Getting from Tilos to Zakynthos

If you are heading to Zakynthos from Tilos you are making your way from a volcanic island in the Dodecanese 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 Tilos to Zakynthos. No Dodecanese island is connected by sea to any Ionian island. Getting there means taking the ferry from Tilos to Rhodes, flying from Rhodes to Athens and then either flying to Zakynthos or 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. Tilos has no airport. The nearest airport is Rhodes. Taking the ferry from Tilos to Rhodes, flying from Rhodes 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 Tilos to Rhodes and fly from Rhodes to Athens, then fly from Athens to Zakynthos. It is the fastest and most practical approach. Check the Tilos to Rhodes schedule before booking as departure days and times vary by season. If you are traveling with a car, take the overnight ferry from Tilos to Piraeus and drive to Kyllini for the ferry across to Zakynthos.