Blue Caves Tours and Tickets

Yes, you can visit the Blue Caves without a tour—but you’ll need your own boat to get there. That’s why most visitors choose to explore the Blue Caves with guides who know the coast well. Most guided tours of the Blue Caves also include additional stops, such as Shipwreck Beach.

You have two main options for reaching the Blue Caves in Zakynthos, a day cruise featuring multiple coastal stops or a shorter trip from a nearby harbor. Shorter boat trips generally depart from Agios Nikolaos Harbour (St. Nikolaus Harbour), and can make the return trip—including a swim stop—in an hour.

Yes, you can swim in the Blue Caves—but only in the smaller, quieter areas. Swimming is not allowed at the main entrance to the Blue Caves, as busy boat traffic around the mouth of the caves can create unsafe conditions. Many tours of the Blue Caves make swimming stops nearby.

You can take an hour-long tour of the Blue Caves: Since round-trip boat journeys from Agios Nikolaos Harbour take 40 minutes, these tours generally budget for 20 minutes at the caves themselves. Many day cruises to the Blue Caves last all day, with time for stops at beaches and viewpoints.

Midday light makes the most of brilliantly colored water at the Blue Caves, so many recommend coming around noon. That’s a busy time at the caves, however—and the morning light is also gorgeous. If you prefer fewer crowds, opt for a boat trip that leaves first thing in the morning.

July and August are busy months in Zakynthos, when the Blue Caves, beaches, and harbor towns can be crowded. For beachy weather and fewer crowds, consider visiting in the shoulder-season periods of June and September; you’ll find lower prices, fewer tourists, and water that is still warm enough for swimming.