Greece travel guide ˃ Useful information about Greece ˃ Things to do in Zakynthos Town: Explore the Island’s Natural Wonders from Navagio Beach to Blue Caves, Visit Historic Sites, and Discover Local Culture Spots
Things to do in Zakynthos Town: Explore the Island's Natural Wonders from Navagio Beach to Blue Caves, Visit Historic Sites, and Discover Local Culture Spots
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In this article I will tell you about the sights and interesting places on the island of Zakynthos. You will learn about the best way to get to the island and how to get around on your own. You will also learn what local specialities you should try, what souvenirs you can bring from the island and what hotel to stay in.
The island of Zakyntos: what makes it interesting
Pine and rosemary-scented Zakyntos is the southernmost island of the Ionian archipelago. Once part of the kingdom of Odysseus, Zakyntos is now known for its uniquely beautiful scenery and unnaturally azure-blue water.
The island’s western rocky coastline, with secluded bays and wild beaches, abounds in panoramic pads with views one better than the other. Its Navajo Bay ranks among the top ten most beautiful beaches in the world.
The south of the island is given over to mass tourism. The local party resort of Laganas, with its wide beach and noisy parties, has long been firmly occupied by relaxed British youth.
Colourful Zakyntos Island
How to get to the island of Zakyntos
Dionysios Solomos International Airport is located 4 km from Zakyntos, the administrative centre of the island. There is no public transport at the airport.
Taxis to Zakynthos and the nearest resort towns of Argassi, Laganas and Kalamaki cost 25-30 euros, to Planos – 40 euros, to the port of Agios Nikolaos located in the north of the island – 70 euros.
Zakyntos is connected with mainland Greece, the islands of the Ionian Archipelago and Italian Brindisi by ferry. Ferries of the shipping companies K/X Ionian Group and Kefalonian Lines run from the Peloponnese port of Kyllini to the port of Zakynthos.
During the summer season they make up to 10 trips a day. The first ferry to Zakyntos leaves at 6:45, the last one – at 21:00, journey time is 1 hour. The fare is 10 euros per person and 40 euros for an economy car.
The ferry is a convenient option to get to Zakyntos for those who fly into airports in mainland Greece and travelling around the country in a rented car.
For more information on airport transfers from Zakyntos, see all airport transfers from Zakyntos airport at this link
How to get around the island of Zakyntos on your own
KTEL buses run regularly between Zakyntos, Laganas, Argassi, Kalamaki and other towns on the island. The timetable is posted at the bus stops and varies according to the season and day of the week, with fewer services at weekends. Fares are collected by the driver and cost 2-4 euros.
Unfortunately, keeping to the timetable is not one of the bus drivers’ virtues. 15-20 minutes late is common.
From the central bus station KTEL depart intercity buses to Athens (4-5 times a day, journey time including ferry crossing – 6 hours), Patra (3-4 times a day) and Thessaloniki (1-2 times a week). Ferry fare is paid separately.
Taxis can be called by phone, ordered online or picked up at special car parks in popular tourist spots. The cost of a small trip is 25 euros. For independent acquaintance with the island you can use a taxi with a fixed fee: 40 euros per hour.
Cruises around the island start from the port of Zakyntos, with prices starting from 30 euros. Navalio Bay and the Blue Grottoes can be reached by boat from the port of Agios Nikolaos or from Cape Skinari in the north of the island for 20 euros.
It may be useful: see all boat trips in Zakyntos waters at this link.
The short distances and good roads have made the island a convenient place for cycling holidays. Road or mountain bikes can be rented at street hire points in the resorts and in a good half of the hotels. The price of pleasure is 10 euros per day. To rent a bicycle in Zakyntos in advance, online, click here.
Zakyntos Island sights: what to see
The central part of the island of Zakyntos is a fertile plain covered with forests and olive groves. But Zakyntos is also known for its attractions – historical, architectural and natural. Here is just a short list of things to see on the island.
Nawajo - ghost beach cove
Nawajo beach, with its snow-white pebbles surrounded by steep white cliffs, is probably the most picturesque and often photographed beach in Greece. It is located on the west coast of the island of Zakyntos, in the so-called Smugglers’ Cove.
The beach got its name (navajo means ‘shipwreck’ in Greek) because of the 1980 shipwreck of a ship carrying cigarettes.
A special feature of this beach is that it can only be reached by water. Water taxis regularly dock here from the harbour of Agios Nikolaos, located on the northeast coast of the island, 32 km from Zakyntos town.
May be useful: see all excursions to Navajo Bay at this link
Navajo Beach, hidden from all eyes
Blue Caves - a natural wonder
In the northern part of the island, at Cape Skinari, is the most famous natural attraction of Zakyntos, the famous Blue Caves. The sunlight entering the rocky grottoes refracts through the sea water, which is rich in minerals and calcium, and gives it an emerald and bright blue colour.
