Explore Zakynthos

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ABOUT Zakynthos

Home to the worldwide famous Navagio (Shipwreck) beach and glorified by innumerable travel guides, Zakynthos island is one of the most popular Greek islands! Breathtaking landscapes, exotic beaches with sugar-fine sand and turquoise waters and crazy nightlife are the main reasons why this island is wildly popular. But, there’s more than that!

Things to do in Zakynthos

Things to do in Zakynthos are many as the island is largely tourist developed. Diving is a popular activity in Zakynthos and actually many diving centers have opened in the tourist resorts of the island. These centers offer courses and organize diving trips to interesting reefs and uninhabited islets.
Many beaches of Zakynthos island, including Laganas, Tsilivi, Kalamaki and others, are organized with water sports centers and fun games. The countryside of the island offers chances for hiking. Although there are not many signposted hiking trails, there are old footpaths that lead to mountainous villages, monasteries and Medieval towers.
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🏛️ Art, History, and Architecture

A Venetian Castle dominates on the hill above Zakynthos Town as well as some elegant mansions in the countryside, like the famous Sarakina house. The churches are characterized by bell towers built right attached to three-aisled basilicas. The most important church is the Metropolis of Agios Dionysios, one of the finest examples of Venetian architecture in Greece. One of the finest structures in the historical Argassi Bridge, built in the 19th century, and the Municipal Theatre.

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The Venetian Castle of Zakynthos​

The Venetian Castle of Zakynthos, Ionian Greece: On the hill of Bohali above Zakynthos Town, there is the Venetian Castle. As excavations have shown, this castle was constructed on the site of the ancient acropolis of the island and also on the site of a former Byzantine castle. The Castle of Zakynthos was completed by the Venetians in 1646 AD and the Winged Lion of Saint Mark, a symbol of the Venetian empire, stands above the main entrance. Those times the castle was the seat and residence of the Venetian Proveditor, administrator of the island, and of other officials. Due to time, war attacks and earthquakes, the castle was partly damaged.
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Church of Agios Dionyssios

The church of Agios Dionysios, the protector of the island, is located close to the port. It has an impressive bell tower, the tallest in the town, and hosts the shrine of the saint.This holy and miraculous church was slowly built from 1925 and was finally completed in 1948, only a few years before the devastating earthquake of 1953. It is one of the three buildings that did not have any damage at all by the earthquake, which is considered a miracle and blessing by the locals.The church of Agios Dionysios is very impressive with a spectacular wooden temple, marble columns, large chandeliers, icons, stained glass windows, red velvet seats, and gold plated detail, it is there where the relics of Agios Dionysios are kept here. The church overlooks the harbour and the bell tower – that of which resembles the bell tower of San Marco Church in Venice and exceeds 40 feet is the landmark of the city.
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The Museum of Solomos

The Museum of Dionysios Solomos, Andreas Kalvos and other Eminent Personalities of Zakynthos are housed in a Neoclassical building at the square of Saint Mark, Zakynthos Town. On the ground floor of the museum is the mausoleum and hosts the bones of the National Greek Poet, Dionysios Solomos since 1968, as well as the bones of poet Andreas Kalvos and his wife.
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🌊 Beaches

Zakynthos beaches are famous for their natural beauty and exotic emerald water. The most famous is the wonderful Navagio Beach (Shipwreck), which has soft white sand, turquoise waters, impressive cliffs around it and can be visited only by boat. Other beautiful beaches in Zakynthos Greece are Gerakas, Agios Nikolaos, Kalamaki, Tsilivi, and Spanzia. Most Zakynthos beaches on the eastern side of the island are organized, while the beaches of Zante on the western side are secluded. 

