Less than two kilometres from the Turkish mainland, this green and fruitful island has a mountainous western region where wild orchids and aromatic medicinal herbs grow among the pines. The fertile lowlands are covered in olive groves, and vineyards producing the famous sweet Samos muscat wine (and plenty of very quaffable dry whites and reds too).
The island capital, Samos Town, is beautifully situated on a deep inlet, the pastel facades of its old mansions ascending the hillside to the narrow alleys and timbered houses of the sleepy Old Town, known as Vathy.
The island's former capital Tigani (now called Pythagorion) is its most popular resort, a picturesque circular port full of colourful fishing-boats and expensive yachts, with a small town beach.
Kambos is ideal for a quieter beach-based holiday, including an uncrowded two-kilometre ribbon of sand and shingle, also known as Votsalakia. To the west, the barren, towering peak of Mount Kerkis provides a dramatic backdrop to the peaceful scene below.
