Zakynthos is a wonderful vacation destination in Greece. The blue water, beautiful sand and stunning cliffs provide the ultimate vacation feeling on this Greek island. You come to Zakynthos mainly to enjoy the beautiful beaches but you can also make this an active vacation. Read all the tips and best things to do in Zakynthos below.
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1. Shipwreck beach
The Shipwreck beach is Zakynthos’ most famous and popular attraction. The shipwreck lies on the beach, surrounded by white sand and beautiful blue water. If you book a tour to Shipwreck beach, you can swim and snorkel your way to the land. Here you may walk around for a while and then you can swim back. More fun is to go here yourself by motorbike or quad bike before all the tourists come. You must be here by 8:30 a.m. then.
2. Cruising around on a motorbike or quad bike
Everywhere on Zakynthos you will see tourists riding quads. This is super fun to do but also by motorbike you get to all the places. Just make sure you get a motorbike with 125cc (especially if there are two of you on the motorbike). This allows you to discover the beautiful interior of Zakynthos with its high mountains and olive groves. A quad will cost you around 60 to 80 euros per day. You can rent a motorbike from as little as 20 euros a day. Renting a motorbike is a perfect way to drive to all things to do on Zakynthos locations on the island.
3. Visit the most beautiful beaches
Because it is an island, ofcourse going to beaches are one of the best things to do on Zakynthos, Discover some beautiful beaches in Zakynthos below.
Porto Roxa
On the southern coast of Zakynthos you will find Porto Roxa. This beautiful beach is located in a bay so the water is a bit calmer than the rough seawater. At Porto Roxa, there are several areas where you can lie quietly on a bed. The most fun is to walk to the end. Here you see a high diving board you can jump from. It is a nice place for snorkeling because there are some fish swimming around and the water is very clear. Furthermore, it is also a very good place to take beautiful photos.
Porto Limnionas
Porto Limnionas is located near Porto Roxa. Where you go straight ahead for Porto Roxa at the last intersection, turn right for Porto Limnionas. This is a bit smaller and quieter than Porto Roxa but certainly no less beautiful. The water has the same beautiful blue-green color and here too you can jump into the water. A bed costs €5 and you can order cold drinks here all day long.
Banana beach
This is the longest sandy beach in Zakynthos. It is located near the popular Argassi. There are many beds on Banana beach. You have them in different price ranges, the cheapest being €5. Banana beach is the perfect place to relax on a sandy beach and enjoy a little breeze.
Xigia Beach
Xigia beach is not accessible by car, it must stay upstairs. Therefore, make sure you put on good shoes when you go to Xigia beach and not flip-flops. The water here contains a lot of collagen, which is good for your skin. This will make your skin feel a little oily if you’ve been in the sea for a while. In addition to collagen, the water at Xigia beach also contains a lot of sulfur. This has a strong odor, as it smells like rotten eggs. You don’t always smell this strongly in Zakynthos, but it is possible. Be sure not to put on silver jewelry when you go in the water. In fact, sulfur causes silver to turn black. You won’t get this undone easily.
4. Zante Town
Zakynthos Town is better known as Zante Town. The island’s capital has a lot of fun things to do on Zakynthos. From here most day excursions depart and you will find the nicest stores. You can walk for miles along the sea and relax on one of the nice terraces with delicious food. During the day there is not much to do but at night Zante Town is transformed into an atmospheric town with lots of lights and cozy restaurants. Especially the street adjacent to the Zakynthos Museum is very cozy at night. Check out the location here.
5. Cameo Island
Cameo Island is a mini islet off the coast of Agios Sostis. A wooden bridge allows you to walk onto the island. This is a very popular place among tourists. The island is decorated with jaunty cloths which is why it has also been renamed the cloth island. Besides being a popular spot for tourists, many locals also get married here. Several couples step into (sometimes literally) weddings here every day.
6. Bike Tour
If you want to get a good idea of a city right after you arrive, booking a bike tour is highly recommended. We have done this ourselves several times, including in Lisbon, Singapore, Madrid and Kuala Lumpur. You will discover the most beautiful places through the local guides. In Zakynthos, you can book the most fun bike tour here where you even get an electric bike.