Combined with the white cliffs, it creates a magical effect! The amazing nature reserve, made up of grottos and arches, can be reached by small glass-bottom boats – they depart regularly from Agios Nikolaos harbour on the north-east coast (32km from Zakyntos town).
May be useful: see all excursions to the Blue Caves of Zakyntos at this link
The blue caves seem to hang in the air as you swim beneath them
Byzantine Museum
This magnificent museum of ecclesiastical art is housed in a beautifully restored building in the main town square. Almost everything in the museum’s display was salvaged by volunteer sailors immediately after the 1953 earthquake. The museum’s rich collection includes entire interiors of churches and monasteries.
In addition, the facade and fragments of the 16th century church of St Andrew of Volima, which was completely destroyed in the famous earthquake, are preserved here.
Address: Byzantine Museum, Platia Solomou, Zakinthos 291 00, Greece.
Almost all the exhibits of the Byzantine Museum were rescued by volunteer sailors
Roma Mansion
Built in the 1660s, this grand mansion is one of the few old buildings that survived the 1953 earthquake that destroyed most of the town of Zakyntos.
The building is owned by members of the Roma family, who decided to restore it and in 2007 made it open to the public. The interior of the mansion – antique furniture, paintings and books – give visitors a glimpse of the life of the local aristocracy that lived several centuries ago.
Interiors of Roma Mansion
Kalamaki Beach
One of the few beaches of Zakyntos that belong to the National Marine Park. Kalamaki is located in the eastern part of Laganas Bay and is among the best beaches on the island.
The coastline is a protected area, so many areas are fenced off, there are no water-sports activities and the services provided to tourists are limited.
There is a single bar on the beach where umbrellas and sunbeds can be hired. The golden sand is flawless and the shore enters the warm, clear water very gently. From the beach, you can see swimmers hundreds of metres from the shore – this is possible thanks to the calm and shallow sea in this part of the bay.
You may find it useful: see all excursions to Laganas Bay and Kalamaki Beach at this link
Kalamaki beach is clean, there are umbrellas and sunbeds everywhere
Castro Venetian Fortress
This dilapidated old Venetian fortress is located on a wooded hill overlooking the city centre. To see the fortress ruins, you have to make the 15-minute steep hike up the hill, or take the 2.5km diversions road.
Nowadays, the hill is a quiet forest park with stunning views of the city, harbour and sea. Scattered around the woodland area are dilapidated churches. A 19th century British football pitch can also be seen here.
Address: Venetian Castle, Bochali 291 00, Greece.
On the roof of the Kastro Fortress, tourists can be spotted gazing at the landscape of the island from its height
Keri Caves
On the south-west coast, near the town of Keri (14 km from Zakyntos), a series of stunning caves jut out directly into the crystal clear azure sea. These caves are particularly popular with outdoor enthusiasts.
Exploring such a natural wonder, especially scuba diving or snorkelling, is probably one of the most exciting and memorable adventures on an island holiday.
The colour effects of the sun’s rays as they pass through the water and reflect off the cave walls make for stunning photos and videos. Carey Caves can be visited independently on a rented boat or with a tour group.
You may find it useful: see all excursions to Keri Caves at this link
Keri Caves look very white, it is a dream to visit there
Porto Limnionas Beach
With crystal clear, azure waters and a backdrop of cliffs and grottos, this beach is one of the best uncrowded places on the island to swim and sunbathe. Porto Limnionas is located in a wild area near the village of Agios Leon.
It can be accessed by travelling down a newly paved road. The beach is becoming more popular every year, so it can get crowded at the height of the summer season.
Two local tavernas with sea-facing terraces rent out sun loungers and parasols. Porto Limnionas is a great place for snorkelling enthusiasts. There are also amazing caves and even an underwater bridge to visit.
Limnionas beach does not look like a beach, in the classic sense, but like a pedestal above the water
Zakyntos National Marine Park
On the south-eastern coast of the island, along the wide bay of Laganas (8 km south of Zakyntos town) there are several stretches of white sandy beach. Since the 1980s, this has been the best holiday area on the island with budget accommodation, attracting many young people looking for clean sea, sun and fun.
This part of the coastline is also a nesting ground for the timid Loggerhead sea turtles, an endangered species. It is estimated that about 1,300 of these rare animals currently live around Laganas Bay. The turtles are protected in the Zakyntos National Marine Park, established in 1999.
During the nesting season, access to some areas of the beach is restricted. To learn more about the endangered turtle species, visit the park’s exhibition centre, located next to Dafni Beach.
