Zakynthos is one of the most beautiful and famous Greek islands. Head here for beautiful scenery and beautiful beaches.

The ideal holiday period on the island is 5-9 days.

Giant Tortoise Sightings

The wish of most visitors to Zante is to at least catch a glimpse of the rare giant kareta turtles that live in Laganas Bay.

You can go about this experience in several ways, for example by going to the islet of Marathonisi. Cruises for about 12 people run several times a day and can be purchased from one of the agencies in Laganas for about 30 eur. You are likely to see the Kareta even just once, from a boat and very briefly.

If you go swimming on the south side of the island a little further from shore, with any luck you will come face to face with the carta. If you live in Laganas, it's worth taking at least one walk to the local harbour, where every morning local fishermen feed the tame ducks.

Where to spot the giant ducks?

The turtles are most abundant on the southern coast of Zakynthos, specifically in the bay around the resort of Laganas. The turtles can be found in the waters even very close to shore, so the chances of spotting them are very high, especially if you go on boat trips.

The most popular places to spot turtles are:

• Marathonisi Island
• Gerakas and Dafni beaches on the south-eastern tip
• Kalamaki beach near the resort of Laganas

When during the year do turtles occur here?

In the waters around Zakynthos, giant tortoises are found from May to September, the peak season when most tourists visit the island.

When are they most active during the day?

You can see turtles in the water all day long. In the evening, after dark, they go to the beaches where they build their nests, which they bury quite deep in the sand.

They lay their eggs, which hatch after 60 days. Early in the morning, the turtles leave their nests and head back out to sea to find food.

How to behave on turtle beaches?

Any beach where turtle nests may be present is strictly protected. The turtles need quiet to lay their eggs, so access to the beaches is strictly forbidden during this period (especially May, June and early July). However, some parts of the beaches are open during the day and are only allowed to be accessed after dark.

Under no circumstances are any objects that stick into the sand (umbrellas, deck chairs), digging holes or building sand castles allowed on beaches where the karets are present. It is forbidden to sell any kind of goods on these beaches and of course you should not even think of throwing rubbish on them (nowhere else).

The beaches are patrolled by national park rangers during the nesting season.

Beaches and swimming

Like all the Greek islands, Zakynthos is a popular destination for summer beach fun. The local resorts don't live up to the glory of resorts on Crete, Rhodes or Corfu, and you certainly won't find large monumental resorts and concrete high-rises lining the beaches.

Zakynthos resorts have more of an intimate feel, though even here you'll find places pulsing with activity day and night. However, development tends to be lower everywhere on the island and even the larger hotel resorts tend to be more intimate compared to others in the Mediterranean.

The island's coastline is divided into a spectacular, breathtaking west, with dramatic white cliffs and rugged coves, but where you can only bathe on rocky mini-beaches with relatively difficult access, and a flatter east or south.

It is to the east and south that the main beach resorts are located. The landscape here is mild, relatively lush green and covered with Mediterranean forests. Don't expect miles of flat, boring beaches like the Italian Adriatic, but don't expect breathtaking views of the dramatic coastline either. The common denominator of all Zakynthos beaches is tranquillity and peace.

The beaches themselves tend to be well-kept, although their immediate surroundings can often look a little bleak. But the water here is clean, warm and the beaches are quite nicely landscaped.

Find a beachfront hotel on booking.com

Where are the best beaches on Zakynthos?

These are some of the most beautiful and relaxing beaches, where you'll find full facilities in the form of tavernas, refreshments and, to some extent, water sports on offer:

• Banana beach near Vassilikos
• Alykes beach near the resorts of Alykes and Alikanas
• Xigia beach with sulphur springs
• Laganas beach in the island's liveliest resort with a vibrant nightlife
• Kalamaki beach near Laganas, which is much quieter
• Tsilivi beach in the second busiest resort with an emphasis on families with children
• Navagio beach with its iconic cliffs and shipwreck, but due to its remoteness and overcrowding it is better suited to day trips than swimming

Beach facilities and prices

At most beaches you can rent sunbeds and umbrellas, for which you will pay around 15 eur for the day. You will also find tavernas and snack bars on all beaches, for lunch menus count between 12 eur and 16 eur.

Conversely, facilities such as showers or toilets are often lacking on the more remote beaches and are only found in the larger resorts such as Laganas or Tsilivi.

Nightlife

Not for nothing has Zakynthos been compared to Ibiza in Spain in recent years. Thousands of young people head to Laganas in particular every year for a wild holiday.

If you're a fan of dance clubs and want to go out drinking and partying in the evening, head to the main street of Laganas after dark, where one nightclub stands next to another.

Road-trip around the island

Due to the small size of the island, even with short stops at the most interesting places, you can get around it in 1 day, it's worth setting aside more time.

If you start from the south side of the island, it might look like this: swimming in one of the western bays, a viewpoint over Navagio beach, the harbour of Agios Nikolaos and Cape Skinari with its blue cave, Xigia beach with its sulphur springs, the town of Zante and the turtle beach of Kalamaki.

For more on the places to see, see What to see.

Book a car rental in Zakynthos

Deep-sea diving and snorkelling

Although the area is almost devoid of fish due to the massive fishing industry, there are places to see interesting underwater life in the south, such as the caves of Keri. Many diving expeditions, which you can join, depart from Laganas or Keri.

The blue caves, the area under the rock in Tsilivi and Porto Limnionas are also interesting for snorkelling. The most attractive (and probably the only interesting) aquatic animal here is the giant sea karet, which you can swim with in Laganas Bay further offshore.

Water sports

Wild water sports enthusiasts should prefer the eastern resorts, as all water sports involving motor boats are banned in the south due to the presence of the common eider.

Kayaking

The island can also be explored from sea level, ideally by kayak, which can take you pretty much anywhere. Sea Kayaking Zakynthos organises day trips and longer trips to different places, just choose yours. In addition, it also offers paddleboards, bike tours and walking tours.