Northern Aegean
Samothrace
Home of the Winged Victory and waterfalls cold enough to make you gasp.
Getting around
Car recommended
Cost
€€€
In peak season
Quiet
Best months
Jun – Sep
From Athens
Ferry only
In pictures
Samothrace
Samothrace is unlike any other island in Greece. The highest peak in the Aegean — Mount Fengari, 1,611 metres — rises so steeply from the sea that it is visible from Troy; Homer has Poseidon watch the Trojan War from its summit in the Iliad. The interior is crossed by rushing streams, waterfalls, and cold natural pools of extraordinary clarity fed by snowmelt — the pools at Fonias waterfall are the most famous. The ancient Sanctuary of the Great Gods was one of the most important pre-Roman religious sites in the world, and it was here that the Nike of Samothrace was discovered in 1863 and eventually installed at the top of the Daru staircase in the Louvre. There are no sandy beaches. The island attracts archaeologists, serious hikers, and people who need to be somewhere genuinely different from anywhere they have been before.
How it scores
- Beaches
- Nightlife
- Food
- Culture
- Nature
- Family
- Accessibility
- Value for money
The catch
No proper sandy beaches. The natural pools are cold. Ferries only from Alexandroupolis, which is itself hard to reach.
Where it sits
Northern Aegean, Greece
Samothrace — frequently asked
- When is the best time to visit Samothrace? +
- The best months to visit Samothrace are June to September. It's very quiet, even in August, so even peak season is workable.
- How do you get to Samothrace from Athens? +
- Samothrace has no airport — you'll need to take a ferry from Piraeus or Rafina. Some travellers fly to a nearby island and ferry across.
- Is Samothrace good for couples? +
- Samothrace is more about scenery than swoon — better for active or family trips than honeymoons.
- Is Samothrace good for families with kids? +
- Samothrace is a solid family option, though you'll want a car for the best beaches.
- Is Samothrace expensive? +
- Samothrace is one of the cheaper Greek islands — and it's one of the better-value picks in its tier.
- Do you need a car on Samothrace? +
- You'll want a rental car on Samothrace — distances are longer and the best beaches are spread out.
- What's the catch with Samothrace? +
- No proper sandy beaches. The natural pools are cold. Ferries only from Alexandroupolis, which is itself hard to reach.