Zakynthos (also known as Zante) is one of the most dramatic islands in the Ionian Sea. Its coastline is extraordinary — sheer white cliffs dropping to turquoise water, sea caves of extraordinary beauty and the most photographed beach in Greece. It is also one of the most important nesting sites for the loggerhead sea turtle in the Mediterranean, a fact that has shaped the island's approach to tourism and conservation.

The Island

Zakynthos is medium-sized — around 406 square kilometres — with a permanent population of around 40,000 people. The landscape is varied: the west coast is dramatic and cliffy, the east coast flatter and more agricultural, the interior hilly with traditional villages. The main settlement is Zakynthos Town, a beautiful neoclassical city rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1953.

Sights and Attractions

Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Beach) is the island's most famous sight — a cove of white sand and turquoise water enclosed by sheer white cliffs, with the rusting hull of a shipwrecked freighter (the MV Panagiotis, stranded in 1980) at its centre. It is accessible only by boat and is one of the most photographed spots in Greece. Visit early in the morning to avoid the crowds.

The Blue Caves on the north coast are extraordinary — a series of sea caves where the light refracts through the water to create an intense blue glow. Accessible by boat from Cape Skinari.

Zakynthos Town was almost entirely destroyed by the 1953 earthquake and rebuilt in a neoclassical style. The Museum of Byzantine Art holds an excellent collection of post-Byzantine icons rescued from the island's churches. The Church of Agios Dionysios is the island's most important religious building, housing the relics of the patron saint.

Sea Turtles

Zakynthos is one of the most important nesting sites for the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) in the Mediterranean. The beaches of Laganas Bay on the south coast are protected nesting grounds, and the National Marine Park of Zakynthos was established to protect both the turtles and their habitat. Responsible turtle-watching boat trips operate from Laganas in summer.

Beaches

Zakynthos has excellent beaches. Navagio is the most famous (boat access only). Gerakas on the east coast is a beautiful sandy beach within the marine park — swimming is permitted but with restrictions to protect the turtles. Porto Zoro and Banana Beach are popular alternatives. Xigia has natural sulphur springs that bubble up through the sand.

Eating and Drinking

The food on Zakynthos is excellent — influenced by the Venetian tradition, with an emphasis on fresh fish, local olive oil and the island's famous mandolato (nougat). Malanos in Zakynthos Town is the local favourite for traditional cuisine; the tavernas in the mountain villages serve excellent grilled meat.

How to Get There

Zakynthos has an airport with direct flights from the UK and other European cities. By sea, it is served by ferry from Kyllini on the Peloponnese (around 1.5 hours).

Best For

Zakynthos suits a wide range of travellers — those who want dramatic coastal scenery and iconic beaches, families who want to combine beach holidays with wildlife experiences, and those who want an Ionian island with good facilities and easy access from the UK.

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Thinking about Zakynthos? Talk to us — we can build it into an Ionian itinerary that takes in Kefalonia, Lefkada and the best of the island group.