Get Your Gyros Fix and Vitamin Sea: Samos Greece, Where Beaches and Deliciousness Collide!
Samos, a stunning Greek island in the Aegean Sea, is a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful beaches, rich history, and delicious cuisine. Samos is the perfect destination for travelers seeking a mix of adventure and relaxation with a wide range of activities, including hiking, windsurfing, and exploring ancient ruins.
Whether you’re interested in soaking up the sun on a picturesque beach or delving into the island’s fascinating past, Samos has no shortage of fun things.
- Visit Pythagoreion: Explore the historic harbor town of Pythagoreion, home to several ancient ruins, including the Temple of Hera and the Eupalinian aqueduct.
- Go to the Beach: Samos boasts several stunning beaches, including Tsamadou Beach, Potami Beach, and Mikro Seitani Beach.
- Hiking: Samos is a great place for hiking, with many trails that offer breathtaking views of the island’s rugged terrain and lush vegetation. The Samaria Gorge and Mount Kerkis are popular hiking spots.
- Visit the Heraion: The Heraion is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the island’s eastern coast. It was once a sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Hera and is home to many impressive ruins.
- Explore Samos Town: The island’s capital, Samos Town, is a charming place to explore, with narrow streets lined with traditional shops and tavernas.
- Visit the Archaeological Museum: The Archaeological Museum in Samos Town has an impressive collection of artifacts from the island’s ancient past.
- Taste local food: The island is known for its delicious cuisine, which includes fresh seafood, locally produced cheeses and olive oil, and traditional Greek dishes like moussaka and souvlaki.
- Go Windsurfing: This Greek isle has some of the best windsurfing conditions in the Aegean, with strong winds and calm waters.
- Visit Monasteries: The island has several beautiful monasteries, including the Monastery of Zoodochou Pigis and Megali Panagia.
TIP: Samos is an island located in the eastern Aegean Sea, and Athens is the capital city of Greece, located on the mainland. The distance between Samos and Athens is approximately 337 kilometers/209 miles by air.
There are no direct flights between Samos and Athens, so if you wish to travel between the two, you must take a ferry or connect through a neighboring island. The duration of the journey can vary depending on the mode of transportation and the route taken.
Did you know?
Samos was home to one of the most famous mathematicians in ancient Greece? Pythagoras, the father of the Pythagorean theorem, was born on the island around 570 BC. Pythagoras founded a philosophical and religious school in Croton, Italy, known as the Pythagoreans.
His theories and teachings influenced mathematics and philosophy and continue to be studied and admired. The island has honored Pythagoras by naming the airport after him and creating a statue and a museum dedicated to his life and work.
A little history:
Samos’ history dating back thousands of years. In ancient times, the island was home to the thriving civilization of the Samians, who built impressive temples and public buildings that can still be seen today. The island was also the birthplace of the famous mathematician Pythagoras, who founded a philosophical and religious school called the Pythagoreans.
In the 6th century BC, it became a powerful maritime state with a navy that dominated the Aegean Sea. The island was ruled by a series of powerful tyrants, including Polycrates, who is said to have been one of the wealthiest and most influential men of his time. Under his rule, the island became a center of trade and culture, with a flourishing economy and many impressive public works.
During the Hellenistic period, the island was conquered by the Macedonian Empire and later by the Romans. In the Byzantine era, the island became an important center of Christianity, with many monasteries and churches being built.
In the 1400s, Samos fell under Ottoman rule and remained part of the Ottoman Empire until the Greek War of Independence in the 19th century.Â
