Getting from Syros to Zakynthos

If you are heading to Zakynthos from Syros you are making your way from the capital of the Cyclades to one of the most beautiful of the Ionian islands, on the opposite side of Greece. It has Navagio Beach, the shipwreck cove with towering white cliffs and turquoise water that is one of the most photographed places in the Mediterranean.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Syros to Zakynthos. No Cycladic island is connected by sea to any Ionian island. Getting there means taking the ferry from Syros to Piraeus, which runs up to 6 daily crossings in summer and takes around 2 hours on the fast boat, and then driving to Kyllini on the northwestern Peloponnese coast for the ferry to Zakynthos, which takes around 1 hour 15 minutes and runs frequently. The drive from Athens to Kyllini takes around 3 to 3.5 hours via Corinth and Patras.

Getting there by air

Zakynthos has an international airport with connections from Athens. Syros has a small domestic airport with limited connections from Athens. Taking the ferry from Syros to Piraeus and flying from Athens to Zakynthos takes around 50 to 55 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 4 to 5 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Syros to Piraeus and fly from Athens to Zakynthos. It is the fastest and most practical approach. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Syros to Piraeus and drive to Kyllini for the ferry across to Zakynthos.