Getting from Mykonos to Samothrace

Samothrace is unlike any other island in Greece. It rises out of the northern Aegean like a mountain emerging from the sea, which is essentially what it is. Mount Fengari at the centre of the island reaches nearly 1600 metres, the highest peak in the Aegean, and according to Homer it was from this summit that Poseidon watched the Trojan War unfold. The island is covered in dense forest, cut through by rivers and waterfalls that feed natural rock pools cold enough to take your breath away even in the height of summer. The Sanctuary of the Great Gods at Samothrace was one of the most important religious sites in the ancient world and the Winged Victory of Samothrace, now in the Louvre, was found here. It is a serious island for people who want something genuinely different.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry between Mykonos and Samothrace. Samothrace is served by ferries from Alexandroupoli on the Thrace coast, with the crossing taking around 2 hours. Getting there from Mykonos means flying to Alexandroupoli via Athens and then taking the ferry across. Ferries run regularly through the summer season but less frequently in shoulder season so check the schedule carefully if you are travelling outside of peak summer.

What about flying?

Samothrace does not have an airport. The nearest airport is Alexandroupoli, which is your gateway to the island however you approach it. The journey from Mykonos goes Mykonos to Athens and then Athens to Alexandroupoli, with the ferry crossing adding around 2 hours at the end. Total travel time is around 4 to 5 hours door to door depending on your connection. It is worth knowing that in Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights. Almost all island to island travel goes through Athens.

Your best option

Fly to Alexandroupoli via Athens and take the ferry across to Samothrace. Give yourself at least three or four days. Swim in the rock pools at Fonias and Gria Vathra, visit the Sanctuary of the Great Gods in the morning before the heat builds and make the effort to get up into the mountains if you have the energy for it. Samothrace is one of the most rewarding islands in Greece for the people who make the effort to reach it.