Zakynthos is a Greek island in the Ionian islands, west of mainland Greece. It’s a beautiful island, with lovely beaches. A very pleasant place to spend a few days’ vacation. How to get to Zakynthos ? When ? How long ? Here’s our advice and practical information to help you make the most of your vacation in Zakynthos.
How do I get to Zakynthos (Zante)?
Zakynthos is well served, and you can get there by plane, car, ferry or even bus.
By plane
The island of Zakynthos has its own airport, which is very convenient.
There are flights to/from Greece: Athens, Thessaloniki, Corfu, Kythera. But also international flights to/from Italy, the UK, Germany and Switzerland. And even France and Belgium during the summer.
Several airlines fly to Zakynthos: Olympic Air, Sky Express, Helvetic Airways, Air Berlin, Aegean Airlines, Air France, Brussels Airlines, EasyJet, Jetairfly, Swish, etc. We often fly with Aegean Airlines and highly recommend it.
And if you need a cab from the airport to your hotel, we recommend Welcome PickUps, which offers quality service and competitive prices.
Book your Zakynthos Airport Transfer
Book Your Sightseeing Ride in Zakynthos
By car
You can easily drive from Athens to the port of Kyllini (300km – approx. 3h15 drive). Be careful on the stretch of road between Patras and Kyllini: it’s a two-lane road, used by Greek drivers as a three- or even four-lane road. From there, all you need to do is take a ferry from Kyllini to Zakynthos (1-hour crossing – 4 to 10 crossings a day, depending on the season).
To book your ferry tickets, we recommend the very practical Ferry Hopper website. It allows you to buy tickets online, with no hidden commissions or fees. What’s more, this site offers an easy-to-use interface, bringing together all the major ferry companies. What’s more, Ferryhopper doesn’t just offer you direct routes, but also all the indirect crossings, so you can connect all the islands in the blink of an eye.
How to get to Zakynthos by boat from the other Ionian islands
Zakynthos is linked to the island of Kefalonia. You can find the boat timetables on the GTP website. To buy the tickets, we had to go to the agency in Zante as the tickets are handwritten.
By bus
A KTEL bus links Athens to Zakynthos. The journey takes 6 hours. 3 connections per day. Cost: just under €30. The bus boards the ferry.
More information is available on the KTEL website.
There are also bus connections to Patras (3h30 drive) and Thessaloniki (10-hour drive, around €50).
How long will I need to stay in Zakynthos?
We advise you to stay at least three days on the island of Zakynthos, so you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy all the sights and sounds of the island, from boat trips to swimming breaks, inland exploration and city walks.
You can even spend a week here without getting bored.
What’s the best time of year to visit Zakynthos?
In recent years, Zakynthos has become a popular tourist destination, attracting thousands of British travellers in the summer months. And indeed, with its clear turquoise waters and golden sandy beaches, it’s not hard to see why Zakynthos is such a popular destination.
So if you want to avoid mass tourism, it’s essential to visit the island out of season. But don’t go too early or too late, or everything will be closed. In short, the best months to visit Zakynthos are probably May and the second half of September.
Around Easter, the island is still calm and slowly waking up from winter. The resorts and main seaside resorts are still closed (which is nice for travelers looking for calm and authenticity). Zakynthos is an island of trees and flowers, so it’s very pleasant to visit in spring.
By September, most of the tour-operators had left the island and it was once again enjoying a certain degree of calm. What’s more, the sea is warm and you can take full advantage of the sandy beaches and turquoise waters.
And if you come to Zakynthos from late May to late September, you’ll have a great chance of seeing the turtles that come to lay their eggs on the island. Be careful to respect their tranquility, as their reproduction is threatened by tourism.
Please note: Navagio or Shipwreck Beach in Zakynthos, most famous for its iconic shipwreck, will be closed to the public this summer 2023 due to fears of landslides.
Do I need to rent a car in Zakynthos (Zante)?
Yes, renting a car in Zakynthos is absolutely essential if you really want to discover the island. Two wheels or car, depending on your wishes and constraints.
On the whole, the road network is good, but be careful as the islanders drive fast and tend to cut corners easily.
You can easily rent a car at the airport or at the island’s main tourist attractions.
A word of advice: if you’re coming in high season, reserve your vehicle before you arrive on the island.
Personally, we always use RentalCars website which lets you compare offers from different rental agencies in the blink of an eye, so you can get great rates.
If you don’t want to rent a car, here’s a great a great cab company which we still use personally.
You can also rent a bike or take a guided tour of Zakynthos on an electric bike from Baja Bikes.
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To find out more about the island of Zakynthos, see also our articles :
- 10 must-sees in Zakynthos: a comprehensive “guide” to the various things to see and do on the island of Zakynthos.
- Where to stay in Zante?
- Zakynthos’ most beautiful beaches
- Renting car or motorcycle in Zakynthos
And if you’re looking for accommodation in Zante, take a look at Airbnb and/or Booking.
We hope you enjoy your stay in Zakynthos.
Laure M.
