Getting from Thassos to Zakynthos

If you are heading to Zakynthos from Thassos you are making your way from the northernmost island in Greece to one of the most beautiful of the Ionian islands, on the opposite side of the country. 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 Thassos to Zakynthos. No mainland Aegean port is connected by sea directly to any Ionian island. Getting there means taking the ferry from Thassos to Kavala, which runs almost hourly in summer and takes around 1 hour 30 minutes, and then either flying from Kavala to Athens and then Athens to Zakynthos, or driving west via the Egnatia motorway and Ioannina to Patras and then to Kyllini for the ferry to Zakynthos, which takes around 1 hour 15 minutes and runs frequently. The drive from Kavala to Kyllini takes around 6.5 to 7 hours via the Egnatia motorway, avoiding Athens entirely.

Getting there by air

Zakynthos has an international airport with connections from Athens. Thassos has no airport. The nearest airport is Kavala. Taking the ferry from Thassos to Kavala, flying from Kavala to Athens and then Athens to Zakynthos takes around 50 to 55 minutes on the second leg. Total journey time is around 5 to 6 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Thassos to Kavala and fly from Kavala to Athens, then fly from Athens to Zakynthos. It is the fastest and most practical approach. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Thassos to Kavala and drive west via the Egnatia motorway and Ioannina to Kyllini for the ferry across to Zakynthos, which avoids Athens entirely and keeps the journey on some of the finest driving roads in northern and western Greece.