2Elafonisos

An island often frequented by Greek travelers, Elafonisos sits off the coast of the Peloponnese region near Athens. Although it’s tiny, Elafonisos still has abundant white-sand beaches and crystal clear waters. Besides the island’s glorious beaches (Simos Beach is a favorite for its unique shape), there are ancient ruins to explore.

Divers can appreciate the island’s underwater ruins, too. Pavlopetri is one of the oldest complete sunken towns found underwater. The best part? Elafonisos is only a 10-minute ferry ride from Pounta, a port in the Peloponnese region, perfect for travelers who want to minimize travel time on their vacation or who get seasick on long ferry rides.