Car Rental in Zakynthos: Do You Actually Need One? (Yes. Here’s Why)
Planning a trip to Zakynthos and still on the fence about renting a car? Short answer: yes. We did four days on the island — three of us, me pregnant — and renting a car wasn’t just convenient. It was the reason the trip actually worked.
Here’s everything you need to know about car rental in Zakynthos before you book.
What you’ll find in this guide:
- Whether you actually need a car (and why)
- What we rented, where we picked it up, and what we paid
- What driving in Zakynthos is really like
- The beaches you simply cannot reach without wheels
- Practical info: automatic vs. manual, airport pickup, insurance
Table of Contents
Do You Need a Car in Zakynthos?
Yes — and I’ll give you the one-sentence reason: Zakynthos has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean, and most of them are completely inaccessible without a car.
Laganas and Tsilivi are reachable by taxi or on foot from certain hotels. That’s about it. If you want to get to Gerakas, Xagia, Kalamaki, the sulfur beach, or anywhere near the Blue Caves — you need wheels. Full stop.
Here’s the honest comparison:
Taxi
- Covers Laganas, Tsilivi, and the town center
- Expensive if you’re making more than one or two trips
- No access to remote beaches at all
Rental car
- Every beach on the island is reachable
- Pays for itself after 2–3 taxi rides
- Full flexibility — no waiting, no negotiating, no schedule
The math isn’t close.
Reality check: Zakynthos isn’t a big island. You can drive the entire perimeter in under two hours. But without a car, you’ll spend your whole trip in the same tourist strip. The island’s best beaches require wheels — and a willingness to take a dirt road or two.
What We Rented — And Why Automatic Was Non-Negotiable
We had a Citroen C1, automatic, picked up at Zakynthos International Airport (ZTH) and dropped off at the same spot four days later. Small, simple, and exactly right for the island.
The automatic wasn’t a preference — it was a necessity. I was pregnant, and navigating Zakynthos Town’s narrow streets in a manual would have been genuinely stressful. I’m talking one-lane alleys, cars parked on both sides, and at least one full reversing situation because a delivery truck was blocking the road. An automatic just removes that entire layer of stress.
Honestly, even without the pregnancy factor, I’d recommend automatic to anyone who isn’t comfortable driving manual in tight urban streets. Zakynthos Town isn’t a nightmare, but it’s not relaxed either. An automatic lets you focus on where you’re going instead of the gear shift.
What we actually paid: 4 days, picked up at ZTH — around €120 (about $130) through DiscoverCars. The airport desk quoted us considerably more for the same category. Booking online in advance isn’t just convenient — it’s where the real savings are.
If you’re at the point where you know you need a car, availability for automatics fills up fast in peak season. Worth checking your dates now.
We booked through DiscoverCars — no hidden fees, free cancellation, easy airport pickup. Check current rates for your dates here.
Driving in Zakynthos: What to Expect
The main roads connecting towns are fine — proper asphalt, well-signed, easy to navigate with a basic GPS or phone. But once you head toward the better beaches, things change.
Gerakas has a proper road. Xagia does not. The route toward the Blue Caves area involves a long dirt stretch that made us momentarily reconsider the rental agreement. Nothing seriously dangerous — just bumpy, dusty, and occasionally shared with a goat standing in the middle of the road, completely indifferent to us. Nothing here is going to catch an experienced driver off guard. It’s unfamiliar, not difficult.
A few things worth knowing:
- Zakynthos Town streets are narrow. Tight corners, scooters parked in odd spots — slow down and stay calm.
- Dirt roads are normal near the best beaches. A small car is genuinely better than an SUV here — easier to thread through single-lane paths.
- Parking at most beaches is free and easy, even in summer.
- International Driving Permit: US license holders need an IDP alongside their US license. Get it through AAA before you leave — it takes about 15 minutes in person and costs $20.
- They drive on the right, same as home.
- Distances are short: Zakynthos Town to Gerakas is about 18 miles (30 km) — roughly 35 minutes. Town to Porto Vromi in the northwest is about 20 miles (33 km) — around 40 minutes.
Zakynthos is extremely safe for tourists. Standard European precautions apply.
The Beaches You Can Only Reach by Car
This is the whole point. Without a rental car, Zakynthos is a decent beach holiday. With one, it’s genuinely one of the best islands in Greece.
Here’s what we actually reached:
Gerakas — one of the most important sea turtle nesting beaches in Europe. The drive from Zakynthos Town takes about 35 minutes. Beautiful beach, not overcrowded, because the drive filters out the lazier tourist traffic.
Xagia — remote, almost deserted when we were there. Turquoise water, white cliffs, and we had it mostly to ourselves. The dirt road is rough. It’s completely worth it.
Kalamaki — calm, sheltered bay, good for swimming. Easy 20-minute drive. Great for a slow afternoon.
Xigia (Sulfur Beach) — natural sulfur springs bubble up in the sea. Strange smell, fascinating experience. You’d never stumble across this without a car.
Blue Caves viewpoint — we drove to the northern cliff viewpoint above the caves. The caves themselves are best from the water (see below), but even the cliff view justifies the drive north.
