Visiting Zakynthos | What To Do & Where To Stay

Zakynthos, called the “Flower of the East” by the Venetians that ruled here from the 15th to 18th century, is rich with exotic, natural beauty. It offers sandy beaches, rocky cliffs, remarkable caves, giant rocks, hidden swimming spots, lush green hills, and more. This is the home of Shipwreck Beach, often listed as one of the top 10 most beautiful beaches in the world, the Blue Caves, mesmerizing Myzithres Rocks, and is also the breeding island of choice for the rare Mediterranean Carreta Caretta, or Loggerhead Turtles, which you can swim with here. This post covers what to see and do when visiting Zakynthos, how to get there, where to stay, and tips to make your visit fun, safe, and memorable.

How Zakynthos Got It’s Name

Zakynthos, also known as Zante in Italian, is such an unusual name. Very different from the names of most Greek islands. So how did it get this name? According to the Ancient Greek poet Homer, who wrote about Zakynthos in the Iliad and the Odyssey, the name comes from Greek mythology. Zakynthos, the son of King Dardanos, who founded Troy, and grandson of the god Zeus, landed here long ago and gave the island his name. With this legend, Zakynthos was a paradise of the gods long before mortals lived here.

Top Things To Do When Visiting Zakynthos

Shipwreck Beach

Shipwreck Beach is the most popular site in Zakynthos, so visiting it is one of the top things to do on the island. This beach is simply stunning.

Surrounded by the rocky cliffs you find on the northwestern coast of Zakynthos, it’s especially serene from the viewpoint above. To fully explore its beauty, most people visit both the viewpoint above it and from the sea.

Its stark white beach is a beautiful contrast to the vibrant blue sea here. And the rusting freight liner, rumored to be run aground smuggling contraband, adds to its allure.

No one knows for sure if the smuggling rumors are true or not, but this is how the cove got the name “Smugglers Cove” and how the beach got the name Navagio Beach, which is the Greek name for Shipwreck Beach.

There’s an official viewpoint above and a little north of the beach that gives you a quick glimpse of the beach, but it’s really best to walk the extra 15-minutes to the unofficial viewpoint, which is further north of the official one.

Yet while the official viewpoint is very safe, with waist height glass walls on a platform overlooking the beach, the unofficial one is definitely at your own risk. There are no fences or walls here and the path is rocky, so be extremely careful and wear good shoes.

The unofficial viewpoint is only for those with excellent mobility. It’s also the best place to get photos as provides a much better angle and there are more options for composition. You also don’t feel pressured to take a quick picture and leave. The unofficial viewpoint is the kind of place where you linger and admire the view at your leisure.

As noted above, most people visit both the viewpoint and visit by sea with many tours are offering both. Most offering both in the same tour. See Viator for a variety of great options. Unfortunately, in late 2022 Shipwreck Beach was closed due to seismic activity. Several tourists were tragically injured on the beach from falling rock!

Tour boats still visit by sea, but until the beach opens again, they stop in the sea for tourists to take photos. Sometimes, the unofficial viewpoint is also closed for safety reasons. It can be frustrating, as this is the top site on Zakynthos, but safety needs to be prioritized.

There is no public transportation to the Shipwreck Beach viewpoint or the Beach. The drive to the viewpoint from both Zakynthos Town and Laganas, both popular places for tourists to stay, is about an hour, but definitely worth it. You can also rent a boat at Porto Vromi, which is the nearest port, and go to Shipwreck Beach on your own.

To learn more about Shipwreck Beach, as well as how and when to visit, and more on renting your own boat, see my post on How To Get To Shipreck Beach.

Blue Caves

The Blue Caves, which get their name from the variety of intense shades of blue of the sea around them, are on the northern tip of Zakynthos.

Many tours offer excursions to see the Blue Caves. Try to find one that allows time to swim in the water around the caves. As the Blue Caves not too far from Shipwreck Beach (on the northwest side of the island) these two site are often combined in tours. You can also rent your own boat.

The closest port to the Blue Caves is Agios Nikolaos Harbor, which is on the northeast side of Zakynthos.

Note that these caves are different than the Keri Caves (below) on the southwest side of Zakynthos. Because they are on opposite ends of the island they are usually visited separately, each combined with nearby sites.

