Getting from Elafonisos to Rhodes

If you are heading to Rhodes from Elafonisos you are making your way from a small island off the southern Peloponnese coast to the largest island in the Dodecanese group, on the opposite side of Greece. It has a medieval walled city built by the Knights of Saint John that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best preserved medieval towns in 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 Rhodes means taking the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta, driving north to Piraeus and boarding the overnight Piraeus to Rhodes ferry, which runs 1 to 2 times daily in summer and takes around 12 to 18 hours. Flying is considerably more practical for most travelers.

Getting there by air

Rhodes has an international airport with daily connections from Athens. 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 Rhodes takes around 55 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 7 to 8 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 Rhodes. It is the fastest and most practical approach. Having a car is essential for the Pounta to Athens leg as the KTEL bus connection is slow and infrequent. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta and drive to Piraeus for the overnight Piraeus to Rhodes ferry, which takes your vehicle and arrives in the morning.