Overview

Zakynthos Island, or Zante, is one of the more diverse islands in Greece. Far from the more well-known islands like Mykonos and Santorini, this island is a whole different Greek island experience. Dubbed by early Italian visitors as “Fiore di Levante” (Flower of the East). Zakynthos island is blessed with a plethora of natural beauty. It is the third-largest Greek island in the Ionian sea - off the west coast of Greece as opposed to the Athens-adjacent Aegean Sea off the east coast. Here the villages resemble not the whitewashed ramparts of the Cycladic islands, but the Romanesque piazzas and cobblestones of nearby Venice. While you won’t find the postcard-perfect cliffside towns on Zakynthos, the natural beauty more than makes up for it.

The main port, Port of Zakynthos, where most everyone arrives by boat or plane, is busy and dense with shops and restaurants packed in along the coast. Inland, around Volimes, you’ll find sprawling olive groves and winding roads, peppered with an occasional quiet, traditional Greek town. And in the north around Agios Nikolaos, a slower pace and sense of being “off the beaten path”, with private coves and tavernas a short detour off the main road.

While most of Zakynthos is famous for Navagio Beach, also known as Shipwreck Beach, we recommend exploring the quiet swimming coves and small beaches that dot the coastline. Leave the bustling towns, and you will discover an island paradise on a whole different level - secluded beaches, mysterious caves, aqua-blue water, sea turtle nesting sites, seaside fine dining, and five-star resort hotels with infinity pools that overlook the horizons of the Ionian at sunset. Most beaches here are best seen by boat, unlike other Greek Islands. The beaches only reachable by boat are what make for memorable swims with no one around, with your own private views of limestone cliffs and crystal clear water.

Best Beaches

Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Beach)

Located in the northeast of Zakynthos, Navagio Beach is the most famous beach on the island, embraced by towering white limestone cliffs. Beneath them on the white beach are the rusting actual pirate ship, the MV Panagiotis, that ran aground in 1980, earning this beach the name “Shipwreck Beach.” To experience this awe-inspiring natural sight: From above you can drive or catch a tourist bus to Navagio Beach View and line up for what must be the island’s most emblematic scene, of the shipwreck and the cove’s beautiful blue water far below. You can visit this by boat, either by chartering your own boat, or board a tourist cruise from Porto Vromi, Agios Nikolaos Port in Volimes or Zakynthos Town on the east coast.

If you don’t mind crowds you can sunbathe on the beach, swim in the beautiful water, marvel at the cliffs and explore the wreck.

Porto Vromi

Deep, crystal-clear waters and white sand make this small beach a perfect choice for some downtime. Almost enclosed within the rocks that surround it, Porto Vromi is as private and secluded as it can be. Enjoy a nice swim (or snorkel!) and take in the peace and quiet before getting something to eat from the beach bar. For those wanting to make the most of the area, join the organized boat rides or rent a boat or a paddle board to get to Navagio as well as the mesmerizing Blue Caves.

Porto Limnionas

Another must-visit spot in Zante is Porto Limnionas. Located on the west coast of the island, it takes roughly 30 minutes to reach by car from Laganas. A newly laid road from the village of Agios Leon weaves down to this fjord on the west coast, bounded on its east side by high white cliffs hollowed with caves.

Resting above the fjord on the western slope is a taverna with tables and sun loungers on terraces where you gaze into the pristine blue water. Further down are rocks and concrete platforms where people lay their towels, and you’ll find it hard to resist bathing in the shimmering, crystalline water and stepping onto the tiny beach at the northern end.

Kalamaki Beach

One of a few beaches that we’ll mention in the Greek National Marine Park, Kalamaki is on the eastern pocket of Laganas Bay and could be the best on the island. The coastline is protected and can't be developed, which keeps it low-key. There’s nothing more than a single bar renting out parasols and sun loungers. The beach is well maintained, the sand is spotless, and the water is beautiful transparent, perfect for swimming.

Marathonisi

This islet in Laganas Bay in the south of Zakythos is often called Turtle Island, as it’s a hatching ground for the loggerhead sea turtle. For that reason Marathonisi is uninhabited and visitors have to clear the sandy beach to the north before sunset in summer to allow the turtles to come ashore to lay their eggs. At the southern harbors of Limni Keriou and Laganas you can embark on turtle-spotting cruises to the island, normally on a glass-bottom boat. The clarity of the water means you’ll have a good chance of seeing the turtles. You’ll be given up to an hour on the island to sunbathe, swim and have a picnic at this unspoiled setting.

