The picturesque andparticular Kokkari village is located in the northwest part of Samos about ten kilometers from the capital Vathy.

Between two promontories thatprotect it like an embrace forming the most beautiful gulf of thewhole island combining a view of both the mountains and the sea allwrapped up in luxuriant vegetation made of pines, olive trees andimmense vineyards, it is in authentic Mediterranean style withelements from the Middle East and here we understand the long Ottomandomination of four hundred years so much so that, in 2017 it wasvoted as the best hidden gem in all of Europe.

A former fishingvillage, over the years it has gained third place among the most sought after tourist attractions on Samos thanks to its beautiful andchanging landscape and its relaxed atmosphere despite being overrunby holidaymakers during the summer season. It will not be difficultto see the fishermen at the pier hanging out their nets to dry afterreturning from fishing trips and bringing fresh fish that you cantaste in the local taverns. Its inhabitants during the winter areabout a thousand and have a kind and jovial soul, they welcometourists with heart and do everything to make you feel at home and inthe family.

Its history is ancient,in fact the first settlement dates back to the early Christianperiod, to then be abandoned in the sixteenth century due to thecontinuous raids by pirates who forced the inhabitants to move to the Loulouda castle, an imposing fortification 600 meters above sealevel on a steep rock north of the village. Steps carved into thebare stone that led to as many as 150 houses built into the mountain.The last inhabitants abandoned it in 1476 and moved to the Chios island and Asia Minor. The name of the castle seems to come from thename of a priest’s daughter who died falling from the rock. Itsdating dates back to the 12th century AD and the style is typicallyByzantine even if some engravings on the rocks and ceramic findssuggest that it was inhabited for a long time before. Today only theruins remain. In the 19th century the settlement was rebuilt by theresidents of the Mytilene village, developing on the two hills andthen expanding in the plains up to the coast.

The name of the Kokkari village has different versions regarding its origin, someattribute it to the fact that once upon a time there was a largeproduction of small onions (in Greek kokkari), others instead that itis the name of the first settler in the area.

Nowadays, the village is welldeveloped, offers many accommodation opportunities such as hotels andapartments, clubs where you can have a late night, restaurants,cafes, souvenir shops, small minimarkets in a nutshell all thecomforts for a carefree holiday in Samos.

And then there is the city Kokkari beach where you can enjoy the natural beauty of theisland. Of small white pebbles mixed with sand, it is equipped withumbrellas, sunbeds, beach bars for something fresh to drink and eat,taverns and restaurants behind it for a complete lunch and amultitude of water sports such as windsurfing since the area is verysubject to the wind and lends itself to all sports where Aeolus isthe protagonist. Crystal clear waters and a blue sea with quite deepwaters so if you are in the company of children have an extra eye.

But if that’s notenough for you, in the surrounding area you can relax in otherbeautiful coasts with Lemonakia beach, Tsamadou beach, Avalkaia beach, Tsambou beach or Poseidon beach, the choice is yours. Thosewho prefer a bit of physical movement, on the other hand, can indulgein walks in the generous nature among the mountain villages whichoffer, among other things, splendid views.

So don’t miss theNightingales Valley, a hidden place where the bubbling of smallstreams and the song of nightingales will catapult you into afantastic fairy tale. You will find this enchanted place before the Agios Konstandinos village about ten kilometers from Kokkari whereyou can also stop for a tasty fish meal in one of its seasidetaverns.

As always, it will bedifficult to exclude something among the things to do and see on Samos in this part of the island, make an itinerary and try to makethe most of your time by giving up nothing.