This time, I am writing about Zakynthos Things to do. This is one of the Ionian islands I enjoyed touring around since it is not that big and is abundant in white cliffs typical for the best Ionian islands, with stunning views and gorgeous sea color. There is also a peculiar thing you can’t see anywhere else in the Mediterranean (and it is not the shipwreck). This is where a certain turtle species nests and seeing one in Europe is just a thrilling experience.
Zakynthos Greece
Although it looks small, Zakynthos Greece is actually the third largest Ionian island with 123 kilometers of coastline. The island, also referred to as the Flower of the East (Fioro di Levante), was ruled by the Venetian Republic for three centuries just like most of the other parts of the Ionian coast Greece.
Zakynthos Greece was mentioned in the Iliad and the Odyssey as an island where the first inhabitants were the son of King Dardanos of Arcadia whose name was Zakynthos and his men. Throughout antiquity, it was invaded by the Kefalonia king and Odysseus himself from Ithaki. Zakynthos participated in the Trojan War and 108 suitors who tried to woo Penelope originated from here.
The island was ruled by the Greeks and the Romans. It avoided the invasion of the Slavs but was controlled by the Byzantines and the Venetians before joining the Union of the Ionian Islands and finally Greece in 1864.
Zakynthos Things to do
The Zakynthos Things to Do post includes a few lovely attractions but numerous beaches you can choose from. If you rent a car, like I did, you can stop at every bay that can be reached by road. Some of them though are accessible only by boat. Still, start your day by visiting one of the Zante tourist attractions and then enjoy your day at the nearest beach.
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Blue Caves
One of the main Zakynthos things to do is visit Blue Caves in the north (you will also find the famous Blue Caves in Paxos to Antipaxos). They are situated right beneath Cape Skinari in the northwest but there are also beautiful caves in the south near Keri village. They are both accessible only from the sea but it is easy to book a one-day tour from several places on the island.
TIP: If you don’t book a Blue Cave boat tour from the capital, you can also do it from Agios Nikolaos on the west coast. For Keri Caves, the easiest way is to go on a short cruise from Keri. The tours are available daily and usually include seeing turtles (which may or may not happen).
As for the Blue Caves, I loved driving north to the Skinari Viewpoint (the Skinari lighthouse is further up to the north). You will find a true seaside ambiance here with a vast terrace overlooking the cliffs, a great view, and stairs taking you down to the sea to plunge in.
There are also a few highlights of the Keri Caves to see. The tour will take you through an arch-shaped rock and close to all those caves and halls that white cliffs are dotted with (the boat will go inside especially if it is a small one) – just like when touring Blue Caves in the north. Notice Cape Marathia and the narrow beach of white pebbles where you can swim. Such white rocks add to the unbelievable sea color. That is exactly what is fascinating when taking these tours: the sea color that ranges from turquoise to marine blue and its darker shades.
Marathonisi Island
This is another true summer location you will reach by boat either on a tour or boat hire, no license is required. The nearest place to Marathonisi Island is Keri and they will offer a cave tour, turtle watching, and a visit to Marathonisi. Seeing the Caretta-Caretta turtles is a must when it comes to Zakynthos things to do, besides visiting Navagio beach (more about it in the Zakynthos Beaches section below).
These turtles are frequent in Laganas Bay and Gerakas Beach, and other parts of the National Maritime Park which includes Marathonisi as well. They lay their eggs from April to August here due to warm shallow water and powdery sand. They can be seen along Zakynthos’s coast while swimming or scuba diving but usually far from crowds. We saw one while walking near a small marina where there was no noise, boats, or people at the time. She was swimming slowly, coming up to the surface to take a breath, and was probably on the lookout for an underwater “snack”.
There are no guarantees that you will see turtles if you book a tour either to Marathonisi or another location. But just imagine what it is like for them. The species only breeds in this part of the Mediterranean and a couple of oceans. Female is known to dig a hole for their eggs while only 60 percent of them hatch within 50 days. With more people and massive tourism on the island, even the marked nests are endangered. There are usually about 1,300 nests in Marathonisi alone. Tourists swim right next to the rope dividing the nestling area from our towels and beach buckets.
Zante Town
The island’s capital is called Zakynthos as well as Zante. It is not that big and is easy to visit on foot. The way the city and the rest of the island look today (apart from a village or two which I will mention later in the post) dates back to the aftermath of the 1953 earthquake that crushed most of Zakynthos and Kefalonia to the ground. Zante was so demolished that only two buildings remained standing and a lot of Greeks migrated to Canada, Australia, and the US.
