Zakynthos by Car: Ferry from Kyllini

Why Zakynthos

Zakynthos is the southernmost of the major Ionian Islands and known above all for its beaches – from the white limestone coves in the west to the long sandy stretches in the south, where loggerhead turtles bury their eggs every summer. Compared with Corfu or Lefkada, it's the most swim-friendly island of the group, with warm, calm water especially along the east and south coasts.

In the Ionian Islands guide, Zakynthos usually gets mentioned alongside Corfu and Lefkada – but unlike those two, it sits well to the south and is reached only via Patras and Kyllini, not Igoumenitsa. That makes it a natural endpoint if your road trip already starts on the Peloponnese's west coast.

Getting there by car

The route starts at Patras, where Adriatic ferries from Italy dock. From there you drive about an hour south along the Peloponnese's west coast to Kyllini. In Kyllini, Levante Ferries takes over: the crossing to Zakynthos Town takes 1 hour 15 minutes and runs year-round, with an average of about five departures a day – in July and August that rises to up to six departures per direction. Your car drives straight onto the car deck, no need to switch vehicles.

Kyllini is also where the ferries to Kefalonia depart – if you want to see both islands, you can combine them from the same port without any extra driving. More on that in the Kefalonia article.

Navagio, honestly

Shipwreck Beach, or Navagio, is the island's most photographed spot – and right now access is limited. Due to landslide risk, the beach itself is closed, currently in effect (as of July 2026) until 31 October 2026. If you head to the bay, you can currently get as far as the official viewing platform above the cliffs – that gives you the familiar view of the wreck and the white bay, just from above rather than from the sand.

Boat tours to the bay still run, but they keep their distance from the closed zone: photos from the water are possible, landing on the beach isn't. Authorities reassess the situation twice a year, so the closure could be extended or lifted. It's worth checking the current status shortly before you travel – a fair number of older travel sites still describe free beach access, which no longer holds in 2026.

What's worth seeing

In the north of the island, near Agios Nikolaos, boat tours set off for the Blue Caves at Cape Skinari – sea caves where the light turns the water shades of turquoise and cobalt.

In the south lies the National Marine Park in Laganas Bay, established to protect the loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) that nest here. Gerakas beach on the Vasilikos peninsula has its own protection rules during nesting season, including zones that are closed off at times – check locally for the current rules before you swim there.

Zakynthos Town itself was largely destroyed in the 1953 earthquake, like Argostoli on Kefalonia, and rebuilt afterward. From the Bochali viewpoint above town, next to the ruins of a Venetian fortress, you look out over the bay and harbour. On the west coast, Porto Limnionas is a narrow rock cove with clear water, noticeably quieter than the better-known beaches in the south.

FAQ

How do you get to Zakynthos by car?
Via Patras: from there it's about an hour to Kyllini, where you take the Levante Ferries crossing to Zakynthos Town. The crossing takes 1 hour 15 minutes and runs year-round, with an average of about five departures a day, rising to up to six per direction in July and August.

Is the shipwreck beach (Navagio) accessible in 2026?
The beach itself is closed due to landslide risk, currently in effect (as of July 2026) until 31 October 2026. What's allowed is the view from the official viewing platform above the bay, plus boat tours that keep their distance from the closed zone. Authorities reassess the situation twice a year, so check the current status before you travel.

When is the best time to visit Zakynthos?
May and June, plus September and October, bring warm weather with less crowding than peak summer.