Inundated with golden sands, ancient ruins and fine wine, the little-known Greek island of Samos might not be as popular as Mykonos or Crete – but it’s certainly considerably quieter.
If you’re looking for a slice of paradise, it’ll soon become even easier to visit, as Jet2 has launched numerous UK routes to this underrated gem.
There’ll be two airport choices: Manchester and London Stansted, with the former offering up to two weekly flights between May 5 and October 30, 2026, while passengers flying out of the Big Smoke will be offered services between May 7 and October 29, 2026.
It’s little surprise, either, as in 2023 alone, Greece attracted some 33 million tourists – which made it the 10th most visited country in the world that year. In 2024, this increased to a whopping 35.95 million.
The news brings the total number of destinations offered by Jet2 to Greece specifically to 15 – more than any other airline – with other destinations including Kefalonia, Halkidiki, Kos, Santorini, and Zante.
Sign up to The Getaway newsletter
Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here.
‘We are very pleased to be expanding our presence across Greece by adding this brand-new gateway to our portfolio, appealing to holidaymakers looking for a laid-back Greek island experience,’ says Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays.
‘Offering customers and independent travel agents even more choice, we are also delighted to be adding a selection of hotels available to book now across six stunning resorts.
‘After experiencing consistent demand from holidaymakers wanting to explore Greece, we are confident that these new flights and holidays will prove popular with customers looking for an off the beaten track style holiday. We look forward to taking customers to Samos on their well-deserved holidays and showcasing our VIP customer service.’
Thinking about saving your pennies ahead of time? The inaugural flight from Stansted on May 7 currently costs £102, while a return on May 14 tots up to £99 – bringing the grand total to £201 per person.
This isn’t the only change Jet2 has made to its holiday planner this year.
Experiencing unprecedented demand for travel options to Rhodes, Corfu, Crete (Chania) and Kos, Jet2 announced last month that it would be adding more than 17,000 seats to allow travellers to unlock some much-needed vitamin D.
The extra flights will be available between July and October 2025 (for a bit of late-season sun), flying from the likes of London Stansted, Bristol, East Midlands, and Manchester.
From London Stansted, passengers will be given access to additional weekly Thursday services to Kos between July 3 and September 25, while Bristolians will be given extra capacity to visit Rhodes between July 2 and October 8.
What to see and do in Samos
Thinking about making the trip out to Samos? It’s certainly steeped in history – as for the Ancient Greeks, it was considered one of the most ‘spiritual centres’ in the Mediterranean.
If you’re into mythology, Zeus’ sister (and wife) Hera hailed from the island, and she was closely associated with all things women, marriage and childbirth as their reigning goddess.
Along these lines, there are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites to explore on Samos, including the ancient, fortified city of Pythagoreion, as well as the ancient Temple of Hera herself, which has an impressive 155 columns and towers 25 metres high.
There are also picturesque views all around, as the island is filled with mountains and caves, including Mount Kerkis, which at 1,433 metres above sea level, is the second highest peak in the East Aegean.
If museums are your thing, both Vathy and Pythagoreion host their own separate Archaeological Museums – and if you’re into learning more about Samos’ rich history in the tipple department, there’s also the Samos Wine Museum.
It’s clear to see that holidaymakers have long been enjoying the quiet that Samos has to offer. Over on Reddit, @MarcusZXR said it was their ‘favourite Greek island so far.’
‘Very quiet and the people were so kind and welcoming,’ they added, while @darkmodeDdy said they liked ‘Samos even better than Corfu.’
For @canuevendoublehaul, Samos is a ‘beautiful little island with some nice beaches and coastal towns,’ while @RS3_PT and their boyfriend ‘loved Samos.’
‘We could really see ourselves having a nice relaxing week there, even though we only had a couple of day[s] to spare,’ they penned.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
MORE: Bomb explodes in heart of Athens after anonymous call warns ‘threat is no joke’
MORE: What I Own: I decorated my £148,000 Bristol flat like a famous 80s nightclub
MORE: The 15 best places to see cherry blossoms in the UK this spring
