Zakynthos, also known as Zante, is a small island of the west coast of mainland Greece, known for its turquoise waters, vast nature and the famous shipwreck beach. This Zakynthos travel itinerary combines fun, site-seeing and relaxing time on the water for a well-balanced, yet active 3 days on the island.

It takes just one hour by car to travel the island from top to bottom, making it a perfect weekend trip or a short stop on your mainland Greek itinerary. The natural landscape and magical waters of the Ionian Sea combined with the bustling towns and villages make it an ideal holiday destination.

The best time to visit Zakynthos is from May to September, with the first of May marking the official beginning of the season. It’s a great destination for everyone, from solo travelers and friends’ trips to couples getaways and family holidays.

Day 1

The West

Let’s begin the trip on a high note, shall we?

Start by exploring the west side of the island with one of the most beautiful viewpoints – the Plakaki viewpoint. Situated beside the Plakaki beach, the viewpoint doesn’t actually overlook the beach, but a cliff side and a large sea stack surrounded by incredibly clear, turquoise waters. This spot is breath-taking – have a seat on the rocks around and take some time to soak it all in.

If you continue down the windy road, you’ll reach a bigger car park from which you can make your way down to the Plakaki beach – this path is not easy and pretty rugged (you are basically making your way down a cliff side). Make sure to check tide times before you go.

A short drive away from here is the Damianos cave, which presents you with views like the one below. Follow your maps here and park up beside the first restaurant on your left – just behind that restaurant is the path to the cave (you’ll see a little sign on a tree pointing in that direction). You’ll reach the cave from here in just a few minutes and the walk itself is quite picturesque.

The cave has two sections – top and bottom. It’s easy to get into the bottom part, but if you want to go to the top, you’ve got a little adventure ahead of you. When standing on the path facing the cave, turn to your left and walk up to the rock wall – you should be able to see a way up through the rocks. It is a climb, and it does get steep and slippery in some parts, so make sure to take it slow and have grip with every step.

Once inside, also watch out for the slippery parts. I recommend going straight to the back of the cave where the rock bed is flatter – here you can take a rest and observing the amazing views in front of you.

When you’re all caved out, head further up north to Porto Limnionas for a dip in the clear waters of the sheltered beach. There is a Greek tavern beside the car park where you can grab something to eat or have a refreshing drink on the sunbeds overlooking the sea.

About 2 hours before sunset, start making your way to the Navagio Shipwreck viewpoint. On your way, take a quick stop at the Old Olive Tree (it’s over 2000 years old and one of the oldest olive trees in Greece that still produces olives). You’ll also pass plenty of olive tree fields – a sight you’ll get familiar with pretty quickly when traveling through Zakynthos.

Once you reach Navagio beach viewpoint, you’ll have two options – you can either view it from the ‘official’ platform at the edge of the cliff or take a hike to the big cliffside to the right of that platform.

This route is alongside the cliff edge, so you’ve got to be very careful. It leads to the flag at the end of that cliff wall and the views of the shipwreck from there are incredible. It is by far the best location to view the beach. It’s honestly amazing how untouched this bay looks (probably because of the lack of on-land access). I dare to say the water and sand look even better than they do on google.

When you reach the viewpoint and decide to park on the road before the carpark, you’ll see a pathway that can be very easily mistaken for the trail I mentioned above – we made that mistake and hiked down this way trying to reach the edge of the cliff to see the shipwreck beach below.

Let this be my warning to you – stick to the other trail! This cliffside slopes downwards, and the edges are pretty terrifying. And you have to lean over the massive drop in order to get a glimpse of the beach. I don’t recommend trying see it from here.

Go to the platform instead and you’ll find the path on your right. You’ll know you’re on the right track when you cross a wired fence and see a Greek flag blowing in the distance.

The sunset here will gift you with an unforgettable memory – the sun illuminating the cliff walls, the water glistening and the birds flying around in the distance create a postcard-perfect scene. Enjoy it!

Tip: I’ve heard stories about a guard being present at the fence during the day up until 6pm, stopping people from entering the path (I’m guessing because of the risk of landslides), so if you get here earlier, you might not be able to make it all the way.

