The Beach
Simos looks like it was transplanted from the Caribbean. The twin beaches that make up Simos — one facing west and one facing east, meeting in a narrow neck of brilliant white sand — frame water of a turquoise so vivid and so perfectly Caribbean that first-time visitors frequently disbelieve it is the Mediterranean. The colour comes from the combination of the fine, brilliantly white sand, the shallow depth over the sandy bottom, and the clarity of the water. On a sunny summer morning, the Simos beach area glows like a gemstone.
Elafonisos is a tiny island (19 square kilometres, population approximately 400) just off the southeastern tip of the Peloponnese peninsula. It is separated from the mainland by a channel barely 200 metres wide and until 2006 was connected to the mainland by a car ferry. The construction of a fixed link (a short road bridge and causeway combination) has made it more accessible, but Elafonisos remains an island in character — small, unhurried, and dominated by the sea.
Simos is the island’s principal beach, located on the island’s south coast approximately 3 km from the main harbour village of Elafonisos. The beach’s twin-cove structure is unique: two separate sandy arcs face south and west respectively, connected by the isthmus of sand between them. The western cove is more protected and usually slightly calmer; the eastern cove faces more directly into the Myrtoan Sea. Both have the same extraordinary sand and water quality.
In between the two beaches, at the narrowest point of the isthmus, there is a fragile and extraordinarily beautiful zone where white sand, shallow turquoise water on both sides, and the sky above create a 360-degree view of pure colour. This spot, photographed thousands of times each day in summer, is one of the most famous beach viewpoints in Greece.
The island and its beach have been discovered. July and August bring crowds that strain the island’s minimal infrastructure. But the beach is large enough — and the water quality extraordinary enough — that even in peak season the experience retains its quality. The key is arriving early.
How to Get There
Getting to the Area
The nearest major airports are:
Kalamata Airport (KLX): Approximately 90 km from Elafonisos. Receives charter flights from the UK and other European countries in summer (Jet2, TUI, and others). Limited winter service.
Athens International Airport (ATH): The main hub, approximately 280 km by road. Direct connections from everywhere.
Sparta or Neapoli are the nearest mainland towns to the Elafonisos ferry crossing.
From Athens to Elafonisos
By car: Athens to the Elafonisos crossing point (near the village of Viglafia on the mainland) takes approximately 3–3.5 hours via the E65 motorway south and then secondary roads through Sparta and Neapoli.
From Viglafia, the car ferry to Elafonisos takes approximately 10 minutes and runs very frequently in summer (every 15–30 minutes during peak hours). A small fee per vehicle.
From Elafonisos Village to Simos
The village harbour to Simos beach is approximately 3 km by road. Options:
- By car: Drive directly. Parking at Simos fills quickly in peak season.
- On foot: A 30–40 minute walk along the island road.
- By bicycle: Rentals available in the village.
- By water taxi: Small boats from the harbour to Simos beach run in summer.
Seasonal Guide
- June: by most accounts the best month. Warm (24–26°C), the sea has warmed up (22–23°C), and the beach is much less crowded than July–August.
- July and August: Peak season. Simos is genuinely very busy in this period, with the isthmus viewpoint and the western beach particularly crowded. Arrive before 9 a.m. for a good experience.
- September: Excellent — summer temperatures continuing, crowds reduced significantly, and the sea retains its warmth (23–24°C). September is underrated for Simos.
- October and May: Shoulder months. The beach is largely empty and very beautiful. Water temperature in May (18–20°C) is cool; October (21–22°C) is more comfortable.
Hotels and Resorts
Elafonisos village has a small selection of accommodation — primarily studios, apartments, and small hotels. The island is tiny enough that nothing is far from the beach.
Notable options:
- Elafonisos Hotel: The main hotel on the island, comfortable and well-positioned.
- Various studio and apartment rentals: Numerous self-catering options in the village, typically owned by local families.
The island has limited beds and books out entirely in late July and August. Advance booking is essential for these months.
On the mainland: The town of Neapoli (on the Laconian tip, 25 km from the crossing) has more accommodation and can serve as a base for day trips to Elafonisos.
On the Beach and Beyond
Second Beach and Water Sports
The western and eastern coves at Simos have slightly different characters. The western cove is better for families and those seeking calmer water. The eastern cove sees slightly more wind and is better for water sports (windsurfing and kitesurfing in good conditions). Pedalo and canoe hire is available at the beach.
Elafonisos Village and Seafood
The village harbour is small, charming, and offers some of the best value fresh seafood in the southern Peloponnese. Several excellent fish tavernas serve octopus, sea bream, sea bass, and whatever was caught that morning, at prices significantly lower than the better-known Greek island destinations.
Cape Maleas and the Southern Peloponnese
The surrounding mainland landscape — the rocky, dramatic Cape Maleas peninsula (historically one of the most feared promontories in the ancient sailing world), the Byzantine churches and tower houses of the Mani peninsula — is extraordinary. A day or two exploring the wider southern Laconian coast rewards those with a rental car.
Pavlopetri (Underwater Prehistoric City)
Just north of Elafonisos, partially offshore from Viglafia, lie the submerged ruins of Pavlopetri — an ancient city submerged approximately 3,500–5,000 years ago and one of the oldest submerged city sites in the world. The ruins are accessible to snorkellers and divers, and the site has been documented in detail by archaeologists.
Before You Go
Is Simos as beautiful as photographs suggest? Yes, honestly. The photographs of Simos are not colour-enhanced. The water really is that colour when the sun is overhead and the conditions are calm. The best colour occurs in the 10 a.m.–2 p.m. window on a calm, bright summer day.
Are there facilities at Simos? Basic facilities — sunlounger and umbrella rental, a beach bar/snack stand, toilets and showers — exist on both sides of the beach. The western cove is slightly more developed. Neither side has a large restaurant; for a proper meal, return to the village.
Is the beach suitable for families with young children? Very much so. The western cove of Simos has very shallow, very calm water that is ideal for small children. The sandy bottom (no sharp rocks or pebbles) and the gentle gradient into the sea make it one of the safest and most enjoyable family beach environments in Greece.
How far is Elafonisos from Monemvasia? Monemvasia — the spectacular medieval fortified city on a sea rock on the eastern Peloponnese coast, one of the most extraordinary medieval towns in Greece — is approximately 80 km north of Elafonisos by road. It is a very worthwhile half-day addition to any southern Peloponnese itinerary.