Zakynthos is an island that gives back more the longer you spend on it. The famous places are famous for a reason. But the spots that most visitors never find are, in many cases, just as good - and far more peaceful.
This guide covers both. You will need a car. Without one, you will see a fraction of what the island has to offer.
The Must-Visit Places
1. Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Beach)
The image most people carry in their heads when they think of Zakynthos: a rusting shipwreck on white sand, enclosed by towering limestone cliffs, with water the colour of a swimming pool. It is as impressive in real life as in any photograph.
The beach is on the northwest coast and can only be reached by boat - there is no road down to it. The clifftop viewpoint above, reached by car and a short walk, gives one of the most dramatic coastal views in Europe. As of recent seasons, access to the beach itself is restricted due to stabilisation work, but the viewpoint is fully accessible and worth the drive regardless.
How to go: Drive to the Navagio viewpoint near Volimes. For the sea-level view, take a boat from Agios Nikolaos or Porto Vromi.
2. The Blue Caves
On the northwest coast near Cape Skinari, the Blue Caves are one of the most distinctive natural sights in the Ionian islands. Sunlight enters through shallow water and reflects off the cave walls in a striking electric blue that turns everything - swimmers, boat hulls, the rock itself - a vivid, almost unreal colour.
How to go: Take a small boat from Cape Skinari or Agios Nikolaos. Small boats can enter the caves directly; large tour boats from Zakynthos Town cannot. Go in the morning for the best light.
3. Gerakas Beach
A long, beautiful sandy beach on the southeastern tip of the island, Gerakas is also one of the most important sea turtle nesting sites in Europe - part of the Zakynthos National Marine Park. Volunteer rangers are present in summer to explain the conservation work and, in the right conditions, point out turtle activity nearby.
Swimming is permitted, but there are areas marked off to protect nests. Respect the rules. This is one of the last places in the Mediterranean where Caretta caretta turtles come ashore in meaningful numbers.
4. Zakynthos Town (Chora)
The island's capital was almost entirely destroyed by the 1953 earthquake and rebuilt in Venetian neoclassical style. It has a distinct, handsome character as a result. Solomos Square is the main gathering point, dedicated to the national poet Dionysios Solomos. The Church of Agios Dionysios - the island's patron saint - has extraordinary golden interior paintings that cover the walls from floor to ceiling. Dress modestly to enter.
The market streets nearby sell local honey, Mandolato nougat, and hand-made ceramics. Allow two or three hours and no particular schedule.
5. Keri Cliffs and Village
Drive south to the village of Keri - perched on the cliffs above the Ionian - and you get sweeping views that rank among the island's best. The village has an unhurried character: a couple of tavernas, old stone houses, cats asleep in doorways.
Below the cliffs, boat tours visit the Keri sea caves - natural arches and swimmable chambers, less well-known than the northern caves and often far quieter in shoulder season.
6. Marathonisi (Turtle Island)
A small uninhabited islet in Laganas Bay, Marathonisi is part of the Zakynthos Marine Park and a key sea turtle nesting site. Boat trips from Limni Keri take you around the island and, in the right conditions, turtles can be spotted in the surrounding water. A calm and memorable morning excursion.
The Hidden Gems
7. Porto Limnionas
A picturesque rocky cove on the west coast, enclosed by jagged cliffs, with water perfect for swimming, snorkelling, and diving. There is no sandy beach - you enter from flat rocks - but the colour of the enclosed sea here is one of the most vivid on the island. It does not appear in most tour itineraries, which is precisely its appeal.
How to get there: By car on the western coast road, about 45 minutes from Tsamis. Between Agios Leon and Kiliomenos.
8. Xigia Sulfur Beach
About 30 minutes north of Tsamis, Xigia is unique for its natural sulfur springs that give the water white, milky reflections and a mineral quality that feels noticeably different on the skin. The water is said to have therapeutic properties - guests who find it tend to mention it for the rest of the holiday.
It is a small beach. Come early for a good spot. Water shoes are recommended for the rocky entry.
9. Madrakia Beach
A small pebble beach mostly visited by local swimmers and fishing boats. There is a beach bar on site. The view toward the small island of Vardiola in the distance is a quiet pleasure. No queues, no tour groups, no umbrellas reserved since dawn. Just the sea.
How to get there: North of the island near Agios Nikolaos, following signs toward the port area.
10. Kampi: The Best Sunset on the Island
The clifftop position at Kampi, with a direct view west over the sea, is widely considered to offer the most beautiful sunset in Zakynthos. A taverna sits at the edge. Go in the early evening, find a table outside, order something cold, and stay until it is fully dark. No other plans needed.
How to get there: On the western coast, near the village of Kampi. About 50 minutes from Tsamis.
11. Porto Zorro Beach
On the southeastern headland of Skopos, Porto Zorro is a picturesque beach with large rock formations rising from the water that make it one of the most visually striking on the island. Less visited than the main southern beaches and particularly calm on weekday mornings.
12. Volimes Village and the Artisan Road
The mountain village of Volimes in the north is where the island's traditional crafts are still made and sold: hand-woven textiles, local honey, lace, and ceramics from small family workshops. An easy stop on the way to or from the Navagio viewpoint, and a good way to see a side of the island that has nothing to do with beaches.
