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Getting around Samothraki

Getting around Samothraki

Once the ferry drops its anchor in the port of Kamariotissa a wonderful holiday of exploration and discovery lies ahead of you. Samothraki is not very well suited for people planing on sitting all day long at the beach (in fact it might outright be a disappointment).

Although not very big, the island will not reveal itself easily and you will certainly need some means to move around.

With your own car

The easiest way to explore the island is by car. Small cars are cheaper to put on the ferry and best for squeezing through the often too narrow village streets. On the other hand there are plenty of dirt roads where anything less than a capable SUV simply won't do.

There are two main roads leading out of the port town of Kamariotissa:

  • there's a road heading east, covering the whole northern shore (Paleopoli, Kariotes, Therma) having the beach of Kipos as an endpoint;
  • another road heads south, crossing the south-west side of the island, passing through Lakkoma and ending near the sandy beach of Pachia Ammos.

From these two roads, secondary roads lead to all the main villages and towns of the island.

The northern road follows the coastline, up to Kipos beach.
The northern road follows the coastline, up to Kipos beach.

In the south-west the road climbs to the village of Profitis Ilias, famous for its goat on the spit.
In the south-west the road climbs to the village of Profitis Ilias, famous for its goat on the spit.

The southeastern area, bordered by the beaches of Pachia Ammos and Kipos, has no roads and thus is uninhabited and inaccessible. The only way to explore it is by boat or by hiking on long and wild mountain paths.

With few exceptions, the roads are in reasonable shape. On rare ocasions, following heavy rains, the rivers swell and break bridges or damage roads. When this happens, unfortunately repairs may take a long time due to the limited resources available to the municipality.

There's only one gas station (Eko) in Samothraki, 800 meters away from Kamariotissa on the road to Chora. Usually, prices are higher than on the mainland, but there might be exceptions (a few years ago the opposite was true because of tax breaks and Government subsidies). In the same location there is a self-service carwash. During the summer, the gas station is usually open between 7:00 and 20:00 from Monday to Saturday and from 9:00 to 20:00 on Sundays.

The only gas station is found on the road from Kamariotissa to Chora.
The only gas station is found on the road from Kamariotissa to Chora.

The self-service carwash next to the gas station.
The self-service carwash next to the gas station.

I recommend that no matter where you go by car you drive slowly. The goats of Samothraki are everywhere and it's fairly probable to share the road with them. Besides goats, tortoises, cats, hedgehogs, stone martens and other critters might cross your path. Additionally in the north, near the two campings in Therma, a lot of people walk on the road as there are no sidewalks. As a result, accidents are a possibility, especially during the night.

Goats often cross the road, so watch your speed!
Goats often cross the road, so watch your speed!

Rent a car Samothraki

There are rent-a-car centers in Kamariotissa right on the seafront. You'll be able to spot them right away once you disembark. Prices are generally higher than in other touristic destinations in Greece.

Samothraki Rent a car:

Kirkos Rent a Car
Kirkos Rent a Car

Rabbit Rent a Car
Rabbit Rent a Car

Rent scooter Samothraki

The same rent-a-car companies in Kamariotissa also have scooters for rent.

Samothraki Rent a scooter:

Matsas Rent Motorbikes
Matsas Rent Motorbikes

Kirkos Rent Scooter
Kirkos Rent Scooter

Scooters and motorbikes can be a cheap and fun way to move around.
Scooters and motorbikes can be a cheap and fun way to move around.

Samothraki Rent a bike

If you haven't brought your bike along, you can rent one at Camping Varades, near Therma. In 2024, the price is 8 € / day.

Bicycles for rent at Camping Varades
Bicycles for rent at Camping Varades

Samothraki taxi

In Samothraki there are only 4 taxis. Their station is in the port, by the lighthouse.

Taxi Samothraki:

The taxi station is in Kamariotissa, across from the small lighthouse.
The taxi station is in Kamariotissa, across from the small lighthouse.

Local buses

During the summer months, the buses run daily (check out the bus schedule) to and from Chora (the capital), to the east (to Therma and the camping) and to the south (towards Lakkoma and Profitis Ilias).

The bus station in Kamariotissa is near the parking lot in the port (go left once you disembark).

The buses leave from Kamariotissa towards the main villages of the island.
The buses leave from Kamariotissa towards the main villages of the island.

Hitchhiking

In Samothraki hitchhiking is often used, especially by the camping residents and sometimes by the locals. It's also a great way to socialize and make new friends.

Comments (15)

Susan
28 Aug 2023, 23:28
We arrive at Samothraki on 14th September.What are the average prices to rent a car for 1 week? If we want the smallest option,do we need to make a reservation in advance? And if so, how do we do that?
InSamothraki.com
28 Aug 2023, 23:30
It depends on the company. Please contact them directly.
Gal
17 Sep 2023, 11:00
What did you do finally? We are not sure if to rent a car in samothraki or in alexandropoli
Stefan
09 Apr 2024, 11:44
Hello,
Do you perhaps know is it more affordable to rent a car in Alexandroupoli and transporting it via ferry (ferry price included in calculation), rather than renting a car from one of the local rental services? I think I read on Reddit that it is a better option. Asking for the month of June 2024. Thank you!
InSamothraki.com
09 Apr 2024, 13:21
It depends on a few things - the season, the availability and when you rent. I think it would be best to send an email to the rent-a-car companies on the island and ask about the price and then try to compare the prices in Alexandroupoli on an agregator like DiscoverCars.com
Dilek
06 Jun 2024, 00:14
İş there any electric charging station in Samothraki?
InSamothraki.com
06 Jun 2024, 09:36
In Kamariotissa, near Electra Suites. According to the new regulations, when you get on the ferry the charge level of the battery must not exceed 40%.
Yana
11 Jun 2024, 11:43
Hi! Thank you so much for the detailed information!
Do you have any information also on taxi prices per km or distance?
Thank you!
InSamothraki.com
11 Jun 2024, 11:49
Hi,
I think it's about 20-30 EUR per car from Kamariotissa to Therma. You can send a message to Evi (www.facebook.com/taxi.evisamothraki) and ask about it.
Sinziana
13 Jun 2024, 21:55
Your website has very helpful information, that I haven't found anywhere else. Thank you!
InSamothraki.com
13 Jun 2024, 21:57
Thank you for your kind words. You can also check the version in Romanian, which has a bit more information at the moment: www.insamothraki.ro
Jade
19 Sep 2024, 14:55
Hi, where exactly is the bus stop in Therma? Thank you
InSamothraki.com
19 Sep 2024, 14:58
In front of the Municipal Thermal Baths.
Jade
19 Sep 2024, 15:00
Thank you! And where is the next stop? Is it the campsite? I would like to go there :)
InSamothraki.com
19 Sep 2024, 15:05
You can find the schedule here:
www.insamothraki.com/samothrace-bus-schedules.html
In this period only some routes reach the campsite.

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