Car & Van Hire - Samos

Samos has been famous since antiquity as the home of some of history's greatest thinkers. Pythagoras, the father of geometry, lived here, and so did the philosopher Epicurus and the astronomer Aristarchus. During his time on Samos, Pythagoras had to go into hiding as he was being pursued by the tyrannical Polycrates. Today, you can visit his secret caves, which he used as a hidden classroom to share his mathematical theories with a select few students. These caves are located high in a rocky outcrop beside a small white chapel. There's not much to see inside, but the views from the caves are quite spectacular, sweeping over the sea, and the hike itself is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

Many of the most interesting sights on the island date back to the Ancient Greek era. The Tunnel of Eupilanos, a jaw-droppingly narrow passage that slopes up the interior of Mount Kastro, is worth a look. It was used as an aqueduct for over a millennium, but today it is a tourist attraction. You can choose either a 20-minute or one-hour visit. Either way, you're sure to marvel at the incredible engineering feat before your eyes. Another ancient site is the Heraion, once a temple to the goddess Hera. Today, just one of its 115 columns remains, but you can wander through the ruins, admiring the various architectural features that have survived to the present day.

Car hire in Samos will let you explore more modern sights, too. It's hard to imagine a prettier fishing village than Kokkari, with charming white houses built almost right on the edge of the water. Fishing is no longer a major industry on the island, but some wooden boats remain, and the seafood restaurants here will offer you a top-notch meal.

Naturally, Samos also has several great beaches. One of the best for families is Livadaki. The water here is very shallow, making it the perfect spot for very young children to enjoy a paddle. For a more adult experience, try Tsamadou – but be warned, this is the island's only nudist beach. You'll need to put your swimsuit on if you head to the neighbouring Lemonakia Beach, which has the clearest water of all, ideal for all kinds of underwater fun.

With car or van hire in Samos, you can also head to those harder-to-reach beaches. Try Psili Ammos, located on the far side of the island, where you can see the mountains of Turkey across the water. This beach has fine, golden sand. You'll see tiny colourful fish darting about underwater. Bring your snorkel if you want to enjoy some water sports – but if you prefer to chill out, this is also a great spot to just relax on a sun lounger.

There is not much traffic on the island of Samos. The roads are at their busiest in the month of August, as the island's main industry is tourism. Traffic jams are extremely unlikely, but navigating the narrow streets of the island's towns can be a little trickier in high season.

Samos has a speed limit of 50 k/ph in towns and 110 k/ph outside towns. There are no highways here, and many of the roads between towns are narrow and winding. You may prefer to drive at a slower speed to keep safe, as this is a very hilly island. If you are on a twisty road with blind spots, the local etiquette is to honk your horn to let other drivers know that you're coming. Keep a careful eye out for mopeds and motorbikes whizzing past you on the mountain roads. These are particularly popular with young locals, and they can be quite a hazard when the roads are narrow.

You should be prepared to drive on unpaved surfaces, especially if you're planning a visit to any of the island's beaches. There is one long, circular road that goes all around the island, with smaller roads leading off it. Even the main road on Samos has tight curves in some places. When you turn off the surface usually changes to dirt or gravel.

When you're exploring a town, it's often easier to park on the outskirts and continue on foot. Streets in the towns are very narrow, as they were built long before the invention of the car. There are conveniently-located car parks around the island. Some are free, while others require payment, but they are always pretty cheap in comparison with other European countries. If you do find on-street parking, pay attention to the colour of the lines. You will need to pay in blue zones.

Finally, it's always a good idea to tuck your wing mirrors before leaving your vehicle, as the narrow streets mean they can easily get dinged.