These are the most beautiful places on Zakynthos

Zakynthos in western Greece is the ideal destination for a dream vacation. Although the island is only 40 kilometers long and 20 kilometers wide, there are numerous resorts to choose from. From the island's capital to small coastal villages: We'll show you the most beautiful resorts on Zakynthos .

Zakynthos Town, on the southern east coast, is both the island's capital and most important port. It is the starting point for ferries and the starting point for the ferry service from Zakynthos to Kyllini in the Peloponnese. Many excursion and sightseeing boat tours also depart from Zakynthos Town.

Zakynthos Town, the capital of the island, is located on the southern east coast.

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The town lies north of Skopos Hill on the peninsula of the same name and west of Bochali Hill. The Venetian citadel sits atop a hill. From here, one has a magnificent view of the island's capital. The most important sights include the Basilica of St. Dionysios, the Agios Dionysios Church, and the harbor street, Odos Lombardou, which connects the two harbor piers, Agios Dionysios Pier and Agios Nikolaos Pier, and is lined with restaurants and shops.

On the southeast coast, just a few kilometers south of Zakynthos Town, lies the small resort of Argassi. The beach of the same name is expansive and ideal for a family vacation. Argassi is well-developed for tourism and offers many leisure activities, taverns, restaurants, and cafés.

Argassi is known for its historical ruins. Among the most important sights are the remains of several old houses, churches, and bridges. Highlights include the stone bridge with three arches dating back to 1806, the Roman aqueduct, the Church of Agios Spyridon, and the nearby Monastery of Panagia Skopiotissa on Mount Skopos. According to Greek mythology, the Greek goddess Artemis lived here.

The Vassilikos peninsula stretches from Argassi to Gerakas Beach, the southernmost beach on the island of Zakynthos. Here, you'll find everything you need for a vacation, but with a bit less hustle and bustle than resorts like Laganas. There are no large villages, but rather scattered clusters of houses.

A popular holiday region on Zakynthos: the Vassilikos peninsula.

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Along the coast are various fine-sand coves, as well as accommodations, taverns, restaurants, and bars. The Monastery of Panagia Skopiotissa is also easily accessible from Vassilikos. From here, you can enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the island and the sea. On clear days, the view even extends to the neighboring island of Kefalonia.

If you like to party on holiday, Laganas in the southwest of the Greek island You've come to the right place. Laganas is one of the most popular resorts on Zakynthos. It's the heart of the island's entertainment and nightlife. There are numerous hotels, nightclubs, restaurants, and pubs open late into the night.

Added to that is a great beach life: Laganas Beach stretches over nine kilometers and offers everything you need for a vacation – from sun loungers and parasols to beach volleyball and water sports and boat excursions. Laganas Beach is one of the six beaches on Zakynthos where the loggerhead turtle lays its eggs.

The village of Kalamaki is separated from Laganas only by a pine forest. Several new hotels and restaurants have been built here in recent years. Both villages have beautiful, fine-sand beaches that flow into one another.

Panoramic view of Kalamaki Beach on the Greek island of Zakynthos.

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While Laganas is known for its parties and action, Kalamaki is more of a place for a relaxed family holiday. While there are numerous hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops, it's a much more tranquil place. Those looking for more action can take the bus to Laganas, which is only a few minutes away.

On the west coast, about 18 kilometers from Zakynthos Town, lies the village of Alikes, famous for its salt pans, where salt was once extracted for the entire island. Today, the old salt pans are used as bird breeding grounds. Alikes is a tourist village with hotels, apartments, restaurants, pubs, and shops, and is popular for its long, sandy bay.

Over time, Alikes merged with another village, Alikanas. The two villages are connected by a sandy beach and today form a large tourist town with numerous recreational opportunities. The water is gentle and shallow, and there are numerous sun loungers and parasols.

In the southwest of Zakynthos, the Keri peninsula juts out into the Ionian Sea. The former fishing village of Limni Keriou is a popular spot. Numerous small hotels, apartments, taverns, cafes, and supermarkets have settled along the coast.

The fishing village of Limni Keriou is located in the southwest of Zakynthos.

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The small mountain village of Keri is reached in just a few minutes via an uphill road. The town center enchants with narrow, cobbled streets and traditional stone houses built around the kafenion, the village's central square. Worth seeing are the white lighthouse and the Church of Panagia Keriotissa on the northern edge of the village.

In the north of the island lies the small resort town of Tsilivi, with its eponymous beach. Tsilivi is a typical tourist resort that has been developed in recent years. Today, in addition to hotels, restaurants, and shops, it also offers plenty of entertainment in the form of bowling, mini golf, and a water park.

There's also a great beach. Families with children, in particular, come here for the gently sloping water and fine, golden sand. There's plenty to do locally – from beach volleyball to water sports. For sightseeing, the nearby island capital is also quickly and easily accessible by bus.

Zakynthos is known as the island of loggerhead turtles. Between May and August, the sea turtles swim ashore and lay their eggs. To prevent tourism from driving away the nesting turtles, many stretches of beach are closed off and protected with steel cages.

If you want, you can swim with sea turtles on Zakynthos.

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On vacation, you can delve deeper into this topic by visiting "Turtle Island." This private island, also called Marathonisi, belongs to the National Marine Park. Here you can swim and snorkel—maybe even with a hawksbill turtle.

Looking for more inspiration? You can find even more tips for Zakynthos on our themed page . The best travel offers can be found on our deals page .

travel reporter