March 20, 2023, 11:23 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Zakynthos is best known for its stunningly beautiful beaches and coves. However, the Greek island offers much more for tourists. TRAVELBOOK has all the tips.
Zakynthos is about 25 miles long and 12 miles wide–a good size to explore during a vacation. The landscape of the popular holiday island is mountainous, especially on the west side. The highest point is the 2,480-foot Vrachionas. The coastline is steep and rugged in some areas, while flatter in others.
After Corfu and Kefalonia, Zakynthos is the third-largest Ionian island and the tenth-largest of all Greek islands. About 39,000 people live on the island, which is located about 12 miles west of the Peloponnese peninsula.
Zakynthos–the Best Tips
Overview
Navagio Bay–the “Smuggler’s Cove”
One of the most spectacular bays on Zakynthos is Navagio Bay in the island’s west. It is famous not only for its intensely blue water and the beach accessible only by boat but also for the shipwreck lying in the sand. It is the smuggler ship Panagiotis, which ran aground during a storm in 1980. The bay, surrounded by 1,017-foot cliffs (formerly known as Agios Georgios), earned the nickname “Smuggler’s Cove.”
Navagio Bay has always been one of the most popular tourist destinations on Zakynthos. However, access to the beach will be closed this summer due to potential landslide risks, reports “Greek City Times.” The beach is inspected for safety twice a year. The exact closure period is currently unknown, so travelers should check locally before planning a visit to see if the bay is open.
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Dream Beaches and Blue Caves
Besides Navagio Bay, Zakynthos has many other beautiful beaches. The western coast is mostly steep, with many coves accessible only by boat–but the beaches are stunning. The east coast alternates between rocky coves and flat sandy beaches (such as Alykes, Tsilivi, and Amboula). Additionally, the beautiful Blue Caves near Cape Skinari can be visited on a boat tour. They truly live up to their name. Tours start from the beach of Makris Gialos, Cape Skinari, and Agio Nikolaos harbor.
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Encounter with the Loggerhead Turtle
In the south of Zakynthos lies the Bay of Turtles, which includes beaches like Limni Keri, Kaminia, Porto Koukla, Agios Sostis, Laganas, Dafni, Kalamaki, Gerakas, and Marathia Cape. The bay is aptly named–many loggerhead turtles, a highly endangered species in Europe, live here. At the beautiful beach of Dafni, you can see the turtles, and the beach of Kalamaki is closed at certain times to protect the turtles (they bury their eggs in the sand at night). Boat tours to the turtles’ habitats are offered from Laganas.
Laganas is the main beach on Zakynthos. It is a popular spot for young people, with numerous sports facilities, restaurants, and bars.
Visit to the Capital
Many tourists on Zakynthos mainly stay at the beaches, but there is much more to discover on the island. For example, the island’s main town, Zakynthos City, with its charming harbor piers, the Resistance Memorial (which commemorates two brave islanders who saved many Jews during World War II), the massive Agios Dionysios Church with its bell tower standing a bit apart, the Monastery of Strofades, and the Kastro ruins on the hill of the same name–they are the remnants of the original city. In Zakynthos City, you can find several stone reminders of the 700-year Venetian rule on the island.
Keri–a Village Frozen in Time
A beautiful excursion destination is the village of Keri, about 12 miles from Zakynthos City. It is a charming mountain village with narrow streets and old houses, giving it a timeless feel. The lighthouse of Keri is also worth seeing. Another lovely village is Kampi, with a spectacular, steep rocky coastline.
A Brief Zakynthos Overview in the Podcast
More tips and inspiration about Zakynthos are also provided by Sonja Koller in the following podcast episode of “In 5 Minutes Around the World.”
“My 8 Personal Favorite Places on Zakynthos”
Again! Greece Closes Its Most Famous Beach
Climate and Weather on Zakynthos
Zakynthos is a travel destination almost year-round. Between May and October, temperatures range from 77 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, making it summerly warm. In November, temperatures can still reach up to 68 degrees. Between December and March, it can get quite cool, sometimes dropping below 50 degrees, and it rains relatively often. During this time, the sea, with temperatures between 54 and 63 degrees, is only for the very hardy swimmers.
Map of Zakynthos
(Text: Silke Böttcher)