I found learning how to get from Zakynthos to Kefalonia soooo enraging that I’ve decided to lay out the options as clearly as possible for you. Hopefully this saves you some time and keeps you semi-zen. We’re on the Greek islands! We should be chillin’ at all times!
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How to get from Zakynthos to Kefalonia
Zakynthos has 2 ports that connect to Kefalonia:
- In town – Zante (or Zakynthos) Port
- North – Agios Nikolaos Port
Kefalonia has 2 ports that connect to Zakynthos:
- South – Pesada
- South East – Poros
To get from Zakynthos to Kefalonia directly, your only option is to catch a ferry from the North Agios Nikolaos Port to Pesada.
Don’t leave Zakynthos without seeing shipwreck beach from above or below!
How to get from Zakynthos to Kefalonia: Option 1
Ionian Pelago Lines is the best option, so listen up!
Trust me, you want to take the direct ferry from Northern Zakynthos (Agios Nikolaos) to South Western Kefalonia (Pesada). Check online for schedules because they change seasonally. Here’s an example from May to October 2024:
Zakynthos to Kefalonia – 9:45 or 19:15 daily
Kefalonia to Zakynthos – 7:30 or 17:30 daily
- 11€ per person
- 14€ per scooter/motorcycle
- 35€ per car
- Additional fees for trailers vary by size
How to get from Zakynthos to Kefalonia directly
Getting to the North part of of Zakynthos is a bit of a pain if you don’t have a car or scooter. You can get a taxi for 40-50€ from Zante town, which takes about an hour. I wish local buses were an option, but there aren’t any.
If you do have your own transport, and plan to use it in Kefalonia, you can bring it across with you on the ferry. You can always wait until you get to Kefalonia and then rent the scooter/car once you’re there. There are local buses in other parts of Kefalonia, but you’ll definitely need some wheels to see the best parts of the island!
I usually use DiscoverCars to find good rentals.
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How to get from Zakynthos to Kefalonia: Option 2
Your other option, if you prefer to leave from Zante Port, is a ferry connection in Kyllini. This will take you to Poros in Kefalonia, but it’s twice as long and twice as expensive. Frankly, trying to line up two ferry times with the connection is just a headache, but if you insist…
Zakynthos to Kyllini
-
- 12.50€ per person
- 10-14.50€ per scooter/motorcycle
- 38.40€ per car
Kyllini to Kefalonia (Poros)
-
- 13.50€ per person
- 13.50-17.50€ per motorcycle/scooter
- 45€ per car
They offer a 20% discount on returns and have several sailing times per day. Check their website for current schedules.
How to get from Zakynthos to Kefalonia via Kyllini
In my opinion, this would only be a good option if you have time and want to turn it into a stopover and see some stuff in Kyllini. But to be honest, there isn’t much, and you’d be better off spending your time doing epic stuff in Kefalonia. I delve into this below!
If you have lots of money and don’t enjoy wasting your time, you can probably just hire your own fancy boat. But then like, why are you even reading this?
How I got from Zakynthos to Kefalonia
Here’s what I did and how I recommend getting from Zakynthos to Kefalonia on your trip to the Ionian islands:
I rented a car in Laganas for 30€/day and shared the cost with 3 other people. So it helps if you have friends. There are some really good deals out there if you book in advance — my 30€ was probably too expensive. And, if you know how to drive manual, you can get cars for more like 15€. Here’s an example from a quick search on DiscoverCars for 3 days leaving from Zakynthos:
We didn’t mention the whole going-to-another-island thing, because some rental companies charge an extra 20€/day for that. Obv, this could land you in a bit of trouble if something happens on the other island, so I won’t be liable if this happens to you. Ok thanks 🙂
I left my Workaway house at 18:30 and drove to Agios Nikolaos for the 19:45 ferry across to Pesada. Our accommodation was in Poros, which is a 30-minute drive across the island, and we were settling into our room by 22:00.
Myrtos Beach
Things to do in Kefalonia
- Melissani underground lake: So this is obviously just what it sounds like – an underground lake, and it’s Kefalonia’s main attraction. But what makes it particularly cool is the giant hole in the cave ceiling. You can take a little boat tour through, and I highly recommend going around noon when the sun is right above.
- Drogarati cave: A gigantic 150 million year old cave full of stalactites and stalagmites. Wahhhh?!
- Myrtos beach: One of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever been to, honestly!! Doesn’t get much bluer than this blue.
- Assos: This is the most quaint and colourful village on the island of Kefalonia!
- Fiscardo: This is the bougiest area of Kefalonia and where you’ll find fancy restaurants with great seafood.
Assos and Myrtos Beach from above
If you don’t want to drive, you can join one of these full-day tours and check everything off your list:
- This one includes all the top highlights like Melissani Underground Lake, Assos, Fiscardo, and Myrtos Beach.
- This one leaves from Zakynthos so you can skip all the ferry drama above entirely! This might be your best option if you have limited time in this part of Greece.
- This one includes a wine tasting, which you should obviously not do when driving, so a tour is def the most suitable option if you want to hit the winery.
- This one is just a half day tour focused on the Melissani lake and Drogarati cave.
I’d love to know if you found this helpful! Leave a comment or contact me and let me know about your experience travelling from Zakynthos to Kefalonia. Happy island hopping!
Love it! Very useful information. And, a fun read to boot.