Getting from Elafonisos to Kythnos

If you are heading to Kythnos from Elafonisos you are making your way from a small island off the southern Peloponnese coast to an island in the western Cyclades, on the opposite side of Greece. It has over 60 beaches and a medieval village at Driopida that hardly anyone outside Greece knows about.

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. Kythnos is served primarily from Lavrio on the southeastern Attica coast. Getting there means taking the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta, driving north to Athens and then taking a taxi to Lavrio, around 30 minutes from Athens Airport, for the ferry to Kythnos, which takes around 1 hour 10 minutes and runs up to 5 times daily in summer.

Getting there by air

Kythnos has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Elafonisos has no airport. Taking the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta, driving north to Athens and then taking a taxi to Lavrio for the ferry to Kythnos gives a total journey time of around 6 to 7 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta, drive north to Athens and take a taxi to Lavrio for the ferry across to Kythnos. The proximity of Lavrio to Athens Airport makes it a convenient connection that avoids crossing the city to Piraeus entirely. Having a car is essential for the Pounta to Athens leg as the KTEL bus connection is slow and infrequent. If you are traveling with a car, drive to Lavrio for the ferry across to Kythnos.