Cruises to Zakynthos

Travel to Zakynthos: General Information

Zakynthos, also known as Zakynthos, Zakynthos or Zakynthos, is an island belonging to the Ionian group of islands in western Greece. It has an area of 406 km2 and about 38,641 inhabitants (2011).

It is famous for attractions, such as the abandoned pirate ship (photo above), its night parties and its tender animal visitors, the turtles. Its beaches and panoramic views also have nothing to envy and are perfect for tourist photos.

Its capital is also called Zante (or Zante City) and is referred to by the locals as Chora, or "city". It is also the administrative seat of the municipality of Zakynthos and is located to the east of the island of the same name, just in front of the Peloponnese. It is the second most populated city of all the Ionian Islands, so that should give you an idea of the popularity of the area.

According to the mythological writings of the Greek poet Homer, Zante was the first inhabitant and founder of the island in 1600 B.C. He was the son of Dardanus, a famous warrior son of Zeus and Electra. It is said that this settlement was the oldest of all in Achaean society (a Greek tribe of which famous characters such as Achilles or Hector were part of).

Last but not least, Zakynthos is world renowned for being the home island (and hometown) of Dionysios Solomos, author of the Greek national anthem.

How to Get to Zakynthos

You can get to Zakynthos by plane: Zakynthos has an airport in the capital city, so you can choose to fly to the island. The name of this airport is Zakynthos-Dionysios Solomos International Airport (ZTH, LGZA) and it is located about 5 km away from the main town. It will take you about 10 minutes to drive from Zakynthos airport.

This airport is also close to the town of Kalamaki, so this is a good option to stay in case you can't find accommodation in the center of the island. At the same time, it has flights of multiple national and international companies, although they are mostly seasonal trips, so you should take this into account when flying in low season.

Another option to get to Zakynthos is by boat. You can travel to Zakynthos by ferry (and even take your car on board if you wish). In case you are on other nearby islands, there are usually two routes to Zakynthos.

The first one is the route Kefalonia-Zakynthos with the company Ionion Pelagos and you will arrive at the port of Agios Nikolaos. On the other hand, you can take the route Kyllini-Zakynthos with the company Levante Ferries and you will arrive at the port of the capital, Zakynthos.

Beaches of Zakynthos

The beaches of Zakynthos are very attractive, especially during the Greek summer. They have cliffs and turquoise waters, as in the rest of the Ionian Islands. However, as it is an island not as crowded by tourists as its Ionian neighbors, its beaches are mostly quiet, with crystalline tones and fine white sand. Below, we show you the most paradisiacal beaches of Zante.

Porto Vromi Beach

This is a natural bay where you can rent a boat to visit different caves and swim in the waters. A guide will also accompany you on the trip if you request it. In itself, the landscape of the beach has it all: beautiful vegetation around and boats parked on its shores. You won't hesitate for a second to take thousands of pictures there.

Porto Vromi Bay

From this bay, in addition, ferries depart to Navagio Beach, which we will tell you about right now. Departures can be made with private excursions or take the boat from the island, which departs approximately every 30 minutes.

Navagio Beach

This is a coastline between cliffs. Wait! That's not the only attraction. The most interesting thing about this beach is the smuggling ship that has been stranded on its shore since 1980. Some locals claim to have seen its crew members escaping through the waters of the beach. But then again, it is said that there was alcohol and tobacco on the island for quite some time after this incident.

The price to visit the boat is around €30 and, although it is somewhat popular and overcrowded, it is well worth the wait to take pictures and see this historical jewel.

From the top of the cliffs you can also access very beautiful panoramic viewpoints where you can take amazing pictures of the entire beach.

Xigia Sulfur Beach

Have you ever visited a natural spa? Whatever the answer is, this is the case of Xigia Beach. As its name describes, thanks to the amount of sulfur in its waters, this beach becomes a true nature spa. It is said that once you visit this place, you are completely rejuvenated. What better than to give it a try? You can find it northeast of Zakynthos.

This beach is ideal to go with your family, as a couple or alone to relax and have a good time. There you can rent umbrellas and deck chairs, although there are not available in large numbers, so we recommend you to go early to have a place on them. You can also choose to have a delicious Greek coffee in its confectionery facilities.