Port of Zakynthos Town: getting there, harbour info and sailing destinations

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Zakynthos harbour lies on the east coast of the island, directly in front of the island's capital, which is also called Zakynthos, in the south of the Ionian Sea opposite the Peloponnese. Here you can read how to get from the airport to the harbour, where to park and shop, what wind to expect, which sailing destinations lie nearby and what skippers should know about the harbour authority, the marine park and the marine weather.

Where is Zakynthos harbour?

In Zakynthos harbour, yachts moor at the town quay on the waterfront road, directly in front of the town centre. From here, you can reach supermarkets, the pharmacy and car parks within a few minutes' walk.

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The harbour is managed and operated by the Port Fund of Zakynthos, while the Zakynthos Port Authority is responsible for safety on the water.

To the north is the basin of Zakynthos Marina. It was partly built in the early 2000s and is designed for 150 berths, but it has not yet opened as a marina. There are still no buildings on its land area. The marina belongs to the assets of the state holding fund, and plans there include restaurants, shops and boat workshops (as of November 2026).

Arriving in Zakynthos for the start of your sailing trip

In Zakynthos, the airport, car parks, supermarkets and pharmacy are all close together.

From Zakynthos Airport to the harbour

Zakynthos airport is just under 5 kilometres from the harbour, so it is only a short journey from the terminal to the town quay. A regular bus connects the airport with Zakynthos town, and the bus stop is in front of the terminal at the arrivals area. Taxis also wait directly in front of the terminal.

By ferry via Kyllini

If you travel via the mainland, you cross from Kyllini in the north-west of the Peloponnese, around 280 kilometres from Athens. The Levante Ferries ferries run all year round and dock in the port of Zakynthos. As things stand (November 2026), the crossing takes around 1 hour 15 minutes. In the winter half-year there are four ferries a day in each direction (three on Sundays), and up to six in high summer. The first ferry leaves Zakynthos at 5:30 am on weekdays, and the last leaves Kyllini at 8:30 pm or 9:30 pm depending on the season. A single fare costs 13.50 euros per person and 38.40 euros for a car (as of November 2026).

Parking

You will find car parks around 200 to 250 metres from the town quay, including the car park by the MyMarket supermarket.

Shopping for the trip

You don't have to go far for provisions: the Carrefour Express is about 100 metres from the town quay, and a MyMarket about 200 metres. For a big shop with crates of drinks, take the car to a larger My market, about 1.4 kilometres from the harbour.

Doctor, pharmacy and emergency services

The nearest pharmacy is about 200 metres from the town quay. The General Hospital of Zakynthos is about 2 kilometres west of the harbour. In urgent cases, the Greek emergency numbers apply:

• 112: European emergency number for police, ambulance and fire brigade
• 166: Emergency services, 100: Police, 199: Fire brigade
• 108: Coast Guard, also for emergencies at sea; at sea also VHF channel 16

What does the harbour of Zakynthos offer?

The harbour of Zakynthos is a town harbour with no marina services: you moor at a public quay managed by the island's harbour fund. In return, you have the town right in front of your boat, with everything you need for the start of your sailing trip.

Feature	Details
Location	East coast of the island, off the town of Zakynthos
Berths for yachts	at the town quay in front of the town centre
Administration	Harbour fund of Zakynthos
Responsible authority	Harbour authority of Zakynthos
Harbour authority telephone	+30 26950 28117, +30 26950 28118
Harbour fund telephone	+30 26950 48157, +30 26950 26334
Ferry	Kyllini–Zakynthos, around 1 hr 15 min
VHF	Channel 16 (emergency and calling channel of the coast guard)
Marina Zakynthos	150 berths planned, not yet in operation
Distances	Airport just under 5 km, hospital about 2 km

What wind can you expect around Zakynthos?

From May to September, a moderate wind from the north to northwest usually blows around Zakynthos. It is the same Etesian wind that is called the Meltemi in the Aegean, but in the Ionian Sea it is noticeably weaker.

In winter the wind comes mainly from the west and is then at its strongest. Overall, the wind direction in the Ionian Sea is less steady than in the other Greek sailing areas.

For a summer sailing trip from Zakynthos, this means: heading north towards Kefalonia, you will often have the wind on the nose, while on the way back south it will tend to be from astern.

Which sailing trip destinations can you reach from Zakynthos?

From the harbour of Zakynthos, the Peloponnese to the east, Kefalonia to the north and the south coast of the island itself are all within reach of a day's sail. You can reach Kyllini on the Peloponnese after about 15 nautical miles, Keri in the southwest of the island after about 18 nautical miles, Poros on the southeast coast of Kefalonia after about 23 nautical miles and Argostoli after about 38 nautical miles. These are rounded distances over water on the usual course; for precise planning, refer to the chart.

Kyllini lies at the northwestern tip of the Peloponnese, directly opposite Zakynthos. The passage leads across open water to the northeast and, in a northwesterly wind, is usually a beam reach.

Keri lies at the southwestern end of the Bay of Laganas. On the way there, you round the southeastern point of the island and then sail west across the mouth of the bay. Off Keri lies the small island of Marathonisi, one of the nesting beaches of the sea turtles. The whole bay is part of the marine park, whose rules are set out further down in the skipper section.

