Getting from Andros to Elafonisos

If you are heading to Elafonisos from Andros you are making your way from the northernmost island in the Cyclades to a small island off the southern Peloponnese coast, on the opposite side of Greece. 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 Andros 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 from Andros means taking the ferry from Andros to Rafina, which takes around 1 to 2 hours with up to 11 daily departures, 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. Andros has no airport either. Taking the ferry from Andros to Rafina, flying to Athens and then driving south to Pounta gives a total journey time of around 8 to 9 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Andros to Rafina 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. The ferry from Andros to Rafina already puts you close to Athens Airport, making the drive south to the Peloponnese straightforward from there.