Zakynthos Travel Guide: Best Things To Do and 4-Day Itinerary (with Map)

Looking for inspiration for your next summer holiday? Zakynthos, a Greek island in the Ionian sea, might just be what you’re looking for. After spending some days in the island, we’ll share with you the best things to do, a 4-day itinerary, travel tips like how to get there, how to get around, where to stay, our honest opinion about the places we visited and much more.

You may also like reading: Kefalonia Travel Guide: 5-Day Itinerary and Best Things to Do (with Map).

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Table of Contents

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Where is Zakynthos?

Zakynthos is a Greek island that belongs to the Ionian Islands group. It lies off the western coast of mainland Greece, in the Ionian Sea. While it’s not directly next to Albania, it is part of the same island group that stretches north toward the Albanian coast.

The following map gives you a better idea of where Zakynthos is located.

Other islands in the same group that you may also want to visit when traveling to Zakynthos include Kefalonia (which we visited before going to Zakynthos), Lefkada, Ithaca, and Corfu. These islands are well connected by ferries and domestic flights, making it easy to combine them on a same trip.

Best Time To Visit Zakynthos

The highlights of Zakynthos are undoubtedly its beaches with crystal-clear water. So, I recommend going in a season when you’ll have a higher chance of good weather to get the most out of your summer vacation.

Best Months for Going to the Beach

The June to September months are the best for enjoying the beach, although you can also get good weather in May and October (in October the weather is more unpredictable and the water is colder).

Best Months with Good Weather and Less Crowds

It’s important to highlight that it can get pretty crowded from mid-July to the end of August. Many beaches are quite small, and if you plan to visit them, it can be challenging to find a good spot not only at the beach but also for parking your car.

So, if you want to get good weather with less crowds, June and September are probably the best months.

However, we visited in the last week of September and found many places surprisingly crowded for the season (I don’t even want to imagine in high-season) .

How Many Days in Zakynthos?

In my opinion, four to five days are enough to see the main highlights of Zakynthos and spend some time at the best beaches.

If you like to lay down by the pool and simply enjoying doing nothing at the beach, you can add a few more days and spend a great week.

We stayed four full days and it would have been enough if we hadn’t got hit by a storm that put us spending one complete day at the hotel due to very bad weather (most flights were even cancelled that day).

Map of Best Things to Do in Zakynthos

The following map shows a quick overview of what we consider the best places to add to your Zakynthos itinerary. You can click the Map to open it in Google Maps.

Best Things to Do in Zakynthos

Most of the best things to do in Zakynthos include (you guessed it) going to the beach. From all the beaches we visited, we’ll share the ones we think are most worth it. Additionally, Zakynthos has several incredible viewpoints, as well as other activities and tours that are worth doing.

1) Mizithres Viewpoint

The Mizithres Viewpoint is definitely one of the highlights when visiting Zakynthos. You absolutely cannot miss this place. It consists of two incredible white rocks that create a beautiful contrast with the milky turquoise-blue water. The place is even more impressive in person.

An earthquake a few years ago caused a landslide that created a small beach connecting one of the rock formations to the shore. This beach can only be accessed by boat.

What’s the best place to see this incredible scenery? From the parking lot, you have two options.

There’s a small hiking trail that takes around 15 to 20 minutes and leads you along the cliff to a viewpoint where you’ll be facing the rock formations. Keep in mind that there are no safeguards or barriers to prevent accidents.

Even though you’re close, you can’t really see much unless you go right to the edge, which we don’t recommend due to the risk of falling or landslides. I think this path is only worth it if you have a drone to fly or a long selfie stick that can safely capture the viewpoint.

Another option is to go to the Mizithres View Bar, where there’s a safe balcony offering a clear, unobstructed view of the rocks.

There’s also a nice restaurant next to the bar, which seems like a great place to have dinner at sunset.

2) Navagio Beach Viewpoint

Navagio Beach is another highlight of Zakynthos and probably the first picture you’ll see when you search for the island online.

Navagio is a stunning beach enclosed between steep white limestone cliffs. The sand is powdery white, and the water is an incredible milky blue. One of the things that makes this place unique is the shipwreck lying on the beach.

The Navagio Beach Viewpoint is the best place to see the beach from above (since the beach itself can only be accessed by boat). The viewpoint area is well maintained, with a clearly marked path, safety rails, and balconies where you can safely enjoy views of the beach and the surrounding landscape.

3) Trip to Navagio Beach

Besides seeing the beach from the viewpoint, another incredible experience is to visit Navagio by boat. There are several boat trips that explore the coastline and include a stop at the beach. Keep in mind that when we visited, we couldn’t actually step onto the sand due to the risk of landslides, but you can get very close and see the amazing contrast of white sand and turquoise water up close.