Zakynthos Gerakas Beach

Gerakas is considered one of the most attractive beaches of Zakynthos for its turquoise waters and unique unspoilt features. It is located 18 km south of the capital and it offers a shelter for the the endangered sea turtle Caretta-Caretta. The sandy beach of Gerakas is a much preferred for swimming and sunbathing. It is actually a large cove with crystalline waters and golden sand. Some rock formations are scattered on the seashore offering a feeling of protection and isolation. The beach of Gerakas is one of the finest examples of the enchanting landscape and the natural beauty that characterize the island of Zakynthos. There is free parking before you follow the path down to this idyllic beach.
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Zakynthos Kalamaki beach

Kalamaki is located 6 km south of Zakynthos town, at the end of the eastern side of the bay of Laganas. Kalamaki is a small and crowded resort with many families and water sports lovers. The area is part of the National Marine Park and a natural continuation of Laganas beach which is equally beautiful. Kalamaki is dominated by the impressive rock formations and at the centre of the sand beach are some nice tourist facilities. Apart from a cafe behind the beach, the area is pleasantly undeveloped with a perfect lush green area and charming atmosphere. The beach is located close to the airport.
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Zakynthos Agios Nikolaos beach

The beach of Agios Nikolaos is located 32 km north west of Zakynthos Town and owns its name to the little chapel that stands on the left side of the beach. It is one of the liveliest and fun-filled beaches, wide with many water sports activities and tourist facilities. Nearby is a nice restaurant and a bar. It receives mostly young crowds and families. Sunbeds and umbrellas occupy the biggest part of the beach while on the right side you will find some quiet spots.
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🌿Nature

Zakynthos (or Zante) is an enchanting island with great natural beauty. It is not without a reason that the Caretta-Caretta turtles have chosen some of its magnificent beaches to lay their eggs on. The most famous sightseeing in Zakynthos is the Shipwreck Beach that has taken its name from a rusty, wrecked ship that is found on shore. This beach is accessible with excursion boat that also passes from the famous Blue Caves. In general, the island is famous for the wonderful beaches with sandy shores, such as Gerakas, Kalamaki, Agios Nikolaos, and Porto Zoro. A drive around will bring visitors to traditional villages and old monasteries.

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Zakynthos Navagio (Shipwreck beach)

The beach of Navagio or Shipwreck cove is the most famous beach of Zakynthos lying on the western side of the Ionian island, close to Anafotiria village. The Shipwreck is one of the most photographed sights in Greece. It is considered as one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. It was initially called Agios Georgios but owes its new name to the shipwreck of a boat that transported illegal cigarettes, in 1983. The ship was washed ashore.With the years passing, the sand completely surrounded the ship which looks now as it emerges from it. The vestiges of the ship can be seen in the middle of the large white sandy beach which has amazing turquoise and crystalline waters. Huge vertical cliffs of white rocks are surrounding the sand creating a unique and enchanting image. To reach this paradise, one has to take a little boat from the small port of Porto Vromi. These taxi boats are leaving every hour and the trip is about 30 minutes.
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Zakynthos Blue Caves

It is on the West coast where Zakynthos offers one of its most stunning views: the blue caves. They are also known as the blue caves of Volimes, the picturesque village where they are located. This area is quite wilder, rural, and less transited. In fact, the blue caves are only accessible by the sea. However, this fact has not stopped them from being one of the main attractions of this Greek island, especially at certain times of the day. The biggest cave is called Kianoun, and there are, in general terms, many boats available for rent in the town port for tourists to be able to get to the blue caves. The distinctive element of the blue caves is that they reflect the vibrating and striking blue color of the waters in them, which at the same time capture and reflect the shine of the limpid sky reflected on their surface. This succession of bright reflection creates an almost magical atmosphere that is better appreciated at sunrise or sunset. The blue caves have also interesting arches created by erosion along thousands of years, which allow for going through these caves and get actually surrounded by this surreal environment.
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Zakynthos Marathonisi Islet

The islet of Marathonisi is placed across the beach of Keri, in Laganas bay. It is not a single island but also includes two more small islets called Pontikonisia. Its perimeter is just about a mile and can be reached by boat from Keri beach and Laganas bay. There are boats that have frequent itineraries to the islet. Otherwise, you can hire a caique or take part in organized daily tours. In any case, visitors must be very careful during their trip to Marathonisi because this is a breeding place for the sea turtles Caretta Caretta, an endangered species of sea turtle that go to Marathonisi to reproduce in the summer season. This is why visitors are absolutely not allowed to explore the island, but they are expected to stay only in the first 5 meters of a small beach so that they do not harm the reproduction of the sea turtles. Moreover, another species in danger of extinction, the Monachus Monachus sea seal goes there to rest and reproduce.
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