Getting from Zakynthos to Kythira

If you are heading to Kythira from Zakynthos you are making your way from one of the most beautiful of the Ionian islands to an island at the southern tip of the Peloponnese, between the Aegean and the Ionian seas, relatively close in geographic terms given both sit on the western and southern sides of Greece. It has stone villages, deep gorges, a Venetian castle above Chora and a coastline of turquoise coves.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Zakynthos to Kythira. Getting there means taking the ferry from Zakynthos to Kyllini and then driving southeast through the Peloponnese via Pyrgos, Tripoli and Sparta to Neapoli, which takes around 4 to 4.5 hours from Kyllini, and then taking the short ferry from Neapoli to Kythira, which takes around 1 hour and runs daily in summer. This avoids Athens entirely and is the most natural road and sea connection between the two given their shared position on the western and southern sides of Greece.

Getting there by air

Kythira has its own small airport with daily connections from Athens. Zakynthos has an international airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Zakynthos to Athens and then Athens to Kythira takes under 1 hour 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 Zakynthos to Kyllini and drive southeast through the Peloponnese to Neapoli for the short ferry across to Kythira. At around 5 to 6 hours total it avoids Athens entirely and is the most natural approach. Having a car makes this route straightforward and the ferry from Neapoli takes your vehicle directly to Kythira. If you prefer to fly, take the flight from Zakynthos to Athens and then fly to Kythira.