I’m not sure if the government will reopen the beach, so make sure to check the situation before you visit to avoid disappointment.

4) Blue Caves

Another great thing to do in Zakynthos is to visit the Blue Caves. The most famous ones are on the northern coast, near Agios Nikolaos and Cape Skinari. So, what are actually the blue caves?

The Blue Caves are a series of sea caves formed in the white limestone cliffs along the northern coast of Zakynthos, near Agios Nikolaos. When the sunlight hits the water, it creates this amazing bright blue color that makes the caves look incredible. You can only visit them by boat, either on a tour or by hiring a private one.

5) Xigia Sulfur Beach

The Sulfur Beaches are among the most famous beaches in Zakynthos because of their unique water color and the volcanic minerals in the area. Many reviews mention a slight sulfur smell at the beaches, but I personally didn’t notice any.

This area is actually not just one beach but made up of three different beaches. The first beach, the most northern one, is the longest and has several sunbeds to rent. You can see from the picture below that the water has an incredible color.

On the other side, there’s a less commercial area, accessible by steep stairs. You can still rent umbrellas, although space is limited, and you can order drinks. They’ll send your order up and down using a small basket — a pretty funny way to get your drinks.

This section of the beach is quite small, and we had a hard time finding a comfortable spot for our things. The water color is amazing (our pictures don’t do it justice because it was overcast, so we couldn’t capture the colors properly).

Even further south, there’s another beach, more on the “wild” side. We didn’t think it was worth it to go there, probably because it was high tide and we couldn’t find a safe way to reach the sand. It also wasn’t as well looked after as the other two beaches.

The parking to visit these beaches can be tricky. The roads are steep, and the lots aren’t paved, so take it slow if you’re not used to driving in these conditions.

6) Kremidi beach

In the northeast part of the island, between the Xigia Sulfur Beaches and Agios Nikolaos, you’ll find several small beaches and coves that are really beautiful. Some can get super crowded, others are almost empty, and a few have quite tricky access.

Some of the beaches we recommend checking out are Kremidi Beach, Vathi Lagadi Beach, Agriosykia Beach, and Makris Gialos Beach.

One of our favourites was Kremidi Beach. It’s very small and untouched, with no facilities at all, but also very few people. If you like more natural, quiet beaches, this is a great option. The beach is made of small white pebbles, and the water is calm and incredibly blue.

Something we didn’t like much about this area (and I’m not sure if it’s a natural phenomenon or something else) is that the water sometimes has a very thin layer on the surface that looks a bit like grease or oil, giving it a slightly blurry appearance.

7) Agriosykia Beach

Nearby, there’s Agriosykia Beach, a tiny beach tucked into a little bay, also made of white pebbles. It seems like it might be privately owned. You can rent sunbeds here, or just lay on the pebbles.

These small coves are great if you like more quiet, natural beaches away from the crowds. When we visited, it was just the two of us in this place.

8) Porto Limnionas Beach

Porto Limnionas is basically a big rocky cove rather than a beach, but it’s a really nice place to swim. The water here is incredibly clear and usually very calm, almost like a natural pool between the cliffs.

There’s almost no sand, apart from just a tiny section, and lots of flat rocks. So it’s not the most comfortable place to lay down for hours. We also recommend using water shoes for getting in and out of the water because the rocks can be a bit slippery.

This is a great place for swimming, and many people love this spot for snorkeling, but we didn’t see anything particularly impressive.

Even though we were visiting in the last week of September, the place was still quite crowded, with very few spots to put your stuff and just sit down. So unless you’re in the water, it’s definitely a bit uncomfortable.

However, there’s a really nice restaurant right above the cove with beautiful views of the water. You can rent umbrellas on the terraces next to it, which is definitely more comfortable than trying to find a good place by the water.

9) Korakonisi – Alitzerini Cave

Korakonisi is quite a unique place in Zakynthos. It’s basically a big rocky formation connected to the island by a natural stone arch.

The Alitzerini Cave is right next to it, and the water there is unbelievably clear. There’s no sand at all, just rocks, so it’s not the most comfortable place to sit or relax for a long time, but it’s a great spot for swimming if the sea is calm. Just like Porto Limnionas, this forms a rocky cove resembling a natural pool, which is great for swimming.

This place was much calmer and had fewer people than the previous one. So, if you like a quieter spot, this can be a great alternative.

Just keep in mind that the access road is not very good, but we managed fine with our Fiat Panda.

Not far from this spot, and also close to Porto Limnionas, is Porto Roxa. This is another rocky cove similar to the other two.