Myzithres

Myzithres is a hidden gem on Zakynthos and definitely worth visiting (which is why I’m listing this second). These two majestic white peaks, located on the island’s southwestern coast, were once called the Myzithres islands, but an earthquake a few years ago left a stretch of sandy beach between them and Zante.

Similar to Shipwreck, you can visit Myzithres both from viewpoints on the cliff above the beach, as well as by sea.

Myzithres also has an official viewpoint on the cliff above, with a waist high glass wall for safety and an unprotected viewpoint. The view from the unprotected viewpoint (which is in the photo below) is also better than the official viewpoint, but visiting is at your own risk as it’s dangerous.

There’s also a great view of Myzithres from the Keri Lighthouse restaurant, just next to the official viewpoint. They serve food and drinks on a lovely patio overlooking the sea and the food is delicious (although a little pricey). Be sure to make reservations in advance if you plan to eat here. Both the official viewpoint ans the patio at Keri Lighthouse restaurant are both suitable for those with limited mobility.

Unfortunately, there is no public transportation to Myzithres either. The drive here from Zakynthos Town is about 13 miles (21 km) and takes about 35 minutes, depending on your starting location. From Laganas Beach it’s about 9 miles (15 km) and takes about 25 minutes.

There are no tours to the viewpoint, as most tourists usually visit on their own. There are a few tours that visit the beach area by sea. One of the more popular tours visits at sunset so you can see the sunsetting between the two peaks. You can also rent your own boat from Agios Sostis and visit on your own.

For more details on Myzithres and how to get here, see my post on Myzithres Viewpoint & Beach, Hidden Gem of Zakynthos.

Keri Caves

The Keri Caves are a series of caves along the southwestern side of Zakynthos, between Laganas Beach and Myzithres Rocks.

There are many organized tours to cruise along the coast to see them, with some making swim stops in the area. Some tours combine a visit to the caves with Myzithres and some combine it with a visit to Turtle Island. You can also rent a boat from Agios Sostis Harbor near Laganas to explore them at your leisure.

Turtle Spotting

Another one of the top things to do when visiting Zakynthos is to go turtle spotting in the National Marine Park, which was developed to protect them. This park spans the Gulf of Laganas and is where 80% of the rare Caretta Caretta, or Mediterranean Loggerhead Turtles, come to lay their eggs.

As these turtles swim thousands of miles to create nests on the same beach where they were born, it’s very imperative to protect these fascinating creatures. It’s also important to protect their babies, who are critical for the survival of this species.

The best way to spot a turtle without disturbing their habitat is to snorkel at Cameo Island (below). You can also rent a kayak or stand up paddle board here to look for them.

If you do see a turtle, to protect both you and the turtle, do not approach them and always maintain a safe distance.

Boat tours are not ideal as the turtles are sensitive and frighten easily. There are, however, many tours offering turtle spotting. It’s a little intense as once a turtle is spotted, the large boats all move to the same location and circle the turtle so tourists can get a photo. I don’t think this type of stress is good for any turtle, let alone a pregnant one.

There is one tour, however, that is reportedly approved by the Zante Turtle Rescue Center. For more details on this tour, and more on spotting turtles, see my post on Spotting Turtles on Zakynthos & Visiting Turtle Island.

Marathonisi Island

Marathonisi island, known as Turtle island, is a popular beach stop when visiting Zakynthos. The island gets its name both because it’s shaped like a turtle and because it’s one of the beaches the turtles lay their eggs on. It’s located in the protected Marine Park area in the Gulf of Laganas.

The island is mostly rocky, but there is a small sandy beach on its northern side. There are also some caves located on the back side of the island.

The center part of the sandy beach area is where the turtles lay their eggs at night. It’s roped off and strictly off limits. Tourists visit the fringe of the beach, outside of the roped off area, and can swim in the water. Turtle island is also closed from sunset to sunrise so the night time nesting process is protected. Night is also usually when the babies hatch, so this is protected as well.

There are other rules on this beach to follow. For example, you cannot dig in the sand or set up umbrellas (as these could damage eggs that may be outside the roped off area), and there are no sun beds. There are also no buildings to keep it natural. Instead, there are usually boats parked here offering food and beverages so you can still enjoy the beach.

