Getting from Elafonisos to Schinoussa

If you are heading to Schinoussa from Elafonisos you are making your way from a small island off the southern Peloponnese coast to one of the Small Cyclades, on the opposite side of Greece. It has more than 18 beaches scattered around a coastline that you can walk across in an afternoon.

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 Schinoussa means taking the ferry from Elafonisos to Pounta, driving north to Athens and either flying to Naxos and taking the local Express Skopelitis ferry to Schinoussa, which takes around 2 hours and runs almost daily in summer, or driving to Piraeus for the direct Piraeus to Schinoussa ferry, which runs around 3 times a week and takes around 7 to 9 hours.

Getting there by air

Schinoussa has no airport. The nearest airport is Naxos. 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 Naxos, followed by the local ferry to Schinoussa, gives a total journey time of 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 Naxos, then take the local ferry across to Schinoussa. Having a car is essential for the Pounta to Athens leg as the KTEL bus connection is slow and infrequent. Give yourself at least two nights on Schinoussa and come with everything you need as facilities on the island are limited.