Samothrace

A wild, mountainous island in the northern Aegean where the Louvre's Winged Victory was found at the Sanctuary of the Great Gods; waterfall valleys, deep pools and hikes on Mount Fengari are the highlights.

Samothrace lies in the far north of the Aegean, in Greece's Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region, about 40 km from the mainland port of Alexandroupoli. The island covers about 180 sq km and is almost entirely taken up by 1,611 m Mount Fengari. Its many streams form countless waterfalls and natural rock pools known as "vathres", and the northern slopes are covered in dense plane and chestnut forest — a rarity among the dry Aegean islands. In antiquity this was a sacred site of mystery cults, and the Sanctuary of the Great Gods at Palaiopoli on the north coast yielded the Louvre's prized Winged Victory of Samothrace. The island divides into three areas: on the north coast, the Sanctuary and its museum, the spa village of Therma, and waterfall valleys such as Fonias and Gria Vathra; inland, the hill town of Chora and the village of Profitis Ilias; and on the south coast, Pachia Ammos beach plus the boat-only Vatos beach and the Kremasto waterfall, which tumbles into the sea. The island is little developed, with camping, hiking and swimming as the main activities and no large resort hotels. The best time to visit is Jun–Sep; in winter ferries are infrequent and most shops close. Ferries from Alexandroupoli take about 2 hours and may be cancelled in strong summer winds, so build in some flexibility. Buses on the island are limited, so renting a car is recommended. Stay 3–4 days.

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Where to eat