Samos and Kusadasi sit on opposite shores of one of the narrowest stretches of water in the Aegean, and the crossing feels like it: for most of the year this is less a sea voyage than a quick hop across a strait, with the Turkish coastline visible from the quay at Vathy long before you board. It's the standard way to cross between Samos and the Ephesus region without flying, and plenty of travellers use it as a day trip rather than a one-way journey, heading over in the morning and back in the evening. Because it's an international crossing, you'll clear passport control at both ends, so it pays to have your documents ready and to arrive with a little more margin than you would for a domestic Greek island hop.
Sailings are busiest in the middle of summer, when boats run several times a day and you can often choose between a few different departure times. As the season tails off, the timetable thins out accordingly. Rather than lock in a specific frequency here, check the schedule box above for what's currently confirmed -- operators file each season's timetable in stages, so the picture updates as the year goes on.
Useful Resources for Your Greek Island Trip
- Find accommodation in Greece – hotels, apartments and villas on Booking.com
- Book tours and activities in Greece via Viator
- Find guided experiences and day trips via GetYourGuide
- Compare car hire prices in Greece via DiscoverCars