Anema by the Sea Guesthouse Review: Karlovasi, Samos

ANEMA BY THE SEA GUESTHOUSE

Updated August 2026: Anema by the Sea is still operating. Ferry services linking Samos with Seferihisar and Kuşadası remain seasonal, so check the operator’s current timetable before travelling. The room and taxi prices below describe our original trip and should not be treated as current quotes.

When the Seferihisar–Samos ferry began operating in the summer of 2016, interest in Samos grew even more. The island has plenty going for it beyond being easy to reach, and because we spent five weeks there, many readers asked us about places to stay in Karlovasi —even though we did not stay in a single hotel there during those five weeks :) Five weeks is simply too long for a hotel stay, so we rented an apartment, but we spent a lot of time at the neighboring Anema by the Sea Guesthouse . There were several reasons, the most important being that the owner, lovely Demetra, is such an active and sociable person. She runs the hotel with her husband and also leads the Slow Food Samos Convivium; in fact, she was the main reason we went to Samos. We travelled there for an Erasmus internship with the Samos Convivium, and the short holiday we managed to squeeze in was a welcome bonus :) As the questions about where to stay in Karlovasi piled up, we decided to write about this hotel, where we held our meetings, put up friends who came to visit and spent plenty of time in the lovely pool ourselves.

Anema won us over with both its location and its warm hospitality. It is a ten-minute walk—or a two-minute taxi ride—from Karlovasi port.

LOBBY

With its high ceilings and large windows, the hotel lobby feels like an oasis. We spent a lot of time here because this was where the internet worked best. Bright and cool, it was also a lifesaver in the midday heat. You can find handmade souvenirs here made by women living in Samos villages.

The spacious lobby at Anema by the Sea

BREAKFAST ROOM

The room connected to the lobby is not especially large, but since it is used only at breakfast, that is not much of a problem. Breakfast itself is fairly simple—the familiar hotel spread—although the property describes it as a Greek breakfast. Greek breakfast was something Greece had recently begun developing, seemingly with a little inspiration from Turkish breakfast. At another place on Lesbos, we once ordered it thinking, “So what exactly is a Greek breakfast?” and received a plate of sliced tomatoes, cucumber and cheese. In other words, keep your expectations modest—we warned you :)

ROOMS

The hotel has several room types, with size being the main difference. Standard rooms sleep two and are up to 25 square metres, while studios can be as large as 40 square metres and sleep three or four. If you are travelling with a baby or young child, a high chair and cot can be added to your room.

Every room has a small kitchen where you can prepare light meals, as well as a minibar-style fridge, glasses, dishes and pans. Naturally, there is air conditioning too, although the island is generally cool. During the five weeks we spent there, we only used it on two nights.

POOL AND POOL BAR

Great news for anyone who loves a deep pool! We have never warmed to pools whose depth has gradually been reduced by newer regulations. If you feel the same, the deepest point here is 3.6 metres. There are shallower sections and a children’s pool as well. The bar beside the pool is open throughout the day and serves both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at reasonable prices.

SEA AND BEACH

The hotel is only 30 metres from the beach. The water is very clean and refreshingly cool, although the shore is pebbly. There are municipal showers and changing cabins too, but with the hotel so close you barely need them. Some heavenly beaches lie nearby, though reaching them can sometimes be tricky. If you would like to explore the beaches of Samos, take a look at our other article .

Karlovasi Beach

MELTEMIA RESTAURANT

Meltemia Restaurant, directly in front of the hotel, offers everything you would expect from a classic Greek taverna. What especially drew us in, alongside seafood such as calamari and octopus, were island dishes like the traditional chickpea stew with lamb that they prepared daily. Portions in Greek restaurants are generally generous, and Meltemia is no exception. Its mixed seafood platter for two, with two meze on the side, could comfortably feed three—or even four people who are not especially hungry.

A beautiful sunset at Meltemia Restaurant

LOCATION

If you arrive on the Seferihisar–Samos ferry docking at Karlovasi, the hotel’s location is excellent: it is only a ten-minute walk away. If you arrive via the Kuşadası–Samos ferry, the easiest option is to take a taxi from the port. At the time of our trip, a taxi from Vathi to Karlovasi was around €40, while a taxi from Pythagorio to Karlovasi was around €50. We did not expect much room to bargain at the taxi rank, but you may have more luck hailing one on the road. On our first day, we shared a taxi with two gentlemen we met on the ferry and, after negotiating, paid €10 each—€40 in total. The journey to Karlovasi took about 45 minutes from Pythagorio and around 35 minutes from Vathi port.

OUR OVERALL IMPRESSION

WHAT WE LIKED
Thanks to its principled, honest owners, the property promises a straightforward stay without unpleasant surprises. Its central location and mountain view are advantages few hotels can offer. Having a small kitchen in every room was a real gift for a tea-obsessed couple like us.
The Gia Giamas drinks sold at the pool bar, made entirely with local and organic ingredients, were another highlight. We did not care for the lemon flavour, but if you try the peach Gia Giamas mixed with soda, think of us. Better still, take a photo, post it on Instagram and tag us so that we get jealous and have one more reason to return to Samos :)
The deep pool was a real treat for both of us.
WHAT COULD BE BETTER
Unfortunately, the hotel’s Wi-Fi connection came and went. The good news was that the neighbouring hotel’s signal was strong and steady :)
PRICE
At the time this article was written, rates on the property’s own website ranged from €40 to €80. Check current prices here .

MORE FROM SAMOS

Gia Giamas was one of our favourite drinks in #Samos. Made with real fruit pieces, this #organic drink was served ice-cold in a glass jar—and the recipe belonged to the sweet grandmother pictured on the label! Perfect for hot summer days. #summer #vacation #island #greekisland #greece #wanderlust #mytravelgram #blogtrottersGR #discoversamos #giagiamas #travelphotography #discovergreece #traveldiaries #forbestravelguide #cntravelertr #lifewelltravelled #livetravelchannel #dailyescape #tlpics #letsgoeverywhere #travelbloggers #expediapic #exploringtheglobe #beatifuldestinations — Share your favourite travel photos with the #kokladunyayi hashtag and we will repost the ones we choose on Instagram!

A photo posted by Kokla Dünyayı (@kokladunyayi) on Aug 10, 2016 at 8:29am PDT