Getting from Elafonisos to Patras

If you are heading to Patras from Elafonisos you are making your way from a small island off the southern Peloponnese coast to the third largest city in Greece on the southern shore of the Gulf of Corinth, the main gateway to the Ionian islands and western Europe.

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 Patras means taking the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta and then driving northwest through the Peloponnese to Patras, which takes around 3 to 3.5 hours via Tripoli and Corinth. This avoids Athens entirely and is a straightforward road journey across the Peloponnese.

Getting there by air

Patras has a small seasonal airport at Araxos, around 40 kilometres from the city, operating limited flights from May to October only. Elafonisos has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Taking the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta and driving northwest to Patras gives a total journey time of around 3 to 3.5 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 northwest through the Peloponnese to Patras via Tripoli and Corinth. At around 3 to 3.5 hours it avoids Athens entirely and is the most direct road approach. Having a car is essential for this route as the KTEL bus connection from Pounta is slow and infrequent. From Patras you have access to ferries to the Ionian islands and international connections to Italy.