Top 5 reasons to visit Samothrace

Tired of cosmopolitan destinations and looking for a more alternative vacation in Greece this summer? The island of Samothrace, or Samothraki, is ideal for you if you want to relax and reconnect with a more authentic way of life.

With green landscapes, natural pools, lots of hiking (!), traditional festivals, sleeping under the stars, vacation in Samothrace is an experience you will never forget!

At Ferryhopper, we have selected the top 5 reasons why you should visit the “hippie island” of Samothrace:

1. Waterfalls and natural pools
2. Hiking trails
3. Traditional festivals
4. Archeological sites and monuments
5. Beaches

Goats: part of the island’s wild beauty

1. Waterfalls and natural pools

Contrary to most Greek islands, Samothrace is more well-known for its beautiful waterfalls than for its beaches. The waterfalls are created by streams that flow downwards from the top of mount Saos, where they emerge from. These waterfalls shape, in turn, small lakes that look like natural pools, known as vathres.

Each one of Samothrace’s over 100 vathres is a real verdant paradise, where you can swim, relax and enjoy the island’s hippie culture, since these natural pools are popular with campers and travelers interested in nude-friendly destinations. Located higher on the island, they can only be reached via hiking trails.

A vathra usually consists of many smaller lakes, with different depths and vegetation. Samothrace’s most famous natural pools are Fonias and Gria Vathra. The starting point of the trails that lead there is the village of Therma.

Tip: certain hiking trails leading to higher vathres may even require climbing. Hiking can get challenging, so make sure that you have the stamina and an experienced guide on the team.

Waterfall with stunning natural pool and lush vegetation

2. Hiking trails

We are not going to lie… Samothrace is not for the faint of heart! To fully experience a Samothrace adventure and enjoy all the beauty its natural landscapes have to offer, you should try hiking on the island’s more than 8 hiking trails, many of which lead to vathres.

When hiking in Samothrace, you feel like the scenery around you has come straight out of a fairytale, with lush forests of planes, myrtles and chestnut trees, waterfalls, colorful dragonflies, rare birds and cicadas singing. You keep waiting for mythological creatures, like nymphs or goat-like gods (the island is packed with goats), to jump out the greenery.

As for their difficulty level, hiking trails in Samothrace range from easier ones that take 15-20 minutes of hiking, to harder ones that take more than 2 hours, e.g. the trail that leads to the waterfall of Kleidosis.

Tip: make sure to bring along essential hiking equipment. You will definitely need a backpack, proper shoes, food supplies and a first-aid kit.

Shaded hiking trail straight out of a fairytale

3. Traditional festivals

Noone ever, however introvert, has returned from a vacation in Samothrace without having met new people. One of the most authentic qualities of this island is that, with phones turned off, groups gather at the village square, at kafeneia and at the vathres, to chat, play music, improvise, and dance. And where in Samothrace would you find countless groups of friends and a warm ambiance if not at a traditional panigiri?

Local festivals, known as panigiria, take place all year long in Samothrace (Samothraki). They involve traditional music, dances and costumes, and turn into feverish parties. Most of these festivals are connected with religious holidays and are part of the locals’ celebrations and manifestations of faith.

The biggest panigiria of the summer are the ones of Profitis Ilias on the 20th of July, of Sotiros on the 6th of August at the island’s capital, the village of Chora, and of Panagia on the 15th of August, also at Chora.

The village of Chora, home of the biggest summer festivals

4. Archeological sites and monuments

Many visitors of Samothrace claim that the island has something enigmatic or even mystical. Indeed, ancient Greek writers state that the locals back then used to celebrate the Kaveiria Mysteries, without being clear what exactly they involved. In any case, today you can get your own taste of the mysterious by visiting the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, also known as Samothrace Temple Complex, where the Kaveiroi were once worshiped.

If you are already interested in the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, don’t miss the Archaeological Museum of Samothrace in the village of Palaiapoli, which contains exhibits mainly from the Sanctuary. You can also see a plaster replica of the Winged Victory of Samothrace (or Nike of Samothrace), originally discovered at the Sanctuary complex and currently displayed in the Louvre.

Tip: if you are also interested in the island’s medieval history, you can visit the Genevan towers of Gatelouzzi and Fonias.

The majestic Sanctuary of the Great Gods

5. Wild beaches

Everyone’s talking about Samothrace’s heavenly natural pools. However, the island’s beaches also have their own wild natural beauty. All beaches in Samothrace have crystal-clear waters, some of which mix with fresh waters from streams and waterfalls that flow into them.

If you like beaches with pebbles, you will adore the beaches of Samothrace, since most of them are covered with gray or white pebbles, like the beaches of Kipos, Therma and Giali. Then again, if you prefer sandy beaches, you can opt for Vatos, an impressive beach with white sand and tall rocks, or the popular Pachia Ammos, with golden sand and turquoise waters.

Tip: in Samothrace, you can also find thermal waters in the village of Therma, which is the starting point of the hiking trails to Mount Saos. We highly recommend that you try the pools with hot sulfur springs in the area's Municipal Hydrotherapy Center.

The impressive golden-sand beach of Pachia Ammos

Ready for a hiking adventure and multiple dips in the vathres of Samothrace? Book cheap ferry tickets online to the most enigmatic island of the North Aegean with no hidden costs!

Extra tip: from Samothrace you can also hop by ferry to the unique island of Lemnos. The Samothrace - Lemnos route is operated approximately 3 times a week in the summer.