Pavlopetri is located just off the coastline of Vatika Bay in the southeastern Peloponnese, near the island of Elafonisos. Vatika Bay is bordered to the north by Neapolis, in the prefect of Monemvasia, and to the south by Elafonisos, a separate prefect.

The coastline contiguous to the archeological site of Pavlopetri is an EU-designated Natura 2000 site.