The capital is now charming with narrow streets, colorful souvenir shops, and taverns’ terraces all around. There are some lovely cafés and façades. Where ever you may begin your walk, you will end up at Solomos Square, a vast area bordered by the Byzantine Museum on one side with centuries-old frescoes, Town Hall, and the 17th-century Agios Nikolaos Church, the only Venetian-styled building still standing after the earthquake. Not far from this square, there is another one named after St Mark where the Venetian noblemen gathered to talk about politics and trade in olden times.
The largest church in the city is also the most popular landmark. Agios Dionysius Church was built in 1948, only five years before the earthquake and it prevailed. You can see its bell tower from almost every part of the city. The church interior is adorned with numerous frescoes and vivid colors. Saint Dionysius whose remains are preserved inside was born in Zakynthos in the 16th century and is the island’s patron.
TIP: Enjoy a few minutes of silence inside and then take a walk around the city. There are a few souvenir shops outside where you can find the traditional Mandolato sweets. Don’t forget to nibble on a Greek bagel along the way.
Bohali Hill
If you fancy a great view of the capital from above, climb up to Bohali. Some of its streets are so narrow that no two cars can go by but they are filled with pastel houses. They say that Bohali is mostly visited at night when one can enjoy a cold drink when the temperatures go down but we came in the afternoon to see the old walls of the Venetian Castle. I just loved the view and some delicious cakes. (You can find more about what to try in Zakynthos at the end of the post.)
Venetians built the castle in the 15th century on the hilltop on purpose. They wanted it to be far from the coast and have a good view of the sea. It was invaded by numerous peoples throughout centuries, destroyed and rebuilt, and today, one can see its 17th-century remains.
TIP: Notice the Venetian lion with wings embedded in the castle walls.
Loucha Village
If you want to know what the island looked like before the 1953 earthquake, here is another point of the Zakynthos things to do list to cover. Head over to the village of Loucha because this is the only preserved place that the shake didn’t destroy. Today, it is a settlement and a monument at the same time. Take a walk along its cobblestone street to the church. Stone walls come to life here adorned with colorful Mediterranean flowers while the surrounding area resembles Tuscany with its cypress trees.
There are a few more villages which are interesting to see and are on the way to the famous landmarks. For example, stop by Volimes near Navagio in the north and make sure to see the Saint Spyridon Temple, or Kiliomenos in the south close to Lithakia. For me, Loucha is also the place where I found a lovely restaurant with a great view of the village. I had some great Saganaki (fried cheese) with Greek salad and bread drizzled with olive oil, yummy!
Anafonitria Monastery
This monastery is only 3 kilometers from Navagio Beach. It is the place where Saint Dionysius became a monk. You will be welcomed by the medieval 15th-century tower dating from the period when the first monastery was built. The name came after the miraculous Virgin Anafonitria icon that is kept inside. Legend has it that the icon was miraculously found on the Zakynthos shore after the ship transporting it from Constantinople sunk here centuries ago.
TIP: It should be open at 9 am but that is not always the case. If you have time, take a walk, stop by for a coffee at the tavern outside, and ask about the entrance. They may know where the monk with the key is.
Notice a garden behind the church since there are some old columns. This temple was probably vibrant even then when these columns were functional with lavish greenery, numerous cats, and miraculous stories.
Myzithres Viewpoint
The Myzithres Viewpoint is situated in the southwest of the island, not far from Keri. The road curves up until you reach a parking lot. From here, you will walk for 10 minutes or so to reach the viewpoint on the clifftop. The steep rock is to be seen in the sea connected to the shore via a piece of white sand. This was one of the best views one can see related to Zakynthos things to do.
TIP: Go to the viewpoint and then stop by a nearby restaurant for dinner with the view. Still, notice that the road doesn’t end here. You can continue ascending further up and reach a café.
The café at the end of the road is where you will enjoy the sunset. You will pay either for a parking lot or a drink inside where you can sit on a bench or a stone and admire the view. The sun looks as though sinking into the sea!
Zakynthos Beaches
Visiting the beaches is a must when it comes to Zakynthos things to do. Like other Ionian islands (for example, see the post about Corfu Island in Greece), Zakynthos provides beaches for everyone’s taste. If you like the northern pebbles and rocks, you will be treated to some of the prettiest crystal clear sea colors while the powdery sand in the south takes you to warm shallows. I will mention the beaches I visited myself in the easiest order according to the coast they occupy.
