top of page

Is Elafonisos Worth Visiting?

Elafonisos sits close enough to the Peloponnese that it was still attached to the mainland until an earthquake split it away, and the island now holds a beach regularly ranked among the best in the country.

 

Elafonisos covers barely 19 square kilometers off the southern tip of Laconia, and Simos, its signature beach, splits into two connected bays, Megalos Simos and the smaller, more organized Mikros Simos, separated by a narrow strip of sand dunes lined with rare sea cedars growing directly out of the sand. The water here turns shallow shades of turquoise that hold their color across a stretch wide enough that even peak summer crowds spread out without difficulty.

 

Kato Nisi, on the island's opposite side, pairs golden sand with a scatter of small rocky islets and a car park right at the shore, while Kontogoni, closer to the port village, keeps a run of tavernas and bars for anyone who'd rather skip the drive. The white church of Agios Spyridon, built in the 1850s on its own tiny islet connected by a short bridge, ranks among the island's most photographed sights, especially at sunset, and the island's single village fills with evening diners once the beach day winds down.

 

Elafonisos was settled fairly recently, in 1850, on the orders of King Otto, partly to secure the area before the British could claim it from the nearby Ionian Islands, and Venetian and later British influence still shows faintly in the island's older maps and records. Just offshore near the mainland port of Pounta lie the ruins of Pavlopetri, believed to be one of the oldest submerged cities in the world, visible to snorkelers in shallow water on a calm day.

 

Elafonissos has no airport and connects only by a short ferry from Pounta, near Neapoli, a crossing that runs under 20 minutes and carries cars. It suits beach travelers, families, and anyone road tripping the southern Peloponnese who wants a stop that pairs easily with nearby Monemvasia or Gythio, and staying a night or two lets the island's quieter evening pace settle in fully.

Discover Greece Travel

Tours and Activities.jpg

Activities & Tours

Discover Greek Islands.jpg

Guides To The Islands

Book Flights to Greece.jpg

Book

Flights

Greece Travel Packages.jpg

Travel Packages 

Tours and Activities.jpg

Private Photoshoots

Book Greece Hotels.jpg

Book

Hotels

Greece Itinerary Creator Sidebar Square.jpg

Itinerary Builder

Book Ferry Tickets Greece.jpg

Book Ferry Tickets

Greece Travel Blog.jpg

Travel

Blog

Discover Popular Tours in Greece

Traditional kaiki boat cruise from Paros sailing past Antiparos and Despotiko with guests swimming in turquoise waters and enjoying a BBQ lunch onboard.

Book a Paros Antiparos and Despotiko Cruise with BBQ Lunch Experienc

Private tour exploring Santorini’s volcanic coastline with stops at scenic viewpoints, traditional villages, and a sunset view over Oia and the caldera

Book a Santorini Sunset Safari Private Tour with Local Guide and Island Highlights

Passengers enjoying a full-day boat cruise on the Aegean Sea from Kos with clear blue waters and scenic island views.

Book a Full-Day 3-Island Boat Cruise from Port of Kos

Passengers relaxing on a large cruise boat near Kos, swimming in turquoise Aegean waters, visiting small Greek islands and enjoying a lively onboard atmosphere with sun decks and coastal scenery.

Book a 3-Island Luxury Cruise with 4 Swimming Stops (Captain Morgan) from Kos

Passengers enjoying a day cruise from Rhodes with swimming stops in turquoise bays and a buffet lunch served on a traditional wooden boat.

Book a Romantika All-Inclusive Day Cruise from Rhodes

A private transfer vehicle waiting outside Chania Airport in Crete, ready to transport travelers to hotels in Chania with comfortable air-conditioned service and luggage assistance.

Book a Private Airport Transfer in Chania (Chania Airport ↔ City/Hotel)

From the Podcast

The Greece Chats Podcast goes beyond the guidebook. In this episode we sit down with the founder of Hoper to talk about island hopping by helicopter and how it is changing the way people experience Greece.

GetGreece mini logo
bottom of page