The North Eastern Aegean
Greek Islands

Check Out Today's Weather The North Eastern Aegean Greek Island, Samos

They have a huge amount to offer the overseas visitor, including the forested mountain waterfalls, their uncluttered hidden sandy beaches and fabulous walking trails through such magnificent scenery which is more difficult to find on the rugged, rocky islands further south.

Kokkari Bay in the North Eastern Aegean Greek Island of Samos

All of the Eastern Aegean Islands, with the exception of Samothraki and Thassos, are close to the west coast of Turkey than they are to the Greek mainland and are positioned with long distances between each other, which makes island-hopping less practical here, than in the other more compact Aegean groups, such as the Cyclades islands.

Samos is the most opted-for spot when visitors come to the area - Anthony and Cleopatra are said to have stayed here and since the 1980s hordes of tourist have arrived here to follow in their footsteps, flying directly to the north eastern Aegean Greek islands on cheap charter flights from several European destinations.

The island makes very modest claims to having many beautiful sandy beaches which are awash with tourist facilities. However, the island offers a lot more and if you undertake an exploratory trip beyond the busy holiday hot spots you'll find an exquisite mountainous region scattered with unspoilt villages, gushing streams and dramatic ravines carpeted with wild meadow flowers. The island's three ports and international airport make it the transport hub of the North Eastern Aegean.

Getting There The following north eastern Aegean Greek islands have flights to Athens and Thessaloniki Samos Chios Lesvos Limnos Ikaria Inter-island flights go between the islands Lesvos Limnos Samos Chios Thassos and Samothraki don't have airports.

Whilst it may be extremely frustrating and exasperating to go island hopping in the North Eastern Aegean Greek Islands because of the ferry connections, the distinctive characters of each of the islands more than makes up for the effort required to get here.

Conversely the distinctive island of Ikaria, with its bizarre rock formations and relaxed left-of-party lifestyle, attracts relatively few foreign visitors and the islanders steadfastly refuse to pander to the demands of the modern day tourist. Ikaria is not a holiday destination you will find in your high street travel agents, so if you want a lush, verdant and tranquil destination with great beaches, challenging hiking trails and traditional tavernas mercifully free of foreign influence, plan your own way here as this is, no doubt, the place for you.

Palm Tree on a Beach in Samos Island

These smaller islands also boast having over one-third of Greece's ship-owning dynasties emanating from their shores; namely the islands of Chios and nearby Inousses. And 70% of all ouzo produced comes from Lesvos, which is also famous for its olive oil, rare fossils and the only petrified forest outside of the USA.

The little island of Thassos also produces the world's second-whitest marble.

Getting Around the North Eastern Aegean Greek Islands

Massive turmoil in the Greek ferry industry continue to wreak havoc with the ferry time-tables in the eastern Agean islands; this in turn, makes it very difficult to go on an island hopping jaunt when you have a limited time to do it in.

The best time and way to do it it is in the peak season when ferries are more prevalent and you can allow a certain amount of flexibility in your itinerary. Alternatively, go in the low season when you have unlimited amounts of time and simply go-with-the-flow; and to be honest, this is the best way to travel the greek islands.

In any season, mutually unconnected Samothrakia and Thassos are particularly difficult to reach, and require a link from the mainland port of Kavala or else via Limnos. Of course, the exception to the rule is to travel on a charter flight from your local airport, if available; but these are commonly only available during the months of May to Spetember.

Inter-Island Hydrofoil at sunest.

Please remember, these islands are also on various popular inter-island routes; islands in the Dodecanese and Cyclades (e.g. Mykonos) are two such popular destinations. Inter-island travel schedules are shown in the individual islands pages of the site.

There are also international connections with towns on the Turkish coast. In the high season boats go between Samos and Kusadasi (for Ephesus), and between Chios and Çesme. Ferries from Lesvos to Ayvalik operate four times weekly.

There are regular hydrofoils in the summer season which travel between Kavala and Thassos' two port towns and between Alexandroupoli and Samothrakia. Services also operate from Samos west to Ikaria and Fourni, south towards the Dodecanese and north towards Chios and Lesvos.