10) Gerakas Beach

In the southern part of Zakynthos, there are several beaches where Caretta caretta turtles come to nest. These turtles lay their eggs in the sand, and when the babies hatch, they make their way to the sea. The turtles choose these beaches because of the soft sand, calm waters, and relative seclusion, which gives the eggs a better chance to survive.

One of the most famous nesting beaches is Gerakas Beach, and we really enjoyed visiting it. The beach feels very natural and untouched. The yellow cliffs reminded us a bit of some beaches in the Algarve, Portugal. Unlike most beaches on Zakynthos, Gerakas has a long stretch of soft sand instead of pebbles, and the views at sunset are incredible.

Keep in mind that these nesting beaches are protected. There are signs marking where the nests are, and some areas are fenced off to keep the turtles safe. Visitors are allowed, but it’s important to stay away from the marked nests and not go beyond the protected zones. You can still enjoy the beach from a safe distance without disturbing the turtles.

There are some rules for visiting the nesting beaches, according to the National Marine Park of Zakynthos:

• You visit nesting beaches only from 07:00 to sunset;
• There is a maximum daily number of visitors;
• Not using your own umbrella.
• More information at the Zante Turtle Center Website

11) Zakynthos Sea Turtle Rescue & Information Center

Right next to Gerakas Beach, and accessible from the same parking lot, is the Zakynthos Sea Turtle Rescue and Information Center.

We highly recommend visiting this place to learn more about the turtles, their nesting process, how we can enjoy the nesting beaches without disturbing them, and what’s being done to protect them. There’s a lot of interesting information, and it really helps you appreciate the effort behind conservation.

The visit is completely free, and you can support the cause by making a donation or buying a small souvenir as a sign of appreciation.

12) Alykanas Beach

Alykanas Beach is a long sandy beach with calm, shallow water, which makes it perfect if you just want to paddle or relax without worrying about getting in too deep. It’s a great spot for families, or anyone who wants a chill day by the sea.

Even though the beach has sunbeds, umbrellas, and some water sports like kayaks and padel boards, it still feels relaxed and not too busy.

13) Dafni Beach

Dafni Beach is another nesting beach in the southern part of the island. The sand is a mix of fine sand and small pebbles. The water is usually calm, and you can walk out quite far without it getting too deep.

Even though there are a few beach bars in the area, the beach still feels quite natural.

The parking lot is owned by the beach bars, but you can park for free as long as you buy or consume something—whether it’s a bottle of water, a full meal, or even renting an umbrella.

14) Cameo Island

Cameo island is a small privately-owned islet off the coast of Laganas, connected by a small wooden bridge. To get to the island you need to pay a small fee, but you’ll get a small keychain souvenir with a picture.

There’s a small beach on the island made of pebbles. The water is super clear and calm, perfect for a swim. There’s also a bar with a terrace where you can rent umbrellas and have a drink.

The island is very photogenic, with white curtains over the beach, and the view from the bridge is stunning.

Even though the place seemed nice, considering the number of people crossing the bridge when we visited and the small size of the island, we thought it wasn’t really worth it because it was already quite crowded.

15) Turtle Watching Tour

As we mentioned before, the southern beaches of Zakynthos are nesting areas for the Caretta caretta turtles. Because of that, it’s actually very common to see turtles swimming close to the island, especially around Laganas Bay, which is part of the National Marine Park.

If you really want to see turtles, there are several turtle-watching tours leaving from different parts of the island, mostly from Laganas, Agios Sostis, and sometimes from Kalamaki. These tours stay within the Marine Park rules and usually take you to other nice spots too, like Marathonisi (Turtle Island) or the Keri Caves, and most trips include a stop for swimming or snorkeling.

16) Trip to the Turtle Island

From Laganas, right next to the entrance to Cameo Island, you can take a water taxi to Marathonisi (Turtle Island).

This is a good and usually cheaper alternative to a turtle-watching tour if you simply want to relax and explore the nesting beach at your own pace. The boats run regularly, and you can choose what time you want to return, so there is no rush.

Additionally, you might be lucky, and even spot a turtle from the water taxi on your way to the island.

17) Laganas Beach

Laganas Beach is a long sandy beach right in the town of Laganas. While I didn’t find it as stunning as some of the other beaches on the island, it was super comfortable to finally stretch out on soft sand after visiting mostly rocky or pebbly beaches.

This beach is also part of the protected nesting areas for caretta caretta turtles, so you’ll see signs marking the nests and fenced-off zones to keep the turtles safe.

Laganas is also one of the busiest and most popular towns in Zakynthos, so visiting this beach can be very convenient if you’re staying nearby.

