Flights to Zakynthos: How Americans Get There and When to Book

Nonstop flights from the U.S. to Zakynthos are hard to find, so most trips include at least one connection, usually in Athens or another European hub. The final leg is short, and the island's airport, ZTH, is a single terminal a few kilometers south of Zakynthos Town. Fares and schedules both follow the island's summer season, so a little timing goes a long way.

How do you fly from the U.S. to Zakynthos?

Plan on two legs: a transatlantic flight to a European hub, then a short hop to the island.

Recent fare searches show clear patterns. Athens is the usual connection on fares out of Newark. Chicago trips can connect in Munich with a single stop. Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines are two of the carriers that sell tickets from the U.S. to Zakynthos, and both are worth checking when you compare fares.

You can also build the trip in two pieces: fly to London, which has several airports with direct service to the island, and book the onward flight from there.

Accepting a second or third stop can sometimes bring the fare down, though it adds hours to the trip. Those itineraries stretch the day and add chances for a missed connection, so many travelers find a single stop a comfortable middle ground between price and ease.

How long does the trip take?

Newark connections through Athens range from about 14 hours to a little over 30 hours, depending on the layover. Chicago via Munich takes around 19 hours, two-stop flights from Los Angeles run around 31, and Boston averages about 37. After a haul like that, plan an easy first day on the island.

Is there a flight from Athens to Zakynthos?

Yes, and it's the simplest way to finish the journey, especially if your transatlantic ticket ends in Athens. Daily flights run all year and take about 45 minutes, with Olympic Air and Sky Express on the route. Athens and London Gatwick are the island's two busiest connections.

Which European cities fly to Zakynthos?

A long list, mostly in the warm months. From May to October, scheduled, charter and low-cost flights link most of Europe with the island. The UK is well served, with seasonal nonstop flights from London Gatwick on easyJet and Jet2, and from London Stansted on Jet2 and Ryanair. Amsterdam, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, Zurich, Dublin and Paris Orly are on the map too, along with Budapest, Berlin, Warsaw and a run of Italian cities from Milan to Naples. Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air and Volotea carry much of the traffic.

Many of these routes are seasonal, and several are newly announced with service starting in October. Confirm the schedule with the airline before you build a connection around it.

When do the flights run, and when is it cheapest?

The tourist season runs from May to the end of October, and that's when direct flights from European cities operate. Outside the busy season, Athens is a key air link, so winter and early spring trips take a bit more planning.

January is on average the cheapest month to book, and June the most expensive. Tuesdays and Wednesdays tend to be cheaper days to fly, and fares are typically lowest about two months before departure.

What is the weather like in Zakynthos?

Spring and fall are lovely times to visit, and many travelers enjoy the pleasantly warm weather then. May brings hot days, fresh evenings and quiet beaches. In June the heat builds, the sea turns perfect for swimming and the crowds start to arrive. July and August are hot and packed with visitors from all over Europe. In September the weather turns pleasant again and the beaches thin out. Winters are mild but rainy.

What happens when you land?

A public bus links the airport with Zakynthos Town, leaving from a stop outside the arrivals area. Taxis and private cars cover the same short distance in 10 to 15 minutes on local roads.

ZTH keeps limited hours that change by day, and on most days the airport's operating window is narrower than the terminal's:

• Monday and Sunday: terminal noon to 8:00 p.m., airport 1:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Tuesday and Saturday: terminal 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., airport noon to 6:00 p.m.
• Wednesday and Friday: terminal 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., airport 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday: terminal and airport both 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Renting a car is the most practical way to see the island, since public transport is limited away from the main resorts. A car is what gets you to the west coast swims and the northern coves. For fewer drives, a base like Tsilivi pairs well with boat tours and easy beaches, and buses from town run daily to Tsilivi, Laganas, Kalamaki and other resorts.

Can you come by ferry instead?

Yes, from the Peloponnese. The crossing to the port in Zakynthos Town takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes.

KTEL buses from Athens include the ferry crossing and take five to six hours. From Kefalonia, ferries reach Agios Nikolaos in the north in about an hour. That port has no public transport, so plan on a car to get there. Ferry times shift with the season and on holidays, so check the current Levante timetable before you travel.