Zakynthos

Late May to early October is the main beach season. June and September are warm, with calmer beaches than July and August. July and August are hot and humid. Winters are mild and wet, and many beach businesses close.

The big event is the turtle nesting season on the southern beaches, from May to August. Plan a trip then if you want to see the Zakynthos National Marine Park at its most active. Hatchlings follow later in the summer.

• Navagio beach is the most famous beach in Greece, a white cove under tall cliffs with a rusting wreck. Since the 2022 rockfall, landing and swimming at the beach are banned, and boats must stay 50 m from the shore. Most visitors see it from a boat offshore or from the clifftop viewing platform where it is open.
• Blue Caves are sea caves and arches at the northern tip, reached by boat. The water glows bright blue in the morning light. Cape Skinari Lighthouse stands above them.
• Zakynthos National Marine Park protects Laganas Bay, one of the most important nesting areas for loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean. Boat trips go to the bay, and rules limit how close boats may get.
• Gerakas Beach is a long sandy beach in the south-east and one of the main turtle nesting beaches. Visit with respect for the marked nest areas.
• Laganas beach is the island's lively resort beach, with water sports and a busy nightlife strip behind it.
• Saint Dionysios Church in Zakynthos Town holds the relics of the island's patron saint. It is a living church, so dress modestly.
• Solomos Square is the main square of the capital, on the waterfront, with the statue of the national poet Dionysios Solomos. The Solomos museum is next to it.
• Porto Vromi is a small beach in a narrow cove on the west coast, with clear water and a quiet feel.
• Xigia Beach is a beach in the north known for its sulphur springs and pale cliffs.

• Take a boat tour to the Blue Caves in the north or the Keri sea caves in the south, and swim in the clear water.
• Join a turtle-watching boat trip in Laganas Bay in summer. Choose an operator that keeps its distance and follows the park rules.
• Watch sunset from the Bochali viewpoint above Zakynthos Town, next to the Venetian castle.
• Try a day on the quiet west coast, from Porto Vromi to the villages inland.
• On 24 August and 17 December, the island celebrates its patron saint with services and processions in Zakynthos Town.

Most visitors stay on the island. Two longer trips are possible.

• Kefalonia: a larger neighbouring island, reached by a seasonal ferry from Agios Nikolaos in the north to Pesada. It is best as a full day or an overnight stay, with a car.
• Ancient Olympia on the mainland: the birthplace of the Olympic Games. Take the ferry to Kyllini, then drive. It is a long day, so start early.

Zakynthos is one of the southern Ionian Islands. Neighbouring islands are easy to combine on a longer trip.

• Kefalonia is the nearest neighbour to the north, with caves, a large bay and quiet villages.
• Lefkada is joined to the mainland by a short bridge, with beaches and windsurfing.
• Corfu and Paxos lie far to the north.

• By air: Zakynthos Airport (ZTH) is about 4 km from Zakynthos Town and close to Laganas, Tsilivi and Kalamaki. Most international flights are seasonal, from spring to autumn. Athens flights run all year. Taxi or rental car is the easiest transfer.
• By ferry from the mainland: ferries run from Zakynthos Town to Kyllini in the Peloponnese, about 1 hour 15 minutes, with several sailings a day. From Kyllini you can continue by road to Patras and Athens.
• By ferry from Kefalonia: a seasonal summer ferry links Agios Nikolaos in the north of the island to Pesada on Kefalonia.

• Rental car: the best way to see the beaches, villages and viewpoints. Book early for July and August.
• Public bus: buses link Zakynthos Town with the main resorts. Service is thin to the west and north, so plan day trips by car or tour.
• Taxi: practical for short trips and airport transfers. Agree the fare before you leave.
• Boat tours: the main way to reach the Blue Caves, the Keri caves, the turtle bay and the sea views of Navagio. Boats leave from Zakynthos Town, Porto Vromi, Agios Nikolaos, Laganas and Keri.
• On foot: Zakynthos Town is flat and walkable. Elsewhere you need transport, and cycling is hard because of hills and traffic.

• Is a car worth it? Yes, for most trips. Beaches, villages and viewpoints are spread out, and buses do not reach many of them.
• Roads: roads to the west and north are narrow, with sharp bends. Drive slowly and avoid them after dark.
• Parking: parking at popular beaches and viewpoints fills early in summer. Arrive in the morning.
• Scooters and ATVs: they are popular but cause many injuries. Wear a helmet and check your insurance.

Look for local sweets such as mandolato, a soft almond nougat, and for the island's white wine, Verdea. Local dishes use olive oil, tomato and fresh fish. Cheese and honey are common at village tavernas.

For a good meal, walk the waterfront in Zakynthos Town. Village tavernas inland often serve simple home-style menus.

Zakynthos is generally safe for visitors. Keep valuables out of sight at beaches and in parked cars.

• Nesting beaches: follow posted rules. Do not enter marked nest areas, and do not touch turtles or eggs.
• Nightlife areas: Laganas and Kalamaki are loud and busy in summer. Take care with drinks and with late-night driving.
• Sun and heat: summer afternoons are hot. Use sun protection and drink water.
• Sea: watch for sea urchins on rocky shores. Swim only where the water is calm.
• Water: use bottled water for drinking.
• Earthquakes: the Ionian Islands are seismically active. Small tremors are normal.

Zakynthos was ruled by Venice for about three centuries until 1797, and the Venetians called it the "flower of the Levant". Their castle still stands on Bochali hill above the capital. The island joined Greece in 1864.

A severe earthquake on 12 August 1953 destroyed most of the old town. It was rebuilt with low buildings and a Venetian look.

The island is also the birthplace of Dionysios Solomos, whose poem Hymn to Liberty became the words of the Greek national anthem. Saint Dionysios is the island's patron saint, honoured at Saint Dionysios Church.

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