Getting from Rhodes to Samothrace

If you are heading to Samothrace from Rhodes you are making your way to a remote island in the northeastern Aegean, close to the Bulgarian and Turkish borders. It rises dramatically from the sea with Mount Fengari at its centre and the Sanctuary of the Great Gods where the Winged Victory of Samothrace was discovered in 1863.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Rhodes to Samothrace. The only ferry connection to Samothrace departs from Alexandroupoli on the northeastern mainland, with daily trips in summer taking around 1 hour 45 minutes. Getting to Alexandroupoli from Rhodes means flying via Athens first.

Getting there by air

Samothrace has no airport. The nearest airport is Alexandroupoli. Flying from Rhodes to Athens takes around 1 hour and then Athens to Alexandroupoli takes around 1 hour 15 minutes, followed by the ferry to Samothrace taking around 1 hour 45 minutes. Total travel time is around 5 to 6 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Fly to Alexandroupoli via Athens and take the ferry across to Samothrace. Check the ferry schedule before booking your flights and build your Alexandroupoli arrival around the afternoon departure. If you are travelling with a car, the overnight ferry from Rhodes to Piraeus is the practical choice, then drive northeast to Alexandroupoli and take the ferry across.