One thing I’d do again every time: rent a car at Athens Airport.
It saved me hours of waiting, let me move on my own schedule, and made the whole trip feel effortless. Greece isn’t a place you want to rely on tight bus schedules or connections especially when you’re heading to the islands.

Since you’re going to Zakynthos and possibly planning to island hop like I did (I combined Zakynthos with Kefalonia), having a car makes everything smoother from catching ferries to exploring once you arrive.

Having a car just makes the whole trip simpler.