
Beaches on Zakynthos
Our Hand-Picked Guide to the Best Beaches on Zakynthos
Zakynthos (Zante) is an idyllic destination for those who love spending time by the sea. The island has numerous options, ranging from family-friendly beaches with soft sand, facilities and shallow waters, to off-the-beaten-track natural havens where turtles lay their eggs. Generally speaking, the former are to be found down the east coast, the latter around the southeastern headland and the gulf of Laganas, which is home to the National Marine Park of Zakynthos.
For those with a penchant for dramatic scenery, towering white cliffs, rocky inlets and deep limpid waters, the west coast is the place to be. Some of the best bays and beaches here, including the world-famous Shipwreck (Navagio) beach, are only accessible by sea - an excellent reason, if you needed one, to rent a boat for a day or two of discovery.
Shipwreck beach (Navagio)
Where: in the northwest.
Description: named after the shipwreck that has lain on the soft golden sand since the early 1980s, Navagio beach is a breathtaking spectacle to behold, whether from down below or from the viewing point above. Sheer white cliffs rise from the electric blue sea, topped by a canopy of emerald green trees. There are a couple of other idyllic sandy coves to the north, making this section of coast a great place to spend a day or two on a boat. Navagio beach does get crowded in the high summer months.
Access: only by boat.
Agios Nikolaos
Where: on the northeast coast.
Description: thanks to its water sports facilities, including boat hire, its soft sand and shallow waters, and its facilities (a bar, a taverna, sunloungers and umbrellas for rent), the beach of Agios Nikolaos is popular with families. The little island of Saint Nicholas at the mouth of the bay adds a little extra scenic interest.
Access: easy, by car.
Makris Gialos
Where: about 3km south of Agios Nikolaos.
Description: a relatively quiet little shingle-sandy beach with transparent waters that attract snorkellers and scuba divers. It is possible to rent sun loungers and umbrellas (though there aren’t many available), and there are a couple of tavernas to choose from if you get hungry.
Access: easy, by car.
Xigia beach
Where: just over 1km down the coast from Makris Gialos beach.
Description: the trio of little shingle beaches collectively known as Xigia have long been a destination for those in search of curative waters, thanks to the sulphurous springs that rise from the seabed. If you’re not put off by the smell of sulphur, you’ll find some excellent scuba diving and snorkelling opportunities too, thanks to the rocky headlands and caves that pockmark the coast. There are a few facilities available but due to the diminutive proportions of the beaches, they can fill up quickly. There are a couple of eateries nearby, but you may wish to bring your own refreshments.
Access: quite easy – there is parking nearby, but you’ll have to walk a little to get down to the beaches.
Alykes and Alykanas beaches
Where: about a third of the way down the east coast.
Description: a pair of interconnecting sandy beaches sharing a north-facing bay, Alykes and Alykanas are popular resorts with plenty of bars, tavernas and other amenities. The shallow waters and abundant facilities (sun loungers, umbrellas and water sports equipment amongst others) make both beaches popular with families and they do get quite busy in the high summer months.
Access: easy, by car.
Vasilikos, Banana and Plaka beaches
Where: near the southeastern tip of Zakynthos.
Description: sharing a long stretch (about 1.5km) of soft golden sand, the beaches of Vasilikos, Banana and Plaka are lapped by shallow waters and offer plenty of facilities, from water sports to tavernas and bars, all of which make them popular with families with young children.
Access: easy, by car.
Porto Roma
Where: on the southeastern tip of Zakynthos
Description: a tranquil, narrow arc of sand with shallow transparent waters that’s popular with those in search of a little R&R. There are some facilities and a couple of tavernas overlooking the bay and the shimmering sea.
Access: easy, by car.
Gerakas beach
Where: right on the tip of Zakynthos’s southeastern promontory.
Description: one of the loveliest sandy beaches on Zakynthos, Gerakas is perfect for a day of peace and quiet in an unspoilt natural environment. The island’s beloved Caretta caretta turtles come to lay their eggs on the golden sands so the beach is occasionally off limits (usually from sunset in the laying season). You might come across a turtle or two while swimming in the limpid waters of the bay, which forms part of Zakynthos’s National Marine Park. There are very few facilities, so we recommend you take your own refreshments.
Access: easy, by car.
Dafni beach
Where: about 2.5km northwest of Gerakas on the eastern side of Zakynthos’s southern gulf.
Description: like Gerakas, Dafni is a peaceful sandy beach with a gentle, laid-back feel. It too is visited by Caretta caretta turtles and so facilities are limited in scope. There are, however, a couple of seafront tavernas.
Access: easy, though the approach road is quite narrow and steep in places.
Kalamaki beach
Where: a couple of kilometres west of Dafni, on the eastern side of Zakynthos's southern gulf
Description: a long sandy beach flanked by dunes and pine woods. The western end of the beach can get quite busy, but head to the western part and you'll usually be able to find plenty of space. Like Gerakas and Dafni, Kalamaki beach is favoured by nesting turtles, so some access restrictions apply. There are a few tavernas and bars with facilities (sunloungers, umbrellas, pedalos, etc) along the beach.
Access: easy, by car.
Keri
Where: on the western side of Zakynthos’s southern gulf.
Description: a peaceful little resort (compared to Laganas further round the gulf), Keri has a gentle atmosphere, a narrow strand of shingle-sandy beach, a little harbour where you can hire boats, and a selection of tavernas and bars. It also comes with great views of Marathonisi Island, which also has a little beach.
Access: easy, by car.
Marathias
Where: just a couple of kilometres from Keri, near the southwestern tip of Zakynthos.
Description: green hills populated with pine trees and Mediterranean maquis tumble down to pebbly Marathias beach, whose setting is one of the most strikingly beautiful on Zakynthos. White cliffs and translucent waters offer great snorkelling opportunities and the lack of crowds, due to its relative off-the-beaten track location and the lack of facilities such as bars and tavernas (take your own refreshments and shade).
Access: quite easy, though you will have to park on the road and walk down a track to reach the beach.
Porto Roxa
Where: about a third of the way up the west coast of Zakynthos.
Description: not a beach as such but a rocky inlet whose wonderfully clean, transparent waters attract snorkellers and lovers of spectacular, rather wild scenery. There are a couple of tavernas and bars and a lido renting out sunloungers and umbrellas. You might wish to take rubber swimming shoes, as access to the sea is over rocks.
Access: quite easy, by car via a winding road.
Porto Limnionas
Where: about 1.5km up the west coast from Porto Roxa.
Description: another rocky inlet with sublime waters, sea caves and great snorkelling. There is a taverna above, but no lido facilities or bars, so we recommend you take your own water, shade and, as access to the water is over rocks, rubber swimming shoes.
Access: quite easy, by car via a winding road.
Porto Steniti
Where: about 10km up the coast from Porto Limnionas
Description: another of the fjord-like inlets that so characterise the west coast of Zakynthos. Like its neighbours Porto Steniti offers deep transparent waters for those that love to swim, snorkel and scuba dive. There are no facilities and access to the water is via rocks, so you should take everything you need with you.
Access: via a winding and quite narrow track. Parking is on the roadside and there’s not a lot of room for manoeuvre.
Porto Vromi
Where: about 1.5km up the west coast from Porto Steniti.
Description: a pair of little sandy-shingle beaches hidden away at the northern end of a south-facing inlet. The surrounding scenery – hills and cliffs plunging into the sea – is spectacular, as is the chalky-blue water. The beaches are small, but there are a couple of snack bars and boats to hire.
Access: easy, by car.