Samothrace Island

Address: Samothrace (Samos) island, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece

Admission: Free to visit (island)

Samothrace (Samothraki) is a mountainous island in the northern Aegean Sea off the coast of Greek Thrace, known for its steep interior and archaeological remains. The island’s summit, Mount Fengari, rises to roughly 1,611 metres and dominates the landscape.

The island offers archaeological sites including the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, dramatic waterfalls and several thermal springs, as well as rugged hiking routes that cross the central ridge. Coastal villages and small harbours provide access to beaches and local services, and the island is a destination for walkers, history visitors and those seeking natural scenery.

Samothrace has been inhabited since antiquity and was an important cult centre in the Hellenistic period; archaeological excavations have revealed temples and votive deposits. Over centuries the island has remained sparsely populated and its economy has centred on fishing, small-scale agriculture and, more recently, tourism.

Located in the northern Aegean, the island is administratively part of the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace and sits off the Thracian mainland; the nearest Greek mainland ports provide the main ferry links.

• Access and transport: Ferry connections are the usual way to reach the island from northern Greece and Thrace; the island has steep terrain and many roads are narrow and winding.
• Natural attractions: Thermal springs and waterfalls are concentrated on the island’s interior and are seasonal attractions best visited in warmer months.

What to See#

• Sanctuary of the Great Gods: A Hellenistic and Roman-era sanctuary complex with temple foundations, terraces and votive deposits important for the island’s ancient cult of the Great Gods.
• Mount Fengari (summit): The island’s highest point at about 1,611 metres, offering long ridge walks and the principal summit known as Mount Fengari (also called Saos).
• Chora and Kamariotissa: The main villages and small harbours clustered around the island - including the capital Chora and the port of Kamariotissa - which serve as bases for visitors and access points to archaeological sites.

Samothrace (Samothraki) is an island in the northern Aegean. Regular ferries sail from the port of Alexandroupoli to the island’s main port, Kamariotissa; check seasonal schedules for exact sailings. On arrival at Kamariotissa there are local buses and taxis connecting the port with the archaeological sites and villages on the island.

If travelling from mainland Greece, reach Alexandroupoli by train or bus from Thessaloniki or Athens, then take the ferry; services are seasonal so verify times in advance.

• Arrive on the first ferry of the day to Kamariotissa to reach archaeological sites like the Sanctuary of the Great Gods and the island's trails before larger day-trip crowds and the heat set in.
• Use Kamariotissa as the primary arrival point and then base yourself near Chora (Hora) to access both the sanctuary, archaeological museum displays, and hiking routes up Mount Fengari; ferries from Alexandroupoli and Kavala are the main links.
• Allow time for the island's inland waterfalls and the quieter northern beaches-many visitors stick to the harbor and archaeological sites and miss scenic river walks and remote coves reached by short hikes or local taxis.