Getting from Volos to Elafonisos

If you are heading to Elafonisos from Volos you are making your way from a city on the Pagasetic Gulf at the foot of the Pelion peninsula 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 Volos 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 driving from Volos south via the E75 motorway to Athens and then continuing south through the Peloponnese via Corinth, Tripoli and Sparta to Pounta, which takes around 6.5 to 7.5 hours from Volos in total.

Getting there by air

Elafonisos has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Volos has a small airport at Nea Anchialos with limited connections from Athens. Driving from Volos south to Pounta and taking the short ferry across to Elafonisos gives a total journey time of around 7 to 8 hours. Flying is not practical for this connection given that the drive through the Peloponnese is the only realistic approach once you reach the mainland.

Your best option

Drive from Volos south via the E75 motorway and Athens ring road through the Peloponnese via Corinth, Tripoli and Sparta to Pounta for the short ferry across to Elafonisos. Having a car is essential as the KTEL bus connection to Pounta is complicated and infrequent. Plan the journey over two days if possible, stopping in the Peloponnese along the way.