Motorcycle Rentals on Samos island

Picture switching off the engine at the top of a hairpin above Kokkari, the Aegean spread out below and nothing but cicadas for company — that's the kind of afternoon a motorcycle buys you on Samos. This is an island where the good stuff sits well past the marina cafés: the stone lanes of Manolates, the ruined columns of the Heraion, the sandy sweep at Votsalakia beneath Mount Kerkis. A **motorcycle rental in Samos** turns a checklist of postcard stops into one long, unhurried ride, with as many detours as you like along the way. That freedom matters more here than on a flat, compact island. Samos is mountainous, and its sights are strung along a winding coastal road with steep switchbacks climbing to hill villages like Vourliotes and Manolates. Pythagorion to Karlovasi alone is close to 45 km, and old-town lanes in Vathy or Pythagorion were never built with rental cars in mind. Outside the two main towns, traffic thins out fast, so even a modest-engine bike handles these roads comfortably while a car would mean circling for parking at every stop.

Top 10 things to see in Samos by motorcycle

1. Pythagoreio (Pythagorion) harbour & castle — a UNESCO-listed old town with the Lycurgus Logothetis castle, an easy first stop from most rental depots.
2. Eupalinos Tunnel (Efpalinio Orygma) — a 6th-century BC aqueduct tunnel just outside Pythagorion, a quick detour for anyone into ancient engineering.
3. Heraion of Samos (Ireon) — the sprawling ruins of the Temple of Hera, reached along the flat coastal road south of Pythagorion.
4. Kokkari — a picture-perfect fishing village and windsurfing bay on the scenic north-shore road.
5. Vathy / Samos Town and Ano Vathy — the island capital, with its archaeological museum and a neoclassical old quarter climbing the hillside.
6. Moni Vrontas (Panagia Vrontiani), Vourliotes — one of the island's oldest monasteries, at the end of a winding mountain road with views over the north coast.
7. Manolates village — a car-free stone village on Mt. Ampelos, a classic scooter stop with tavernas and nightingale-filled forest trails.
8. Potami Waterfalls, near Karlovasi — a short walk from the parking area to waterfalls and a cool gorge pool, good for a half-day ride.
9. Votsalakia and the Kerkis mountain road — a long, scenic run down the south coast beneath the island's highest peak, ending at one of its best beaches.
10. Psili Ammos beach — a shallow, sandy family beach a short ride east of Pythagorion, lovely at sunset.

What do you need to rent a motorcycle in Samos?

The licence you need depends on the bike: mopeds up to 50cc call for at least category AM, while anything 125cc and up needs the matching motorcycle category — A1, A2 or A. A car licence generally won't cover you on a scooter or motorcycle in Greece, so check the category before you book. Minimum age is usually 16 for a 50cc moped and 18 for the larger categories, though many rental shops set their own higher minimum and may ask for a minimum time held. Non-EU visitors should bring an International Driving Permit alongside their home licence, and expect a deposit, usually held on a credit card, with the amount set by the individual operator.

How much does it cost to rent a motorcycle in Samos?

Expect to pay roughly 15–25 EUR a day for a 50–125cc scooter in low season, rising to 30–50 EUR in high season. Step up to a mid-size 250–650cc motorcycle and high-season rates commonly run 40–70 EUR a day, while bigger touring or off-road bikes over 650cc can reach 60–100+ EUR a day at the peak.

• July and August are the most expensive months, with fleets selling out fast.
• November to March is cheapest, though many island rental shops close for the winter.
• April, May, June, September and October sit in between, with good weather and easier prices.

When to book a rental motorcycle in Samos?

High season runs July through August, when prices peak and popular models disappear early — book a couple of weeks ahead if you're travelling then. Low season, November to March, is quiet and cheap, but plenty of shops shut down entirely over the winter, so availability can be the real constraint, not price. For the best balance, aim for May–June or September–October: warm enough to ride comfortably, without the July heat or the August crowds.

Local traffic rules in Samos

Greece drives on the right, and helmets are compulsory for both rider and passenger — enforcement is strict and fines aren't small. Speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 90 km/h on the open road, though narrow, gravel-strewn island bends deserve far more caution than the limit suggests. The blood-alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l generally, but a stricter 0.2 g/l applies to motorcyclists, so it's simplest to treat riding and drinking as mutually exclusive. Keep your licence, IDP, rental agreement and insurance papers with you, and remember that rental insurance almost always excludes unpaved roads and beaches, so save the dirt tracks for another day.

Types of motorcycles available

On our website you can rent the following types of motorcycles: cruiser, sport, touring, standard, classic, dual-purpose, dirt bikes, street, naked bikes or roadsters, choppers, custom, streetfighter, sport-touring, dual-sport, on-road, off-road, adventure motorcycles, supermoto, scrambler, motorcycle with sidecar, enduro, motocross mx, trail, motards, tricycles, bikes with automatic or manual gears, luxury motorbikes.

Models of motorcycles available

On our website you can hire motorcycles from the following manufacturers: BMW, Harley Davidson, Aprilia, Buell, Cagiva, Ducati, Gilera, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, KTM, Husqvarna, Jawa, MV Agusta, Moto Guzzi, Triumph, Benelli, Bajaj, Indian, Royal Enfield, TVS, Beta, Bimota.

Which insurance is provided?

Most providers include basic third-party liability insurance in the rental price, with options to upgrade to fuller coverage that reduces or removes your deposit liability in case of damage or theft. Always confirm exactly what is and isn’t covered before you set off.

Extra services available

When you make an online motorbike reservation you can also order the following extra services and equipment: integral helmet, GPS navigation, intercom, unlimited mileage, top case, side cases, boots, jacket, gloves, individual guide or tour, map, full insurance, one-way rental, or delivery to your chosen address.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

• Compare prices from multiple local rental companies in one place;
• Read reviews from previous customers;
• Reserve online with a Best Price Guarantee;
• Friendly support if your plans change.

Most of our motorcycle rental providers have years of experience and will equip you with a well-maintained bike, helmet and insurance for the ride ahead. The number of companies we work with is increasing every day, so if you want to rent a motorcycle locally, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!