Best Places to Stay in Samothraki: Hotels, Apartments & Best Areas

Choosing where to stay in Samothraki is more important than it might first appear.

Unlike many small Greek islands, Samothraki doesn’t have one obvious resort where almost every visitor stays. Accommodation is spread between Kamariotissa, Chora, Therma, Paleopoli, the south coast and smaller settlements around the island. Current local accommodation listings include hotels, apartments, guesthouses and camping rather than large-scale resorts.

The best location therefore depends on what you want from your trip.

Stay in Kamariotissa for convenience and restaurants.

Choose Therma for waterfalls, hiking and the island’s greener northern landscape.

Stay around Chora for atmosphere and traditional village life.

Consider Paleopoli for a quieter location near the Sanctuary of the Great Gods.

Or head towards the coast if swimming and tranquillity matter more than being near a village.

Here are the best places to stay in Samothraki.

1. Kamariotissa

Best for: first-time visitors and convenience

Kamariotissa is Samothraki’s ferry port and its most practical base.

You’ll find a good concentration of restaurants, cafés, shops and accommodation here, and you’re well positioned for travelling to other parts of the island.

It’s not the most beautiful place on Samothraki. Chora has considerably more historic character and Therma puts you closer to the island’s forests and waterfalls.

But Kamariotissa is easy.

If you’re visiting Samothraki for the first time and intend to hire a car and explore in different directions each day, that’s a significant advantage.

Niki Beach Hotel

Niki Beach is one of the more substantial hotel choices around Kamariotissa.

It’s beside the sea and has an outdoor swimming pool, Greek breakfast and a choice of rooms and suites. The hotel describes itself as adults-friendly, accepting guests over 16.

It’s a particularly good choice for couples who want the convenience of Kamariotissa but would prefer a hotel experience rather than a simple room or apartment.

Aiolos Hotel

Aiolos Hotel is another established Kamariotissa option.

Its location makes it useful for travellers who want to remain close to the port and have easy access to the town’s restaurants and services.

Hotel Kima

Hotel Kima offers another alternative around Kamariotissa and is included in current local accommodation listings as a beachfront base near the port.

Choose Kamariotissa if: convenience is your priority and you expect to explore the island by car.

2. Therma

Best for: nature, waterfalls and hiking

If the wild side of Samothraki is the main reason you’re visiting, Therma would be my first choice.

The village sits in the lush north of the island and provides convenient access to the thermal springs, walking routes and natural pools.

The atmosphere is also quite different from Kamariotissa.

You’re staying closer to the forests and mountain rather than beside the island’s main transport hub.

Samothraki Kaviri Boutique Residence

Samothraki Kaviri Boutique Residence Hotel & Suites is one of the more polished accommodation choices in Therma.

Current local tourism information describes it as a boutique property with a pool, close to Therma’s mineral springs.

This is a good option if you like the idea of staying close to nature but don’t necessarily want extremely basic accommodation.

Psarotherma Rooms

Psarotherma Rooms provides a simpler alternative in Therma.

Current local accommodation information lists rooms with balconies and shared kitchen facilities, putting you within the village rather than in a conventional resort environment.

Alekas Studios

Alekas Studios is another useful Therma option, particularly if you prefer self-catering accommodation.

The current local listing describes studios with kitchenettes, garden surroundings and mountain and sea views.

Aravia Apartments

Aravia Apartments is also currently listed in Therma and offers another apartment-style choice for travellers who want to stay close to the island’s natural attractions.

Choose Therma if: waterfalls, vathres, walking and nature are the main reasons you’re coming to Samothraki.

3. Chora

Best for: atmosphere and traditional village life

Chora is Samothraki’s historic capital.

Built into the mountainside rather than along the coast, it offers narrow streets, traditional houses, cafés, tavernas and the remains of the Gattilusi castle.

If atmosphere matters more than convenience, Chora is arguably the most appealing place to stay on the island.

The compromise is that you aren’t beside a beach and will probably want transport for exploring.

Under The Castle

Under The Castle is exactly the kind of accommodation that suits Chora.

Current local accommodation information describes it as a stone house beneath the castle walls, providing a much more village-oriented experience than staying in a conventional coastal hotel.

House with Courtyard

Another current Chora option is House with Courtyard, a traditional stone house with a courtyard and mountain setting in the historic centre.

These kinds of properties are why I’d choose Chora for character rather than searching for a large hotel.

Choose Chora if: you want to walk out of your accommodation into one of Samothraki’s most atmospheric villages.

4. Paleopoli

Best for: archaeology and a peaceful setting

Paleopoli lies near one of the most important reasons to visit Samothraki: the Sanctuary of the Great Gods.

This makes the area attractive for travellers interested in history, but its location also works well as a relatively peaceful base between Kamariotissa and the greener northern part of the island.

Samothraki Village Hotel & Suites

Samothraki Village Hotel & Suites is the obvious hotel choice around Paleopoli.

Current local accommodation information places the hotel at Palaiopoli, close to the archaeological area.

For someone wanting a more conventional hotel while avoiding the busier port environment, this is one of the Samothraki properties I’d look at first.

