Getting from Zakynthos to Lefkada

If you are heading to Lefkada from Zakynthos you are making your way from one of the most beautiful of the Ionian islands to a neighbouring island in the same sea, connected to the mainland by a causeway, just a short distance to the north. It has some of the finest beaches in Europe on its west coast with sheer white limestone cliffs dropping to turquoise water.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Zakynthos to Lefkada. Lefkada has no main ferry port as it is linked to the mainland by a floating bridge. Getting there means taking the ferry from Zakynthos to Kyllini and then driving north via Patras and Preveza to Lefkada, which takes around 3 to 3.5 hours from Kyllini. This avoids Athens entirely and keeps the journey within western Greece making it the most natural road connection between the two Ionian islands.

Getting there by air

Lefkada has no airport. The nearest airport is Preveza, around 22 kilometres from Lefkada Town. Zakynthos has an international airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Zakynthos to Athens and then driving or taking the KTEL bus northwest to Lefkada gives a total journey time of around 7 to 8 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Zakynthos to Kyllini and drive north via Patras and Preveza to Lefkada. At around 3 to 3.5 hours from Kyllini it avoids Athens entirely and is the most natural and direct approach for this Ionian to Ionian connection. Having a car makes this route straightforward and the drive up the western Greek coast via Patras is a good one.