Zakynthos 4-Day Itinerary

Taking into account what we think are the best places to see in Zakynthos, we put together this 4-day itinerary. We hope it’s useful for you to plan your own stay.

Start your day early with a boat trip from Agios Nikolaos or Skinari to visit the stunning Blue Sea Caves. Some tours departing to explore the Blue Caves also include a trip to Navagio beach.

However, if you don’t want to spend a lot of time on the boat, you can opt to drive to Porto Vromi and catch a boat from there to reach Navagio beach and see the shipwreck from close.

Other tours departing from other places might already include both places or just the Navagio beach. See what makes more sense for your itinerary.

End your day at the Navagio Beach viewpoint above the cliffs. We recommend arriving a little bit before sunset time so that you can appreciate the views with those stunning sunset colors.

Start your day exploring the unique Xigia Sulfur Beaches, known for their natural sulfur springs and “healing” waters. After finding which one of the Sulfur Beaches you like most, you can spend the whole morning there. Additionally, there are beach bars/tavernas, so you can also have lunch there.

In the afternoon, you can explore more remote and “wild” beaches like the Kremidi Beach or Agriosykia Beach.

If you prefer something with facilities and more comfortable, you may opt to spend the afternoon at the Alykanas beach.

This day is all about exploring the western coast. We recommend visiting Porto Limnionas beach and continue south along the coast to explore other beautiful coves like Porto Roxa and Korakonisi & Alitzerini Cave.

Tip: These places are rocky. Don’t forget your water shoes.

Finally, at the end of the afternoon drive to the Mizithres Viewpoint, one of the most iconic places in Zakynthos. There is a bar and a restaurant overlooking the beautiful rocks. It’s a great place to have dinner around sunset time.

Spend your last day exploring the southern part of Zakynthos. Visit two or three nesting beaches. We visited Gerakas, Dafni, and Laganas, and our favorite was Gerakas Beach.

When you visit Gerakas, don’t forget to stop by the Zakynthos Sea Turtle Rescue & Information Center to learn more about turtle conservation in the Zakynthos National Marine Park.

In the afternoon, drive to Laganas and either join a Turtle Watching tour or take a water taxi to Turtle Island.

If you still have time and are curious, you can also cross the wooden bridge to Cameo Island at the end of the day to enjoy the sunset from there.

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How to Get to Zakynthos?

This depends on where you’re coming from. Zakynthos is served by an international airport (ZTH – Zakynthos International Airport “Dionysios Solomos”) and also has several ferry connections, making it easy to reach from mainland Greece, other European countries, or nearby Ionian Islands.

By Plane

There are several weekly flights from mainland Greece, especially from Athens, to Zakynthos. If you intend to also visit Athens, both places are well connected by plane.

There are also direct flights between Kefalonia and Zakynthos, which is perfect if you’re island hopping in the Ionian Sea. The flight takes around 25 minutes and can be more convenient than getting a ferry depending on where you’re staying, if you’re renting a car, etc. In our case, it was more practical to take the flight from Kefalonia to Zakynthos than the ferry route.

If you’re coming from elsewhere in Europe, there are many seasonal direct cheap flights, particularly from Italy and the UK (specially Jet2Holidays).

By Ferry

The best way to get to Zakynthos from mainland Greece is via the port of Kyllini in Western Greece, with several daily ferry connections to the island.

There are also seasonal routes connecting Zakynthos to other Ionian Islands such as Kefalonia, Corfu. and Lefkada.

All the information about ferry routes to Zakynthos can be found on the Ferryhopper website.

Where to Stay in Zakynthos?

There are many accommodation options in Zakynthos. The island is relatively small, so no matter where you stay, you’ll always be relatively close to most points of interest.

With that said, if you’re not renting a car, and are relying on tours, we recommend staying somewhere central and with good infrastructure and tour pick up options like Zante Town or Laganas.

Here are some of the most popular areas to stay in Zakynthos:

1. Zante Town (this is where we stayed and we liked it a lot)
2. Laganas (great if you enjoy nightlife)
3. Agios Nikolaos (a quieter area and great if you’re arriving by ferry from Kefalonia)
4. Alikanas (a more familiar laid-back vide with a great beach)

1) Zante Town

This is the main city of Zakynthos, with plenty of restaurants and accommodation options. We honestly don’t think we’ve ever seen so many restaurants in one place. From Greek food, Japanese, Italian, fast food… there’s a lot of variety.

Zante Town is a great place to stay if you want a central base, and many tours depart from here. Just keep in mind that the town itself does not have direct access to a beach, so you’ll need to drive or take a bus if you want to swim.

