Getting from Elafonisos to Astakos

If you are heading to Astakos from Elafonisos you are making your way from a small island off the southern Peloponnese coast to a port town on the western coast of central Greece, on the opposite side of the country. Astakos sits on a quiet bay surrounded by hills and is the departure point for ferries to Kefalonia and Ithaca.

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. Getting to Astakos means taking the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta and then driving northwest through the Peloponnese via Patras and Agrinio to Astakos, which takes around 4 to 5 hours from Pounta. This avoids Athens entirely and keeps the journey within western Greece.

Getting there by air

Astakos has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. 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 and driving northwest to Astakos via Patras and Agrinio gives a total journey time of around 4 to 5 hours and avoids Athens entirely. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta and drive northwest via Patras and Agrinio to Astakos. At around 4 to 5 hours from Pounta it avoids Athens entirely and is the most direct road approach. Having a car is essential for this route as the KTEL bus connection from Pounta is slow and infrequent. From Astakos you have ferry connections to Kefalonia and Ithaca making it a useful hub if you are continuing your journey into the Ionian islands.