5-day Zakynthos Itinerary

What this itinerary covers

Quick trip overview

This 5-day itinerary is how I would recommend doing Zakynthos if you want enough time for two full boat days, viewpoints, beaches, and travel logistics without rushing.

Zakynthos is part of the Ionian Islands in Greece, known for bright blue water, dramatic cliffs, sea caves, boat days, hidden beaches, and the famous Navagio Beach.

If you’re planning to combine Zakynthos with another island, I recommend choosing another Ionian island, especially Kefalonia (guide coming soon). It makes much more sense logistically than trying to jump between island groups.

When to go

The best months to visit Zakynthos are usually June, July, August, and September.

June or September: If you want the best balance of good weather, warm water, and fewer crowds, I would choose.

July and August: the hottest and busiest months. The water is amazing, boat days are perfect, and everything is open, but you should expect higher prices, more people, and busier viewpoints and beaches. I went in August and personally I didn’t think it was overcrowded. I had no problems doing anything. To be honest, I’ve visited places that felt much more crowded, like the Dolomites, the Grand Canyon, and Rio de Janeiro. Zakynthos and Kefalonia still felt very chill for me, even during peak season.

May and early October: can also be good if you want a quieter trip, but the sea can feel cooler and some seasonal businesses may have shorter hours or limited availability.

Getting around Zakynthos

I rented a car for this trip, and I highly recommend it. Public transportation on the island is limited, and having a car gives you way more freedom to explore beaches, viewpoints, restaurants, and boat rental locations on your own schedule.

If you’re coming from Athens by car, you’ll need to drive to Kyllini Port and take the ferry to Zakynthos. The ferry ride is usually around 1 hour and 15 minutes, but schedules can change by season, so check the times and book your ticket in advance, especially during summer.

Boat Rental

I recommend checking boat rental options in advance through Click&Boat and CheckYeti, especially if you’re visiting during the summer and want better availability.

I personally used Click&Boat for all my boat rentals, and it worked amazingly well.

You can also take your chances by going directly to the harbor and renting on the spot, but booking ahead gives you more options and usually makes the day less stressful.

Food and drink

Greek food is one of the best parts of visiting Zakynthos.

During your trip, try dishes like fresh grilled fish, Greek salad, souvlaki, gyros, tzatziki, moussaka, grilled octopus, local cheese, and seafood pasta.

For drinks, you’ll find plenty of Greek wine, cold beer, frappé, freddo espresso, and local drinks like ouzo or tsipouro.

Where to stay in Zakynthos

I recommend booking your accommodation as early as possible, especially if you’re visiting in July or August.

Where you stay in Zakynthos matters because the island is bigger than it looks, and your location can affect how much driving you’ll do every day.

For this itinerary, I would choose a place that gives you easy access to restaurants, beaches, and the main roads, especially if you’re planning to do both boat days.

Best areas to stay

Tsilivi / Planos:

This is where I stayed, and I really liked it. It had plenty of restaurants, hotels, markets, and easy access to the beach. It also felt like a good base for exploring the island by car without being too far from everything.

Zakynthos Town:

A good option if you want to be closer to the port, restaurants, shops, and a more local town feeling. This can be convenient if you’re arriving or leaving by ferry.

Laganas / Agios Sostis area:

This area is convenient if you want to be close to the south side boat rentals, Marathonisi Island, turtle areas, and the south coast. Laganas is more lively, while Agios Sostis feels a bit more relaxed.

North Zakynthos:

The north side of Zakynthos is a good option if you want a quieter stay closer to the Blue Caves, Navagio boat routes, and dramatic coastline.

Areas like Agios Nikolaos, Skinari, and Volimes can be great if your main focus is the north boat day.

The downside is that you’ll be farther from the south side, Zakynthos Town, and some restaurant areas, so having a car is very important.

For a trip with both north and south boat days, I’d still choose Tsilivi / Planos or laganas as a more balanced base.

I also added a few accommodation options inside “Spots”, ranging from budget to luxury stays. I spent hours researching options with good locations, strong reviews, and different price ranges, so you can choose what fits your travel style and budget best.

Summary of itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Greece, rent a car, drive to Kyllini, ferry to Zakynthos, check in, easy dinner
Day 2: North boat day, Navagio Beach, Blue Caves and hidden beaches
Day 3: South boat day, Marathonisi Island, Keri Caves, Myzithres, secluded beaches
Day 4: Navagio Viewpoint, Myzithres Viewpoint, beaches, wine tour or extra activities
Day 5: Breakfast, check out, ferry back to Kyllini, drive to Athens or fly from Zakynthos

Important note: Boat days depend on weather and sea conditions. If the sea is rough or the boat company tells you to change your plan, listen to them. You can always switch Day 2, Day 3, and Day 4 depending on the weather.

Book in advance: flight, car rental, ferry tickets, boat rentals, hotels, and any special experiences.

Full 5 Day Zakynthos Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and check in

This is your travel and logistics day, so don’t try to do too much.

• Fly into Athens International Airport.

• Get your rental car at the airport

If you’re planning to rent a car, I recommend booking it as early as possible, especially if you’re visiting in the summer. Prices can go up, and availability can get limited.

• Drive from Athens to Kyllini

The drive is around 3 hours and 30 minutes, depending on traffic and stops.

• Take the ferry from Kyllini to Zakynthos

The ferry usually takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes, but schedules can change by season, so check the times and book your ticket in advance.

• Optional overnight in Athens

If your flight arrives in the late afternoon or at night, I recommend spending one night in Athens and starting the drive the next morning.

