For the last few years, our summer holiday has meant one thing – Kefalonia. We’ve returned time and time again for its spectacular beaches, dramatic scenery and wonderfully relaxed way of life. So, when Jet2 launched a new direct route from Manchester to Samos, we decided it was finally time to try somewhere different.

After spending a week exploring this fascinating island, one thing became clear – Samos isn’t trying to compete with the likes of Kefalonia, Rhodes or Crete. Instead, it offers something that many popular Greek destinations have slowly lost: authenticity.

Arriving in Samos

Less than four hours after leaving Manchester, we were stepping out into the warm Aegean sunshine. One of the biggest surprises was just how easy everything was. Our taxi to Doryssa Seaside Resort cost only €10 and, within five minutes of leaving the airport, we were checking into our hotel.

If you are flying from Manchester you may also want to check out my review of the newly opening Executive Lounge here.

The airport sits close to Pythagoreio, making it one of the quickest airport transfers we’ve experienced anywhere in Europe.

Doryssa Seaside Resort – The Perfect Base

Choosing Doryssa Seaside Resort proved to be one of the best decisions of the trip.

Rather than booking a standard hotel room, we stayed in one of the recently renovated Village Rooms, located within a replica traditional Greek village complete with its own church, village square, café and convenience store. It created a far more peaceful atmosphere than many large beach resorts while still offering every modern comfort.

The room was beautifully designed using soft natural colours, stone textures and contemporary furnishings. A Nespresso coffee machine, fridge, safe, excellent air conditioning and a spacious modern bathroom with a rainfall shower all added to the feeling of understated luxury.

Outside, our private terrace overlooked the gardens towards the beach – the perfect spot to enjoy a morning coffee before the heat of the day arrived.

The pool area was undoubtedly popular with families and could become quite lively during the day, but we often preferred relaxing on the beach where it was quieter and felt much more peaceful.

The resort itself has a large swimming pool, several restaurants and bars, direct access to a long pebble beach and is only a pleasant fifteen-minute walk from Pythagoreio.

Pythagoreio – Our Favourite Place on the Island

If there was one place that completely won us over, it was Pythagoreio.

Every evening the harbour came alive as locals and visitors wandered the waterfront, stopping for drinks, shopping or dinner. Despite being busy, it never felt overcrowded or commercial. Instead, it had an effortless Mediterranean atmosphere where everyone simply seemed happy to be outside enjoying the warm evenings.

What made it even more enjoyable was the mix of nationalities. Rather than feeling like a British package holiday destination, we were surrounded by Greeks alongside visitors from Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia and elsewhere across Europe. It gave the town a genuinely international yet unmistakably Greek feel, and every meal became another opportunity to practise a few words of Greek with welcoming restaurant owners and staff.

Exploring Beyond the Resort

Hiring a car for two days completely changed our holiday.

The highlight was undoubtedly the mountain villages of Vourliotes and Manolates.

Vourliotes, with its narrow cobbled streets and beautiful village square shaded beneath a huge plane tree, felt almost untouched by time. Sitting with a coffee beneath the tree while artists displayed their work nearby remains one of our favourite memories from the week.

Manolates offered equally stunning views across the island and a wonderfully peaceful atmosphere, making it easy to understand why visitors often spend hours simply wandering its lanes.

We also explored Vathy, the island’s capital, where everyday Greek life unfolds around the harbour, and visited Kokkari. While undeniably picturesque with its waterfront cafés and colourful fishing boats, we personally found it a little more commercial than Pythagoreio. Many visitors will love its lively atmosphere, but for us, Pythagoreio retained the more authentic character.

One amusing stop came at Tsamadou Beach, where we parked for what we thought would be a quick look at another beautiful bay. It wasn’t until we reached the beach that we realised it was a popular naturist beach! If that’s your thing, you’ll probably love it—but if not, it’s worth knowing before making the walk down.

History lovers shouldn’t miss the Temple of Hera, birthplace of one of the island’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, while the nearby Spiliani Monastery proved to be another highlight. The candlelit cave chapel hidden beneath the monastery is unlike anywhere we’ve visited before, while the panoramic views across Pythagoreio and the Aegean are simply breathtaking.

Food Worth Travelling For

One of the biggest surprises was just how consistently good the food was.

We enjoyed a traditional Pastitsio and local red wine at Pegasus, sampled excellent gyros at Garlic, shared a relaxed evening of meze at Remezzo Mezedopoleio, and twice visited To Tigani, where the food was so good after our first meal that we immediately booked to return.

Our final dinner there was unforgettable—slow-cooked lamb from the oven served with beautifully roasted potatoes, the sort of comforting Greek cooking that’s impossible not to love.

Another standout meal came at Four Seasons Restaurant, where the Kokkinisto baked with rigatoni and cheese was one of the finest dishes of the holiday. Rich tomato sauce, beautifully tender beef and subtle hints of cinnamon combined to create a dish that perfectly showcased traditional Greek flavours.

Samos is also famous for its Muscat wines, and whether paired with dinner or enjoyed on their own, they’re well worth seeking out during your stay.

Don’t Leave Without Trying Samos Beer

Beer lovers should make time to visit Samos Beer, the island’s only brewery and one of the smallest breweries in Greece.

Located in Pythagoreio, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a locally brewed ale before wandering down to the harbour for dinner. Sitting with a cold beer while watching fishing boats and luxury yachts gently rock in the marina is one of those simple holiday moments that stays with you long after you’ve returned home.

A Hidden Gem Next Door

One unexpected discovery came on our final full day.

Looking for a quieter lunchtime drink, we wandered next door to Kouros Seaside Hotel. Its beachfront bar turned out to be one of our favourite places of the week.

With chilled reggae music, friendly service, ice-cold beer and uninterrupted sea views, it had a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. The drinks were also noticeably cheaper than at Doryssa’s pool bar. Had we found it earlier in the week, we’d undoubtedly have spent far more time there.

An Unexpected Farewell

Sometimes the best travel memories are the ones you never planned.

Returning from our final dinner at To Tigani, we found the village square at Doryssa filled with local residents gathering outside the resort’s small church.

Our last evening happened to coincide with the feast day of Saint Marina, to whom the church is dedicated. We watched as the local priest led the Orthodox service before food was shared among the congregation. There wasn’t a hint that it had been organised for tourists—it was simply local people celebrating an important day in their community, and we felt privileged to witness it.

It was one of those wonderfully authentic experiences that perfectly summed up Samos.

Is Samos Better Than Kefalonia?

If your dream holiday revolves around dramatic white sand beaches and turquoise coves, then Kefalonia probably still has the edge.

But if you’re looking for an island where mountain villages are every bit as memorable as the beaches, where evenings are spent strolling an authentic harbour rather than a strip of bars, where you’ll hear as much Greek as English, and where hospitality feels genuine rather than rehearsed, then Samos deserves to be much higher on your list.

Final Thoughts

Samos quietly exceeded every expectation.

Its beaches may not quite rival those of Kefalonia, but that’s not why we’d return. We’d come back for evenings in Pythagoreio, coffee beneath the plane tree in Vourliotes, long lunches overlooking the sea, exceptional traditional food, locally brewed beer, mountain villages full of character and those unexpected moments—like watching an Orthodox feast day celebration unfold under the warm July evening sky.

With Jet2’s new direct flights from Manchester making the island easier than ever to reach, Samos feels like one of Greece’s best-kept secrets.

Long may it stay that way… although we have a feeling it won’t.