(West coast, north to south)
Navagio Beach
The most popular beach is one of the must-sees on the Zakynthos things to do list. It is called Navagio after a shipwreck (navagio in Greek) stranded on the sand. Due to possible erosion, the beach is often closed to tourists in recent years and so was during 2023 and 2024. Even if you can’t get on shore or swim in the cove, the boat will still take you close to the shipwreck.
Try not to miss a couple of viewpoints above the beach since this is the most famous view.
TIP: Viewpoints should be visited separately from a boat tour. I took a ride to the viewpoint in the north and then drove down to Porto Vromni on the west coast which hosts boat tourist tours to Navagio. Tours can be booked online.
How to find the two viewpoints? It is easy to reach them by car. Find the location of the first viewpoint on Google Maps and then take a walk for a few more minutes along the cliffs to the right where there is an even better view to admire.
TIP: Come early because it gets more crowded as the day goes by. There will be a line at the official (first) viewpoint. The other is a more natural area with rocks. Wear something that is not slippery.
There is an interesting story related to the ship itself. You will hear a few versions but the most common one is that it was smuggling cigarettes and trying to escape the Greek police when it lost control due to lousy weather and was stranded on a small beach called Agios Georgios. Since 1980 when it happened, the beach has been called Navagio. The story also goes that it was photographed and celebrated by a local journalist. He traveled around and saw that his hosts had lots of cigarette boxes stashed. They showed him a shipwreck that was full of those boxes. And so, the journalist took a photo of the ship from above – and the rest is history.
White Beach
This beach can only be reached by boat and is situated a bit more to the south of Navagio on the western coast. A narrow patch of sand of dazzling white color nestles in the foothill of cliffs where the sea will treat you to gorgeous blue shades. If you come via boat tours, they will provide half an hour or so to take a plunge. Tourists often arrange small beach stones on top of each other as a sign of their visit, some even make a wish. Either way, try not to skip the swim.
Porto Vromni
Porto Vromni is more of a cove than a beach and can be accessed by road curving down the hill. Whenever you want to reach the sea along the west coast, you have to take some road winding down between the cliffs or curving sharply. This is how you will come to Porto Vromni as well. The place provides a café and a kind of boat stop. There is a small patch of sand to enter the water.
When sailing into the cove, you will be shown a rock formation called the Face of Poseidon.
Porto Steniti
This is another cove to reach from the sea since the road from the Maries village is too winding and a bit long. It is not really worth a ride if you are not that interested in seeing the natural cut between the cliffs that you can swim through all the way to a tiny beach. Nature carved a small gorge here which is not more than a couple of meters wide while the batch of sand is just as narrow. I have to admit that is quite nice to be able to swim through the small canyon sheltered by cliffs. If you like snorkeling, this scenery will be a special treat.
If you keep driving south along the west coast, you will find a few more places to swim that you can reach when going off the main road. For rocks and cliffs fans, the whole western coast of the island is just magical. For others, this is quite a waste of time where winding and turning takes a lot of time. Still, these are some of the interesting locations – Porto Limnionas, Porto Roxa, and Plakaki, along with a few taverns providing great views… Until you reach Myzithres on the southwestern tip.
(Eastern coast, north to south)
Mikro Nisi
Zakynthos Things to do has to include the eastern coast due to its lovely beaches. Unlike the west coast, the terrain is not that rough and steep. You can even find a coastal road providing nice sea views which is impossible on the other side. That is why beaches are more frequent and easier to find here.
When you drive south from Blue Caves (more about the caves at the beginning of the post), the first stop is Agios Nikolaos. (Don’t mix it with Agios Nikolaos Vasilikos in the south.) This is a small coastal place where you can eat, have a coffee, and book a boat tour to Blue Caves.
From Agios Nikolaos, it will take a 10-minute drive to reach Mikro Nisi. It is not really a beach but a nice stone entrance into crystal clear water. If snorkeling, diving, or sunbathing on the rocks is your cup of tea, Mikro Nisi will be the right place. Just pay attention to parts of the shore belonging to local hotels and villas.
Makros Gialos
The next place when driving south looks more like a genuine beach. This is Makris Gialos, a lovely pebbled cove with transparent water. There are sunbeds to rent, a shop, and a restaurant. It is great to take a break here especially if you’re not just looking for a place to have a cold drink and something to eat when touring the island, but a nice spot to enjoy the swim as well.
Xigia Sulfur Beach
I didn’t know much about the sulfur beach but I have read somewhere that people come here for a natural spa effect. It only took a 5-minute ride to get here from Makris Gialos and is right by the road so it would be a shame to miss it. The sea appears dimly but the cold sulfur water actually springs beneath its surface and adds to the impressive color. Bathe here a few times because sulfur is a natural ingredient found in our cells that collagen and keratin we use for improving our skin, nails, hair, and bones are abundant with. They say that this water has lots of healthy properties and can help heal almost any disease from arthritis to acne, and metabolism issues to depression.
