Ultimate Guide to Visiting Zakynthos, Greece

The island of Zakynthos in Greece has become famous for its picturesque shipwreck beach, but there are also lots of other things to do and see on this scenic island in the Ionian Sea.

Zakynthos features steep limestone cliffs, white pebble beaches, and some of the bluest water you’ll ever see in your life. You can explore the sights on this island by boat or by land, and it’s relatively easy to get to Zakynthos from Athens.

To be fair, this island has become a very popular summer destination in Greece nowadays, so you won’t escape the tourists, but it’s still worth a visit for the bucket list sights and photo ops.

This travel blog will explain what to do in Zakynthos, how to get there, where to stay, and everything else you need to know before you go!

Best Zakynthos Tour Packages

The coastline of Zakynthos is full of sea caves, beaches, and other wonderful sights that can only be seen with a boat tour.

Moreover, We recommend GetYourGuide for boat tours in Zakynthos! They have high rated tours for all of the best sights like Navagio Beach, Blue Caves, Turtle Island, and more. These tours usually include free hotel pickup and drop-off from most of the popular areas in Zakynthos.

We’ve used this company for lots of day tours and activities around the world, and they’re great! Highly recommended.

Where Is Zakynthos Island?

Zakynthos (also known as Zante) is an island located in the Ionian Sea, west of mainland Greece. The distance from Athens to Zakynthos is only about 240 kilometers (150 miles) as the plane flies.

There are a total of seven Ionian Islands in Greece, and Zakynthos is the most famous of these, but the other nearby islands like Kefalonia are also very scenic and worth a visit if you have time.

How To Get To Zakynthos Greece

Zakynthos island can be reached by flight or ferry.

Flying to Zakynthos is the easiest, fastest, and most expensive (but recommended) way to get there. The Zakynthos airport (ZTH) is served by daily nonstop flights from Athens, as well as some international cities like Amsterdam, Rome, and Warsaw.

The flight time to Zakynthos from Athens is 1 hour, and it costs anywhere from 50 to 100 Euros for a one way ticket with Aegean/Olympic Air or Sky Express.

The best airline to use is Aegean (or its subsidiary Olympic Air) instead of Sky Express if you have a choice, but any of them are fine. Free checked baggage is usually included in the ticket prices.

Taking the ferry to Zakynthos from Athens is cheaper than flying, but it’s slower and a bit more complicated.

You first have to take a 4 hour bus ride from Athens to Kyllini (which costs 25 Euros), and then hop on the ferry there. The boat ride from Kyllini to Zakynthos takes around 1 hour and costs about 12 Euros.

If you’re interested in doing some island hopping in Greece and you want to see more than just Zakynthos, you can also mix up the itinerary a bit.

For example, you can fly into Zakynthos for a few days, take the ferry to Kefalonia, and then fly from Kefalonia back to Athens. That’s what we did, and it worked out great!

Transport: How To Get Around On Zakynthos Island

Zakynthos town proper is small enough to be walkable by foot for restaurants and most other things, but if you want to do some exploring outside of town you’ll need transport.

The main way to get around on Zakynthos island is by renting a car or ATV (4 wheeler). There are many companies offering car rentals on the island, but we recommend DiscoverCars!

Moreover, there’s also an affordable bus service offered by KTEL Zakynthos, although keep in mind some of the bus routes are seasonal (summer only). Their website has a full list of prices and routes on the island.

For short distance trips near town, you can walk to beaches, shops, and such places. There’s no Uber, but you can hire a taxi or book an airport transfer.

Driving in Zakynthos is a little stressful, but not too hard, and most of the roads are in good condition. The west side of the island is more mountainous, so you’ll occasionally have steep roads with plenty of bends, but these are usually well paved.

A few remote roads on the west side of the island may still be gravel with occasional potholes, but even those roads are quickly improving as the island becomes more accessible and popular with travelers.

The actual text of the new law (in Greek language) can be found in Law 4850, art. 25, par. η, page 10697, and it’s also been confirmed by the U.S. Embassy in Greece.