May be useful: see all excursions to Zakyntos National Marine Park at this link
Turtles are very abundant in Zakyntos National Marine Park, they nest and live here
Marathonisi Island (Turtle Island)
This islet, located in Laganas Bay, south of Zakyntos, is often referred to as Turtle Island, as it is the egg-laying site of the Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), which are protected by the National Marine Park. For this reason, Marathonisi Island is deserted – in summer, visitors must leave the sandy beach before sunset to allow the turtles to come ashore to lay their eggs.
From the southern harbours – Limni Keri or Laganas – you can sail to Turtle Island on glass-bottomed tour boats. Thanks to the amazingly clear water, there is a chance to see one or more turtles.
You may find it useful: see all excursions to Marathonisi Island (Turtle Island) at this link
This is also home to turtles, so if you didn’t see them in the park you can see them here
Banana Beach
This is not only the longest but also one of the most popular beaches on Zakyntos island, thanks to its soft golden sand, clear sea water and shallow waters. The entire coastline of Banana Beach in the southern part of the island belongs to the National Marine Park, so the list of services available is limited.
Nevertheless, it is possible to hire sun loungers or even a beach gazebo almost all along the beach. The Banana Casa Playa Bar and Restaurant not only rents out beach equipment, but also provides holidaymakers with a full range of services including snacks, drinks and entertainment.
On the eastern edge of the beach there is a Water Sports Centre where jet skis, water skis and parasailing equipment can be rented.
Banana Beach looks ordinary from afar, but provides many services for recreation and entertainment
Solomos Museum
Its full name is the Museum of Dionysios Solomos and Famous Natives of Zakyntos. It houses not only the manuscripts and personal belongings of the poet Dionysios Solomos (1789-1857), but even the mausoleum where his remains rest. The poet is best known as the author of the ‘Hymn to Freedom’, which later became the national anthem of Greece.
Address: Museum of D. Solomos and Other Eminent People of Zakyntos, Zakyntos, Greece.
The Solomos Museum houses the mausoleum with the remains of the poet Dionysios Solomos
Monastery of Anafonitria
This monastery is a stone’s throw from the bay of Navajo. It was founded during the Venetian occupation and was illuminated in the mid-15th century. In the 1500s, St. Dionysius, the heavenly patron saint of the island, lived here. The Anafonitria Monastery was virtually unscathed by the 1953 earthquake.
The monastery’s quaint stone tower was originally built for defensive purposes, but was later used as a bell tower. The church is decorated with stunning, albeit time-aged frescoes depicting episodes of the lives of the saints.
Perhaps the most picturesque part of the monastery is the inner courtyard with freestanding antique columns, fruit trees, palm trees, potted flowers and vines winding along the stone walls.
Address: Anafonitria Monastery, Anafonitria monastery, 290 91, Greece.
The tower of the monastery was originally built for defense, but ended up looking like an ancient cottage with a flowering garden
Bochali Hill
Bochali is a hill, 2 km from the foot of which the town of Zakyntos is spread out. From the highest point you can enjoy a stunning view of the town, the port and the Ionian Sea. Bohali Hill is one of the oldest neighborhoods on the island of Zakyntos. It is full of palm and olive trees, in the shade of which it is pleasant to relax on a hot sunny day.
Bohali Hill is the oldest neighborhood of Zakyntos
What to eat on the island of Zakyntos
The specialty of the island of Zakyntos is sartzou – beef with tomatoes, garlic and special sheep cheese “ladotiri”. The olive oil and all the vegetables are local, fresh, straight from the bed. We recommend trying the hearty appetizer skordostoubi – eggplants and tomatoes mixed with olive oil and garlic.
There are several cheese factories in Zakyntos where mizithra cheese is made – it tastes bland, so it is served with honey or sugar. Of course, you can easily order moussaka, souvlaki, and Greek salad – national cuisine is honored here.
We recommend to order local sweets mandolato (almonds, honey and egg) or pasteli (sesame, honey and almonds) to accompany coffee, which is drunk here at any time of the day.
What to bring from Zakyntos
Zakyntos is not the best place to buy branded clothes, shoes and cosmetics. If you want, of course, you can visit any shopping center and buy the things you like, but the choice here is not too large, and the prices, although pleasant, do not differ much from those in any other place in the world.
Nevertheless, people do not leave here empty-handed. From the island it is worth bringing goods of local craftsmen that you will not find anywhere else. When you go shopping, don’t forget that from one or two o’clock to four or five in the afternoon there is a siesta and almost all stores are closed.
All the stores in the town are relatively close to each other, making shopping particularly enjoyable and affordable
In Zakyntos you can haggle with the sellers for your favorite item in those stores that do not have cash registers. Keep in mind that here, unlike in many Asian countries, the key to successful bargaining is not impudence, but sincerity and friendly disposition.
Smile at the seller, compliment him, his store and the country as a whole. Remind them of similarities in religious views or historical background. In short, make yourself comfortable.
