Getting from Symi to Samothrace

If you are heading to Samothrace from Symi you are making your way from one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the Dodecanese to one of the most remote and wild islands in Greece, rising dramatically from the northeastern Aegean close to the Bulgarian and Turkish borders, on the opposite side of the country. It has 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 Symi to Samothrace. The only ferry connection to Samothrace departs from Alexandroupoli on the northeastern mainland. Getting there means taking the ferry from Symi to Rhodes, which takes around 50 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes and runs multiple times daily, and then flying from Rhodes to Athens and then Athens to Alexandroupoli, followed by the ferry across to Samothrace taking around 1 hour 45 minutes.

Getting there by air

Samothrace has no airport. The nearest airport is Alexandroupoli. Symi has no airport. The nearest airport is Rhodes. Taking the ferry from Symi to Rhodes, flying from Rhodes to Athens and then Athens to Alexandroupoli, followed by the ferry to Samothrace, gives a total journey time of around 7 to 8 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Symi to Rhodes and fly from Rhodes to Athens, then fly from Athens to Alexandroupoli and take the ferry across to Samothrace. Check the ferry schedule before booking your flights and build your Alexandroupoli arrival around the afternoon departure. Samothrace rewards at least three or four nights and the journey there is half the experience. Note that Symi is car-free so if you are traveling with a car it would already be in Rhodes.