joannemci

Calling on Greek Ferry experts! We are trying to fine-tune our 16-day itinerary and are stumped by ferry schedules for the segment Samos to Santorini. We realize that we need to connect through Paros or Naxos, but are unable to find actual schedules for the dates we need to go (on or about Sept. 24, Samos to Santorini). We are flying to Samos immediately after our arrival in Athens so we can visit Ephesus before continuing on to Santorini, the mainland, Nafplio and surrounding area and nearby island(s), Delphi, Meteora, ending with several days in Athens. Thanks for any specific help you can give us!

brotherleelove2004

Actually, this year the connection is through Mykonos, not Paros and Naxos. Schedules for September have not yet been released but you can see them here as "not officially approved yet": http://www.tinyurl.com/2d53suj

Because of conflicting arrival and departure times you'll have to plan to spend the night on Mykonos before you can catch the ferry from Mykonos to Santorini. http://www.ferries.gr/hfd

joannemci

Thanks, brotherleelove, for your quick reply. It seems that the ferry runs on Tuesdays and Sundays and we can't stay on Samos that long. Looked into flying to Santorini from Samos, and the layover is 4 hrs. in Athens. Flights are not yet booked to Samos, so may have to skip that leg and save Ephesus for another time. Not easy to plan around fall ferry schedules!

didoanderson

Check out a website called Greektravel.com...lots of helpful info on it. Can you rework your itinerary to do Santorini, then Mykonos, then Samos. We took an overnight ferry from Mykonos to Samos which worked very well. Also if you are staying on Samos, look into Kokkari...charming village northside...loved it and the Olympic Beach Hotel. There used to be a water taxi from Samos to Kusadasi for Ephesus.

NormanfromCleveland

We went to Samos partly for the same reason you have in mind: Ephesus. However, we had already been to the Acropolis, Epidaurus (Nafplio) and Delphi, and frankly, in comparison, Ephesus was a disappointment by comparison, and not really worth the whole day trip. On the other hand, we loved staying in Pythagorion (Astra Village Hotel), finding a first-rate and wonderfully personal restaurant (Remataki), exploring the island (including some extraordinary mountain villages) and hiking around the ruins near Pythagorion, and soaking up the town life.