Spring in Zakynthos
The Netherlands had been lacking in sunshine lately, so perfect time to book a flight and enjoy an island getaway to get the first summer vibes. While scouring the web for some deals, we settled on our two favorite options. Cyprus or Zakynthos (also know as Zante). We decided on Zakynthos, because it was cheaper for more days away. Spring in Zakynthos can have unpredictable weather, we were lucky and only had some cloudy mornings followed by sunny afternoons.
How to get to Zakynthos
Depending on where you are in the world, Zakynthos has a few different options to arrive on.
- By plane. The island has its own airport, it means it can be incredibly easy to get here from big hub airports like Amsterdam or Rome.
- By Ferry. If you are island hopping or coming from the mainland of Greece, the ferry will likely be your best option.
Where to stay in Zakynthos
Your home base during a holiday is crucial in the overall experience, so choose the area you stay in wisely. For those of you who want to stay in a more lively, party-focused area, Laganas is the place to settle. It has an amazing amount of tour agencies, cheap eats, lots of clubs and bars and the only MacDonalds on the Island. If you are in for a more quiet, laid back vibe for your holiday, then i’d suggest looking at hotels around the Vasilikos area. It’s well-suited for couples and families who want beautiful beaches nearby yet prefer peace and quiet over pre-drinks and parties.
We stayed in Cavo Vezal, a 4-star hotel with a clean and modern looking exterior. Cavo Vezal is on the outer part of Laganas. The hotel and flights where booking through TUI flights, so we got a good deal for a holiday of 11 days.
How to get around
1. Quad bike
Right from the get go I noticed that there are a lot of quad bikes on the island. One of the most popular transportation options is to rent a quad bike for a couple days. It will undoubtedly look super cool riding a quad, but also because it’s incredibly practical. There are some seriously rocky roads on Zakynthos, so having a quad bike to get you up and down them can be a lifesaver. Note that quad bikes can go up to 80 km/h so be careful while riding.
2. Rental car
Getting a rental car is our personal favourite. We rented a car from the airport for the whole of our stay. We wanted to take all our stuff out for the day and a rental car gave us the ability to make most of the days.
3. Bus
The public transport on Zakynthos has made considerable progress over the last years. Public transport on the island is managed by the KTEL Zakynthos company. The bus has a route from the airport to Zakynthos Town (runs only a few times a day, and on Saturdays and Sundays there are no bus connections to or from the airport) and some local routes.
Eleven day itinarary
With eleven days to spend on the island, we did not have to rush anything. We had the chance to relax in the sun, do some activities and drive around. Here is a breakdown of our eleven days. If you are in Zakynthos this may not be the most efficient way to group activtities, but we planned based on the weather forcast. Some days had cloudy mornings and sunny afternoons, so we decided to spend the time in the morning on an activity and the afternoons on sunbathing.
Thursday
We had a super early flight (6 AM) from Amsterdam to Zakynthos. With some time to get our luggage from the luggage belt, pick up the rental car and drive to the accommodation we arrived just before lunch time.
After some unpacking and a full belly after lunch we settled down to relax for most of the afternoon. For us this meant a nap that took the whole afternoon. We probably needed the sleep…
Friday
With the first full day on the Island and also beatiful weather we decided to make a quick stop at cameo Island and not do anything for the rest of the day.
Cameo Island
Cameo Island is located in the Agios Sostis area and easily reachable both on foot from Laganas and by car. You can park for free at the parking lot located at the beginning of the wooden bridge. This island was once part of Zakynthos until 1633 when there was an earthquake which separated this small area from the mainland and became autonomous. It is connected to the mainland by a short wooden bridge. The trees on the island, the bridge and small church form a very idyllic scenery. The Island is named after the small church that has been there for 16 centuries. After the wooden bridge you will see stairs going up the hill. On top is the place where they will collect an entrance fee (5 euros per person) to visit beach with its bar.
We stayed in the hotel and just baked in the sun from the end of the morning until the next day. The hotel provides lunch and dinner so we didn’t even leave the grounds for food. At the end of the day my first book of the holiday was almost finished, so a good day to start the holiday off.
Saturday
With some clouds in the morning we took off to the Olive Press Museum and the Callinico Winery Museum, finished with lunch at Madisons.
Olive Press Museum
When you drive across the island of Zakynthos, one thing immediately strikes you: the amount of olive trees. There are an estimated 2 million olive trees on this island. Yes, you read that right. Because there are no less than 2 million olive trees on this island, Zakynthos is one of the main suppliers of olives.
