Zakynthos, also known as Zante, is a crazy Greek vacation destination. But what can you actually do there? One thing that we are convinced of is that when you book a vacation to Zakynthos you are definitely in for something wonderful. After all, Zakynthos is a versatile island. You are guaranteed beautiful beaches, crystal clear seawater, picturesque landscapes and above all, lots of sunshine. But because there is so much to do and experience on Zante, we have compiled a list of the 10 best activities and useful tips for your trip to Zakynthos!
What is there to do on Zakynthos?
That the Greek island of Zakynthos is very popular among the Dutch is no secret, and not without reason. There is so much to do and experience on this island. Both for young and old, for the beach lover and the adventurous traveler. These are, in our opinion, the best things to do on Zakynthos:
1. Discover the most beautiful beaches
From sandy paradise beaches to secluded coves, Zakynthos is home to some of the world's most beautiful beaches. To start right off with the impressive Shipwreck Beach, also known as Navagio Beach. This is one of the most beautiful and busiest beaches on the Greek island. Zakynthos' most famous beaches can be found in the southeastern part of the island. These are generally beautiful sandy beaches where you can also do fun water activities. But if you visit the beaches in the southwest, you will find beautifully secluded bays. Discover the most beautiful beaches of Zakynthos!
2. Eating out at the nicest Greek tavernas
The Greek dish you will undoubtedly eat a lot on Zakynthos is Gyros. But did you already know that Zakynthos is a true Valhalla for foodies? The island has rich culinary traditions and delectable traditional dishes. Ask a local where the best place to eat is and they will come up with very interesting tips for local taverns. This is how we ended up at Taverna Apelati, one of our favorite restaurants in Zakynthos.
3. Taking a boat trip along the west coast of Zakynthos
One of the most fun activities to do on Zakynthos is to take a boat trip. Along the west coast of the island you will find insane rocks and beautiful bays to visit. We booked a private tour with captain through Fun at Sea and left around 10:00 am from Limni Keri harbor.
We sailed directly to Shipwreck Beach to get ahead of the crowds. Because of the closure of the beach, we could only float around here. After this we sailed leisurely along the west coast back to Keri, making several stops at caves and beaches along the way. Often we had the caves and beaches all to ourselves. Tip: do bring your own snacks and drinks!
There are an awful lot of different providers and the options also vary (from organized tours to private tours). Check out all the options for taking A boat trip on Zakynthos.
4. Go diving or snorkeling at Turtle Island
Turtle Island, also called Marathonisi Island, is a crazy place to dive or snorkel on Zakynthos. You will find the island in the large bay off the coast of Keri, Agios Sostis and Laganas. The island can only be reached by boat. Although the island is named Turtle Island, it is not a given that you will spot turtles here. Nevertheless, this is a great place to dive or snorkel because of the beautiful underwater world. You can spot many fish, swim along cliffs and even through caves. We booked our diving tour at Zante Diving, a well-regarded diving organization in Laganas. We personally liked the fact that there is one instructor on every two people.
5. Walk to the most beautiful viewpoint in Zakynthos
When we talk about the most beautiful viewpoint in Zakynthos you might expect us to mean the viewpoint at Shipwreck Beach, but this is not the case. In fact, we are talking about the Myzithres viewpoint. You will find this viewpoint at the southernmost tip of the island and from high up on the rocks, it overlooks a unique rocky outcrop in the beautiful blue sea.
To get to the Myzithres viewpoint, you can navigate to The Lighthouse Restaurant or to this location on Google Maps. Here you can park your car along the road or in the parking lot. From the main road it is about a 20-minute walk to the most beautiful viewpoint of Zakynthos.
6. Sipping a cocktail at The Lighthouse Restaurant
You can combine the hike to the Myzithres viewpoint with a visit to the insanely located The Lighthouse Restaurant. Enjoy lunch, dinner or a delicious refreshing cocktail while taking in the spectacular surroundings. Please note that the restaurant is only open from 1 p.m. each day.
