How to Get to Zakynthos: Flights, Ferries and Buses from Athens

No ferry sails from Athens to Zakynthos. You have two real ways in: a 45-minute flight from Athens, or a land-and-sea trip that ends with a short ferry crossing from Kyllini on the Peloponnese coast. The flight saves time.

How do you get to Zakynthos from Athens?

Start with what doesn't exist. Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio have no sailings to Zakynthos. Ferries from the mainland sail from Kyllini, a port in the western Peloponnese. Patras has no boat to the island either, though it makes a good stop on a Peloponnese road trip.

That leaves three ways to travel from the capital: fly, take the direct bus, or get yourself to Kyllini for the ferry.

Flying from Athens

Daily flights from Athens take about 45 minutes, with Olympic Air and Aegean Airlines on the route. In summer, charter flights also link the island directly with many European cities, among them London, Manchester and Birmingham. You land at Dionysios Solomos airport, a single terminal about 2 miles (3 km) from Zakynthos Town.

The direct bus

KTEL runs daily buses from Athens to Zakynthos, with the trip listed at about 5 hours. They leave from the Kifissos terminal in Athens. The same company also links the island with Patras (2 hours) and Thessaloniki (9 hours).

Reaching Kifissos is easy:

• From central Athens, local bus 051 leaves from Zinonos and Menandrou streets near Omonia Square every 20 minutes, from early morning until late at night. Taxis also make the trip.
• From Athens International Airport, bus X93 runs around the clock, roughly every 30 minutes, and the ride takes about an hour.

Driving or busing to Kyllini

The drive from Athens to Kyllini takes roughly 3.5 to 4 hours on well-kept highways. It's a scenic run through green countryside, and a car lets you stop wherever you like.

If you'd rather not drive, KTEL intercity buses run from Kifissos to Kyllini several times a day in about 4.5 hours. Travelers arriving on a ferry from Venice, Ancona, Bari or Brindisi land at Patras and follow that same road south via Pyrgos.

Is it better to take the ferry or fly to Zakynthos?

Think door to door. The flight is 45 minutes in the air plus the airport routine at both ends. The ferry route means a long drive or bus ride, a short crossing, and time at the port. In exchange, you finish the trip on the open Ionian Sea.

• First trip, a couple, no car: fly. It's fast, and town is a short ride from the terminal.
• Family with luggage: fly if the budget allows, and skip a long drive with tired kids.
• Tight budget: take the ferry. Fares are modest, even for families (prices below).
• Traveling with a car, a motorcycle or a pet: take the ferry. The boats carry all three, and fares stay cheap even for vehicles.

What can go wrong? Zakynthos airport keeps limited operating hours that vary by weekday, so a delayed connection in Athens leaves little slack. The ferries, by contrast, are large conventional ships that bad weather rarely affects, so delays are uncommon.

How long is the ferry to Zakynthos?

The crossing from Kyllini takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, though some timetables allow up to 1.5 hours. Levante Ferries runs the route with large, air-conditioned conventional ships that have indoor lounges, snack bars, a shop, open decks with sea views and a garage for vehicles.

Boats sail every day of the year. Expect about four sailings each way in autumn, winter, spring and September, rising to six a day from late July to early September, the busiest stretch of the year. The operator adjusts its timetables to passenger traffic, and the Zakynthos airport hours vary by day of the week, so check the schedule for your exact travel day before you plan your land transport.

A regular one-way passenger ticket costs €13.50 (2026). Children 5 to 10 pay €7.50, and kids under 5 ride free. A car costs €38.40, and a motorcycle €10, or €14.50 over 250 cc. Larger vehicles such as pickups, minibuses and campers have their own rates, and groups of 15 or more are priced by agreement.

How do you get to Zakynthos from other islands?

From Kefalonia, a seasonal ferry runs from Pesada in the south of that island to the small harbor of Agios Nikolaos, in the Volimes area of northern Zakynthos. The route between Kefalonia and Zakynthos is seasonal, usually running from late May to late September, and the crossing takes about 1 hour.

Before you book it, know this: no public transportation serves Agios Nikolaos, and the harbor sits about 19 miles (30 km) from the airport. The route works for travelers who already have a car or plan to rent one. Without a vehicle, you're better off going through Kyllini and landing in town.

Flying is another option. Sky Express links Zakynthos with Kefalonia, Corfu and Preveza, the airport for Lefkada.

How do you book ferries to Zakynthos?

Levante Ferries sells tickets for the Kyllini route online. In July and August, buses and boats can sell out, so book early. You'll also have a better chance at the sailing you want.

Ferry timetables change from year to year, and the larger operators usually publish new ones by the end of December while the rest follow between January and March, so confirm current times before you plan connections. Have your ticket ready on your phone or printed out, and aim to be at the port at least 30 minutes ahead of departure. With a car, arrive earlier for vehicle check-in.

How do you get from the port or airport to your hotel?

Ferries from Kyllini dock at the port in Zakynthos Town, on the island's east coast. If your hotel is in town, you can often walk. Taxis are easy to find in town, and from the port you can stroll about 15 minutes to the main KTEL bus station. From there, buses fan out to the resorts every day. Typical daily runs, which change with the season:

• Laganas and Kalamaki: 14 runs a day each
• Argasi: 11 runs a day
• Tsilivi: 10 runs a day
• Alykes: 5 runs a day
• Vassilikos: 4 runs a day
• Limni Keri: 3 runs a day
• Volimes: 1 run a day

At the airport, the bus into Zakynthos Town stops outside the terminal in the Arrivals area, next to a taxi rank. The drive to town takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Bus frequency changes with the season, so check KTEL Zakynthos's current times if you plan to rely on it.

Beyond town, the island rewards a car. Public transport thins out toward remote beaches and villages, and a car makes it easy to reach the west-coast swims and the northern coves. Book ahead in summer.

What do Americans need to know before going?

According to the U.S. State Department, U.S. citizens can visit Greece without a visa for up to 90 days of tourism, and your passport should have at least three months of validity beyond your planned departure date. To drive, Greek law requires a valid U.S. license plus an international driving permit, even if the rental company doesn't ask to see the permit. Petty crime is common in popular tourist spots, and thieves have been known to break into rental cars, so it's wise to keep passports, valuables and luggage with you rather than in the car. Transportation strikes are also common and can shut down seaports, airports, taxis and public transport.

Book your boat or flight first, then your hotel, and reserve a rental car once your dates are firm. The day before you travel, recheck your ferry or flight time and make sure no strike has been announced, and leave a spare day before your flight home.