Getting from Elafonisos to Antipaxos

If you are heading to Antipaxos from Elafonisos you are making your way from a small island off the southern Peloponnese coast to a tiny island just south of Paxos in the Ionian Sea, on the opposite side of Greece. It has beaches of a quality that would be famous if they were anywhere more accessible.

Take the ferry

Elafonisos has no ferry connection to the wider Greek ferry network. The only ferry from Elafonisos is the short 10 minute crossing to Pounta on the southern Peloponnese, which runs every 30 minutes in summer. Antipaxos is accessible only by sea taxi from Gaios on Paxos, taking around 15 to 20 minutes. Getting there means taking the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta, driving northwest through the Peloponnese to Patras and then continuing north to Igoumenitsa for the ferry to Paxos, which takes around 1 hour 30 minutes, followed by the sea taxi to Antipaxos. Alternatively drive to Athens and fly to Corfu and take the ferry from Corfu to Paxos.

Getting there by air

Antipaxos has no airport. The nearest airport is Corfu. Elafonisos has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens, around 3.5 to 4 hours by car from Pounta. Taking the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta, driving north to Athens and flying from Athens to Corfu, followed by the ferry from Corfu to Paxos and then the sea taxi to Antipaxos, 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 Elafonisos to Pounta, drive northwest to Igoumenitsa and take the car ferry to Paxos, then the sea taxi to Antipaxos. It avoids Athens entirely and is the most direct approach by road and sea. Having a car is essential for this route as the KTEL bus connection from Pounta is slow and infrequent. Antipaxos is most rewarding as a day trip or overnight from Paxos rather than a standalone destination as facilities on the island are almost nonexistent.