Jet2 has begun flying to the Greek island of Samos, offering fares from £48. The airline launched the route in May 2026, becoming the second carrier after TUI to provide direct flights from the UK to the island.
From May to the end of October, Jet2 will operate twice-weekly services from Manchester Airport, London Stansted and Birmingham. Samos, home to around 32,000 people, is less frequented by British tourists compared to destinations like Crete, Cyprus or Mykonos.
The island boasts two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Pythagoreion and Heraion. It is also the birthplace of the philosopher Pythagoras, the philosophers Melissus and Epicurus, and the astronomer Aristarchus of Samos, who first proposed that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
Samos is one of the greenest Greek islands, with dense pine and cypress forests. Mount Kerkis, rising to 1,434 metres, is a popular hiking destination. The island features rare rivers and waterfalls, including the Potami waterfall near Karlovasi, where visitors can swim in cascading pools.
Beaches range from sandy coves like Psili Ammos to remote pebbly stretches such as Mikro Seitani and Megalo Seitani, accessible only on foot or by boat. Antasia Nalmpanti, general manager of Casa Cook Samos, described the island as "genuinely undiscovered" and praised its slower pace and welcoming locals.