Poros on Kefalonia lies north-northwest. You sail north along the east coast of Zakynthos and then across open water to the neighbouring island.

Argostoli, the main town of Kefalonia, is a long day's sail past the northern tip of Zakynthos and along the south coast of Kefalonia. We present the harbour in the profile of Harbours in Argostoli . If you want to go further north into the Ionian Sea, you will find, in the profile for Lefkas the harbour on the Lefkas Canal in the north of the sailing area.

Navagio, the bay with the shipwreck, was closed until 31 October in the 2026 season: boats were not allowed to approach the shore to within less than 50 metres or to anchor there, and swimming was prohibited throughout the bay. Check which rules currently apply before you visit.

What can you do on a harbour day in Zakynthos?

Museum of Zakynthos

The Museum of Zakynthos stands on the town's central square. It houses one of the most important collections of post-Byzantine painting, with works of the Cretan School and Ionian naturalism from the 15th to the 19th century. There are also frescoes, carved iconostases and sculptures from island churches that no longer exist today.

Venetian castle above the town

The castle of Zakynthos stands on the hill above the town. The walls were completed in 1646 under Venetian rule, and the harbour was once watched over from here. The main entrance today is in the Tre Porte bastion on the north side. Inside the walls you will find the ruins of the Byzantine Church of the Saviour from the 12th century and old cisterns. The buildings inside were destroyed by the earthquake of 1953.

Through the town of Zakynthos

The town itself was also badly damaged in the 1953 earthquake. During reconstruction its character and Venetian heritage were preserved, and it climbs the hillside like an amphitheatre. Music is part of everyday life here: Greece's first philharmonic orchestra was founded in Zakynthos, and at Christmas, Easter and other festivals it plays in the streets.

For skippers: berthing and marine weather in Zakynthos

The Zakynthos harbour authority is responsible and can be reached by telephone on +30 26950 28117 or +30 26950 28118. Channel 16 is the distress and calling channel, monitored around the clock by the Greek coastguard.

Registration and Berthing

Yachts moor at the town quay on the waterfront road. The quay is public and is managed by the harbour fund, not by a marina operator. You can reach the harbour fund on +30 26950 48157 or +30 26950 26334. The ferries from Kyllini also dock in the harbour.

Approach

Large ships also call at the harbour, and cruise ships have been coming to Zakynthos more often in recent years. As things stand (November 2026), the port fund plans to restore the water depths in the harbour basin, and a survey has already been carried out.

Rules in the Laganas marine park

Laganas Bay in the south of the island is part of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, which has protected the sea turtles' nesting beaches since 1999. In the innermost zone off the nesting beaches, navigation and anchoring are prohibited from 1 May to 31 October. Throughout the bay, keep a lookout for turtles at the surface and proceed slowly.

Which marine weather forecast applies around Zakynthos?

The authoritative sea weather forecast is issued by the Greek Meteorological Service EMY (English HNMS). You can receive it via Greek coastal radio on VHF, via NAVTEX and on the Meteorological Service website.

The coast radio stations broadcast shipping weather forecasts in Greek and English, with gale warnings issued immediately after they are produced. Via NAVTEX you receive weather forecasts and warnings automatically on board; of the three Greek stations on Corfu, Limnos and Crete, Corfu is the closest to Zakynthos. Get the forecast before every longer passage, especially before the crossing to Kefalonia or the Peloponnese.

Formalities in Greece

For motor and sailing boats over seven metres in Greek waters, the TEPAI yacht fee is payable monthly. The rates are 16 to 33 euros per month for boats up to 12 metres, and above that 8 euros per metre of length per month; payment is made in advance via the platform of the Greek tax authority AADE (as of November 2026). The details can be found in the AADE FAQ on TEPAI (in Greek).

Sailing trips from Zakynthos on Törnfinder

You can find more sailing trips in the region under Sailing in the Ionian Sea, offers throughout the country under Sailing in Greece and all dates in the trip overview.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Zakynthos airport from the harbour?

Just under 5 kilometres.

Where do I park at the start of a sailing trip in Zakynthos?

In the car parks around 200 to 250 metres from the town quay, including at the MyMarket supermarket.

Is there a supermarket near the harbour of Zakynthos?

Yes, two: a Carrefour Express about 100 metres away and a MyMarket about 200 metres from the town quay. A larger supermarket is about 1.4 kilometres away.

Is Marina Zakynthos in operation?

No. The marina in the basin north of the harbour was partly built in the early 2000s but has not yet gone into operation as a marina. Yachts moor at the town quay.

Can I take the yacht into Laganas Bay?

Yes, but not everywhere. The innermost zone off the nesting beaches is closed to boats from 1 May to 31 October.

How far is it from Zakynthos to Kefalonia?

It is around 23 nautical miles to Poros on the southeast coast of Kefalonia, and around 38 nautical miles to Argostoli by sea.

Is there a ferry to Zakynthos?

Yes, all year round from Kyllini on the Peloponnese. The ferries dock in the port of Zakynthos. As things stand (November 2026), the crossing takes around 1 hour 15 minutes, with four departures a day in winter and up to six in high summer.