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Cyclops Cave, Makri

Landmark Makri, ~10km east of the city

  • Cyclops Cave, Makri

A cave above Makri beach linked in local legend to Homer's Cyclops Polyphemus, with a Neolithic settlement inside dating back 6,500 years.

About

  • AreaMakri, ~10km east of the city

  • TypeLandmark

Full description

Above Makri beach, a short marked trail with a wooden handrail leads up to a cave locally identified as the lair of Polyphemus — the Cyclops blinded by Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey. The entrance is modest, about five metres deep and three metres high, opening into two small chambers.

Myth aside, the site is genuinely significant: a Neolithic settlement inside the cave dates back roughly 6,500 years, among the more important Balkan finds of its kind, discovered during the First World War and excavated since 1988.

The view from the cave mouth back over the Thracian Sea is worth the short climb on its own, myth or no myth.

Practical essentials

Trip logistics, sorted

Direct flights, daily island ferries, and year-round coastal weather — everything you need before arriving.

AXD Airport • Port • Highway

Getting here

Fly directly into Alexandroupolis Airport (AXD, 10 min from centre), catch the daily Samothraki ferry, or arrive via Egnatia Odos highway.

Arrivals & transport
May – Oct beaches • All year

When to go

Warm Aegean summers for Makri beaches, prime birdwatching during spring & autumn migrations in the Delta, and mild winters for coastal dining.

Best time to visit
Promenade • Ferries • Parking

Good to know

Evening seafront promenade pedestrian hours, central parking insights, and essential tips for booking the Samothraki ferry in advance.

Frequently asked questions