How to Get to Zakynthos from Athens (and Whether It’s Worth the Trip)
If you’re flying to Greece from the US, Athens is almost certainly where you land. And if Zakynthos is your destination, the next question is straightforward: how do you get from Athens to Zakynthos, and which option is actually worth your time?
The short answer: fly. There’s also a ferry option, and we’ll cover it honestly — but for most travelers, the flight wins on every practical level. Here’s the full breakdown.
Quick Reference
Best option: Fly — Athens (ATH) to Zakynthos (ZTH), about 75 minutes
Airlines: Olympic Air, Sky Express
Price: From around $52–58 one-way, $101–114 round-trip
Ferry option: Athens → Kyllini by bus (3.5–4 hours) + Kyllini → Zakynthos by ferry (75 min) = 5–6 hours total
Verdict: Fly unless you have a specific reason not to
Option 1: Fly from Athens to Zakynthos
The flight from Athens International Airport (ATH) to Zakynthos International Airport (ZTH) takes about 75 minutes. Both Olympic Air and Sky Express operate the route, with 4–5 departures per week depending on the season. Prices start around $52–58 one-way in economy — reasonable for an island connection in Europe.
Book in advance. Summer prices spike significantly, and October tends to be the cheapest month if your dates are flexible. Around 40 days out is generally the sweet spot for the best rates. Our guide to finding cheap flights covers the broader strategy for European connections.
Getting to Athens Airport from the city center: Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) is about 30–45 minutes from the city center by metro (line 3, direct, about €10) or taxi (€35–45). From the airport, the domestic departure process is the same terminal — check in for your Olympic Air or Sky Express flight after clearing the international side.
If you’re connecting from the US: Most American travelers fly into ATH on a transatlantic flight, then connect onward to ZTH. Athens is a legitimate stopover city — worth at least a night or two if your routing allows it. Some airlines let you add a free stopover in Athens on the way to or from a Greek island. Our stopover guide explains how to set this up.
Allow at least 2.5–3 hours between your international arrival and your domestic departure to Zakynthos — immigration at ATH can take 30–60 minutes in peak season, and you’ll need to check in for the onward flight.
Option 2: Ferry from Athens to Zakynthos
There is no direct ferry from Athens (Piraeus) to Zakynthos. If you want to travel by sea, the route goes like this:
Step 1: Take a KTEL bus from Kifissos Bus Station in Athens to Kyllini port on the Peloponnese — about 3.5 to 4 hours, costing around €26–30.
Step 2: Take the Levante Ferries crossing from Kyllini to Zakynthos — 75 minutes, around €12.50 per person. Two to four sailings per day depending on the season, with more frequent departures May through October.
Total journey time: 5 to 6 hours, door to door.
Compared to the flight — about 75 minutes in the air plus airport time, totaling around 3.5 to 4 hours — the ferry route takes significantly longer and involves two separate legs. The ferry is cheaper in absolute terms, but when you factor in the time cost and the bus ticket, the difference narrows considerably.
When the ferry makes sense: If you’re driving through the Peloponnese and want to bring your car to Zakynthos, the Kyllini crossing is the practical choice. If you’re traveling as a foot passenger from Athens with no specific reason to take the slow route, the flight is the better option.
Which Should You Choose?
For most American travelers arriving in Athens: fly to Zakynthos. The journey is shorter, the price difference is modest once you factor in the bus, and you arrive at a small, easy airport rather than at a port after a half-day of travel.
The ferry is a perfectly fine option if you’re specifically touring the Peloponnese and Zakynthos is the next stop on a longer Greek road trip. In that case, driving to Kyllini and putting the car on the boat makes good logistical sense.
If you’re flying in from the US with Zakynthos as the main destination: book the Athens connection as early as possible, allow a full transfer buffer at ATH, and don’t overthink it. The island is worth the logistics.
Arriving at Zakynthos Airport (ZTH)
Zakynthos International Airport is small and straightforward. Baggage claim is quick, the exit is direct, and the whole process from touchdown to outside takes about 20–30 minutes. A few things worth knowing before you land:
Taxis are cash only. There are no card readers at the ZTH taxi rank. A cab to Zakynthos Town costs around €15 and takes about 10 minutes. To Laganas, expect around €20 and 15 minutes. Have euros ready — this is one of those details that catches people off guard. If you haven’t sorted your travel money yet, our travel money card guide covers how to carry euros without losing on conversion fees.
Rental cars: The airport is the best pickup point for car rental — the most convenient and usually the best-priced option on the island. Book well in advance in summer, especially if you want an automatic. The airport desk prices are noticeably higher than online rates booked in advance. Compare rental car rates for ZTH here.
For everything you need to know about driving on the island — road conditions, what we rented, and what we’d do differently — our Zakynthos car rental guide covers it in detail.
Public buses run from the airport into Zakynthos Town during tourist season, but schedules are limited. If you’re arriving late or with luggage, a taxi or pre-booked transfer is the more reliable option.
Is Zakynthos Worth the Trip from Athens?
Yes — and not just barely. Zakynthos is one of the most visually diverse Greek islands at a size that’s actually manageable. In four days with a rental car you can reach sea turtle nesting beaches, natural sulfur springs, the most photographed shipwreck in Greece, and sea caves with water so clear you can see straight to the bottom.
The Athens connection adds time, but it’s a straightforward transit — not a complicated journey. Most travelers flying in from the US are already doing a transatlantic hop plus a European connection of some kind. Adding a 75-minute domestic flight to the end of it is a minor addition compared to what it unlocks.
If you’re on the fence about whether to add Zakynthos to a broader Greece itinerary: add it. The island rewards the people who make the effort to get there.
Practical Summary
- Fly: ATH → ZTH, ~75 min, Olympic Air or Sky Express, from ~$52 one-way
- Ferry: Athens → Kyllini (3.5–4h bus) → Zakynthos (75 min ferry) — total 5–6h, better for drivers
- Connection buffer at ATH: Allow 2.5–3 hours minimum from international arrival to domestic departure
- At ZTH: Taxi to town ~€15 cash only; rental car best booked online before arriving
- Best time to book flights: ~40 days in advance; October cheapest; July–August prices spike
- Connectivity: Set up an eSIM before you land — no roaming charges from the moment you arrive
Planning the Zakynthos part of your trip?
- Zakynthos Road Trip: Full 4-Day Itinerary by Car
- Car Rental in Zakynthos: Costs, What We Drove, and What to Expect
- Where to Stay in Zakynthos: Best Areas Honestly Ranked
- Best Beaches in Zakynthos: Ranked by Someone Who Drove to All of Them
- How to Find Cheap Flights — the full strategy for European connections
- Zakynthos Travel Costs: What a Week on the Island Actually Costs
- How to Plan a Trip — the full checklist before you book anything
