with another beach by the same name on Samos, they are trying to rebrand as Chrissi Ammos. Be careful when getting directions! 
   • This beach is stunning. Sandy, very shallow, and calm. Great chairs and umbrellas available with full beach chair service. 
   • Park up by the main road and be prepared to walk a ways down to the beach. Restrooms available in the two restaurants near the beach.
6. St. John’s Beach
   • This beach is a challenge to reach, but has a beautiful payoff! Driving there is tricky, you take a long dirt road down towards the Monestary of St. John, until the road abruptly ends. 
   • Then, you hike down to the Monestary, and from there a short hike down to St. John’s beach. There is no natural shade, no restrooms, no food. 
   • But if completely alone and remote is the vibe you’re looking for, this is the place for you!
7. Limnionas Beach
   • This lovely beach has extremely calm and shallow water with lots of nearby restaurants and restroom/changing room facilities. Easy parking!
8. Lunch at Epiouzion
   • This restaurant is found on the southwest part of the island near in Limnionas. You’ll find beautiful view of the Aegean and super fresh food. We usually come for lunch after spending the morning and early afternoon at Limnionas Beach.
9. Balos Beach
   • This is a small, but very cute beach just a few moments drive from Kaladakia Beach.
10. Dinner on the waterfront of Ormos Marathokampou
    • The town of Ormos has a beautiful waterfront with docked sailboats and colorful trees! Several cute restaurants line the port where you can enjoy a nice meal.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this round-up of 51 Super Fun Things to Do in Samos!

Next, make sure to check out 17 Must-Have Items: Expert’s Travel Packing List for Greece where we cover some surprising things you need to bring on your Greek adventure!