Many tours that stop here for an hour or so for you to swim, but you can also get here via boat taxi from the Agios Sostis Harbor. For more details, see my post on Spotting Turtles on Zakynthos & Visiting Turtle Island.

Cameo Island

Cameo Island was once part of Zakynthos, but was separated from the main island in an earthquake in the 17th century. Today, there’s a charming wooden bridge connecting Cameo island to Zante.

It’s a small fee to cross and enter the island, although the fee is sometimes offset by a small token gift or a drink at the bar here.

As the island is so romantic, with gauze panels hanging from the rocks on either end, there are often weddings here. In fact, this island was used for the wedding scene in the movie Momma Mia.

Although swimming here is a great place to see turtles, they do not nest on the beach here as it’s pebbled (not sandy). This means there are sun beds and umbrellas as well as a beach bar and restaurant here (unlike Turtle island). It’s easy access and amenities make it a popular attraction.

Laganas

The town of Laganas is located on the southern part of Zakynthos and is another popular place to stay when visiting (besides Zakynthos Town below). As noted above, this is where the Carreta Carreta visit to breed and lay their eggs and encompassed by the National Marine Park. Laganas is known for its sandy beach, Laganas Beach, and its nightlife.

This is also where Agios Sostis Harbor is, where many boats depart for tours to Turtle island, Myzithres, and the Keri Caves. Romantic Cameo island is also just a short walk across the wooden bridge from Agios Sostis.

Buses run regularly between Zakynthos Town and Laganas. This is convenient as they both offer interesting sites and things to do.

Plakaki Beach

Plakaki Beach is not really a beach, it’s a viewpoint with steep steps down to a rocky area where you can jump into the crystal-clear water. It’s a hidden swimming hole for the adventurous and the nimble. It’s for those with excellent mobility and lots of courage. The platform above the water is only rocks, and getting there is not easy, so make sure to bring water shoes.

I stoped here to walk and take a few photos while driving from Shipwreck Beach to Myzithres Viewpoint. There’s a small dirt parking area and overflow cars can park on the dirt road. This site is on the west coast and offered beautiful views to both the north and the south.

The view to the north is in the photo below. I’m not sure of the name of the rock in the sea here, but the turquoise water is very inviting.

If you walk to the southern side after parking you can see this view, which includes the Mizithres Rocks in the distance. Myzithres is only 6 miles (10 km) south, about a 25-minute drive from Plakaki.

There’s a small place here selling refreshments, but other than the parking area, and the steps down to the rocks above the sea, this is pure nature. There are also no signs to indicate where to walk, but the lack of development here is a huge part of its beauty. There is also no public transportation to this location.

Zakynthos Town

The old town of Zakynthos is where the main port of the island is, and where most tourists choose to stay to explore the sites when visiting. It’s located on the southeastern part of the island.

The town was mostly reconstructed after the devastating 1953 earthquake, which destroyed most of the traditional Greek buildings on the island. It does have a more modern feel, but still has some Greek charm.

Highlights of Zakynthos Town include the squares of San Marco and Solomos, as well as Bochali (below). San Dionisio, in Solomos Square is the only building here that survived the 1953 earthquake and fire. It’s also important as it keeps the relics of the Saint Dionisio.

San Marco Square was reconstructed to look very close to the way it looked before the earthquake. This square is a popular place to visit at night, full of cafes, restaurants, and bars.

Zakynthos Town has many restaurants, but only a few traditional Greek tavernas that you should not miss. Katouni, which was my favorite, is close to the southern port and is only open for lunch. This is the kind of place where you’ll find more locals than tourists. They have daily specials along with traditional Greek favorites. The staff is very friendly and always smiling. They don’t have a website, but they have a Facebook page (here) so you can be sure to find it.

Spartakos Taverna is another taverna with traditional Greek food. It’s a few blocks north of Katouni. This place is busy every night. The food is delicious, inexpensive, and the staff works hard to keep everyone happy.

Bochali Hill

Bochali, sometimes noted as Bohali, is the oldest part of Zakynthos and the former capital. This magical spot is located up on the hill of Strani, just behind the main town of Zakynthos. It’s also rumored to be the site of the Acropolis Psofida built here when Zakynthos, grandson of Zeus, arrived on the island long, long ago. Visiting offers beautiful panoramic views of the town and the harbor, making it one of the more popular things to do if you’re staying in Zakynthos Town (or Laganas).

