Abelos and Stavrinides on Samos

West of the village of Kokkari and the beaches of Tsamadou, Tsabou and Lemonakia is a small fishing village called Agios Konstantinos. From there a road goes up into the mountains to the villages of Ampelos and Stavrinides. Not many people go here, and that is because the very nice village of Manolates is nearby, and that village attracts more. Feel free to drive up here if you stay in Kokkari, the village is well worth a visit.

The genuine village of Ampelos in northern Samos.

Ampelos (also spelled Abelos) is a small and old village beautifully situated with a nice view of the sea. In the square there are two tavernas where old men sit and discuss, play tavli (backgammon) and drink coffee. In Ampelos there is nothing arranged for tourists, here life is lived as it was in the old days, before the tourists discovered Samos.

Taverna Ampelos in the village of Ampelos, which is a village that few tourists find.

Ampelos is a worn old village with a lot of charm.

From Ampelos it is then only two kilometres to Stavrinides. The road winds up through a beautiful deciduous forest. Stavrinides is not adapted for tourists, and the villagers look most surprising when you pass through the narrow alleys with colourful houses. Here there is a taverna and a kafenión for those who want to experience a place where time has truly stood still. From Stavrinides a small path leads to Manolates and from Manolates you can then get to the village of Vourliotes.

The alleys in Stavrinides are very narrow and the houses are colorful.

In Stavrinides, time has stood still.

Do not miss Manolates, which you can read about here »

Learn more about Samos here »