TIP: Take off your jewelry. It so happened that my silver pieces turned black. A woman even said that her hair “turned back to its natural color”.
Psarou Beach
This beach is not that pretty even though it is sandy. When I stopped by, there were waves and lots of seaweed on the shore. The thing that made a difference was a nice tavern with a sea view and delicious food. A nice place for lunch (and you can skip swimming).
Psarou is only 10 km from Xigia near Alykes and Alikanas which both house “real”, long sandy beaches with all the facilities. If you continue driving for another 10 km or so, you will reach Krioneri which is popular due to its proximity (about two km) to Zante capital.
Zakynthos Town Beaches
Just like in any other island capital with a functional port, there is no genuine beach in Zakynthos town. You can either go to the pebbled area about one km north of the port and Solomos Square (clean water but a pity to be here with such wonderful beach options on the island), or to Argassi 4 km south where there is no actual beach. At the latter, there are areas to go in for a swim but most parts are occupied by hotels.
Porto Zoro
If you go further south, you will find a perfect seaside road curving along the coast – one of my favorite parts of the Zakynthos things to do list, when it comes to touring the island. With a nice sea view on one side, you will see a road sign for Porto Zoro. Leave the car when you turn left and continue on foot for another 10 minutes or so along the steep road. This small bay was once home to a hotel but nothing works anymore. This can be a great option for a day away from everything (literally), especially if you like semi-wild beaches with transparent sea and don’t mind some seaweed on the shore.
Banana Beach
Drive for another km and you will reach the popular Banana Beach. Unlike the latter, this one houses a wide and long stretch of sand with sunbeds, umbrellas, showers, restaurants, and a parking lot. The beach is popular due to water sports, powdery sand, and long shallows which are perfect for kids. Restaurants are cozy, you can find small patches of grass with large pillows scattered around, and tasty food. Still, I couldn’t help but feel like the beach was under construction (some machinery was peeking out at the end of the bay) with all that burning sun and a long stretch of sand with no tree in sight.
Agios Nikolaos (Vasilikos)
The place Agios Nikolaos seemed nice at first glance. Park your car in a small street that takes you out to the beach with a couple of taverns renting sunbeds and umbrellas. There is also a “free” part of the beach where you can put your towel. It is a charming bay (combination of shingle and sand) with crystal clear water and a cute white church nearby. This can be a nice spot to take photos since the small church is so picturesque against the blues of the sky and the sea. They say it is popular for weddings.
TIP: Spend a whole day in Agios Nikolaos. Rent a sunbed, have coffee on the beach, try Souvlaki for lunch, take a selfie next to the church, and swim until you get bored.
Mavratzi Beach
I discovered this beach by accident. The idea was to go from Agios Nikolaos to Gerakas and then I realized that there was a cove with a beach bar after 1.5 km. It is easy to find (and park), and it all looks like it belongs to a bar or a hotel. It so happened that there was a beach party at the time here that I was invited to by a girl at the parking lot. And then the fluffy sunbeds emerged, cocktails with paper umbrellas, a DJ in the bar, and loud music – a real beach party, who would have thought! It was interesting to have a drink and dance on the beach, at a private party some of the tourists hosted for their travel mates. (A lot can happen when you tour the island like this.)
Gerakas Zakynthos
And now, we are heading to a bit more serious part of my Zakynthos things to do article. (Not that serious, don’t worry.) Gerakas is not just a beach. It is one of the most important parts of the National Maritime Park where turtles nestle. The soft sandy area is perfect for turtles and you will see marked nests that you shouldn’t step on, sunbathe, or let your kids dig or build castles. The parking lot is a bit further away and it is forbidden for tourists to enter the beach from half an hour before sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. Dozens of small turtles hatch here every day from May to October.
Put your towel down or rent a sunbed and enjoy the pleasant warm shallows and a nice view of the opposite southwestern tip of the island. Gerakas is situated at the very tip of the southeastern coast and the last place to reach by car along that coastal road. There is another steep hill that stretches along the seaside protecting the coast almost all the way to Kalamaki. (You will have to drive over that hill to see Dafni Beach as I’ll explain further down.)
(Southern coast, west to east)
Keri Beach
Keri is a small village in the southwest. It houses a small marina where you can book a boat tour, a few restaurants, a supermarket, cafés, a beach, and a shower. This quiet settlement is not that popular because of its pebbled beach or natural shade but it can be quite nice.
