Getting to Samothraki by ferry

Once you get to the port of Alexandroupoli, it's time to get on the ferry.

For over 20 years, the link between the island of Samothraki and mainland Greece was serviced by Saos Ferries (in 2017 there was an attempt by CS Ferries to provide an alternative connection, but it hasn't materialized).

Currently Zante Ferries provides transportation between Samothraki and Alexandroupoli with their ship Adamantios Korais.

The ship Adamantios Korais

It was built in 1987 on a Japanese ship yard and was used on various routes in Japan up until 2007 when it was bought by Zante Ferries. The ship was refurbished and modified. It takes its name after Adamantios Korais, a Greek writer who lived in the second half of the 18th century and the first half of the 19th.

The ferry is paninted white and bright orange and has the following specifications:

• length: 100 meters;
• width: 17 meters;
• maximum capacity: 1100 passengers and 250 cars;
• speed: 18.6 knots (35 km/h).

The routes to Samothraki

For the time being, the only port where you can grab a ferry to Samothraki is Alexandroupoli. There are talks about linking the island to Kavala (there was a route once), but nothing has materialized yet.

In high season (between the beginning of June and the start of September) there are daily trips between Alexandroupoli and Samothraki and return. In some days of the week there are even two trips.

In off season there are days when there's no ferry to the island.

The duration of the trip from Alexandroupoli to Samothraki is 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Limnos

For the past couple of years, there's a direct connection between Samothraki and Limnos (Lemnos). Consequently, in some days of the week the ferry that departs from Alexandroupoli also stops in Limnos after stopping in Samothraki.

In high season there are trips to Limnos three days a week.

The duration of the trip from Samothraki to Limnos is 2 hours and 50 minutes.

Tip: if you have a few more days to spare, take advantage of the direct ferry connection and visit both islands. Limnos is a beautiful place well worth a visit.

Samothraki ferry schedule

Check out the ferry schedule 2023 for Alexandroupoli-Samothraki-Alexandroupoli and Samothraki-Limnos-Samothraki here: Ferry schedule to and from Samothraki or on the website of Zante Ferries.

How much is the ferry ticket?

Alexandroupoli-Samothraki

There are two separate tickets - one for each passenger and one for the car.

In high season (from the beginning of June and up to the start of September), the prices (one way) are:

• passenger: 17€
• car (length up to 4.25 m): 55.5€
• car (length over 4.25 m): 64€
• motorbike (up to 250cc): 14€
• motorbike (over 250cc): 17€
• motorhome up to 5 m: 70€
• motorhome up to 6 m: 87.5€
• motorhome up to 7 m: 105€
• motorhome up to 8 m: 122.5€
• motorhome up to 9 m: 140€

In off season (from the beginning of September and up to the start of June) the prices (one way) are:

• passenger: 9€
• car (length up to 4.25 m): 39€
• car (length over 4.25 m): 47€
• motorbike (up to 250cc): 8€
• motorbike (over 250cc): 11.5€
• motorhome up to 5 m: 42€
• motorhome up to 6 m: 52.5€
• motorhome up to 7 m: 63€
• motorhome up to 8 m: 73.5€
• motorhome up to 9 m: 84€

Children under 5 travel for free, but must also have a ticket (even though it will say 0€ on it). Children with ages between 6 and 10 pay halfprice.

Samothraki-Limnos

The ferry ticket price on the route Samothraki-Limnos is:

• passenger: 11€
• car (length up to 4.25 m): 31€
• car (length over 4.25 m): 39€
• motorbike (up to 250cc): 10€
• motorbike (over 250cc): 13€
• motorhome up to 5 m: 58€
• motorhome up to 6 m: 72.5€
• motorhome up to 7 m: 87€
• motorhome up to 8 m: 101.5€
• motorhome up to 9 m: 116€

Alexandroupoli-Limnos

The price of a ferry ticket from Alexandroupolis to Limnos is:

• passenger: 18€
• car (length up to 4.25 m): 58.5€
• car (length over 4.25 m): 67.5€
• motorbike (up to 250cc): 13€
• motorbike (over 250cc): 16€
• motorhome up to 5 m: 102€
• motorhome up to 6 m: 127.5€
• motorhome up to 7 m: 153€
• motorhome up to 8 m: 178.5€
• motorhome up to 9 m: 204€

Bookings

Online bookings

One of the ways to buy tickets is online using a debit/credit card. To make the reservations you will be prompted for the following information:

• number and name of the passengers;
• date of birth;
• nationality;
• contact information (email, phone number);
• type of vehicle;
• registration number.

The tickets are individual and have the passenger's printed on them. They have to be picked up from the Zante Ferries office (ex Saos Ferries) in the port of Alexandroupoli (address: Meg. Alexandrou 1, Alexandroupoli; phone: +(30)210 4100211). Have your ID Card and reservation number from the confirmation email ready.

Plan ahead a little and get to the port with some time to spare. There might be a queue at the ticket office and you'll also need some time to board the ferry.

Buy tickets in person

You may also buy ferry tickets to Samothraki directly from the office in the port of Alexandroupoli. You will most likely find tickets, but there's also a small chance that there aren't any tickets left for your ferry of choice - especially in high season.

In Samothraki tickets can be bought at the wooden kiosk in the port parking lot in Kamariotissa.

Traveling by ferryboat

The ferry is spacious and modern. There is a bar where you can buy a snack or something to drink while on route. Sandwiches cost 1.25-1.45 Euro, pies 2.7 Euro, a bottle of water 0.5 Euro, soft drinks 2.3 Euro, Greek coffee 1.2 Euro, frappe 2.8 Euro and various specialties (cappuccino, freddo cappuccino, freddo espresso) between 2.9 and 3.5 Euro.

On the ship you'll meet all sorts of travelers - from barefooted hippies leaning on a huge backpack,  to elderly tourist enamored by the island for years and years, to locals bringing supplies from the mainland.

Even though it's summertime and it's warm, it would be advisable to have a windbreaker or hoodie on you and probably a cap or a hat if you plan on staying on the upper deck. A nice distraction on the trip are the seagulls following the ship (usually fed by people on board with biscuits and bread), the elusive dolphins that may follow the ship for short periods of time and the unmistakable silhouette of the island that grows bigger as you get closer.

After a two hour journey the ferry will lay anchor in the harbor of Kamariotissa in Samothraki. Once here, the journey continues by car, scooter or local buses.

Kales diakopes! ("Have a nice holiday!")