Getting from Rhodes to Elafonisos

If you are heading to Elafonisos from Rhodes you are making your way to a small island off the southern Peloponnese coast, to the northwest. It has pink-tinged sand beaches that are among the finest in Greece.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Rhodes to Elafonisos. The only way to reach the island is by the short local ferry from Pounta, a small port on the southern tip of the Peloponnese around 4.5 to 5 hours by road from Athens. Getting to Pounta from Rhodes means flying to Athens and then driving south through the Peloponnese via Corinth, Tripoli and Sparta. The trip from Pounta to Elafonisos takes around 10 minutes and runs every 30 minutes in summer.

Getting there by air

Elafonisos has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Flying from Rhodes to Athens takes around 1 hour and then the drive to Pounta takes around 4.5 to 5 hours. Total travel time is around 6 to 7 hours.

Your best option

Fly to Athens and drive to Pounta. It is a long day but having a car on arrival gives you the flexibility to explore the island and the surrounding Laconian coast. If you are travelling with a car, the overnight ferry from Rhodes to Piraeus is the practical choice, then drive south through the Peloponnese to Pounta.