Kokkári: Lanes, Coast and Windsurfing

Kokkári combines a densely built old town centre with a pebble coastline and a well-known windsurfing area on Samos. When choosing where to stay, you can consider whether you mainly want to explore the lanes and harbour district, spend time at the beach or plan routes into the northern hinterland.

Lanes, Harbour District and Local History

The older town centre is densely built. Narrow lanes and houses that follow the coastline shape its appearance. Older buildings with colourful windows and doors have been preserved around the harbour. The townscape thus brings together dense development and striking touches of colour.

One specific historical landmark is the parish church of Saint Nicholas in Kokkári, which was completed in 1938. Together with the older town centre, it offers another point of reference if you are interested in the history of the area.

Pebble Beach and Windsurfing

On the eastern side of Kokkári is a two-part, partially developed pebble beach that extends to the small island of Kávos. Another beach, Mikrá Limanákia, lies right next to Kokkári. The two beaches differ in location: one is on the eastern side of the town, while the other is immediately adjacent to it.

Kokkári is one of the best-known windsurfing areas on Samos. If you are planning your stay around your own interests, you can therefore consider the townscape, time at the beach and windsurfing as different priorities.

Exploring the Town on Foot and Taking Routes into the Hinterland

The central town centre is easy to explore on foot. Roads and hiking trails leading to the slopes of Karvoúnis and to villages in the northern hinterland also start in the Kokkári area. So, alongside the coastal town, routes towards the mountains and smaller settlements are also options to consider. If you are planning a walk, check current trail conditions before setting out.

When choosing a holiday apartment, it may be helpful to decide first what you want to focus on: Would you like to explore the central town centre, visit the pebble beach on the eastern side or set aside time for routes into the hinterland? These are different planning considerations, and there is no single focus that suits every stay. Beach arrangements can also change, so check the current situation before planning a specific visit.

Samos: Archaeology, Wine and Landscape

Beyond Kokkári, Samos also offers its own cultural and natural attractions. In Pythagoreion, the remains of an ancient fortified harbour with Greek and Roman monuments, as well as an impressive tunnel aqueduct, have been preserved. The Tunnel of Eupalinos runs 1,036 metres through the mountainside to supply the ancient city with water. It dates from the 6th century BC and was attributed to Eupalinos of Megara, son of Naustrofus.

The Archaeological Museum of Samos is spread across two locations: a two-storey neoclassical building dating from 1912 with finds from the Heraion, and a building dating from 1984 with a collection of significant sculptures from the Archaic period. The Archaeological Museum of Pythagoreion is also located in the centre of modern Pythagoreion, on the site of the ancient city of Samos. It houses more than 3,000 objects relating to the cultural development of the ancient city of Samos and its rural surroundings, from the 4th millennium BC to the 7th century AD.

The Samos Wine Museum offers a different perspective on the island. It presents the history of Samian wine and offers tastings. Exhibits include traditional tools for winemaking and barrel production, collectible bottles and other objects. On the marked trails of Mount Kerkis, meanwhile, gorges, chestnut groves and olive groves alternate; the trails offer views from the Ionian coast to the islands of the Cyclades.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Agios Konstantinos, Marathokabos, Psili Ammos, Pythagorio, Mesokampos, Ireo, Koumeika, Kamara

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