About Samos Airport (SMI)
Samos Airport (SMI), officially Samos International Airport "Aristarchos of Samos", sits on the island's southeast coast near Pythagorio. Transfer distances are short by Greek island standards: roughly 3 km to Pythagorio, 15–16 km to Vathy (the capital), 25 km to Kokkari, and 35–50 km to west-coast resorts such as Karlovasi and Votsalakia.
Taxi from Samos Airport
Taxis are the default door-to-door option from Samos Airport, quickest for Pythagorio (about 10 minutes) and the sensible choice for Vathy, reached in 25–30 minutes. The small taxi rank sits directly outside the terminal; waits are typically 10 minutes or less during airport opening hours. Confirm your destination — and ideally the fare — with the driver before boarding.
| Destination | Distance | Journey time | Approx. fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pythagorio | 3 km | 10 min | €5–10 |
| Vathy | 15 km | 25–30 min | €30–35 |
| Kokkari | 25 km | 35 min | €35–45 |
| Karlovasi / Votsalakia | 45–50 km | ~60 min | €60+ |
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Taxi Fares from the Airport
Fares are nominally metered but usually agreed in advance — always confirm the total before departure. Night surcharges and luggage fees may apply. Cash in euros is strongly preferred, as card payment is rarely accepted.
Public Bus from the Airport
A public bus links the airport with Vathy via Pythagorio and Mytilinioi, calling at a stop in front of the terminal; tickets are bought from the driver. Service is thin — a handful of weekday daytime departures, with reduced or no weekend service — so it rarely suits late arrivals, early flights or west-coast destinations. Verify current timetables locally.
- Route : Airport → Pythagorio (via Mytilinioi) → Vathy
- Ticket purchase : from the bus driver
- Service : weekday daytime departures only
- Not suitable : late arrivals, early departures, west-coast resorts
Private Transfers from Samos Airport
A pre-booked private transfer from Samos Airport (SMI) pairs a fixed price with a driver waiting in arrivals — no queueing at the rank, and a useful alternative among the wider range of Samos Airport transfer options. Rates start from roughly €6–12 per person to Pythagorio, with established providers covering Vathy, Kokkari and west-coast Karlovasi.
Private Transfer Prices by Destination
Indicative 2026 rates from major international transfer aggregators:
| Destination | Distance | Journey | Shared, per person | Private car, per person (4 pax) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pythagorio | 3 km | 10–15 min | €12 | €6–12 |
| Vathy | 15–18 km | 25–40 min | €17 | €12–18 |
| Kokkari | 25 km | 35–45 min | €19–20 | €13–17 |
| Karlovasi | 40+ km | 50–60 min | €24 | €19–24 |
| Votsalakia | 45+ km | 55–60 min | €24 | €19–24 |
Expect higher fares in July–September and better rates when booking 2–4 weeks ahead; free cancellation typically runs 24–48 hours before pickup. Verify current prices before paying.
When a Pre-Booked Transfer Makes Sense
Pre-booking makes sense if arriving outside bus hours — services end around 21:00 and resume about 07:00 — or heading west, where Karlovasi and Votsalakia have no direct airport bus and a rank taxi can be surprisingly expensive without a fixed rate. A pre-booked transfer fixes the fare (roughly €19–24 shared to the west coast). Families also benefit: child seats can be requested at booking, and the driver waits in arrivals.
Booking takes a few minutes online: enter your flight number, arrival time and destination address, and confirmation arrives with the driver's name and meeting point. Allowance is one checked bag plus one hand-luggage item per passenger; sedans carry up to four, minibuses eight. Use the search form above to compare prices and book.
Car Rental at the Airport
Car rental desks line the arrivals hall at Samos Airport. Hertz, Avis, Budget, Europcar and Sixt operate alongside local Greek firms. Economy cars cost €18–30 per day off-season and €36–60+ in July–August; book 2–4 weeks ahead. Collection takes 10–15 minutes with an online reservation. For exploring beaches, mountain villages and the Heraion beyond one resort, see the full car rental guide.
Which Transfer Option to Choose
For Pythagorio or Vathy during daytime, a taxi from the rank is quickest — about 10 minutes to Pythagorio. Budget travellers with flexible schedules can take the public bus to Vathy via Pythagorio, checking timetables first. Late-night arrivals, families and anyone bound for Karlovasi or Votsalakia should pre-book. Planning wider exploration? Rent a car at the terminal instead; ferries onward are covered in the ferry guide.
Onward Travel: Ferry Connections
Samos's main ferry port sits in Vathy, roughly 15–16 km from the airport. Ferries link the island with Piraeus — a crossing of around 12 hours — plus other Aegean islands and Turkey. A taxi to Vathy port takes 25–30 minutes at the standard airport-to-capital fare; pre-booked transfers are also available. For timetables and routes, see the ferry guide.
FAQ
The answers below cover the practical questions travellers ask most often when planning a transfer from Samos Airport.
How much is a taxi from Samos Airport to Vathy?
A taxi from Samos Airport to Vathy (15–16 km) typically takes 25–30 minutes under normal traffic. Fares are broadly metered, though drivers often agree a price upfront — always confirm it before setting off. Night surcharges and extra luggage fees may apply. Cash in euros is strongly preferred, as card payments are rarely accepted.
Is there a public bus from Samos Airport?
Yes. A public bus runs from the airport to Vathy via Pythagorio, with some services routed through Mytilinioi, but frequencies are limited to a handful of weekday daytime departures, with reduced or no service at weekends. The stop is directly in front of the terminal building, and tickets are bought from the driver. It is a poor fit for late arrivals or west-coast resorts — verify current timetables locally.
Should I pre-book a transfer from Samos Airport?
Pre-booking makes sense if you are arriving late at night, after the buses stop running; heading to west-coast destinations such as Karlovasi or Votsalakia, where there is no direct bus and a taxi is comparatively expensive; or travelling as a family with luggage. Pre-booked transfers give fixed pricing, a meet-and-greet in arrivals, and no wait at the taxi rank. For daytime arrivals to Pythagorio or Vathy, a regular taxi is usually faster and cheaper.
Do taxis at Samos Airport accept card payments?
Rarely. Airport taxis overwhelmingly expect cash in euros, so withdraw from the ATM in the terminal or bring euros with you. An alternative is to pre-book a private transfer online: many providers take card payment at the time of booking, so nothing is owed to the driver on arrival.
How far is Samos Airport from Kokkari?
Kokkari lies about 25 km away on the north coast — roughly 35 minutes by taxi. Pre-booked shared shuttles start from about €19–20 per person, while private transfers in a four-passenger car start from roughly €13–17 per person. The public bus does not serve Kokkari directly from the airport, so a taxi or pre-booked transfer are the practical options.
Where next
Plan the rest of the trip: Ferry guide hub, Where To Stay, Blog/Getting Around Samos.