It is really not uncommon here when a seller is ready to drink some ouzo with a complete stranger and have a heart-to-heart talk. Do not directly show interest in the product, but also to criticize the thing you like, too.
If the seller does not reduce the price, then try to leave. In case the seller is ready to give in, he will stop you.
Greeks in general value honesty and expect an honest attitude from tourists. That is why here it is quite possible to agree on delivery to the hotel of the thing that you like, but for which right now there is simply no cash.
A deposit is not needed, and payment is made right on the spot. Be taught that while in general locals are not looking to profit at all costs from travelers, the same cannot be said of migrants from neighboring countries living in Zakyntos.
Shopping is best done in the capital. In Zakyntos town, the vast majority of stores are concentrated on Alexander Romai street and the adjacent Foscolou and Terseti streets.
There is also a good selection of souvenirs in the resorts of Laganas, Tsilivi, Alykes, Kalamaki, and Alikanas. Good quality leather goods from island craftsmen can be found everywhere.
Local jewelers sell rings, bracelets, pendants and earrings with precious and semi-precious stones at a fairly low price. In some of the workshops you can watch the process of making jewelry yourself.
All kinds of stores can be found on the streets of the island’s main towns, from luxury jewelry stores and toy departments to fashion boutiques and Italian shoe stores
Local textiles and beautiful handmade embroideries are very popular with fashionistas. Many people bring a variety of silverware as a souvenir from the island.
Traditional souvenirs from Zakyntos can also be called statuettes and various crafts made of olive wood and ceramics of all kinds and sizes.
It is not uncommon for travelers to buy in Zakyntos the works of local craftsmen. If you need both a useful and practical gift for a loved one or yourself, you should buy a bottle of olive oil. It is sold here in a variety of different, including figurative, containers.
If your way home is not too long, then be sure to bring a head or two of local cottage cheese from Zakyntos. Those with a sweet tooth will love the honey harvested by the island’s bortniks.
Almonds and figs are also popular purchases, the latter, by the way, are sold not only fresh, but also in the form of cooked sweets. Be sure to bring at least some mandolato, a delicious locally made nougat.
It is also worth buying a bottle of local drinks – ouzo and raki. Local wine, made from grapes grown nowhere else in the world, is an interesting choice. If you are not too fond of alcohol, pay tribute to locally produced coffee.
Hotels in Zakyntos: where to stay if you are traveling on your own, for a few days
ThePantheon Hotel is the first choice of resort hotels, and one of the leaders among them is the Pantheon. The building is surrounded on all sides by huge panoramic pools and tropical plants, just a few minutes’ walk away from the popular Tsilivi Beach.
The hotel is a tropical island, with spacious terraces offering unforgettable panoramic views of the surrounding area. Pantheon Hotel offers a lot of additional services for vacationers with children, and there are playgrounds for little guests.
Tsilivi Beach Hotel – Tsilivi Beach Hotel is widely known among the numerous beach hotels, it is located directly on the territory of Tsilivi Beach. The hotel offers conditions for both active and serene recreation.
Water lovers can relax by the beautiful swimming pool, and gourmets will love the hotel restaurant with a garden terrace and a play area for children.
The décor of the rooms also deserves special attention. Each has large beds with high mattresses, and some rooms are specially equipped to accommodate children.
Hotel Mabely – one of the most prestigious hotels on the island is the Mabely Hotel, it occupies a vast territory of more than 60 thousand square meters. meters. meters. The grand hotel has chosen a national style building as its location.
The hotel offers 16 swimming pools, including a special children’s pool. The hotel offers rooms with luxurious bathrooms, as well as a restaurant serving the most popular dishes of the national cuisine.
There are many different sports fields on the hotel grounds and there is even a fully equipped bridge room.
Mediterranean BeachHotel – Those who want to live in close proximity to the coast should consider the upscale Mediterranean Beach Hotel in Laganas. Its extensive grounds are beautifully landscaped for leisurely strolls and relaxation, and its main attraction is a huge swimming pool with a special section for children.
In the evening, the hotel’s territory is decorated with an original lighting system, and the best place for evening relaxation is the attractive bar-restaurant. The abundance of designer decorations in the national style, which are actively used in the design of rooms and common areas, makes the popular hotel especially attractive.
St John Villas Hotel – Tourists who want to fully experience the atmosphere of national hospitality should pay attention to the St John Villas Hotel. It is located in the immediate vicinity of the Tsilivi resort and is particularly popular with spa lovers.
The hotel offers its guests fully equipped villas with panoramic views of the Ionian Sea. Among the undeniable advantages of a five-star hotel is the presence of a gym, which provides individual training for guests.
It may be useful: see all hotels, apartments and villas on the island of Zakyntos at this link.