Getting from Syros to Elafonisos

If you are heading to Elafonisos from Syros you are making your way from the capital of the Cyclades to a small island off the southern Peloponnese coast, on the opposite side of Greece. It has pink-tinged sand beaches that are among the finest in Greece and a setting of extraordinary natural beauty.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Syros to Elafonisos. Elafonisos is accessible only by the short local ferry from Pounta on the southern Peloponnese, which takes around 10 minutes and runs every 30 minutes in summer. Getting there means taking the ferry from Syros to Piraeus, which runs up to 6 daily crossings in summer and takes around 2 hours on the fast boat, and then driving south through the Peloponnese via Corinth, Tripoli and Sparta to Pounta, which takes around 4 to 4.5 hours from Athens.

Getting there by air

Elafonisos has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Syros has a small domestic airport with limited connections from Athens. Taking the ferry from Syros to Piraeus and then driving south to Pounta gives a total journey time of around 7 to 8 hours. Having a car is essential as the KTEL bus connection to Pounta is complicated and infrequent. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Syros to Piraeus and drive south through the Peloponnese to Pounta for the short ferry across to Elafonisos. Having a car is essential for this route. Plan your Syros departure carefully to allow enough time for the drive south from Athens. If you are traveling with a car the conventional ferry from Syros takes your vehicle directly to Piraeus.