Nuri is a thirty-something former beekeeper from Aleppo, Syria. He fled his homeland alongside his wife after the war destroyed their lives and business. He is deeply sensitive and observant, often finding solace in the natural world, particularly insects and plants. He struggles with severe emotional burdens and frequent panic attacks while trying to maintain his resilience for his wife's sake.

Afra is Nuri's wife and a once-vibrant artist who drew inspiration from the Syrian countryside. After losing her young son in a bombing, the trauma causes her to go completely blind, leaving her in a world without the colors she once cherished. She withdraws into silence and memory, keeping a red marble as her only physical connection to her child.

Mustafa is Nuri's cousin and the confident, forward-thinking founder of their shared apiary in Aleppo. Having lost his mother at a young age, he places supreme value on family and his bee colonies. He is the first to sense the approaching danger of the Syrian civil war, sending his wife and daughter away before tragedy strikes his remaining family.

Sami is Nuri and Afra's young son. His life is tragically cut short by a bomb early in the Syrian civil war while wearing his favorite red T-shirt. His death serves as the devastating catalyst that breaks his parents' lives and forces them to finally flee Aleppo.

Mohammed is a young, fearful boy whom Nuri encounters during his travels from Syria. Terrified of crossing the sea but holding onto his faith in Allah, the boy carries a house key given to him by his father. Nuri takes the child under his wing, feeling a strong paternal responsibility to keep him safe on the dangerous route to Europe.

Hazim is a Moroccan refugee staying at the same seaside lodging house as Nuri and Afra. He provides moments of levity with his humorous complaints about the other residents' habits. Beneath his friendly exterior, he carries the heavy burden of being separated from his family after a perilous boat crossing to Spain.

Diomande is a young refugee from the Ivory Coast. He has survived imprisonment and forced labor across multiple African countries before reaching the UK. He is noticeably thin and walks with a hunched posture due to a congenital spinal deformity, but he remains exceptionally optimistic about his future.

Angeliki is a young woman who fled famine in Somalia. She carries the immense pain of having her infant daughter stolen from her during her time sleeping in the Athens park. Though the trauma leaves her appearing unstable at times, she possesses sharp survival instincts and a deep well of folk knowledge.

Nadim is an Afghani man residing in the makeshift Athens camp. He claims to have fled Kabul because the Taliban banned his music. His warm demeanor and beautiful musicianship initially draw Nuri in, providing a rare moment of peace in the chaotic environment of the woods.

Ryad is a fifteen-year-old boy from Afghanistan. Following the murder of his father, his mother sent him and his brother away to save their lives. He made the treacherous journey to Europe entirely unsupported, ending up in a dangerous park where survival requires making difficult choices.

Ali is Ryad's twin brother. Like his sibling, he fled Afghanistan to escape violent retribution. Without adults to protect them in the unofficial Greek camp, he must depend on his brother and the dubious charity of older men to secure enough money to eat.

Baram is a Kurdish refugee who fled his home country, only to face imprisonment in Turkey when his Kurdish diary was discovered. He works in Athens to save enough money to reach his brother in Germany, and he helps connect Nuri with the local underground smuggling network.

Constantinos is an arrogant, Arabic-speaking smuggler operating in Greece. He holds the keys to Nuri and Afra's future, demanding an exorbitant fee for forged Italian passports and plane tickets. To cover the cost, he forces Nuri into making illicit nighttime deliveries around the city.

Lucy is a British social worker assigned to assist the asylum seekers living in the seaside bed and breakfast. She maintains a polite, efficient professional demeanor as she guides Nuri, Diomande, and Hazim through the intimidating immigration paperwork.

Firas is Mustafa's son who stays behind in Aleppo with his father and Nuri after his mother and sister flee to England. He spends his days watching the distant smoke from bombs until he tragically goes missing, becoming another victim of the escalating violence.