In short
- Drive 45 to 60 minutes from Zakynthos town to a northern port.
- Park for free at Agios Nikolaos, Makris Gialos, or Cape Skinari.
- Take a small boat tour or private rental to enter the caves.
In this article
The Blue Caves are a series of natural limestone arches on the northwest coast of Zakynthos. There is no direct land access or beach access to the caves. You will need to combine a car ride with a boat trip to see them up close. Here is exactly how to reach the caves safely.
Can you drive directly to the Blue Caves?
No. There is no road or path that leads directly into the caves.
You must drive to a nearby port and switch to a boat. The drive from Zakynthos town to the northern departure points takes 45 to 60 minutes. Once you reach the port, parking is free.
From the port, you will board a boat to cover the remaining distance by sea.
Which departure ports should I drive to?
The best places to drive to are Agios Nikolaos, Cape Skinari, and Makris Gialos.
Agios Nikolaos is the closest main harbor for small boat departures. It sits just a few kilometers south of the caves. Makris Gialos is a pebble beach further south that also offers boat departures.
Cape Skinari is the northernmost tip of the island. Boats operate directly from the base of the cliffs here.
Can you walk or hike down to the caves?
You cannot hike directly into the Blue Caves.
You can walk down a long staircase at the Cape Skinari Windmill to swim off the flat rocks. However, this does not place you inside the caves.
Swimming all the way to the caves from Cape Skinari requires strong stamina. For most people, taking a boat is the only practical way to enter the arches.
How do you get to the Blue Caves without a car?
You can book a combo tour that includes hotel pickup and port transfers.
Many tours pick you up from your accommodation and drive you to the northern ports. This saves you the 45-minute drive from town. Once at the port, the guide will transfer you to a boat.
Make sure you book a tour using a small boat. Boats need to have fewer than 50 seats to safely clear the 4-meter arches and actually enter the caves.
How far is the drive from Zakynthos Airport?
The boat departure points for the caves are about 35 kilometers from the airport.
The drive takes you from the southern end of the island up to the Volimes region. The drive takes nearly an hour.
Once you arrive and board a boat at Agios Nikolaos, the caves are roughly 2.5 kilometers away by sea.
Can you rent a boat and drive it to the caves yourself?
Yes. You can drive to a northern port and rent a private motorboat.
Renting a private motorboat to explore the caves starts around €200 for a 2-hour rental. This allows you to explore the arches at your own pace.
If you captain your own boat, you must observe local rules. This includes staying under a 6-knot speed limit in protected marine zones.
Questions travellers ask
How do you get to the Blue Caves in Zakynthos?
You must drive to a northern port like Agios Nikolaos or Cape Skinari, then take a small boat. There is no direct land access to the caves.
Can you drive to the Blue Caves in Zakynthos?
You can drive to the boat departure ports near the caves, but you cannot drive directly up to the caves themselves. The drive from Zakynthos town takes 45 to 60 minutes.
Do I need to book a tour to see the Blue Caves?
You do not strictly need a group tour. You can drive to Agios Nikolaos and rent a private motorboat starting at €200 to drive yourself. Group boat tours start around €20 per person.