Choose Paleopoli if: you want somewhere quieter while remaining reasonably well positioned for exploring both sides of the island.

5. Makrilies and the South Coast

Best for: peace and coastal scenery

Travellers who don’t need to be near a town can look towards Makrilies and the south coast.

This side of Samothraki gives you a more rural and coastal experience and makes sense if you have your own vehicle.

Samothraki Beach Apartment & Suites Hotel

Samothraki Beach Apartment & Suites Hotel is an established accommodation option around Makrilies.

Its coastal setting makes it particularly attractive if you want somewhere quieter than Kamariotissa while still having a hotel-style base.

Hotel Tearida

Hotel Tearida Samothraki is another current accommodation option around Makrilies. Local accommodation listings place the property in the Kalogeros/Makrilies area.

Choose the south coast if: you have a car and would rather wake up somewhere peaceful than be within walking distance of lots of restaurants.

6. Archondissa Beach

Best for: staying close to the sea

Archondissa provides another interesting coastal alternative.

Archondissa Beach Hotel sits only metres from the beach and offers rooms with kitchenettes and balconies, together with gardens and direct access to the seaside.

This sort of accommodation makes sense for travellers who want a quieter holiday and don’t mind driving to Samothraki’s major attractions.

It’s a very different proposition from staying in Chora or Kamariotissa.

7. Camping in Samothraki

Best for: budget travellers and nature lovers

Camping has long fitted naturally with Samothraki’s outdoors-oriented character.

Current local accommodation information lists Varades Municipal Camping near the north coast and Fonias area.

This is worth distinguishing from wild camping.

Don’t assume that because Samothraki has a free-spirited reputation you can simply pitch a tent wherever you like. If camping appeals to you, use an authorised campsite and check its current operating arrangements before travelling.

For the right traveller, camping can actually be one of the most appropriate ways to experience Samothraki.

What Is the Best Area to Stay in Samothraki?

For a first visit, I’d narrow it to three choices.

Kamariotissa

Choose this for convenience.

It’s particularly sensible if you’re arriving without much knowledge of the island and want restaurants, shops and services nearby.

Therma

Choose this for nature.

If your mental image of your Samothraki holiday involves waterfalls, natural pools and walking through forests, stay here.

Chora

Choose this for atmosphere.

If sitting outside a traditional taverna in a mountain village sounds more appealing than staying beside the ferry port, Chora wins.

There isn’t one universally “best” location.

Your itinerary should determine where you stay.

Should You Stay Near the Beach?

Not necessarily.

This is one of the biggest differences between Samothraki and a conventional Greek beach island.

Many of its greatest attractions are inland:

the vathres, waterfalls, mountain trails, Chora and archaeological sites.

Even the beaches themselves are scattered around the coastline.

I’d choose accommodation according to overall location, not simply distance from the nearest beach.

Do You Need a Car?

A car makes Samothraki considerably easier.

The island’s attractions are spread over a surprisingly large area, and staying somewhere peaceful becomes much more practical when you aren’t dependent on walking distance from restaurants and services.

With a car, you can stay in Therma, Paleopoli or along the coast and explore different areas each day.

Without one, Kamariotissa becomes considerably more attractive as a base because of its services and transport connections.

Hotel or Apartment?

For a short visit of two or three nights, I’d probably choose a hotel.

For four nights or longer, an apartment or studio becomes more appealing, particularly if it gives you a refrigerator or kitchenette.

Samothraki is an island where I’d recommend staying longer rather than trying to see everything in two days.

Having a little more space makes a slower trip easier.

How Long Should You Stay?

I’d aim for five nights on a first trip.

That gives you time for:

the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, Chora, Therma and the vathres, Fonias, Pachia Ammos, Kipos and some slower exploration.

Stay a week and you can add longer walks and a boat trip without turning the holiday into a race.

When Should You Book?

For July and August, I’d book accommodation ahead.

Samothraki has plenty of small properties, but that isn’t the same thing as having unlimited accommodation.

Outside the busiest summer period you’ll generally have more flexibility, although seasonal properties may not operate throughout the year.

Always check directly with the property or your booking platform for your actual travel dates rather than relying on old opening information.

Where Would I Stay?

For a first visit with a car, I’d probably choose Therma.

It puts you close to the landscape that makes Samothraki genuinely different from other Greek islands.

If I were travelling without a car, I’d switch that recommendation to Kamariotissa.

And for a second visit, when I already understood the geography of the island, I’d be tempted by Chora or somewhere quiet along the coast.

Final Thoughts

The best place to stay in Samothraki depends on the holiday you want.

Choose Kamariotissa for convenience and services.

Choose Therma for waterfalls, hiking and nature.

Choose Chora for traditional village atmosphere.

Choose Paleopoli for history and tranquillity.

Or choose Makrilies and the coast when peace and sea views matter more than being close to town.

Samothraki rewards travellers who explore, so don’t worry too much about finding accommodation beside every attraction.

Find a base that suits you, get some form of transport if possible, and use it to discover the island.