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The only regular ferry linking Samothrace (Samothraki) to the mainland will keep running through the winter. On 30 October 2026 Greece’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy signed a new public service contract with Fast Ferries, ending the uncertainty over whether the island would be left without a ferry after 2 November. For anyone thinking of visiting Samothrace in winter, the practical outcome is a daily sailing from Alexandroupoli, and the Lemnos link continues too.
What happened?
The previous contract for the ship Adamantios Korais on the Alexandroupoli-Samothrace route was due to end in late October, and the permanent tender for the route had not been completed. On 27 October the Samothrace Tourist Accommodation Association said there was no timetable or ticket sales for the period after 2 November and that bookings were being cancelled; Greek media reported that the island risked being left without a ferry. On 28-29 October the Municipality of Samothrace announced, on the basis of written notice from the company, that sailings would continue without interruption, but ministry approval had not yet been given.
According to the contract dated 30 October 2026, published on Diavgeia (the Greek government’s transparency portal) and shared by Evros News:
- Ship and company: Adamantios Korais, Serifos Fast Ferries (Fast Ferries). The contract was signed by Minister Vasilis Kikilias and a company representative.
- Duration: from 1 November 2026 until the route’s tender is completed and a contract is signed with the new operator, and in any case no later than 31 October 2027.
- Alexandroupoli-Samothrace: 7 round trips a week.
- Samothrace-Lemnos: 2 round trips a week, plus 1 round trip a week Samothrace-Lemnos-Agios Efstratios. That makes 3 connections a week between Samothrace and Lemnos.
According to Evros News, the company also announced on 31 October a timetable valid until 28 February 2027. We could not see the full days and times in a source we were able to open. On 1 November, ticket listings showed departures from Alexandroupoli on 1 November (Sunday) and 6 November (Friday) at 15:00 and on 7 November (Saturday) at 08:00, with a crossing time of 1 hour 45 minutes. These three departures are only examples; for other days, check the company’s booking screen.
What does it mean for travellers?
- Alexandroupoli is the only way to Samothrace today: the Enez-Samothrace route has still not opened. Travellers from Turkey cross by road at the Ipsala border and take the ferry from Alexandroupoli. Because this means entering the Greek mainland, Turkish passport holders need a valid Schengen visa or a Schengen residence permit; the visa on arrival does not apply on this route. Travellers of other nationalities should check the entry rules for their own passport. Details in our Samothrace travel guide.
- There are winter sailings, but the weather decides: the contract provides for one round trip a day; storms in the North Aegean can cause cancellations in winter. Keep your return day flexible.
- Lemnos link: 3 sailings a week continue between Samothrace and Lemnos. The Canakkale-Lemnos route runs only in summer, and Turkish passport holders who enter Lemnos on a visa on arrival cannot continue to Samothrace. See our Lemnos travel guide and the Canakkale to Lemnos ferry.
- Museum and sanctuary: in the winter period (1 November-31 March) the Sanctuary of the Great Gods and its museum are closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays (our report).
For the winter status of every route, see our winter ferry report.
Sources
- Evros News: Samothrace sailings continue, new contract signed (in Greek, 31 October 2026) (accessed 1 November 2026)
- Contract text, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, 30 October 2026 (PDF, via Evros News) (accessed 1 November 2026)
- Ta Nea: Samothrace at risk of losing its ferry from 2 November (in Greek, 27 October 2026)
- Thraki Nea: Alexandroupoli-Samothrace sailings to continue as normal (in Greek, 28 October 2026)
- vrisko.gr: Alexandroupoli-Samothrace sailing list (accessed 1 November 2026)
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