Getting from Elafonisos to Parga

If you are heading to Parga from Elafonisos you are making your way from a small island off the southern Peloponnese coast to a Venetian-built harbour town on the Epirus coast, on the opposite side of Greece. It faces the Ionian Sea with good beaches and a relaxed waterfront atmosphere.

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. Parga is a mainland coastal town accessible only by road. Getting there means taking the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta and then driving northwest through the Peloponnese via Patras and the western Greek coast to Parga, which takes around 5 to 6 hours from Pounta. This avoids Athens entirely and keeps the journey within western Greece.

Getting there by air

Parga has no airport. The nearest airports are Preveza, around 65 kilometres south, and Ioannina, around 103 kilometres east. 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 Preveza, followed by a taxi or bus to Parga taking around 1 hour, gives a total journey time of around 8 to 9 hours. 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 the western Greek coast to Parga. At around 5 to 6 hours from Pounta it avoids Athens entirely and is the most natural road approach. Having a car is essential for this route as the KTEL bus connection from Pounta is slow and infrequent.