Getting Around Zakynthos: Your Complete Transport Guide

Zakynthos is a medium-sized Greek island covering about 406 square kilometres with mountains in the north and a flat agricultural plain in the centre and south. Public transport is limited. The island rewards those who are mobile. This guide covers every realistic option.

The Short Version

Rent a car. If you’re visiting Zakynthos for more than 2 days and want to see the island properly — Navagio, the Blue Caves, the villages, the quieter southern beaches — a car is the only practical way to do it. Everything else is a compromise.

That said, if you’re based in a resort like Laganas or Tsilivi and your plan is: beach, pool, dinner, bar — you may not need a car at all. Everything in the resort zone is walkable or accessible by taxi.

Car Rental

Why You Need One

Zakynthos has no train. The bus network (KTEL) covers the main towns and some resorts but doesn’t reach most of the interesting places — Navagio is not served by bus, the mountain villages aren’t, the Vasilikos peninsula has minimal service, and the north coast beaches require your own transport.

The island is also manageable by car: most places are within 45 minutes of each other. You’re not dealing with motorway distances.

What It Costs

Expect to pay €25-40 per day for a standard small car (Fiat Panda, Hyundai i10, Toyota Aygo class) in peak season (July-August). Prices drop to €18-30/day in shoulder season (May-June, September-October).

Factors that affect price:

• Booking timing: Online pre-booking is always cheaper than walk-in. International broker sites (Rentalcars.com, Discovercars.com) are typically 20-30% cheaper than renting directly from local agencies.
• Duration: Weekly rates are proportionally cheaper. If you need a car for 5+ days, weekly rates often work out better.
• Car size: A small city car is sufficient for almost all roads on Zakynthos. You don’t need an SUV (though some mountain tracks are rough).
• Insurance: This matters. The basic rental price often includes only third-party liability. Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) is strongly recommended — it typically adds €10-18/day. Some credit cards offer CDW coverage; check your card terms before paying separately.

Where to Rent

Several international rental companies (Europcar, Hertz, Budget, Sixt) have offices at Zakynthos Airport and in Zakynthos Town. Local agencies are cheaper and numerous — Avis, Moto Zakynthos, Europeo Cars, and many smaller operators cluster around the port in Zakynthos Town.

At the airport: Most convenient if you’re arriving and want the car immediately. Slightly more expensive than town agencies.

Zakynthos Town port area: Slightly cheaper; easy to walk to if you’re arriving by ferry. Several agencies within 200 metres of the port.

Resort areas: Every major resort (Laganas, Tsilivi, Alykes) has at least one rental agency. Convenient but usually not the cheapest.

Driving in Zakynthos

The island’s roads range from excellent (the main coastal road) to narrow and challenging (mountain village lanes and some northern coast tracks).

Key road notes:

• Drive on the right (same as mainland Europe)
• Speed limits: 50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h on open roads. Enforced, especially in resort areas
• Petrol stations: Concentrated in Zakynthos Town and Laganas. Fill up before heading to remote areas — there’s nothing near Navagio, Volimes, or the southern tip
• Parking: Generally informal outside of Zakynthos Town. In town, respect yellow lines and pay parking areas
• Road condition: The road to Navagio viewpoint is good. Some tracks down to north coast beaches (e.g., Myzithres) require careful driving. Ask your rental agency about specific roads

Mountain roads: The road up to the Bohali/Skopos area and the cross-island route north toward Volimes involve tight hairpin bends. They’re manageable in a small car at reasonable speed but require attention.

KTEL Buses

KTEL (Κ.Τ.Ε.Λ.) is the Greek public bus system. On Zakynthos, it operates a limited network connecting Zakynthos Town with the main resort areas and villages.

What KTEL Covers

The bus network serves:

• Zakynthos Town ↔ Laganas (regular, ~30 min)
• Zakynthos Town ↔ Tsilivi (regular, ~20 min)
• Zakynthos Town ↔ Argassi (regular, ~15 min)
• Zakynthos Town ↔ Alykes (regular, ~40 min)
• Zakynthos Town ↔ Volimes (limited, ~1 hour)
• Zakynthos Town ↔ Keri (limited)

What KTEL Doesn’t Cover

• Navagio Beach (no bus)
• Vasilikos peninsula and Gerakas (no bus, or extremely limited)
• Blue Caves area (no bus)
• Most mountain villages
• The majority of smaller beaches

Schedules and Fares

The KTEL timetable operates roughly from 7 AM to 9 PM in summer, with reduced service in shoulder season. Frequency varies: main routes (Zakynthos Town-Laganas, Town-Tsilivi) run every 1-2 hours; secondary routes may run 2-4 times daily.

Fares: €1.60-4.50 depending on distance. Pay the driver on board. No booking required.

Zakynthos KTEL Station: Located in the centre of Zakynthos Town, near the main square. Schedules are posted at the station; an English version is usually available but may be outdated. For current schedules, check at the station on arrival or ask your accommodation.

