Zakynthos Travel Guide: The Complete Island Guide

Zakynthos (also known by its Italian name Zante) sits in the Ionian Sea, 20km off the Peloponnese coast. It is the site of Navagio Beach — the sheer white cliff cove with the rusting shipwreck that has been in every Greek island calendar since the 1980s — and the most important sea turtle nesting site in the Mediterranean. The island has two distinct characters: the unspoiled north and west coasts (cliffs, sea caves, small fishing villages) and the heavily developed south (beach resorts, Laganas, package tourism). They feel like different islands.

Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Beach)

The most iconic beach image in Greece — an enclosed white sand bay accessible only by sea, with the wreck of the MV Panagiotis (a cigarette smuggler’s boat run aground in 1980) rusting on the sand. The cliffs rise approximately 200m on three sides. Boats run from Porto Vromi (15 minutes, approximately €15 per person) and Zakynthos Town (longer trip, approximately €25–30).

The viewpoint: A clifftop lookout above Navagio is accessible by car (rough road from Anafonitria village). The view from the top is the famous photograph angle. Go at sunset — the light is excellent and there are fewer people than midday.

Crowds: Navagio fills up completely from late morning in July and August. Go on the first boat (typically 9am from Porto Vromi) or the last of the day.

Blue Caves

A series of sea caves on the northern cape (Cape Skinari), where sunlight reflects off the white limestone seabed into the water, turning everything an extraordinary electric blue. Boats run from Cape Skinari (the northernmost point, approximately €15 per person, 30-minute trip). Best visited in the morning when the sun angle is right.

Sea Turtles

The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nests on Laganas Bay on the south coast — this is the most important nesting site in the Mediterranean, and the reason the National Marine Park of Zakynthos was established in 1999. Approximately 800–1,000 nests are laid each year on Laganas, Sekania, and adjacent beaches.

Organised turtle spotting boat tours depart from Kalamaki and Laganas — approximately €15–25 per person, operated June–September. These are far better than trying to spot turtles independently and respect the protected zones.

Beaches

Gerakas: The best beach on the island for swimming quality and scenery — a long curved bay of fine sand with clear water, protected within the marine park. Limited development. No sunbeds in the nesting zone. Approximately 18km from Zakynthos Town.

Porto Limnionas: A small rocky cove on the west coast — no sand beach, but extraordinary water clarity and colour. Good for snorkelling. One small café.

Laganas: Long beach with extensive development — beach clubs, water sports, bars, and the heaviest tourist concentration on the island. The nesting zones are marked off — respect them.

Tsilivi: Family-friendly resort beach on the northeast coast — calmer water than the south, less developed than Laganas. Good for families.

Zakynthos Town

The main town (also called Zakynthos or Zante Town) was rebuilt after the 1953 earthquake that destroyed 90% of the island’s buildings — the neoclassical architecture is Venetian in inspiration but 1950s in construction. Worth a half-day: the Byzantine Museum (entry €4, good icon collection), the Roman Catholic church of Saint Mark, and the waterfront promenade.

Bochali: The hilltop above the town with the Venetian castle ruins (entry €3) and excellent views across to Kefalonia and the Peloponnese.

Where to Stay in Zakynthos

Zakynthos Town: Palatino Hotel (central, from approximately €80/night), Strada Marina (harbour front, from approximately €95/night).

Tsilivi area: Tsilivi Beach Hotel (beachfront, from approximately €120/night peak), various smaller apartments and studios from approximately €60/night.

North coast (quiet area): Porto Koukla Beach Hotel (Lithakia, from approximately €110/night), Nobelos Residence (Cape Skinari, boutique hillside suites, from approximately €180/night peak).

Avoid: Most accommodation in Laganas is package-resort standard or party hostel — not recommended unless you are specifically there for the nightlife.

Where to Eat in Zakynthos

Zakynthos has good local cuisine — mandolato (white nougat with almonds), almond sweets, and local olive oil.

Malanos (Zakynthos Town): The island’s most consistently recommended restaurant, traditional Zakynthian food in a garden setting, approximately €20–35 per person (Agiou Athanassiou 38).

Lofos Bohor (Bochali): Terrace restaurant above the town with excellent views and reliable Greek food, approximately €18–30 per person.

Akrotiri (Cape Skinari area): Small taverna at the cape — freshly caught fish, reasonable prices, honest local cooking (approximately €15–25 per person).

Getting Around Zakynthos

KTEL buses run from Zakynthos Town to the main resort areas (Laganas, Tsilivi, Kalamaki) — approximately €1.80–2.50 per journey. Services are limited to the main routes; a car is essential for reaching Navagio viewpoint, the Blue Caves, and the smaller west coast beaches. Car hire approximately €35–55/day. Taxis from town to Gerakas beach approximately €25.

Book Zakynthos boat tours, turtle watching trips, and Blue Caves excursions with GetYourGuide.