7. Boat rental
Renting a boat is a must-do on Zakynthos. You can jump out of the boat anywhere to snorkel and even spot turtles. What’s extra nice is that on Zakynthos you don’t need a boating license to rent a boat. You can easily rent a boat at the major towns such as Zante Town, Laganas or Makris Gialos. Be sure to haggle well before boarding the boat. For half a day, €100 is average (in high season the price is slightly higher, in low season slightly lower).
Tip: Still looking for a good snorkel mask? We took this snorkeling mask with us on our world trip and they fit perfectly!
8. Blue Caves
This is the last, but not the least thing to do in Zakynthos. All along the coastline of Zakynthos you can see big cliffs and beautiful blue waters. Still, the Blue Caves are special because the sunny light makes literally everything appear blue. You can enjoy magnificent views here. The Blue Caves can be visited with an excursion or with your own rented boat.
9. Cuddle with the sweetest kitties
Everywhere in Zakynthos you see cats walking around. Some are true strays while others are still fairly well cared for. We carried a bag of cat food everywhere so we could feed them. The cutest kittens we have found here, on the road from Zante Town to Roxa Beach. At a kind of grassy area between the containers, there are more than 20. They all want to cuddle, eat and play. You will really spend at least half an hour here because they are too cute.
10. Keri Lighthouse
Everywhere, Keri Lighthouse is touted as the perfect place to watch the sunset. However, it has been closed indefinitely since 2022 due to dangerous conditions on top of the cliff. Should you be in Zakynthos you can drive there to check if it is open again (if it does not deviate too much from your route). Indeed, it is a wonderful place to watch the setting sun.
Best travel time for Zakynthos
From April to November is the best travel time to visit Zakynthos. The temperature will then be between 20 and 28 degrees. August is the hottest month with temperatures up to 30 degrees. Because Zakynthos is an island, you will often feel a cool breeze at the beach. Thus, the wind chill is always pleasant.
Where to stay in Zakynthos
The perfect island-wide base is Zante Town. Many excursions depart from here and you can easily rent a motorbike, quad bike or boat. In the evening, Zante Town is also very pleasant due to the many restaurants and bars. Centrally located is the Strada Marina Hotel. The rooms are clean and large, there is a nice rooftop pool and breakfast is included in the price. A very cute hotel is the Bitzaro Boutique hotel. From the balcony you have a beautiful view of the sea and the rooms are romantically and lovingly decorated.
If you don’t want to stay in Zante Town, the Zante Calinica Hotel is an excellent option. It is located on the beautiful north coast of Zakynthos in Tsilivi. From your own little balcony you have a beautiful view of the sea. You even have options for a room with a private pool.
If you go to Zakynthos with several people, it is advisable to rent your own villa. You have many different price ranges but the best ones are: Villa Koki Zantos Sea View with stunning sea views for up to 10 guests; Astarte Villas – Petra Elia for up to 6 guests, very cozy with a nice pool and nice sunbeds & Astarte Villas – Istar Villa where you have a beautiful heart pool and a private tennis court, you can stay here with up to 9 guests.
Tips for eating in Zakynthos
- Anadalis. This restaurant is located in the popular village of Argasi. You can choose from typical Greek dishes here but there are also delicious pastas and risottos on the menu. There are also many vegetarian options. Anadalis is by the sea, so in the evening, you have a beautiful view of Zante Town in the distance. As a result, Anadalis is a popular restaurant, which is why it is wise to make reservations in advance so you have the nicest table. During the day you can also relax by Anadalis’ pool (even as a non-guest), as long as you order a few drinks or lunch.
- Kavo Seaside. This restaurant is also located in Argassi. 100 meters from Anadalis. Here you are by the sea as well. The staff has decorated the restaurant beautifully and you get a kind of fairy tale feeling when you sit down here. The food is very good. I especially recommend the truffle paste.
- Sunset Michali’s Taverna. This is the perfect place to watch the sunset. Michali’s Taverna serves delicious Greek dishes. If there is no more room here (which happens again because of the beautiful spot), you can also enjoy the view and eat well at neighbors Porto Schiza and Taverna Stavros.
- Base rooftop bar. Base is located in Zante Town, on the coziest square in all of Zakynthos. In the evening you can enjoy drinks here on the terrace, but it’s more fun to sit upstairs at the rooftop bar. The cocktails are made at the open bar and are delicious (and good strong).