7. Admire the Caretta-Caretta turtles
The Caretta-Caretta turtle is one of the largest sea turtles and off the southern coast of Zakynthos you will find a number of important nesting sites. Unfortunately, the turtles as the nesting sites are threatened, this is due in part to the growth of tourism on this Greek island. Therefore, we do not recommend you to book a turtle tour, because this is not the way to admire the Caretta-Caretta turtles. Indeed, many tours do not take these beautiful animals into account, they sometimes even sail around the turtles with 10 boats. This is pathetic and the turtles actually experience a lot of stress because of this.
So how can you admire the Caretta-Caretta turtles? By visiting one of the beaches where the turtles breed. Gerakas Beach is a special place for this and you will also find the Turtle Rescue Centre here.
8. Taking a look at Cameo Island
The most romantic spot on Zakynthos is Cameo Island. A small island located off the coast of Agios Sostis. You can recognize the island by the white cloths that flutter jauntily back and forth in the wind. Through a wooden bridge you can enter the island and visit the beach club located here for a fee. You pay €5 per person and on Thursdays and Sundays €11 per person including a welcome drink. Cameo Island is a very popular place to get married. So you may just find that you can witness a wedding here with your own eyes!
9. Visiting Zakynthos Town
Zante, also called Zakynthos Town, is the capital of the island and a lot of fun to visit. The town has a beautiful promenade along the coast where also many beautiful boats moor in the harbor. The appearance of the town is beautiful with here and there still old and impressive sights that survived the 1953 earthquake. A highlight is the Dionisios Church and Solomon Square. Furthermore, you will find many nice boutiques and restaurants. So take a stroll through the atmospheric streets of Zante.
10. Visiting the Aristeon Olive Press Museum.
Everywhere you go on Zakynthos you will see olive trees. It is estimated that there are about 2 million of them scattered around the island. The production of the olives, in olive oil for example, is therefore large. Should you want to plan a nice outing on Zakynthos, consider visiting the Aristeon Olive Press Museum to visit. Here you will get an insight into the production of olive oil and you can taste all kinds.
Rent a car in Zakynthos
To explore much of the island, it is advisable to rent a car in Zakynthos. This way you can drive around the island at your own leisure and discover the most beautiful beaches, fun hotspots and cool sights. Having a rental car gives you the freedom to go wherever you want. If you book through a travel agency like TUI or Eliza was here, you can often book a rental car as well. But you can also compare prices and cars on SunnyCars, the party where we often book our rental car.
Where is the best place to stay on Zakynthos?
The most famous seaside resorts on Zakynthos to stay at are Laganas, Tsilivi and Argassi, but there are also smaller villages where you can have a wonderful time. How about a beautiful cottage in the mountains overlooking the sea? This type of accommodation is more likely to be found along the west coast of Zakynthos, for example near Keri. A particularly nice tip is Kymaros Villas Where we stayed during our vacation in Zakynthos. Booked through Elisa was here including rental car, ideal for exploring island at your own pace.
Zakynthos has wonderful places to stay, such as the luxury resorts Contessina in Tsilivi and Domus Aulus Zante in Laganas. Are you curious which resort and accommodation suits you best? Then read our article the best accommodations in Zakynthos.
How to get to Zakynthos?
If you are traveling to Zakynthos from the Netherlands then it is natural to travel by plane. The flight from Amsterdam takes about 3 hours. The airport of Zakynthos is centrally located on the island and therefore you will reach your accommodation in no time. When you book through TUI, Sunweb ahead of time or CorendonIn such cases, you often book a package that includes an airport shuttle to and from your accommodation. If you have a rental car, you can often pick it up at the airport. You don't have an airport shuttle or a rental car? Cabs are also available at the arrival hall.
You can fly direct to Zakynthos during the summer months, but outside the high season you will be forced to transfer in Athens. Airlines that fly direct to Zakynthos during the summer months are Skycanner, TUIfly and Corendon. Possibly you can also look at the offerings of Brussels Airlines, should flying from Brussels be an option.
By ferry to Zakynthos
The island of Zakynthos is close to the mainland of Greece and is therefore easily accessible by ferry. You can see the mainland, as well as the neighboring island of Kefalonia, from Zakynthos. A ferry sails up and down between the mainland and Zakynthos several times a day. Greece is a popular travel destination at all when it comes to island hopping. Almost all Greek islands are easily accessible by ferry. A handy website to buy and compare ferry tickets is Ferryhopper.
