Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
NEÁPOLI
By bus
The KTEL bus office is on Dhimokratías, opposite
the bus park.
Destinations
Athens (3 daily; 7hr); Spárti
(3 daily, 3hr).
By ferry
Kýthira (1 daily; 1hr 15min); Elafónissos (from
Poúnda, 5-15 daily; 10min). Tickets are available from the
office of the Vatika Bay Shipping Agency (
T
27340 24004,
W
vatikabay.gr), just west of the pier.
Services
There are several banks with ATMs. Taxis can be
ordered on
T
27340 22590.
ACCOMMODATION
Aïvali
Akti Voion 164
T
27340 22287,
W
aivali-neapoli
.gr.
This clean, unpretentious hotel is right on the seafront,
near the ferry for Kýthira. Rooms have balconie
s, all
facing
the water, plus a/c and wi-fi. Breakfast included.
€50
2
Vergina
T
27340 23443,
W
verginahotel.com.
This
hotel is quietly situated, a block away from the harbour. It's
modestly modern, with internet access,
a/c
, and basic
rooms with balconies. Breakfast included.
€50
Elafónissos
Part of the mainland until 375 AD, when an earthquake separated it,
ELAFÓNISSOS
is
just 19 square kilometres and gets very busy in the short summer season, when its
700-odd resident population is vastly outnumbered by visitors, mainly Greek. The
island's eponymous town is largely modern, but has plenty of rooms, mostly in the
narrow backstreets, plus some good fish tavernas.
One of the island's two surfaced roads leads 5km southeast to
Símos
, one of the best
beaches
in this part of Greece, a large double bay with fine pale sand heaped into
dunes and views to Kýthira; a
kaïki
(boat) leaves from the town to Símos every
morning in summer. To the southwest of town is the small, scattered settlement of
Káto Nisí, and
Panayítsa
beach, quieter than Símos but almost as beautiful, with views
to the Máni peninsula. There is a petrol station on the Panayítsa road.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
ELAFÓNISSOS
By ferry
Ferries to the island leave from Poúnda docks
8km west of Neápoli (5-26 per day, 10min; pay on the
boat, €2;
T
27340 61117,
W
elafonisos.net/dromolo.htm).
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
ELAFÓNISSOS TOWN
Exantas
T
27340 61320.
This hotel is right on the sea,
with balcony views and a/c, and conveniently positioned
for th
e ta
vernas on the northern seafront near the ferry
dock.
€70
Golden Star
T
27340 61271,
W
goldenstarelafonisos
.gr.
Set one row back from the western seafront, this place
looks kitsch at first glance, but
has
rather romantic rooms
with partial a/c and balconies.
€70
Ì
Menti Brothers
towards the end of the harbour serves the freshest fish in the
Peloponnese - catch-of the-day chosen each morning - at
affordable prices. Shrimp a speciality.
Daily lunch & dinner.
SÍMOS
Simos Camping and Bungalows
T
27340 22672,
W
simoscamping.gr.
Well-equipped campsite, 4km from the
harbour, at the western end of the beach. There are bungalows
(with a/c and fridges) as well as cam
psites
, plus a mini
mark
et
and restaurant. May-Oct. Campsites
€25,
bungalows
€80
T
27340 61263.
This taverna
Kýthira
Isolated at the foot of the Peloponnese, the island of
KÝTHIRA
traditionally belongs to
the Ionian islands, and shares their history of
Venetian
and, later, British rule; under the
former it was known as Cerigo. For the most part, similarities end there. The island
architecture of whitewashed houses and flat roofs looks more like that of the Cyclades.
The landscape is different, too: wild scrub- and gorse-covered hills, or moorland sliced
by deep valleys and ravines. Though badly affected by emigration (see box, p.154)
tourism has brought some prosperity but most summer visitors are Greeks. For the few
foreigners who reach Kýthira, it remains something of a refuge, with its undeveloped