With that said, it still doesn’t hurt to have an IDP for Zakynthos in case there’s confusion from the authorities or your local car rental company. Many people in Greece still seem to be unaware of this change.

Where To Stay In Zakynthos

What To Do In Zakynthos Greece

• Navagio Viewpoint

This famous shipwreck beach is what first put Zakynthos island on so many travelers’ bucket lists. It’s probably one of the most famous travel pictures in the world!

Navagio is a beautiful secluded beach surrounded by turquoise water and dramatic, winding cliffs. In the center of the beach sits a smuggler ship that ran aground during stormy weather in 1980.

If you’re mainly wanting to see the iconic postcard view and take photos of it, you can do that from a viewpoint on the cliffs high above the beach.

• Monastery of Agios Georgios Krimnon

This is a small monastery that you’ll pass on the way to the Navagio viewpoint. In fact, it’s just a 5 minute drive from the viewpoint!

The Monastery of Agios Georgios Krimnon was founded in the 16th century, and it’s still a functioning monastery, with monks living and working there. Remember to dress appropriately if you want to go inside, although plenty of nice pictures can be taken from outside.

• Navagio Beach

Even though the best pictures of Navagio shipwreck are actually taken from the steep cliffs above, it’s also fun to get in a boat and go see the beach at eye level, if you’re willing to brave the crowds.

Boat tours to Navagio Beach generally depart from the nearby harbor at Porto Vromi. You can show up there and try to arrange a boat rental on the spot, but it’s generally better to book a tour package online.

Best Zakynthos Photo Spot

There are many beautiful photo spots in Zakynthos, but I think the winner would have to be the Navagio Viewpoint, followed by the Myzithres Rocks in second place. Third place for me might be Plakaki Beach.

Best Zakynthos Beaches

To be honest, Zakynthos beaches generally aren’t as nice as the ones on say, Kefalonia island, and they’re very overrun with tourists during the summer months. For the best experience, you’ll want to arrive early and find a good parking spot before the crowds get there.

Best Sunset Spot In Zakynthos

Zakynthos island has a long west-facing coastline, so naturally, there are lots of good sunset spots to enjoy.

What To Bring

Here are some packing suggestions for your trip to Zakynthos Greece.

• Waterproof Bag: Essential for keeping your electronics safe on the boats.
• Waterproof Phone Pouch: Great if you don’t have other electronics and just need something small to protect your phone.
• Snorkeling Gear: Good for exploring the clear waters around Zakynthos.
• Water Shoes: Save your feet some grief and wear water shoes!

Other Zakynthos Tips

• Credit Cards: You can pay by credit card for most hotels, restaurants, and other things in Zakynthos, but it’s still a good idea to carry cash (in Euros).
• ATM: There are ATMs within reach of every corner of the island.
• Cell Service: Phone reception is strong across most of Zakynthos island.

Is Zakynthos Safe?

Yes, Zakynthos is a very safe place to visit!

Is Zakynthos Worth It?

If you still can’t make up your mind, then yes, Zakynthos is definitely worth it!

How Long To Stay

There are loads of good things to do in Zakynthos. The best highlights will take at least 3 days to see, but one week is more ideal.

Zakynthos Itinerary

Here’s what a sample 4-day itinerary for Zakinthos island could look like:

• Day 1: Northwest Zakynthos. Visit the Navagio Beach viewpoint and see the famous shipwreck from above.
• Day 2: North Zakynthos. Drive to Agios Nikolaos Harbor and rent a boat to go to the Blue Caves for scenery and swimming.
• Day 3: Southwest Zakynthos. Drive to Keri Lake Harbor, then rent a boat to go to Marathonisi Island, Keri Caves, and Myzithres Beach.
• Day 4: East Zakynthos. If you’re feeling adventurous, hike or drive up the steep gravel road to Monastery Panagia Skopiotissa.

Best Time To Visit Zakynthos Greece

The best time to visit Zakinthos island depends on what you’re looking for, but generally the nicest weather is from early May to late October.