When you arrive at the museum, you notice the old olive presses. All presses have an explanatory sign. If you go through these texts, you will notice that there are major differences between the olive presses. Very nice to delve into this. Because this museum is located near the factory, you can also immediately get a tour of the factory. Under the guidance of a guide you walk around the factory and see exactly what is done with the olives. If you visit during harvest season (July – October), you can see the factory in work.
Callinico Winery Museum
Never missing a change to try some local wine we visit Callinico Winery Museum after the Olive Press Museum. The Winery is open since 1918 and has been passed on from generation to generation. We enjoyed a tour through the vinyard and winery led by the granddaugther of the first owner. You can visit the winery and see the original machinery from the past and taste the 15 different varieties of wine from traditional grapes. After a tour we ended with tasting some of the wines. The whole tour and tasting some of the wines is only 6 euro per person.
Madison Kitchen Café Bar
To end the morning we drove to Zakythos Town and enjoyed some lunch at Madison Kitchen Café Bar, a popular spot amongst tourist and locals. The restaurant is situated in the port of Zakythos Town, and if you love to people watch as we do a perfect place to eat some delicious food, watch people and the boats in the port. After lunch we strolled around the town, to go back to the hotel and back in the sun once again because the clouds cleared.
Sunday
Skinari cape: Windmills, taverna and viewpoint
At Skinari you will find two Windmills. The two old flour grinding Windmills have been converted into places to stay! There is Taverna, that is perfect to drink something after walking all the steps of the viewpoint and a Lighthouse. You can also take boat trips to The Blue Caves and Shipwreck Cove. The cape has some breathtaking, panoramic views, here you can witness both the calm waters of the east and the windy waters of the west. The blue caves, which were discovered back in 1897 are found here underneath Skinari Cape. These caves really have to be seen to be believed, showing a range of blue hues on the white rocks caused by reflections from the sea. This area is also popular for snorkeling due to the wide range of marine life living there.
Beach hopping
On the way back from the Skinari cape we stopped by the beaches of Pelagaki, Xigia Sulfur and Xigia Pigadi Beach. They all have their own charm.
Pelagaki beach, is a small pebbled bay, surrounded by rocky cliffs. Its crystal clear turquoise waters are great for snorkeling and diving. The beach is also known as Little Xigia, is an amazing alternative to the popular beaches of Xigia. It is a hidden gem that does not attract many visitors due to the steep stairs you have to climb down in order to get there.
In the water in this region of the island, sulfur is being mined, so the water contains large amounts of it. When looking at the waters of Xigia Sulfur you can see the characteristic turbidity – as if there was something that didn’t dissolve completely. The sulphur has healing properties making it an ideal choice for those suffering from pains in the legs and arthritis. Zakynthos has two beaches named Xigia. One is named Xigia Sulfur Beach and the other Xigia Sulfur Beaches. Check out the Google Map links to see the difference.
Right next to big beach of Xigia Sulfur is Xigia Pigadi Beach. This is beach is only reached by walking through a path of plants and flowers. The path ends on a rock formation where you need to climb down to acces the beach. Porto Kamilafka and Laperda Beach are also located on this side on the island, but are also not the most accesible.
Monday
Navagio
Navagio, also known as Shipwreck Beach, is the most famous beach in Zakynthos. The white sand, the mesmerising, crystal clear water, and the high cliffs surrounding the bay make it a breathtaking sight. On this little beach is a old shipwreck rumored to have been a cigarette-smuggling ship that tried to get away and got caught in a terrible storm. The ship attracts many visitors who make their way to the shore, even though the only way to reach it is by the sea.
Navagio beach can only be reached from the sea and you can book organized day trips from Laganas and Zakynthos town. We didn’t plan on getting to this beach because we like to skip the super touristy sites, especially when it is a tiny seashore packed with tourists, and we preferred to look out at the beach from the viewing platform.
Since March 2023 Zakynthos’ famous Navagio beach will be closed due to significant risk of landslides caused by the erosion of surrounding cliffs. Boats that visit the beach need to stop +/- 150 meters from shore, but tourists will not be allowed to disembark or swim to shore.
Many blogs will provide information on how to reach the perfect spot for a photo from above the cliff oposide the beach. Please don’t climb the cliff opposite the beach! We visited in May and spoke to locals and some tourist guides during that time about the beach and it’s closure. In the beginning of the year already 12 people fell from the cliff opiside the beach. The ground is not stable and also here is significant risk of landslides.
Porto Steniti
During the drive back from Navagio we tried to visit Porto Steniti, sometimes known as Stenitis bay isn’t a beach as such, it’s a fjord on the west coast of Zakynthos. Although there’s no beach there’s some rocks that slope into the sea so you can get in the water. It’s a beautiful place for a swim with crystal clear waters and rugged scenery.