There are several restaurants along the edge of the hill to enjoy a meal or drink while admiring the view. I had brunch at Diethnes Cafe Resto Bar, where I took the photo below. They also offer live music and DJ’s in the evening. See the website link above for more details, schedules, and to make reservations (which are a good idea for evenings in peak season).

This view would be even more amazing as the lights of the city start to turn on and twinkle below.

There are a few other restaurants and cafes in Bochali, as well as a church to admire, the Zoodochos Pigi Holy Church.

It’s popular to walk up the hill for the beautiful view, although it’s about a 30-minute walk from Solomos Square. Uphill, of course. If you don’t want to walk, there is a tourist “mini train” from Solomos Square. It’s called the Zante Fun Train and it runs hourly during peak season for a few euro. This train also has other stops, including Laganas, so is helpful if you don’t have a car. See their website for details.

If you plan to head up to Bochali for sunset, remember that the view faces east. The sky may still be beautiful, but the actual sunset is in the west. You can, however, head up here early to catch the sunrise over the harbor.

Venetian Fortress of Zakynthos

The ruins of an old Venetian Fortress are also in Bochali. This was once the capital, with most of the townspeople living within its protective walls. It was abandoned in the 16th century.

Not much remains of the fortress, or castle, except for the main entry gate and the walls. It’s does have an amazing view of the city though, so another popular spot to visit.

This fortress is open every day except Tuesdays. It closes at 3:00 PM.

The 2,000 Year Old Olive Tree

There’s an olive tree said to be 2,000 years old in the small town of Exo Hora, or Exo Chora. It’s a quirky little stop between Shipwreck Beach and Plakaki to see the tree. It’s both beautiful and bizarre at the same time, with its twisted, gnarly, beautiful branches.

It’s easy to find the tree because it’s right on the corner of the main street. Just use your GPS to head to the town.

Locals have little shops set up near the tree to sell locally made products like honey, wine, and fruit. I got to try some of the locally dried Zante currants, seedless dried Black Corinth grapes. This unusual grape originates from Greece and is one of the world’s oldest known raisins.

Embarrassingly, I didn’t even know what the shop owner was offering me until I read about the Zante Currant afterwards (he didn’t speak much English). Had I known that’s what he had me try, I would have bought some to take back to my room for breakfast.

Zante Sea Turtle & Rescue Center

If you’re interested in learning more about protecting the Carreta Carreta Turtles when visiting Zakynthos, stop at the Zante Sea Turtle & Rescue Center. They not only work to protect the Carreta Carreta, they also track nesting activity, work to develop policies on the island, and help rescue injured turtles.

This center is on the southeastern tip of Zakynthos, near Gerakas Beach. It’s in the Marine Park area established to protect the turtles. You can visit for a few hours to learn about their operation, or volunteer to work here to help the turtles for several weeks.

Where To Stay On Zakynthos

While most visitors stay in Zakynhos Town or Laganas, I’ve also listed a few other options that I think look spectacular to stay when visiting.

Zakynthos Town

I chose rooms with sea views in Zakynthos Town as I think this really helps make a place feel special.

Affordable

• If you new to stay near the port area, I recommend Adriani Apartment. This 2 bedroom apartment has a kitchen and balcony with sea views. It’s a 10-minute walk to San Marco Square.
• I stayed at Three Graces Zakynthos Town. These units offer a city and post view about a 20-minute walk to the port and a 15-minute walk to San Marcos Square. It’s also within walking distance of the bus station. There’s a kitchenette and a sofa that opens to an extra bed. I found the owner to be very friendly and  accommodating.
• Eolia Apartment is another option. This is a 1 bedroom apartment with a kitchen and balcony with city and sea views.

Laganas

Laganas on the south end of Zakynthos is another popular place to stay. If offers sandy beaches and is close to Turtle Island, the Keri Caves, and Myzithres Viewpoint.

Affordable

• Aceno Apartments is 2 bedroom apartment with a kitchenette just a few steps from the beach and close to many restaurants. It’s 1.3 miles from Agios Sostis harbor.
• Arba Rooms, in the southwestern area of Laganas Bay across from Turtle Island, offers stunning views of from its balcony. This area is in Marathias. Rooms have ocean views and a fridge, kettle, and coffee maker.

