Zakynthos is the legendary island where the poet Ugo Foscolo, who dedicated his most famous poem to it, and, according to myth, the goddess Venus were born. The iconic Shipwreck Beach, one of the most famous beaches of all the Greek islands, is the island’s symbol: a picture postcard image that you will no doubt have already come across, but when seen in real life it is surprisingly evocative.
Long gone are the romanticisms of the past, and today the island of Zakynthos seems to have developed a dual personality: the worldly and noisy one of the eastern and southern coasts, invaded by mass tourism, and the gentle and calm one of the northern and southern promontories and of the western and central regions, areas less frequented by tourists and therefore perfect for those seeking a slow-paced holiday.
Despite the proliferation of hotels, bars and clubs, the island is still a place where one can seek deep contact with nature. Thanks to the establishment of a nature park, caretta caretta turtles still come to the island’s beaches every year to lay their eggs, enchanting the astonished tourists who watch in disbelief as the natural spectacle of hatching takes place.
Whatever type of tourist you are, fashionable, romantic or alternative, you will find the holiday of your dreams in Zakynthos.
The most attractive part of the island are its incomparable beaches with golden sand, picturesque fishing villages or busy coastal settlements, organised beaches or secluded coves with transparent waters, awe-inspiring craggy rocks or quiet beaches where the greenery touches the sea.
North of the city are the beaches of Kryoneri and Planos-Tsilivi while further south are the coastal resorts of Argassi, a fashionable holiday resort, Kaminia, Porto Zoro, Vasilikos, Porto Roma and Gherakas. To the south, the Gulf of Laganas with the settlements of Kalamaki, Laganas and Agios Sostis is the largest holiday resort on the island.
On the west coast, where the bays of Exo Chora and Vromi or Porto Vromi are formed, is the famous and award-winning Wreck Beach, considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world. On the north-eastern beaches one can enjoy the sea at Agia Ekaterini, Alikanàs, Alykes, Agia Kyriaki, Makrys Yalos, Agios Nikolaos and others.
The Shipwreck Beach (known as Navagio in Greek) is not only one of the main attractions of the island of Zakynthos, but one of the most famous and photographed beaches in Greece and has become one of the emblems of tourism in modern Greece.
This famous beach of fine white pebbles in one of the island’s most remote bays seems to be held in an embrace by two huge, almost vertical promontories that tower above it and at the same time protect it, sheltering it from winds and currents.
In 1983, a smugglers’ boat wrecked on this beach. It has never been moved since and has become an inseparable feature of the landscape, even giving the beach its name.
Don’t expect to find the wreck beach half-deserted as it appears in tourist agency catalogue photos: it is one of the most visited attractions in all of Greece and numerous tourist tours stop here every day.
Despite the crowds, the charm of the place will not disappoint your expectations: it is simply impossible to forget this iconic beach and the extraordinary blue colour of the sea that washes its shores.
If the wreck beach is the undisputed star of tourism in Zakynthos, exploring the island you can find other beautiful beaches.
Here are some of the most beautiful beaches of Zakynthos:
Things to do in Zakynthos goes far beyond the famous beaches, revealing a historical and natural heritage of extraordinary richness. Zakynthos town guards the Church of St Dionysus, the island’s patron saint, with its imposing bell tower overlooking the harbour and Byzantine frescoes restored after the 1953 earthquake. Solomos Square celebrates the Greek national poet Dionysios Solomos, who was born on the island, while the Byzantine Museum exhibits icons and artefacts saved from churches destroyed in the earthquake.
The Venetian Castle of Bochali, built in the 16th century, offers spectacular views of the town and preserves interesting remains of fortifications. Inland, the Monastery of Anafonitria is a jewel of Orthodox religious architecture, surrounded by centuries-old olive groves and famous for having hosted St Dionysius as a monk.
Volimes, a picturesque mountain village, preserves traditional Greek architecture with its characteristic stone houses and restored windmills. The National Marine Park protects the Caretta Caretta turtles, offering a unique nature experience in the Mediterranean through guided tours and conservation information centres.
The promontory of Kampi (or Kabì), overlooking the sea, is one of the most impressive vantage points on the island. From here, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the island and the famous Gulf of the Seal, so called because seals use the underwater caves in the area as shelters where they give birth. At the top of Kampi stands an imposing concrete cross, erected in memory of the war victims.
The island’s coastline is dotted with striking white stone caves, which create extraordinary plays of light with the reflection of the blue waters of the Aegean.
The most famous are the Blue Caves, an unmissable stop on any boat trip on the island. These are a series of caves on the north-west side of the island, from Agios Nikolaos to Cape Skinari: some of them can be crossed by boat, others can only be explored by divers and experienced swimmers.
Also very beautiful are the Kerì Caves, which are located near the promontory of Cape Marathia in the south-west of the island. They can only be reached by private boat or a boat tour; again, some caves can be crossed by swimming while others are large enough to be crossed by boat.
One of the symbols of Zakynthos are the graceful sea turtles, or caretta caretta turtles, that come to the island to lay their eggs.
In 1999, in order to protect the turtles and encourage their reproduction, the Zakynthos Marine National Park was created, a 135 m2 nature reserve in the bay of Laganas.
In the waters surrounding the beaches of Laganas it is not so uncommon to see turtles swimming freely in the sea and if you are lucky you may even swim with them: an exciting experience that will certainly remain in your heart for many years!
Not sure where on the island to stay? Follow our suggestions, each town or village has its own characteristics.
Zakynthos Town is a lively tourist resort with a busy harbour and numerous shops, bars, restaurants and tourist agencies that thanks to a mixture of old and new and its location at the foot of Bochali Hill still retains its charm.
Small and large hotels abound in the town centre, while if you prefer a holiday home or villa, you are better off in Bochali or Akrotiri, two areas just behind the town. From the hill of Bochali you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the town’s harbour.
Not far from the island’s capital is Argasi or Argassi, a seaside town now devoted to tourism that stretches entirely along the coastal road, with the striking view of Mount Skopos in the background. It is the oldest seaside resort on the island and this is reflected in the wide range of accommodation on offer here: you can choose from hotels of various categories, flats, studios, villas and rooms to rent.
Only twenty years ago Laganas was a small village, today it is the nerve centre of nightlife on the island of Zakynthos. This resort, with its succession of bars, pubs and clubs open until late at night, has in fact become a favourite destination for young people who want a holiday by the sea with a lot of nightlife. In Laganas you will find a wide choice of hotels with swimming pools, flats, rooms to rent and a campsite, but as it is one of the most popular resorts on the island, it is advisable to book well in advance.
Tsilivi is another popular tourist resort on the island of Zakynthos, with modern tourist facilities and numerous accommodation possibilities, either directly on the beach or in the inland hills for those who want a bit more tranquillity.
We offer a selection of hotels at Zakynthos to suit all categories of travellers. The most booked by tourists are the sea-facing hotels, often right on the beach. If you want to play it safe, choose one of the following: they are among the most booked hotels in Zakynthos, sorted by number of reviews.
If you prefer space, privacy and the ability to prepare your own meals to a hotel holiday, book a holiday home at Zakynthos. We recommend a few below, but in this case we advise you to book early because houses and apartments for rent at Zakynthos are in high demand.
During the summer, direct flights are available from several European cities. Alternatively, you can take a ferry from other Greek islands or from the port of Piraeus in Athens: we recommend this solution only if you want to visit other places, because by adding up the costs of the different tickets you will spend more.
What's the weather at Zakynthos? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Zakynthos for the next few days.
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