Getting from Elafonisos to Ithaca

If you are heading to Ithaca from Elafonisos you are making your way from a small island off the southern Peloponnese coast to an island in the Ionian Sea, on the opposite side of Greece. It is the legendary home of Odysseus with a deep central bay at Vathy that is one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the Ionian.

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. No Aegean island or Peloponnese port is connected by sea directly to any Ionian island. Getting there means taking the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta and then driving northwest through the Peloponnese via Patras to Astakos for the direct ferry to Ithaca, which takes around 2 to 2.5 hours, or continuing to Patras for the ferry via Kefalonia. The drive from Pounta to Astakos takes around 4 to 5 hours and avoids Athens entirely.

Getting there by air

Ithaca has no airport. The nearest airport is Kefalonia. 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 Kefalonia, followed by the short ferry from Sami to Ithaca, gives a total journey time of around 7 to 8 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta and drive northwest through the Peloponnese to Astakos for the direct ferry to Ithaca. It avoids Athens entirely and is the most natural western Greece approach. Having a car is essential for this route as the KTEL bus connection from Pounta is slow and infrequent. If you prefer to fly, take the flight from Elafonisos to Athens via the Pounta to Athens drive and then fly to Kefalonia and take the short ferry across to Ithaca from Sami.