Want to end your day on a high note too?

For an amazing hotel experience, with top-class service, delicious food and a super comfortable bed, treat yourself to a luxury night at Castelli Hotel.

I can’t compliment the quality of service enough – everyone is so kind, respectful and always ready and happy to assist you. From the moment you walk in, you instantly feel cared for and at home – you receive a warm welcome from the team, with a refreshing drink, a tour plus a welcome gift.

On top of that, the hotel and the grounds are beautiful, rooms are modern and comfortable and there are extra activities and entertainment throughout the day and night.

Plus the hotel is environmentally conscious and supports the local community and trade. It ticks off all the boxes for an unforgettable first night stay in Zakynthos 🙂

Day 2

The South

Start your day off with a morning coffee at the beach bar on Cameo Island and try to find some turtles in the water. A little nearby island is a well-known breeding ground for turtles and very often they can be spotted floating around the beaches in Laganas.

Then, it’s time to get on the water and see the island from a different perspective – this is one of the must-do’s when in Zakynthos. You have an option here to either get a boat tour experience or choose to rent your own boat. If you’ve ever wanted a private boat experience, Zakynthos is the perfect place to do it.

Small boat rental here is very affordable (if you’re in a small group, a full day rental can actually turn out cheaper than a 2hr boat tour) and you DO NOT need a licence! Yep, you read that right – when booking a small boat rental, you don’t need a boat licence or prior experience as you receive a full briefing and training before you sail out.

I would say though that feeling confident and comfortable being your own captain will go a long way and make your time out at sea a lot more enjoyable. If you stress at the thought of managing the boat, consider hiring a skipper so you can enjoy your experience to the fullest.

When you’re ready and comfortable on your boat, make your way over to Keri Caves – a series of caves on the coast of the island, reachable only from the sea, with unbelievably clear, turquoise waters ideal for a refreshing swim with a snorkel.

Don’t worry if you’re sticking to boat tours, there are plenty of daily tours that go to Keri caves, especially from Laganos.

Spend the day out at sea, bask in the sun and let the world go by. If you’ve been longing for that well-deserved rest, now is the perfect time to kick those feet up and let the water rock you into a blissful state of relaxation.

If you rent your own boat, you can also visit the turtle island from ‘the back’, away from the main beach that gets filled with tour boats throughout the day.

Don’t forget to bring the essentials with you (water, sunscreen, sunglasses, snorkel, towel, etc.).

Day 3

The East

Take a drive through the picturesque Zakynthian villages towards Alykanas beach. Embrace the surrounding views here, take a plunge and grab some food and drinks at the beautiful terrace of Neraida restauntant. You can also do watersports here – jet skis, SUP, kayaks, flyboards and more.

From here, you’re only a short drive away from Xigia Sulfur beach, one of the few beaches in this area with waters rich in sulfur. This mineral comes from the neighboring caves and its healing properties turns a visit to this beach into a natural spa experience. If you didn’t get in the water at Alykanas, do it here 😊

When you’re feeling sulfurous and healthy, wrap up and drive south to Zakynthos town for the rest of the day and night. Parking here can be tricky, as the streets are super narrow, so it’s best to choose a central hotel that’s close to some parking lot. There are parking spaces along the coast at the harbour or on the upper streets of town (when choosing your parking spot, remember that Zakynthos town is on a hillside). Grab gyros and souvlaki at Taverna Varkarola, get ice-cream at Dōdōnē and have a drink at Madisons (also a great spot for breakfast the next morning). Enjoy your evening overlooking the marina, take a stroll down the bustling Leof. Dimokratias street and let yourself wander in the beauty and life of this Greek town.

Tip: A fabulous (and very budget friendly!) recommendation for accommodation in Zakynthos town is ‘Luxury Apartments’. Located around the corner from Dionysios Solomos Square, right by the harbour, these apartments are everything you need and more. The standard here is really high, especially for the price, they’re modern and equipped with a kitchenette and the host is lovely and responsive. I honestly wouldn’t look anywhere else on our visit to Zakynthos town.

Are you ready to explore Zakynthos?

Happy travels!

Vicky