Getting from Santorini to Zakynthos

If you are heading to Zakynthos from Santorini you are crossing from one of Greece's most famous islands to another, and the contrast between them is sharp. Where Santorini is volcanic, dramatic and built around the caldera view, Zakynthos is lush and green, with a mountainous interior, a long fertile plain on the east coast and a western shoreline of sheer white limestone cliffs dropping into some of the bluest water in the Ionian. Navagio beach, also called Shipwreck beach, is one of the most photographed places in Greece. The loggerhead sea turtles that nest on the beaches of Laganas Bay are one of the most important turtle populations in the Mediterranean. The island has a lively main town, good food and enough variety to reward a longer stay than most visitors give it.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Santorini to Zakynthos. The two islands sit on opposite sides of Greece and the ferry networks do not connect them. Getting there by sea means taking the ferry from Santorini to Piraeus and then travelling by road across the Peloponnese to Kylini, where short ferries cross to Zakynthos in around 1 hour 15 minutes. The total journey by this route takes the better part of a day. Flying is the practical choice.

What about flying?

Both Santorini and Zakynthos have airports, which makes this a clean connection by air. There are no direct flights between the two islands. The journey goes Santorini to Athens and then Athens to Zakynthos, with total travel time around 4 to 5 hours door to door. It is worth knowing that in Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights. Almost all island to island travel goes through Athens.

Your best option

Fly via Athens. It is quick and straightforward and Zakynthos Airport is close to the main town. Once you arrive, rent a car. The island is large enough that you need one to get between the beaches on the west coast, the mountain villages and the east coast properly. Go to Navagio from above first, on the clifftop lookout, before you take the boat down to the beach itself. The view from up there is one of the best in Greece.