Practical Assessment

KTEL is fine for getting between Zakynthos Town and the main resort areas if you’re not in a hurry. For exploring the island independently, it’s severely limited. Use buses for town-to-resort shuttles or as a supplement to another transport mode.

Scooters and Quads

Scooters

The classic Greek island rental. A 50cc scooter (suitable for one person) or 125cc (comfortable for two) costs €15-25 per day — making it the cheapest motorised option for independent travel.

Scooters are genuinely useful on Zakynthos: they can handle all the main roads, park anywhere, and get you to beaches that cars struggle to access. They’re also genuinely fun on the rural roads in the olive-grove interior.

Requirements:

• A valid driving licence with motorcycle category (in most EU countries: category A or A1, or B with scooter endorsement)
• Helmet — required by law and provided by rental agencies. Wear it.
• Sunscreen and appropriate clothing — road rash on sun-baked skin is not a holiday souvenir you want

Reality check: Scooter accidents are common on Zakynthos. Many are caused by overconfident riders on unfamiliar roads, gravel on bends, or riding in flip-flops. The main hazards are: loose gravel on rural bends, wet road paint, tourist drivers in cars who aren’t watching for bikes, and overestimating your own ability on mountain roads. Ride within your skill level.

Quads (ATVs)

Quads — four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles — are ubiquitous in Greek island resorts and popular with tourists who’ve never driven one before. Prices range from €30-50 per day.

The honest assessment of quads: they’re fun for about 20 minutes, don’t require a motorcycle licence, and represent a significantly higher accident risk than either a car or scooter in the hands of inexperienced drivers. They’re top-heavy, have different handling characteristics than cars, and are frequently used on roads where they weren’t designed to go.

If you want the open-air freedom experience, a scooter (properly ridden) is safer. If you want genuine off-road capability, a 4WD car is more appropriate. Quads occupy an awkward middle ground.

That said: Many tourists rent quads, explore the island happily, and have no problems. Just go slowly, don’t attempt mountain passes at speed, and wear a helmet.

Rental Locations

Scooter and quad rental agencies are in every resort: Laganas, Tsilivi, Alykanas, Argassi. Prices are fairly consistent. Larger agencies have better-maintained bikes and clearer insurance terms — worth checking.

Taxis

Zakynthos taxis are metered and broadly reliable. They’re an excellent option for airport/port transfers, occasional one-way trips, and nights out when you don’t want to drive.

Pricing

• Flag fall: ~€1.50
• Per km: ~€0.75-1.00 in daytime; higher at night (midnight-6 AM) and on public holidays
• Airport to Zakynthos Town: ~€12-15
• Zakynthos Town to Laganas: ~€12-18
• Zakynthos Town to Tsilivi: ~€10-15
• Zakynthos Town to Vasilikos: ~€18-25
• Zakynthos Town to Navagio viewpoint: ~€35-50 one way (expect a longer fare for remote destinations)

Note: Always confirm the approximate fare before starting a longer trip. Metered fares are the standard; if a driver offers a “fixed price” for a longer trip, it may or may not be advantageous — do the rough maths.

How to Get a Taxi

• Zakynthos Town taxi rank: At the main plateia (square) near the harbour. Usually taxis waiting.
• In resorts: Most hotels and restaurants can call a taxi on request.
• Phone: Ask your accommodation for the local taxi number. There’s no island-wide app (Uber does not operate on Zakynthos).
• Wait times: Immediate during the day in town; can be 15-30 minutes in the evening from resorts, especially on weekends.

Useful for

• Airport or port arrivals if you don’t have a rental car yet
• Night transfers after dining or nightlife (don’t drink and drive)
• One-way trips where you’ll be returning differently (e.g., hike down from Navagio viewpoint, taxi back)
• Short trips when parking would be difficult

Boat Taxis and Private Boats

A distinctly Greek transport option: small water taxis operate from Laganas and Zakynthos Town harbour to various beaches and islands in the bay. This is how you reach Marathonisi (Turtle Island) and how boat-tour operators serve the Blue Caves and Navagio from the sea.

Not a daily transport mode, but part of the island mobility picture for those staying near the sea.

Practical Summary

The optimal setup for most visitors: Rent a car for most of your stay. Use taxis for airport/port and any night when you’ve been drinking. Skip the quad unless you specifically want one.

Top Transport Tips

1. Book your car online in advance — Rentalcars.com, Discovercars.com, or directly with Europcar/Hertz. Always cheaper than walk-in.
2. Photograph the car thoroughly before driving off — Document every scratch and dent with timestamps. Non-negotiable.
3. Get full insurance (CDW + Super CDW) — Road edges, narrow lanes, and tourist-dense parking areas mean minor incidents happen.
4. Fill the tank before returning — Return fuel policies vary; full-to-full is standard and usually your best option.
5. Don’t rely on GPS alone — Download offline maps (Google Maps or Maps.me) for rural areas where signal is poor.
6. Park sensibly — In Zakynthos Town, pay parking is marked. Elsewhere, common sense applies — don’t block narrow village lanes.