Getting from Santorini to Elafonisos

Elafonisos is a small island just off the southeastern tip of the Peloponnese, separated from the mainland by a channel so narrow the ferry crossing takes around 10 minutes. It is famous almost entirely for Simos beach, a double-sided stretch of fine white sand with shallow turquoise water that consistently ranks among the best beaches in Greece. The rest of the island is quiet, small and unhurried, with a fishing village, a handful of tavernas and not much else. People come for the beach, stay longer than they planned and find themselves making plans to return. It is not a destination that requires extensive exploration — it requires a beach towel, a good book and several days of doing very little.

Take the ferry

There is no ferry from Santorini to Elafonisos. The island is not connected to the Aegean ferry network at all. The only ferry service to Elafonisos departs from Pounta, a small port near Neapolis in Laconia on the Peloponnese mainland, with the crossing taking around 10 minutes and running roughly every half hour year-round. Getting there from Santorini means reaching Athens first by ferry or plane and then driving south through the Peloponnese to Pounta, which takes around 3.5 to 4 hours from Athens.

What about flying?

Elafonisos has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens, around 280 kilometres to the north. The closest regional airport is Kythira, the island just to the south, which has domestic flights from Athens but is not a practical gateway to Elafonisos. Flying from Santorini to Athens and then driving to Pounta is the fastest overall approach, with total travel time around 5 to 6 hours door to door including the drive through the Peloponnese.

Your best option

Fly to Athens and rent a car for the drive south. The drive through the Peloponnese is a good one, passing through Corinth, Tripoli and Sparta before dropping down to the coast. If you have time, Monemvasia is about an hour east of Neapolis and worth a night on the way. Once you reach Pounta, the ferry to Elafonisos takes 10 minutes. Take the car across — the island is small enough to drive around in 20 minutes but having a vehicle means you can reach the quieter parts of Simos beach without having to walk far with your gear.