Porto Zorro

A favorite with the younger crowds, Porto Zorro marries the allure of unspoiled nature with a cosmopolitan vibe. The two grandiose rocks that emerge from its bright blue waters stand out against the beach’s verdant backdrop, creating a stunning effect. Plentiful sunbeds and umbrellas will makes it easy to unwind here. The excitement is at the beach bar where some of the best rock parties are thrown until the early hours. Pro tip: As enticing as the rocks are, avoid diving from them, as the water here is shallow.

Things to See and Do

Explore the capital, Zakynthos Town (or Zante Town), located on the island’s east coast, extending in a wide arc along the gently sloping shores of a bay. Many of its Neoclassical buildings were demolished by the 1953 earthquake, but its paved streets and squares, filled with yummy bakeries and cafes, charming boutiques, and jewelry shops, are perfect to explore on foot.

The town's main church, Agios Dionysios, which houses the relics of the town's patron saint, dates from 1708 and was reconstructed in 1954. For stunning views over town and the port, go up to the village of Bohali (1.5 miles) to the ruined Venetian castle, set in a park with pine trees. This attraction was also largely destroyed by the earthquake, but you can still see the main gate (bearing the Lion of St. Mark, the symbol of Venice), the outer walls, and battlements.

Located on the main square in Zakynthos, Byzantine Museum displays religious icons, frescoes, and sculptures from the island's churches and monasteries, dating from the 12th century onwards. Discover Byzantine icons carved into wood and there are two rooms dedicated to 18th-century oil paintings. There's also a scale model of the town from around 1950, giving you some idea of how it looked before the devastating 1953 earthquake.

Built in the 1660s, the Roma mansion is one of the few old buildings to have survived the 1953 earthquake, which wiped out most of Zakynthos Town. It is owned by the Roma family, who decided to renovate it and opened it to the public in 2007. Inside, you can see period furniture, paintings, and books, giving you some idea of how local aristocrats lived in the centuries prior.

On the northern tip of the island, at Cape Skinari, you'll find the most stunning Blue Caves. Inside, the bright blue sea reflects the color of the sky, which is mirrored off the walls of the caves and creates an absolutely magical azure and sapphire light scheme. You can visit the Blue Caves in a small glass-bottom boat, which departs from Agios Nikolaos (on the northeast coast, 18-miles from Zakynthos Town), or as part of the longer round-the-island cruise from Zakynthos Town.

On the southwest coast, 9-miles from Zakynthos Town, close to the village of Kerí, a row of dramatic caves opens directly onto a crystal-clear turquoise sea, and exploring them with a mask and snorkel or scuba dive tank is one of the top things to do on the island - the lighting effects of the sun reflecting through the water and onto the cave walls makes for some amazing photos and video. It's possible to visit the caves as part of an organized excursion, or rent a boat and go independently.

With crystal-clear, blue-green water set against a backdrop of cliffs and caves, Porto Limnionas is one of the top secluded swimming spots on the island. In a wild location down an only recently paved road, not far from the small village of Agios Leon, it is gaining in popularity each year, and in the height of summer can get crowded. Sun-loungers can be rented from two local restaurants with terraces fronting the sea, and once in the water there is good snorkeling, along with caves and even an underwater bridge.

Rent a boat for the day to explore the best of this beautiful island. There are also plenty of family-friendly stops at top attractions like Shipwreck Beach and the Blue Caves.

If you love to hike then we suggest to climb to the Panagia Skopiotissa Monastery. The Monastery is situated on top of the skopos on the Greek island of Zakynthos, and takes you through a scenic 2.5 mile climb. It starts from Argassi village to the remains of Panagia Skopiotissa by a well-marked walking trail. The old monastery is beautiful and has gone through recent renovations, plus the view from here is fabulous - we highly recommend!

Explore little towns – a few small towns worth check out, Keri and Volimes are worth a stop. Keri is en route to Mizithres, another great little time to explore. Volimes shows up in a few recommended guides and is located near Shipwreck beach, but it’s not exactly lively. An earthquake in 1953 has rendered many buildings unusable and collapsed, which makes for interesting photos but a somewhat depressed feel.