Getting from Thassos to Samothrace

If you are heading to Samothrace from Thassos you are making your way from the northernmost island in Greece to one of the most remote and wild islands in the northeastern Aegean, rising dramatically close to the Bulgarian and Turkish borders, relatively close in geographic terms given both sit in the far northern part 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 Thassos 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 there means taking the ferry from Thassos to Kavala, which runs almost hourly in summer and takes around 1 hour 30 minutes, and then driving northeast via the E90 motorway to Alexandroupoli, which takes around 1.5 to 2 hours from Kavala, followed by the ferry across to Samothrace. This keeps the journey entirely in northern Greece and avoids Athens entirely at around 5 to 6 hours total.

Getting there by air

Samothrace has no airport. The nearest airport is Alexandroupoli. Thassos has no airport. The nearest airport is Kavala. Taking the ferry from Thassos to Kavala and driving to Alexandroupoli for the ferry to Samothrace is considerably more practical than flying via Athens for this connection given the direct road link between Kavala and Alexandroupoli. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Thassos to Kavala and drive northeast via the E90 motorway to Alexandroupoli, then take the ferry across to Samothrace. At around 5 to 6 hours total it avoids Athens entirely and is the most natural northern Greece approach. Check the ferry schedule before traveling and build your Alexandroupoli arrival around the afternoon departure. Samothrace rewards at least three or four nights and the combination of Thassos and Samothrace in the same trip makes for one of the great northern Aegean itineraries.