TIP: Stop by the restaurant on the way down to Keri for a snack. A magnificent view of the Keri Bay and Marathonisi Island awaits you. Above the settlement up in the hills, you will also find a charming old village.
Agios Sostis, Cameo
It will take less than half an hour to come from Keri to Agios Sostis via Lithakia. This is another lovely bay (combination of sand and shingle) but this time, it is a popular tourist attraction that has to be a part of our Zakynthos things to do list. There is a small entrance fee to Cameo islet (it was EUR 5 when I was there, and you’ll get a keychain with your photo in return). Go through over the rock to the other side of the islet adorned with a small beach. There is a restaurant terrace, a small patch of sand to take a swim, and the famous rope with white lingering sheets.
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The Cameo islet is popular for weddings and all kinds of romantic celebrations. It can get crowded because the space is rather small but it is quite charming all together – to walk over the narrow bridge to the sea rock and take the stone stairs to reach the other side facing the horizon.
Laganas Beach
Laganas Beach is close to Agios Sostis and is one of the most popular places on the island. The settlement is famous for its long sandy beach and vibrant night life. This is where you can watch airplanes arriving at Zakynthos since the airport is close. This is a plus if your accommodation is here because it won’t take long to reach it upon your arrival. I wasn’t that smitten by the place. True, the sand is soft and the settlement is full of restaurants and shops but everything was just blank and, in my opinion, doesn’t have a Zakynthos flair.
Kalamaki Beach
Laganas sandy beach stretches to Kalamaki. The car navigation first took me to a dirt road which I had to follow on foot only to discover that I couldn’t reach the beach that way (but the view was nice). Still, it was easy to access the beach by car from the other side. The beach is sandy and long with rocks on both ends. The beach hotel provides a terrace where you can rent a set of sunbeds and umbrellas or just enjoy the view over lunch. It is a nice place for a break.
Dafni Beach
This beach is not far from Gerakas but it can only be reached if you drive over the mountains. Dafni is one of the beaches I came back to a couple of times and spent my last day in Zakynthos. A nice stretch of sand with a few restaurants offering sunbeds and umbrellas. The road is a bit steep, narrow, and dusty (first you climb up through the olive grows and then descend covered in a cloud of dust) but it is so worth it (only 2.5 from the main road).
You can come in the morning, have coffee on the beach, enjoy the natural shade, read a book, have Sea Bream for lunch over a glass of white wine, and doze off with the sound of the waves in the background… (Oh, I already miss it.)
TIP: There are two Dafni signs on the main road along the southeastern coast. Try to remember to take the second right when coming from Zante town and after passing by Porto Zoro. Why is this important? Because the first turn will take you over the same hill but to one of the taverns that claim the parking lot. If you park here, you have to come to their place. You can’t reach parking lots of other restaurants from here due to road construction or something. So, the easiest way to avoid misunderstandings is to take a second turn for more options. (Try to find Porto Mela on Google Maps, this is where you should come.)
What to Try in Zakynthos
Just like anywhere else in Greece, you can indulge in tasteful spreads like Tzatziki and Taramosalata, Greek Salad, Souvlaki, and Gyros. One can’t skip seafood and try either Calamari, or fresh fish like Sea Bream, Sea Brass, Swordfish, or Shrimp. Try stuffed vegetables, great Feta cheese, Moussaka, and Moschari Stifado (slow-cooked veal with onions and tomato).
If you have a sweet tooth like me, try Baklavas, Yogurt with Honey, or traditional sweets inherited from the Venetians like Mandolato or Pasteli. Mandolato is a nugget bar with almonds and Pasteli is a candied bar with sesame and nuts. If you go to Bohali, treat yourself to any kind of Frigania cake often served with a scoop of ice cream and various creams. It melts in your mouth.
Zakynthos Greece Hotels
Choose your accommodation depending on the location and things you want to be close to. You can stay in more peaceful parts of the island like Keri in the southwest or Agios Nikolaos in the southeast. If you want to go out and lay in the sand, Laganas will be the right choice. The capital is really cute but not practical when it comes to beaches because you will have to go out of the city every day. (The parking is also a nightmare.)
Car hire is a great option for touring the island. You need a small car easy to park and will take you up and down as required. The more days you rent it for, the lower the price. They drove the car to my accommodation the first morning and the drop-off was near the airport on the last day which was convenient.
And then I just took off – even though at a slow pace due to the 50 km per hour speed limit on the entire island.
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