Zakynthos or Zakynthos is an island of poets, artists and musicians, the southernmost of the seven Ionian Islands.
Here is the famous bay of Navajo, where the ship of smugglers lies on the sand; here on the beaches crawl huge turtles caretta-caretta; here olive groves are interspersed with orchards; here in the mysterious grottoes and caves hide ancient secrets.
The beaches of Zakynthos are visited by couples with children, honeymooners and elderly people. The azure sea, warm sand and plenty of entertainment for all tastes make Zakynthos an extremely attractive vacation destination.
Climate and weather of Zakynthos
June and September are considered the best time for vacation on the island. The bathing season starts in May and ends in October. The hottest month is August.
Zakynthos Beaches and Sea
The beaches of Zakynthos are more than a hundred kilometers of sand and fine pebbles, washed by the azure waters of the Ionian Sea.
The first beach you should pay attention to is located in the Argassi area. It is close to the capital of the island, so the infrastructure here is well developed – it is easy to get to the beach, there are stores, restaurants and taverns, sun beds and umbrellas. The sea here is shallow, so Argassi is often chosen for vacation by families with children. In the evenings, discos are organized on the beaches.
The huge Caretta Caretta turtle comes to the beaches of Gerakas and Laganas to lay its eggs. The turtles are very important, and it is not allowed to offend them – it is not recommended to come even close to them, unless you want to get an impressive fine. However, you can also meet a turtle in the water – they are not afraid of people, but they do not let you touch them. In the waters near Zakynthos, if you are lucky, you may see a black seal, which is a very rare and endangered animal.
Vasilikos Beach is famous for its golden sand and long stretch of shallow water, a true paradise for the little ones. Kalimaki has some of the widest beaches and plenty of water activities. You can hide from the sun under an umbrella or in the shade of a strawberry tree. The beaches of Tsilivi have been awarded the Blue Flag for clean water.
Attractions
Zakynthos is famous for its rugged coastline. The sea caves of Keri, the Marathias Arches and the Blue Grotto are incredibly beautiful places to visit. The caves can only be reached by boat – they leave from the capital of the island and from Agios Nikolaos. The boat passes under three grandiose arches and brings you to a cozy grotto. You can swim in the lagoons of the caves – the water is saturated with calcium and has healing properties. The sea water here is so clear that you can see every pebble.
The most famous attraction of Zakynthos, its calling card, is Navajo Beach, the “Shipwreck”. It is located in the northwest of the island, in the Smugglers’ Bay. In 1980, smugglers pursued by the police ran aground on their ship Panayiotis and escaped. A storm washed the ship ashore, where it still rusts to this day.
The only way to get to the beach is by boat, which brings and takes tourists to and from the beach on a schedule. The beach is surrounded by steep white cliffs. At the top is a long and steep staircase, but the climb is worth it – the view is amazing. Basejumpers like to parachute from here.
In Zakynthos you should admire the Belfry of St. Dionysius, which can be seen from afar. You can wait out the midday heat at the Byzantine Museum and then stroll through St. Mark’s Square, which replicates the famous square in Venice.
In Argassi, a suburb of Zakynthos, climb Mount Skopa – legend has it that the goddess of hunting, Artemis, lived here.
Zakynthos cuisine
The specialty of the island of Zakynthos is “sartsa” – beef with tomatoes, garlic and special sheep cheese “ladotiri”. Olive oil and all vegetables are local, fresh, straight from the bed. We recommend trying the hearty appetizer scordostubi – eggplants and tomatoes mixed with olive oil and garlic.
There are several cheese factories in Zakynthos where mizithra cheese is made – it tastes bland, so it is served with honey or sugar. Of course, you can easily order moussaka, souvlaki and Greek salad, as national cuisine is very popular here. We recommend to order local sweets mandolato (almonds, honey and egg) or pasteli (sesame, honey and almonds) to accompany coffee, which is drunk here at any time of the day.
