Getting from Zakynthos to Anafi

If you are heading to Anafi from Zakynthos you are making your way from one of the most beautiful of the Ionian islands to one of the most remote islands in the Cyclades, on the opposite side of Greece. It has a monolithic rock rising 460 metres from the sea and almost no tourist infrastructure.

Getting there by air

Anafi has no airport. The nearest airport is Santorini. Zakynthos has an international airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Zakynthos to Athens and then Athens to Santorini, followed by the short ferry from Santorini to Anafi taking around 1 hour 15 minutes and running several times a week in summer, gives a total journey time of around 5 to 6 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Zakynthos to Anafi. No Ionian island is connected by sea to any Aegean island. Getting there by road means taking the ferry from Zakynthos to Kyllini and driving to Piraeus for the Piraeus to Anafi ferry, which runs around 3 times a week and takes around 8 to 11 hours. The total journey by road and sea takes the better part of two days.

Your best option

Fly from Zakynthos to Athens and then fly to Santorini and take the short ferry across to Anafi. It is the most practical approach. Come with everything you need as the island has almost no facilities and that is entirely the point of going. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Zakynthos to Kyllini and drive to Piraeus for the conventional Piraeus to Anafi ferry, which takes your vehicle directly to the island.