Getting from Elafonisos to Psara

If you are heading to Psara from Elafonisos you are making your way from a small island off the southern Peloponnese coast to a small rocky island off the northwestern coast of Chios in the northeastern Aegean, on the opposite side of Greece. It has one of the most moving histories in Greece, almost entirely destroyed by the Ottoman fleet in 1824 and never fully recovered.

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. Psara is accessible only via Chios, with a daily local ferry from Chios main port taking around 3 hours. Getting there means taking the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta, driving north to Athens and flying to Chios, followed by the local ferry across to Psara.

Getting there by air

Psara has no airport. The nearest airport is Chios. 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 Chios, followed by the local ferry to Psara taking around 3 hours, 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, drive north to Athens and fly from Athens to Chios, then take the local ferry across to Psara. Having a car is essential for the Pounta to Athens leg as the KTEL bus connection is slow and infrequent. Check the daily ferry schedule from Chios before booking your flights and plan your Chios arrival around the morning departure. Give yourself at least two nights on Psara and bring everything you need with you.