Moderate 

• Villa Johnny is a luxurious 3 bedroom house with a private pool, 1.3 miles from Laganas Beach.

Mariai

Mariai is a little closer to Shipwreck Beach. If this is the main reason for your visit, this is an interesting place to consider.

• loanna, Château – Luxury Stone Villa is a recently renovated villa in Maríai with a swimming pool, garden, and barbecue facilities. The villa includes 2 bedrooms, 3 baths, a living room, and an equipped kitchen, as well as sea views and access to a terrace. Shipwreck Beach is a 15-minute drive away.

Agios Nikolaos

• Avgi Holiday Villa is a splurge stay, located a 5-minute drive from Agios Nikolaos Harbor in the northeast side of Zakynthos. This beachfront property offers 3 bedrooms and stunning views of the Ionian Sea. Guests can swim in the infinity pool, go hiking, relax in the garden, and use the barbecue facilities.

How To Get To Zakynthos

Fly

The best way to get to Zakynthos from Athens is to fly. In peak season there are daily flights at very reasonable prices, usually $50-100. Flights take about an hour.

I arrived from Corfu, which is north of Zakynthos. This flight was also about $100, but stopped briefly on Kefalonia and Lefkada alomg the way. It was certainly a beautiful flight overlooking the islands!

There are also flights from most other Greek islands that have airports.

Ferry

You can also visit via ferry from Athens. It’s very inexpensive, but takes 4-5 hours at best. First you need to drive (or take a bus) from Athens to the port of Kilini. This is almost 200 miles (316 km) west of Athens and takes 3 to 4 hours. From there, the ferry from Kilini to Zante Town on Zakythos takes about 1 hour and fifteen minutes.

See more details on the ferry at this link on greeka.com.

If you’re arriving from Kefalonia, the Ionian island north of Zakynthis, there is a ferry that operates between Sami, which is in the eastern end of Kefalonia, and the port of Zakynthos in Zante Town. It runs several times a week during peak season and takes about 3 hours. For times and costs, see this link at Direct Ferries.

Want More Of Greece?

Want to learn more about Greece? There’s so much to see in this amazing country. From the history and spectacular monuments on the mainland to the stunning beaches and viewpoints on the more than 200 inhabited islands here.

The following are my favorite places, along with some of my favorite stories from along the way.

Mainland Greece

• Top 20 Things To Do In Amazing Athens | A Complete Guide
• Visiting The Clifftop Monasteries Of Meteora
• Teaching Yoga At A Refugee Camp In Serres Greece

Corfu Island

• Best Things To Do In Corfu Old Town
• Things To Do In Sidari: Must-See Canal d’ Amour and More
• Enchanting Cape Drastis, How To Get There And What To Expect
• Top Things To Do In Pretty Paleokastrista
• Top 12 Things To Do In Captivating Corfu

Crete Island

• Top Things To Do In Crete
• Balos Bay Beach And Gramvousa Island, Crete
• Day Trip To Elafonisi Island, Crete
• Hiking Samaria Gorge, Crete

Ios Island

• Top 15 Things To Do On Ios Island 

Kefalonia

• Exploring Enchanting Myrtos Beach & It’s Stunning Viewpoints
• Complete Guide To Charming Fiskardo
• How To Get To Melissani Cave & What To Expect
• Colorful Assos Village, It’s Castle & Turquoise Bay
• The Enigmatic Sinkholes Of Argostoli
• Best Things To Do In Argostoli | Top Attractions & Hidden Gems
• Ultimate Guide To The Best Things To Do In Kefalonia

Milos Island

• What To Do On The Cool Island Of Milos

Naxos Island

• Top 20 Things To Do In Naxos  

Paros Island

• 15 Fun Things To Do On Enchanting Paros 

Santorini Island

• Hiking From Fira To Oia On Santorini

Zakynthos

• How To Get To Stunning Shipwreck Beach on Zakynthos
• Spotting Turtles in Zakynthos And Visiting Turtle Island
• Myzithres Viewpoint & Beach | Hidden Gem of Zakynthos

Other

• Philotimo, The Highest Greek Virtue
• Gorgeous Old Doors Of Greece

For an overview of all the best places in Greece, as well as how to get around, safety, tips, and more, see my Greece Travel Guide.

Safe Travels!

Julie