Samos International Airport
Also known as: Samos Airport, Aristarchos of Samos Airport.
Private transfer from SMISee pricesSee pricesAbout Samos International Airport
Samos International Airport "Aristarchos of Samos" (SMI) is the airport for the island of Samos, in the eastern Aegean, Greece. It sits on the south coast, within about 5 km (3 miles) of the harbor town of Pythagoreio, and also serves the island's capital, Samos Town (Vathy). In 2025 it handled about 500,000 passengers.
Aegean Airlines flies year-round to Athens, Olympic Air to Thessaloniki, and Sky Express to Thessaloniki, Rhodes and the neighboring islands of Chios, Lemnos and Mytilene. In summer, Jet2, TUI, Condor, Eurowings and Scandinavian charter flights bring visitors mainly from the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Denmark.
The single terminal has two floors and six boarding gates, with no jet bridges. The runway is fairly short, between mountains and sea, and strong northerly meltemi winds blow in summer.
From the airport, most visitors head to Pythagoreio, to Samos Town (Vathy) in the northeast, to Kokkari and the north coast, or west to Karlovasi and Marathokampos.
Airport operator, runways and traffic
- Operator
Fraport Greece (40-year concession from 2017)
- Runways
One (09/27)
- Passengers per year
About 500,000 in 2025
- Gates
Six, no jet bridges
Arrival tips for Samos International Airport
All flights arrive at the single terminal, and you walk or take a bus from the aircraft. Flights from Athens and other Schengen countries arrive without passport checks; if you come from outside the Schengen area, for example from the UK, you go through passport control, where non-EU visitors are registered in the EU's Entry/Exit System.
The terminal is small, so baggage claim is quick. Outside, taxis, car rental and pre-booked cars are the main ways to leave the airport. Pythagoreio is a short drive away; Samos Town (Vathy), Kokkari and the north coast take longer. Pre-booked drivers usually meet you outside arrivals.
Strong summer winds can occasionally delay flights, so keep some flexibility in your plans.
Greece is on Eastern European Time (EET), two hours ahead of the UK, and uses the euro.
Ground transportation
Taxis, pre-booked cars and rental cars are the usual way to leave the airport.
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Book a transfer from SMITaxi from Samos airport
Taxis wait outside the terminal. Pythagoreio is a short ride; Vathy and the north coast take longer.
Private transfer
A pre-booked car meets you outside arrivals, useful for Kokkari, Karlovasi, villas and families with luggage.
Car rental
Rental cars are popular for exploring the island's beaches and villages.
Terminals
Terminal
One terminal on two floors, with six boarding gates, a duty-free shop and a café.
Airlines and destinations
Frequently asked questions
Where is Samos airport?
Samos International Airport is on the south coast of the island, within about 5 km of Pythagoreio. It also serves the capital, Samos Town (Vathy), in the northeast, which is a longer drive.
Which airlines fly to Samos?
Aegean Airlines flies year-round to Athens, Olympic Air to Thessaloniki, and Sky Express to Thessaloniki, Rhodes, Chios, Lemnos and Mytilene. In summer, Jet2, TUI, Condor, Eurowings and Scandinavian charters fly from northern Europe.
How do I get from Samos airport to Kokkari?
Kokkari is on the north coast, beyond Samos Town. A taxi, pre-booked transfer or rental car is the easiest way from the airport, as the drive crosses the island.
Do winds affect flights at Samos?
Sometimes. The runway lies between mountains and sea, and strong northerly meltemi winds blow in summer, which can occasionally delay flights.
How big is Samos airport?
Samos has one terminal on two floors with six boarding gates and no jet bridges. It handled about 500,000 passengers in 2025, most of them in summer.