Getting from Elafonisos to Monemvasia

If you are heading to Monemvasia from Elafonisos you are making your way from a small island off the southern Peloponnese coast to a medieval fortress town on the southeastern Peloponnese coast, remarkably close in geographic terms given both sit in the same part of southern Greece. It is built entirely on a massive rock connected to the mainland by a single causeway with Byzantine churches and narrow lanes that have changed little in centuries.

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 Monemvasia means taking the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta and then driving east through the southern Peloponnese to Monemvasia via Neapoli, Molaoi and Sparta, which takes around 1.5 to 2 hours from Pounta. This avoids Athens entirely and is one of the most direct connections from Elafonisos given the geographic proximity of the two within the southern Peloponnese.

Getting there by air

Monemvasia has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Elafonisos has no airport. Taking the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta and driving east to Monemvasia gives a total journey time of around 2 to 2.5 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 east through the southern Peloponnese to Monemvasia. At around 2 to 2.5 hours it is one of the most natural and direct connections from Elafonisos and avoids Athens entirely. Having a car makes this route effortless. Monemvasia rewards at least two nights. The town reveals itself slowly once the day visitors leave in the evening and the streets inside the walls become entirely your own.