Getting to Porto Stenitis is difficult, it’s around a 5 km trip from Maries which is the nearest village. Unfortunately the road changes from tarmac to gravel around 1.5 km from the bay meaning it’s probably best to go with a SUV or quad bike rather than one of the standard under powered rental cars that you typically see on the island. An alternative is to eave the car at the roadside where it changes to gravel and walk the last section which would probably take around 20 to 30 minutes. We decided to turn around an not visit the beach, but if you are up for a hike or have the proper vehicle give it a go!
Porto Limnionas
Porto Limnionas is one of the most hidden places and maybe for this reason more beautiful and wild of the entire island. It is tucked away between the crags of this hard-to-reach coastline of the Greek island. Only in the center of the mountain village of Agios Leon will you see the traffic signs for Porto Limnionas and Porto Roxa beach. After six kilometers, driving down a recently asphalted road running down to the sea and ending in a small square where you can park you will reach the bay. From there getting down a few steps carved in the rock, you reach the clearness and colours of the waters. It is easy to imagine that in this place there are no many tourist facilities, but only recently two terraces with loungers and umbrellas have been created.
Tavern Porto Limnionas Restaurant
Tavern Porto Limnionas Restaurant is a traditional restaurant that takes its name from the place where it is located. Porto Limnionas is a marvellous bay with clear water placed along the West coast of Zante island. As you arrive in the restaurant you will admire a wonderful panorama view all over the bay.
Tuesday
Mizithres island
Mizithres are two rocks in the south-western area of Zakynthos. Once Mizithres was one island. Because of the 2018 earthquake, both rocks were separated by a strip of sea. Now they are know as Small & Big Mitzithra. Since 2018 the beach has become more and more famous, ranking among the top three most instagrammed places in Zakynthos.
To get to the viewpoint we recommend renting a quad or jeep as the terrain is dirt and rocky. You can get there with a normal car, but don’t be surprised if the car has some damage at the end of the road. Here you will find the location on Google Maps. Please also be careful here while taking pictures above the rock formations. The ground is made of dirt and loose rocks and is known to be unstable.
Keri lighthouse
After visiting the viewpoint you can drive further to the Keri lighthouse which gives excellent views from across the bay on the rock formations. Unfortunately the lighthouse was closed when we visited.
In the evening we visited Hamsa Beach Bar & Restaurant for dinner. Hamsa is located a two minute walk from the hotel on Laganas beach. We had some awsome sushi and an amazing view on the sea.
Wednesday and Thursday
With excellent weather the whole day we didn’t plan to do anything these two days. We read some more books, took naps at the pool and scrolled mindlessly through our phones.
Cave Damianos Restaurant
We did head out to eat dinner on Thursday to eat dinner at Cave Damianos Restaurant. Cave Damianos Restaurant gets its name from the Damianos Caves in Agalas Village.
The local legend suggest that Andronios was a dragon that made the 12 wells of Agalas village and has given them the name. The ruler of the village and its protector, Damianos, has forced the evil dragon Andronios to fight with him and has managed to defeat him. As a punishment, he had to make 12 wells, one for every month of the year for the sake of the village people. From his cave, Damianos, was watching Andronios to perform his punishment.
You can enjoy an amazing sunset at Cave Damianos Restaurant. They have indoor seating, outdoor seating on the hill and a sundeck. Don’t forget to reserve a table, because the restaurant is pretty popular when it is open. The restaurant is not open the whole year, so check there website for the latest update.
Friday
Boating
With yet another excellent sunny day we rented a boat in Agios Sostis. The boat was for the area around Marathonisi island, the Keri Caves and some turtle spotting. With a boat for a whole day we just enjoyed the time at sea. We started at the furthest point at the Keri Caves, to slowly go back past Oasis Beach, the Cape of Marathia and go across to sea to Marathonisi island. At Marathonisi island we stopped and swam in the clear blue waters. Eventually we continued our tour by going to cameo island and spot turtles along the shore of Laganas. Zakynthos, is the largest breeding ground for the Caretta Caretta turtle in the whole of the Mediterranean Sea.
They are very beautiful creatures, but are highly endangered. So when you see a turtle always turn off the engine of the boat and don’t come too close. Not that it stopped one of the turtles we saw! After turning off the engine we tried to not get to close the turtle, but the turtle decided otherwise. It was probably curious and decided to take a look at the boat and swim to us. Definitely one of the best experiences to see the turtle up close and even came above the water to get some air.
Saturday and Sunday
The last full days on the island we didn’t plan to do anything. We hung out in the hotel and packed our bags at Saturday evening. On Sunday we had a flight at 4 PM back to Amsterdam.
Also interested in other Island Guides? Then read the most recent one about Malta.