We stayed in the center with our car and didn’t have any problems parking because our hotel had private parking spaces. We were also visiting in September.

If you’re visiting in high season, keep in mind that traffic can be a bit chaotic and parking may be harder to find.

2) Laganas

Laganas is a great place if you enjoy nightlife because there are many bars and clubs in this area. It is also one of the more affordable places to stay, with several budget resort-style hotels that usually have pools.

Laganas Beach is very long and sandy, so staying here gives you easy access to the beach from many parts of town. Since Laganas is part of Laganas Bay, which is an important nesting area for Caretta-Caretta turtles, many turtle-watching tours also depart from here.

3) Agios Nikolaos

Agios Nikolaos is a small port village in the northern part of Zakynthos. It is much quieter than the southern areas and has a more relaxed atmosphere.

This area is also very convenient if you want to visit the Blue Caves or take a boat to Navagio Beach, since many tours leave directly from the small port.

Most nearby beaches around here are mostly pebbles (not sandy beaches, but the water is incredibly blue). If you stay in Agios Nikolaos, it’s best to rent a car to explore the rest of the island.

4) Alikanas

Alikanas is a good option if you want something relaxed but still with enough restaurants, bars, and shops nearby. It feels more family friendly compared to places like Laganas. The village has a long sandy beach with shallow, calm water, which makes it a nice place for swimming.

There are many accommodation options ranging from simple studios to hotels with pools. This is also a good base if you want to explore the northern part of the island because it is close to Alykes, Xigia, and several beautiful small coves. Parking is usually easy, and the area doesn’t feel too chaotic.

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How to Get Around Zakynthos?

The best way to get around and explore Zakynthos is undoubtedly to rent a car and explore on your own.

It also seemed to be quite popular to drive 4×4 motorbikes. However, I only recommend it for small distances.

Renting a Car in Zakynthos

We rented our car with Sixt Rent a Car. It was a bit more expensive than most local companies, but the process is smooth and hassle-free. Our best experiences with rent-a-cars were always with Sixt and Alamo.

We decided to go with Sixt Rent a Car because most local companies didn’t have good reviews, so they didn’t inspired us trust.

However, you can always search on DiscoverCars, or RentalCars and see if you catch a good deal with a good company. We have already booked using these websites on other trips without any problems. You can make a simulation here.

Tip: when you book a rental car through an aggregator, you have the option to purchase insurance through them rather than the rental company. This insurance is typically less expensive. If you damage the car, you may have to pay the rental company’s deposit upfront. Once the claim is processed, the aggregator insurance will reimburse you for that amount. Just remember to check the terms of coverage to ensure it meets your needs.

Driving a Car in Zakynthos

Driving in Zakynthos is relatively easy. The roads are in good condition, and in general, there isn’t much traffic (except the center of Zante Town depending on time of the year). Most of the roads are narrow, so we recommend choosing a smaller car.

Access to some more remote beaches might be a bit more difficult because of steep roads. However, we did just fine in our Fiat Panda.

What to Eat in Zakynthos

You’ll find many of the dishes you can try in other regions of Greece, and many options of fish/seafood restaurants.

Some of the most typical Greek dishes you’ll easily find are moussaka, gyros, souvlaki, and Greek salad. There are also many other fresh salads and appetizers like tzatziki, grilled halloumi, or fried zucchini balls.

Seafood and fish restaurants are very popular in Zakynthos, specially in Zante Town, where we found several highly-recommend places. The hardest thing was to choose where to eat. For fish, we specially liked the Spartakos Taverna Zakynthos restaurant. We tried a mixed fish platter—it was delicious.

Besides Greek food, you’ll easily find several fast food restaurants, Italian, and even sushi places.

Where to Go After Zakynthos

Zakynthos is part of the Ionian Islands, so a great option is to explore one of the other islands afterwards. For example, there are ferry routes to Kefalonia, Corfu, Lefkada, Ithaka, and Paxos. Kefalonia is the closest island.

Recommended reading: Kefalonia Travel Guide: 5-Day Itinerary and Best Things to Do (with Map).

Additionally, there are also flight routes to Lefkada and Kefalonia. There are also frequent routes to mainland Greece, so it’s also quite easy if you also want to include Athens in your itinerary, for example.

Wrapping Up

We hope you’ve found this travel guide useful.

If you’re looking for inspiration for your summer holidays, I also recommend taking a look at our Sardinia travel guide, a beautiful Italian island with dreamy paradise-like beaches:

• East Sardinia Travel Guide: Best Beaches, Itinerary and More

Finally, you can use our links to book accommodation and activities and find cheap flights. You won’t pay more and you’ll be supporting our work.