Getting from Alexandroupoli to Elafonisos

If you are heading to Elafonisos from Alexandroupoli you are making your way from the far northeastern corner of Greece to a small island off the southern Peloponnese coast, on the opposite side of the country. It has pink-tinged sand beaches that are among the finest in Greece and a setting of extraordinary natural beauty.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Alexandroupoli to Elafonisos. Elafonisos is accessible only by the short local ferry from Pounta, a small port on the southern tip of the Peloponnese around 4.5 to 5 hours by road from Athens. Getting there means flying to Athens and then driving south through the Peloponnese via Corinth, Tripoli and Sparta to Pounta, where the 10 minute ferry to Elafonisos runs every 30 minutes in summer.

Getting there by air

Elafonisos has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Flying from Alexandroupoli to Athens and then driving to Pounta gives a total journey time of around 7 to 8 hours.

Your best option

Fly from Alexandroupoli to Athens and drive south to Pounta for the short ferry across to Elafonisos. Having a car is essential as the KTEL bus connection to Pounta is complicated and infrequent. If you are traveling with a car, drive from Alexandroupoli to Athens via the Egnatia motorway and E75 and then continue south through the Peloponnese to Pounta, which takes around 12 to 13 hours in total.