Getting from Elafonisos to Lefkada

If you are heading to Lefkada from Elafonisos you are making your way from a small island off the southern Peloponnese coast to an island in the Ionian Sea connected to the mainland by a causeway, on the opposite side of Greece. It has some of the finest beaches in Europe on its west coast with sheer white limestone cliffs dropping to turquoise water.

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 Lefkada means taking the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta and then driving northwest through the Peloponnese via Tripoli, Corinth and Patras to Lefkada, which takes around 5 to 6 hours from Pounta. Lefkada has no main ferry port as it is linked to the mainland by a floating bridge so no additional ferry is needed once you reach the western mainland.

Getting there by air

Lefkada has no airport. The nearest airport is Preveza, around 22 kilometres from Lefkada Town. 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 then driving or taking the KTEL bus northwest to Lefkada gives a total journey time of around 9 to 10 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 via Patras to Lefkada. It avoids Athens entirely and is the most direct road approach at around 5 to 6 hours from Pounta. Having a car is essential for this route as the KTEL bus connection from Pounta is slow and infrequent. The drive up the western Peloponnese coast via Patras is a good one.