Navagio Shipwreck Beach
A rusting freighter beached on bright white sand, walled in by 200-metre cliffs and reached only by boat. The picture that put Zakynthos on the map, seen from the water or from the clifftop.
Ionian Islands, Greece
Zakynthos
Zakynthos, also called Zante, is the Ionian island that photographs better than almost anywhere in Greece: a shipwreck lying on a white-sand cove beneath vertical limestone cliffs, sea caves that turn the water electric blue, and a bay where loggerhead turtles still come ashore to nest.
This guide books the headline boat days first, Navagio, the Blue Caves, Marathonisi and the Keri sea caves, then adds the slower side of the island: the rebuilt Venetian-style town and its castle hill, mountain villages and monasteries, Verdea wine, honey and cooking classes, sunsets at Keri and Agalas, and a day trip to Ancient Olympia. Then it matches you to a base, from Laganas and the south coast to Tsilivi, Alykanas, Argassi and Vasilikos, because on an island where the best sights are reached by water, where you sleep decides your boat.
Don't miss
Navagio Shipwreck Beach
A rusting freighter beached on bright white sand, walled in by 200-metre cliffs and reached only by boat. The picture that put Zakynthos on the map, seen from the water or from the clifftop.
Blue Caves of Skinari
Sea arches and grottoes at the northern tip of the island, where sunlight turns the water a glowing electric blue. A short boat ride from Agios Nikolaos or Porto Vromi, and the natural partner to Navagio.
Marathonisi Turtle Island and Keri Caves
A half-day cruise from Laganas into the bay where loggerhead turtles live, to the turtle-shaped islet of Marathonisi and the sea caves along the Keri peninsula. The classic south-coast boat trip.
Navagio Viewpoint and Porto Vromi
The clifftop platform above the shipwreck cove near Anafonitria, plus the tiny harbour of Porto Vromi on the west coast. The bird's-eye postcard view, reached by bus or car instead of boat.
Things to do in Zakynthos
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Blue Caves of Skinari
Sea arches and grottoes at the northern tip of the island, where sunlight turns the water a glowing electric blue. A short boat ride from Agios Nikolaos or Porto Vromi, and the natural partner to Navagio.
Navagio Viewpoint and Porto Vromi
The clifftop platform above the shipwreck cove near Anafonitria, plus the tiny harbour of Porto Vromi on the west coast. The bird's-eye postcard view, reached by bus or car instead of boat.
Marathonisi Turtle Island and Keri Caves
A half-day cruise from Laganas into the bay where loggerhead turtles live, to the turtle-shaped islet of Marathonisi and the sea caves along the Keri peninsula. The classic south-coast boat trip.
Laganas Bay Turtle Spotting by Clear Boat
A quiet clear-hull boat trip into the protected waters where loggerhead turtles feed and nest. A calmer, slower alternative to the bigger cave cruises, run with the turtles in mind.
Mizithres Sunset Cruise
An evening sail along the Keri coast to the twin sea stacks of Mizithres, with swimming, a drink on board and the sun dropping into the Ionian. The most romantic boat trip on the island.
Keri Lighthouse and Sunset Viewpoints
The southwest tip of the island: a white lighthouse on the cliffs, the Keri village and a lake that has bubbled with natural pitch since antiquity. The classic land-based sunset.
Agalas and Damianos Cave
A hillside village in the southwest, a cave with stalactites you can walk into, and a clifftop sunset a short drive from Keri. A quieter, more local sunset than the headline viewpoints.
Zakynthos Town and the Venetian Castle by E-Bike
The rebuilt harbour town with its arcaded squares, Solomos Square and the church of Agios Dionysios, plus the Venetian castle on Bochali hill. Best seen on foot or by e-bike with a guide.
Zakynthos Highlights Island Tour
A guided day or half day by road that strings together the main sights of the island, from the capital and the mountain villages to viewpoints and beaches, for visitors without a car.
Mountain Villages and Medieval Monasteries
The green, hilly interior behind the beaches: Volimes weaving, Anafonitria and its monastery, stone houses and olive groves. A slower side of Zakynthos on a private day trip.
Bochali and Korakonisi Scenic Photo Tour
A private photo-focused drive to the high viewpoints above Zakynthos Town and the cliffs of Korakonisi, chosen for light and angles rather than for ticking off sights.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Laganas Beach Hotel
Laganas
A base in Laganas, the long south-coast beach resort beside the turtle bay. Close to boat departures, the marine park and the island's busiest nightlife.
Check rates →White Olive Elite Laganas
Laganas
An all-inclusive style resort option in Laganas for travellers who want meals, drinks and beach access sorted in one booking.
Check rates →Hotel Alexander the Great
Laganas
A mid-range option in the Laganas area for travellers who want the south-coast beach, boats and tavernas at a sensible price.
Check rates →Alykanas Beach Hotel by Zante Plaza
Alykanas
A beach hotel on the quieter north-east coast, near the harbours for Navagio and Blue Caves boats and far from the Laganas nightlife.
Check rates →Iakinthos Tsilivi Beach Hotel
Tsilivi
A family-friendly stay at Tsilivi, the busy east-coast resort a short drive from Zakynthos Town and the water park.
Check rates →Argassi Beach Hotel
Argassi
A beachfront-area stay in Argassi, a resort town just south of Zakynthos Town and an easy hop from the airport, the capital and the south coast.
Check rates →Vasilikos Beach Hotel
Vasilikos
A stay on the quiet Vasilikos peninsula, close to wide beaches and the Gerakas turtle-nesting sands, away from the busier resorts.
Check rates →Avalon Palace Hotel
Zakynthos Town
A town-centre hotel in the capital, a short walk from Solomos Square, the waterfront and the arcaded streets. Best for culture and dining rather than beach days.
Check rates →Bitzaro Boutique Hotel
Zakynthos Town area
A boutique-style stay near Zakynthos Town for couples who want a smaller, more characterful hotel with easy access to the capital.
Check rates →Domes Aulus Zante All Inclusive Autograph Collection
Zakynthos island resort
A higher-end all-inclusive resort on Zakynthos from a luxury hotel collection. Check the property page for its exact location and facilities.
Check rates →Zakynthos guides
Zakynthos in Three Days: Shipwreck Cove, Turtle Bay and the Old Town
A three-day plan that groups the island by region: a north-coast boat day to Navagio and the Blue Caves, a south-coast day for turtles and Keri, and a slow day in the capital and the hills.
Where to Stay in Zakynthos: Laganas, Tsilivi, Alykanas, Argassi and the Capital
A guide to the island's main bases, from lively Laganas and family-friendly Tsilivi to quiet Alykanas, central Argassi, peaceful Vasilikos and the capital.
Best Time to Visit Zakynthos: Seasons, Sea Temperature and Crowds
When to go for warm water, calm boats and fewer crowds, and what changes between the peak summer months, the shoulder seasons and winter.
Zakynthos Food and Wine: Verdea, Honey, Garlic Beef and Nougat
What to eat and drink on Zakynthos, from garlic-rich skordostoumbi and rabbit stifado to Verdea wine, local honey and mandolato nougat, plus classes and tastings.
Zakynthos Boat Trips: Navagio, Blue Caves, Keri and Sunset Cruises Compared
How to choose between the island's boat trips: where they leave from, what each one shows, which boat types suit which travellers and how to avoid rough-sea disappointments.
Zakynthos Turtles and the Marine Park: How to See Loggerheads Responsibly
Everything to know about the loggerhead turtles of Laganas Bay: the nesting season, the marine-park rules, how to book a responsible boat trip and what to do and avoid on the beaches.
