Best Beaches in Zakynthos: From Navagio to the Vasilikos Peninsula

Zakynthos has a beach for every type of visitor — the globally famous Navagio for the pilgrimage shot, protected turtle beaches on the south coast, sea cave swimming in the north, and quieter bays on the Vasilikos peninsula that receive a fraction of the island’s tourism. Prices listed are approximate as of 2026.

Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach

Navagio is accessible only by boat — no road reaches it. The beach sits at the base of sheer white limestone cliffs on the north-west coast, with fine white sand and the rusting hull of the MV Panagiotis (a smuggler’s ship that ran aground in 1983 while transporting contraband) at the far end.

Boat trips depart from Porto Vromi (approximately 20 minutes, €15–20 return) or from Zakynthos Town (approximately 60–90 minutes, €20–35 depending on operator and inclusions). Longer tours combine Navagio with the Blue Caves. The beach fills up from mid-morning; boat tours that arrive early (before 10am) or late afternoon (after 4pm) offer a noticeably different experience.

Viewpoint: A cliff-top platform above Navagio is accessible by road from the north — free, open year-round, and gives the iconic aerial view that most people recognise from photographs. Worth stopping at, but the beach itself is a different experience.

Gerakas Beach

Gerakas, at the southern tip of the Vasilikos peninsula, is one of the island’s finest beaches — a wide, sandy bay in a sheltered cove with clear, shallow water. It is also one of the main sea turtle nesting beaches in the National Marine Park of Zakynthos.

Rules: The beach closes at sunset during nesting season (June–September). Umbrellas can only be placed in designated areas. No beach parties or night activities. During the day, swimming and sunbathing are unrestricted in the non-protected zone. A park warden is usually present.

Sunbeds available in the permitted zone, approximately €8–12 per set. The beach is reached via the Vasilikos peninsula road — a hire car is recommended.

Porto Zoro

Porto Zoro, also on the Vasilikos peninsula, is a smaller bay with clear water and a pleasant combination of sand and pebble. It is calmer and less scrutinised than Gerakas — a good choice for swimming without the turtle rules. Sunbeds available, approximately €8–12 per set. A small taverna serves food and drinks.

Banana Beach (Agios Nikolaos)

Banana Beach, just north of Porto Zoro on the peninsula, is a slightly longer beach popular with watersports. Sunbeds and beach bar. The water is calm and the sand is fine. Gets busy in the afternoon when day-trippers arrive from Laganas. Morning is the better time.

Laganas Beach

Laganas is the main resort beach on the island — a long sandy beach backed by the largest concentration of bars, restaurants, and hotels on Zakynthos. It is the most developed and most crowded beach on the island, with a beach club atmosphere, sunbeds (approximately €8–12 per set), and all water sports available.

The central section of Laganas is within the National Marine Park protection zone — umbrellas cannot be staked in the sand here, and the beach closes at dusk. The outer sections have fewer restrictions.

Laganas is not the best choice for those seeking natural beauty or quiet, but it is convenient if you are staying in that area and want facilities and nightlife proximity.

Xigia Beach

Xigia, on the north coast, is one of the more unusual beaches on the island — a small pebble and sand cove where natural sulphur springs emerge from the underwater rock. The water has a slight sulphurous smell and a milky appearance near the seabed, and is said to have therapeutic properties. The experience is genuinely different from any other beach on the island.

No facilities (no sunbeds, no taverna nearby). The access road is narrow and partly unpaved. Best reached with a hire car and treated as a short stop rather than an all-day destination.

Porto Vromi and Makris Gialos (North-West)

Porto Vromi is primarily a departure point for Navagio boat trips rather than a beach destination in itself. Makris Gialos, a short walk north, is a quieter pebble beach with clear water and no facilities. Good for those who want to avoid the main beach areas.

Cape Skinari Area

The northernmost tip of the island — Cape Skinari — has access to the Blue Caves (by boat) and several small rocky swimming spots with exceptionally clear water. No sunbeds; primarily used by snorkellers. The rocky platform swimming here is very good if you have the right footwear.

Practical Notes

Turtle beach rules: Posted signage throughout the National Marine Park area clearly indicates what is and is not permitted. The rules are enforced and fines apply. The marine park website (nmp-zak.org) has current seasonal rules.

Sunbeds: Most organised beaches charge approximately €8–15 per set (two sunbeds and umbrella) as of 2026. Free beach sections with no facilities exist at most beaches — usually at the less developed ends.

Getting around: A hire car or scooter is the most practical way to reach the variety of beaches on the island. Buses serve Laganas and some peninsula beaches but are infrequent.