Potami beach and waterfall in Samos

Potami beach is located west of Karlovassi in northern Samos. Before you arrive at the beach, you will see a church with a very unusual architecture. The church is named Agios Nikolaos and is round at one end and triangular at the other end.

The unusual church of Agios Nikolaos above Potami beach.

Potami beach is visible from the church. It is a quite long pebbled beach that has not yet been exploited. Just like in Kokkari, it can be really windy and the waves can be high. There is a Taverna and sunbeds and umbrellas are available for rent.

Potami beach near Karlovassi.

Between Potami and the village of Drakei lies the secluded beaches of Mikro Seitani and Megalo Seitani. It is about a 30 minute walk to Mikro Seitani from Potami, and it takes another hour to Megalo Seitani.

The road that leads to the path that leads to the waterfall.

Potami Waterfalls is located a short distance above the beach. There is a road sign that shows the way to the waterfalls, and to the church of Metamorphosis Sotiros. Park on the road, it is not possible to drive a car (although it looks like that at first), but you can go by scooter a little bit. By the way, Metamorphosis Sotiros Church is one of Samos' oldest churches and is said to have been built as early as the in the 11th century.

The old church of Metamorphosis is located where the path begins.

The walk up to the waterfall is like a jungle hike, maybe not exactly like in a real jungle jungle, but yet like in a Greek jungle. A small stream murmurs along the path, lined with ancient trees as if they were taken from John Bauer's fairytale world. The path is well trodden and there are no difficulties to walk.

The walk up to the waterfall is like a jungle hike.

You get the feeling of walking in a painting by the Swedish artist John Bauer.

A very old twisted beech tree grows along the path up to the waterfall.

It is easy even though you have to cross the stream via wooden plank bridges in some places. The silence is audible, the calm is broken only by chattering cicadas and singing birds. After about 15-20 minutes, you'll arrive at a tiny freshwater pond. This is the place where the path ends.

You have to cross the stream via wooden plank bridges in some places.

Be careful not to get bitten by crabs. :-)

On the way to Potami Waterfalls.

To reach the waterfall, you can either walk in the stream, or climb up rickety ladders, stairs and lianas that looks anything but reliable. But it looks worse than it is.

The rickety stairs leading to the Taverna Archontissa.

Once you have reached the first plateau, you can rest on the small taverna (Taverna Archontissa) before continuing down to the next water-hole. From here you have to walk a good distance in the stream to reach the waterfall itself. Most people, however, are content to enjoy the walk up to the end of the path.

The small lake where the waterfall ends.

The stairs leading up to Taverna Archontissa.

It is possible to swim below the waterfall. Don't miss the waterfall when you visit Samos!

Read more about Samos here »