• Optional route: Fly directly to Zakynthos

Another option is to fly straight to Zakynthos and rent a car at Zakynthos Airport.

This is usually the easier route, but it can also be more expensive depending on the season, flights, and where you’re coming from.

If the price difference is not too big, this can be a great option because you save time and avoid the drive plus ferry logistics.

• Check into your hotel

• Keep this day relaxed, this should be a slower day. You’ll probably be tired from the flight, drive, ferry, and check-in, so I wouldn’t plan a big activity here. A good way to end Day 1 is to walk around near your hotel, choose a nice restaurant for dinner, stop by a market for water, snacks, sunscreen, and anything you’ll need for the boat days, then get to sleep early so you can start Day 2 fresh.

Day 2: North side boat day

• The north side of Zakynthos is where you’ll find some of the island’s most famous coastline, including Navagio Beach, the Blue Caves area, hidden beaches, cliffs, and unreal blue water.

• Book your boat as early as possible for better prices and availability. This is especially important in July and August. When booking, make sure to check the harbor location. For the north side, you want to rent from a harbor on the north or northeast side of the island. Many smaller boats in Zakynthos are available as license-free rentals, but this depends on the boat type and company. You can also rent a boat with a captain/skipper if you want less responsibility.

• I drove the boat myself, and it was easier than I expected. The only part that needed more attention was anchoring, because you really need to make sure you’re doing it the right way. Listen carefully to the boat company’s instructions before leaving. This is very important. The sea can be dangerous, and you don’t want to put yourself in a difficult position.

• Personally, next time I would hire a captain. Not because driving was too hard, but because I just want to relax, enjoy the day, and not have the responsibility. Also, if you hire a captain, you can enjoy a few beers without worrying about driving. If you drive the boat yourself, please don’t drink.

• Try to arrive at the first hour of your reservation. Most full-day boat rentals need to be returned around 5:00 or 6:00 pm, so starting early gives you way more time to enjoy the coast without rushing.

On this day, you can visit:

• Navagio Beach by boat

• Blue Caves

• Hidden beaches

• Small coves along the coast

• Xigia Beaches (depending on your route and rental location)

Important note: Navagio Beach rules can change because of landslide safety concerns. Before visiting, check the latest rules and follow your boat company’s instructions. In recent seasons, access to the beach itself has been restricted, and boats have had controlled access rules around the bay.

• Talk to the boat company or captain before leaving and ask for the best route for that day. When I rented from Agios Nikolaos, the owner told me to go straight to Navagio Beach first and then slowly make my way back toward Agios Nikolaos while stopping at the other highlights on the way. That worked really well. But if you rent from a different harbor, your route may be different. Always respect what the boat company tells you, especially if you’re driving yourself.

• Take your time, don’t rush this day.

Zakynthos from the water is honestly out of this world. The water is so blue it almost doesn’t look real, and this is the kind of day where you should stop often, swim, anchor where it’s safe, and enjoy the island from the boat.

Take this day only for the boat. After returning the boat, keep the evening simple. Have dinner nearby or eat at your hotel.

Day 3: South side boat day

• This is your second boat day, but this time you’ll explore the south side of Zakynthos. The south coast has a different feeling from the north. It has calmer areas, sea turtle spots, caves, small beaches, Marathonisi Island, and the Myzithres area. For the south side, many boat rentals leave from the Agios Sostis area.

On this day, you can visit:

• Marathonisi Island

• Keri Caves

• Myzithres by boat

• Small beaches around Myzithres

Important note about turtles: The south side of Zakynthos is known for loggerhead sea turtles. If you see turtles, keep distance, don’t chase them, don’t touch them, and follow any protected area rules. The goal is to enjoy seeing them without disturbing them.

• Just like Day 2, ask the boat company for the best route before leaving.

• Also, for this day take your time and enjoy the day with no rush.

• After returning the boat, end the day with dinner.

Day 4: Viewpoints, beaches, and optional experiences

• After two boat days, Day 4 is your land day. This is the day to drive around the island, visit the viewpoints, eat somewhere with a view, and add any extra experiences you want.

Must-see viewpoints:

• Navagio Viewpoint

• Myzithres Viewpoint

These are both musts, especially if you want to see the same coastline from a completely different perspective.

• When visiting Myzithres Viewpoint, I highly recommend going to Keri Lighthouse Restaurant(make reservation) for lunch or dinner. It’s close to the viewpoint, and the view from the restaurant is unbelievable. This is a great place to slow down, eat, and enjoy one of the best views on the island.

Optional experiences

If you want to add more to this day, you can choose from:

• Wine tour

• Damianos Cave

• Venetian Tower

• Fishing experience

• Zakynthos Town

• Agios Dionysios Church

• Greek Cooking Class

• Extra beach stops

Zakynthos has many beaches around the island, so I marked a few good options on the guide map to help you choose what fits your route best.

If you still want more beach time on Day 4, pick one or two beaches that are close to the places you’re already visiting.

Don’t try to see every single beach. Choose a few, take your time, and actually enjoy them.

Day 5: Breakfast, check-out, and departure

• This is your departure day. Have breakfast, pack your bags, and check out of your hotel.

• If returning to Athens: Drive to Zakynthos Port, take the ferry back to Kyllini, and then drive back to Athens. Make sure to check ferry times in advance and give yourself enough buffer, especially if you have a flight later that day.

• If you’re flying from Zakynthos Airport, return your rental car and head to the airport.