Getting from Zakynthos to Schinoussa

If you are heading to Schinoussa from Zakynthos you are making your way from one of the most beautiful of the Ionian islands to one of the Small Cyclades, on the opposite side of Greece. It has more than 18 beaches scattered around a coastline that you can walk across in an afternoon.

Getting there by air

Schinoussa has no airport. The nearest airport is Naxos. Zakynthos has an international airport with connections from Athens. Flying from Zakynthos to Athens and then Athens to Naxos, followed by the local Express Skopelitis ferry to Schinoussa taking around 2 hours and running almost daily 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 Schinoussa. 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 direct Piraeus to Schinoussa ferry, which runs around 3 times a week and takes around 7 to 9 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 Naxos and take the local ferry across to Schinoussa. It is the most practical approach. Give yourself at least two nights on Schinoussa and come with everything you need as facilities on the island are limited. If you are traveling with a car, take the ferry from Zakynthos to Kyllini and drive to Piraeus for the conventional Piraeus to Schinoussa ferry.