Getting from Mykonos to Zakynthos

Zakynthos is one of the most dramatic islands in the Ionian and one that tends to exceed expectations. The coastline is the headline, particularly Navagio beach on the northwestern tip, a shipwreck marooned on white sand surrounded by sheer limestone cliffs that looks exactly as extraordinary in person as it does in every photograph ever taken of it. But the island is bigger and more varied than most people expect. A proper main town, fertile interior valleys, a serious turtle conservation programme on the southern beaches and a local character that survives despite the volume of tourism it receives every summer.

Take the ferry

Zakynthos sits in the Ionian Sea on the western side of Greece while Mykonos is in the Aegean, which means the two ferry networks do not connect directly. Getting there by sea means taking a ferry from Mykonos to Piraeus and then making your way across to Kylini on the western Peloponnese coast, from where ferries run to Zakynthos port in around 1.5 hours. The drive from Athens to Kylini takes around 3 to 3.5 hours. It is a full day of travel but straightforward if you plan it properly.

What about flying?

Both Mykonos and Zakynthos have airports so flying is the practical choice on this route. The journey goes Mykonos to Athens and then Athens to Zakynthos, with total travel time around 3 to 4 hours door to door depending on your connection. Zakynthos Airport is close to the main town and well connected through the summer season. Book ahead as flights fill up quickly in July and August.

Your best option

Fly. The Athens connection is simple and gets you there without a full day of travel. If you have flexibility and want to arrive by sea, the drive across the Peloponnese to Kylini is a scenic one and the ferry into Zakynthos port is a good arrival. Either way, get yourself to Navagio beach as early in the morning as you can manage and go by boat from the north of the island to see it from the water.