Tsilivi and Laganas — both technically reachable without a car, but having wheels means you can combine them with remote spots on the same day and not spend the whole day commuting.
Getting to Shipwreck Beach (Navagio)
Navagio — the famous wrecked ship in the impossibly turquoise cove — cannot be reached by car. The cliff walls around it are sheer. It’s only accessible by boat, from Porto Vromi harbor on the west coast or from Agios Nikolaos in the north.
We did a private boat tour organized through a Hungarian company. I’ll be honest: it wasn’t great. The logistics were chaotic, the boat was cramped, and the whole thing felt disorganized. If I were doing this again, I’d book through Viator — small group, morning departure, real reviews from people who’ve actually done it.
Morning is also the right time at Navagio. The light is better, the crowds are smaller, and the water color is at its most surreal before 11am.
Browse Navagio boat tours here — filter for morning departures and small group options.
Where We Stayed: Palatino Hotel, Zakynthos Town
Choosing the Palatino Hotel was a deliberate decision. We specifically didn’t want to be in Laganas or Tsilivi — the party-zone feel, the noise, the tourist strip that looks identical everywhere. But we also didn’t need to be on a beach because we had a car.
Palatino sits in a quieter part of Zakynthos Town, close enough to the waterfront and the local restaurants but calm enough to sleep properly. We could be at any beach on the island within 30 to 40 minutes. That flexibility was exactly what we were looking for.
Having a car meant we got the best of both worlds — quiet evenings in town, dinner on the waterfront, and full access to every corner of the island during the day. The hotel choice only really makes sense with the car. Together, they work.
For a family or couple that wants to explore rather than sit fixed to one resort beach, Zakynthos Town is the right base. And within Zakynthos Town, somewhere quiet and well-run beats a flashier option in the tourist corridor.
Check availability at Palatino Hotel here. For timing your booking and getting the best rate, our guide to booking hotels like a pro covers the free cancellation strategy in full.
The general rule for accommodation in Zakynthos: if you have a car, stay in or near Zakynthos Town. If you don’t, you’ll need to be walking distance from a beach — which means you’ll end up in Tsilivi or Laganas by default.
Practical Info: Car Rental in Zakynthos
Where to pick up: Zakynthos International Airport (ZTH) is the most convenient option. Prices at the airport desk are noticeably higher than online rates — book in advance through a comparison platform.
Automatic vs. manual: If you’re not fully comfortable with manual transmission, or if driving in narrow urban streets sounds stressful, book automatic. The price difference is small and the experience difference is significant.
Car size: We had a Citroen C1. A small car is genuinely better for this island — easier on dirt roads, easier to park near beaches, easier to maneuver in town. No need for an SUV.
Insurance: Our rental included basic coverage, but we added CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) on top. For a trip that involves dirt roads and tight alleys, the extra coverage is worth it. Compare what’s offered through your booking platform before accepting the desk rate on arrival.
Fuel: Plenty of gas stations on the island. Fill up before heading into the remote north or far south.
Travel money: We use Wise for all European travel — no conversion fees, accepted everywhere. Worth setting it up before you leave. Full breakdown in our best travel money card guide.
Connectivity: We travel with an eSIM — no roaming charges, activated before the flight lands. Our eSIM guide covers the best options and whether your phone supports it.
Getting there: Zakynthos International Airport (ZTH) connects through Athens or with direct flights from several European cities. If you’re flying from the US, you’ll likely connect through a European hub. Our guide to finding cheap flights is worth a read if you’re still booking.
Travel insurance: For a road trip that involves rental cars, dirt roads, and boat excursions, travel insurance isn’t optional. Make sure your policy covers rental vehicle incidents and medical evacuation — compare options before you leave, not after.
What We’d Do Differently
Book the car earlier. We booked about three weeks out and paid a fair price, but automatic transmission cars get scarce in peak season. Book as soon as your dates are confirmed.
Skip the private Navagio tour. The Hungarian organizer we used was a miss. Stick to a platform with real reviews — the experience at Navagio depends entirely on the operator.
Fewer beaches, longer stays. We tried to hit too many spots in one day. Gerakas in the morning plus Xagia in the afternoon is a great day. Adding a third stop turned it into a road trip instead of a beach day. Two beaches, done properly, is better.
The Bottom Line on Car Rental in Zakynthos
If you’re planning this trip and wondering whether a car is worth it: it is. The cost is modest, the logistics are simple, and it completely changes what the island can offer you.
A car rental in Zakynthos isn’t a luxury add-on. It’s what unlocks the place. Without it, you’ll see two tourist beaches and the same strip of waterfront bars. With it, you’ll reach remote coves with turquoise water, park at beaches with almost nobody on them, and actually understand why Zakynthos has the reputation it does.
We booked through DiscoverCars — no surprises, free cancellation, and easy pickup at ZTH. Check what’s available for your dates here.
Not ready to book yet? Save this guide for later — or read next:
- Zakynthos Itinerary: How to Spend 4 Days on the Island [link when article is ready]
- Where to Stay in Zakynthos: Honest Breakdown by Area [link when article is ready]
- Zakynthos Travel Costs: What a Week on the Island Actually Costs
- How to Plan a Trip — so nothing gets missed before you leave
