Getting from Zakynthos to Ios

If you are heading to Ios from Zakynthos you are making your way to an island in the southern Cyclades, on the opposite side of Greece. It has some of the finest beaches in the Cyclades on its south coast and a Chora above the port that comes alive in the evening.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Zakynthos to Ios. No Ionian island is connected by sea to any Aegean island. Getting there by sea means taking the bus and ferry from Zakynthos to Athens and then the Piraeus to Ios ferry, which runs multiple times daily in summer and takes around 4 to 8 hours depending on the vessel. The total journey takes the better part of a day.

Getting there by air

Ios has no airport. The nearest airports are Santorini and Naxos. Flying from Zakynthos to Athens and then Athens to Santorini, followed by the short ferry from Santorini to Ios taking around 35 minutes, gives a total journey time of around 4 to 5 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Fly to Santorini via Athens and take the short ferry across to Ios. It is the most practical approach. If you are travelling with a car, take the ferry from Zakynthos to Kyllini and drive to Piraeus for the ferry to Ios.