Avlakia: Beach and history on Samos’s north coast

Avlakia is considered picturesque and lies a little west of Kokkari. The village connects the north coast of Samos with several distinctive points of interest: stretches of beach within the coastal settlement, two churches, a well dating from 1876, and the history of a former port station. If you choose a holiday apartment on Samos, you can consider Avlakia as a coastal village with its own sights and a distinctive historical past.

Beach and village character

Avlakia Beach lies on the north coast of Samos, within the coastal settlement of the same name and between Kokkari and Tsabou Beach. Trees behind and between the small stretches of beach provide shaded spots for a significant part of the day; the extent and timing of the shade may vary. Thus, alongside its coastal setting, the trees are also part of this beach destination’s character. If you take beaches and natural shade into account when choosing your holiday destination, this combination is a specific point to consider. The beach’s location within the settlement also gives its coastal setting a clear sense of place.

Churches, a well, and port history

Sights in Avlakia include the Church of Metamorfosis of Sotiros and the Church of Agios Nikolaos. A well dating from 1876 adds a precisely dated historical detail to these local landmarks. The history of the Hegemony period offers another perspective: at that time, Avlakia had a customs house and a port station from which ships departed for the East. The churches, well, and port’s past thus offer different ways to explore the village’s history—from a visible landmark to the place’s former role in shipping.

Historical discoveries on Samos

The wider destination of Samos also offers a wealth of historical themes. In Pythagoreion, the remains of an ancient fortified port with Greek and Roman monuments, as well as an impressive tunnel aqueduct, have been preserved. The Tunnel of Eupalinos, dating from the 6th century BC, runs 1,036 metres through a mountainside to supply water to the ancient city. It was built by Eupalinos of Megara, son of Naustrofus. The port complex and the tunnel thus offer two distinct insights into the ancient city: its fortifications and its water supply.

The Archaeological Museum of Samos is spread across two sites. A two-storey Neoclassical building dating from 1912 displays finds from the Heraion of Samos; a new building dating from 1984 houses a sculpture collection of important works from the Archaic period. The Archaeological Museum of Pythagoreion, by contrast, is located in a newly built building in the centre of modern Pythagoreion, on the site of the ancient city of Samos. More than 3,000 objects illustrate the cultural development of the ancient city and its rural surroundings, from the 4th millennium BC to the 7th century AD. The two museums therefore have different emphases: Samian finds and Archaic sculptures sit alongside a comprehensive account of the city and its surroundings across the centuries.

The Great Temple of the goddess Hera reveals another historical dimension. Construction began during the rule of Polycrates, around 535 to 522 BC. The planned temple measured 55.16 by 108.63 metres, with a peristyle of 155 columns approximately 20 metres high. These dimensions describe the planned structure. For those interested in the history of Samian culture beyond antiquity, the Samos Wine Museum offers a different perspective: it presents the history of Samian wine, offers tastings, and displays, among other things, traditional tools used in winemaking and barrel production, as well as collectible bottles.

Landscape and activities across the island

Samos’s nature and activity offerings extend beyond the coastal villages. Marked trails on Mount Kerkis pass through gorges, chestnut groves, and olive groves, with views stretching from the Ionian coast to the islands of the Cyclades. The Vourliotes–Manolates trail on Mount Ambelos is suitable for hiking, mountain biking, and off-road excursions. Check local conditions and safety advice before setting out on these activities. This allows you to compare two distinct landscape experiences: trails through gorges and groves on Kerkis, and a route on Ambelos that suits several ways of getting around.

The coasts offer further opportunities: Samos is suitable for scuba diving and other water sports. The island’s often windy northern side is popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers. These island-wide themes complement Avlakia’s own features, but should not be confused with the village’s sights. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can therefore first consider whether you are mainly looking for Avlakia’s north-coast setting, beach, and local history, or are interested in the diverse cultural and natural attractions across Samos.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Koumeika, Marathokabos, Agios Konstantinos, Kamara, Pefkos, Pandroso, Limnionas, Ireo.

For the main travel overview: Samos.