Most famous bay in Greece
Navagio Bay, better known as Smugglers' Bay or Shipwreck Beach, is the most famous tourist attraction in Zakynthos and certainly the most pictured beach in Greece. Note that Navagio Bay, located in the rugged and cliffy north-west of the island, can only be reached by boat. The viewing platform above offers a breathtaking panorama. The Navagio Bay with its white beach is fascinating in itself, but the shipwreck found there completes the special scenery and has an almost magical effect. The beach can also be reached by a daily taxi boat from the nearby bay of Porto Vromi or Agios Nikolaos. It is recommended to visit the beach in the early morning or very late afternoon as it is very busy during the day.
The story about the stranded smuggler ship "Panagiotis", which was carrying illegal goods, is about a chase by the Greek coast guard in a very stormy sea in 1980, when the smugglers' ship finally ran aground due to an engine failure on the beach of the small bay of Agios Georgios. The rescuing crew was quickly "captured" on land...
"Fiore di Levante" - Flower of the East
Zakynthos owes its name "The Flower of the East" to the Venetians, who for a long time ruled over Zakynthos and came up with the idea of the saying "Zante - i fior di Levante". The island was given this nickname because of its beautiful landscape and lush vegetation.
One of these special beauties are the Blue Grottos - the caves in the sea. These are an impressive rock formation whose name comes from the different shades of blue of the sea that prevail there. It actually seems as if each cave appears in a different shade of blue. The Blue Caves stretch from Agios Nikolaos to Cape Skinari. The best way to visit the caves is by boat, boat tours are offered. Swimming through the cave is only recommended for experienced swimmers and divers, as there are strong currents in some of them. A small tip: You can also reach the Blue Grottoes from land. Between Agios Nikolaos and Cape Skinari there is a small mill, from where stairs lead down to the natural spectacle. Once you reach the rocky slabs, you can jump directly into the sea and swim to the caves.
Also the Caretta-Caretta turtle has not missed the good location of the island of Zakynthos, which is why every early summer there are many of them to lay their eggs. The sea turtle is an additional "figurehead and landmark" for the popular island of Zakynthos. If you want to experience the Caretta- Caretta turtle live, you should visit beaches such as Laganas or Kalamaki or the uninhabited turtle island Marathonisi. However, the oviposition of the sea creatures on land only takes place at night and they must not be disturbed here under any circumstances. There are guided tours to the latter island and with a little luck you will see the animals in their natural habitat - the ocean. You can also get to the island by boat. The trip is worthwhile in any case, as there are two beautiful beaches waiting for you, which are particularly inviting for a little refreshment.
Endless beaches to fantastic wines
One of the most beautiful beaches in Zakynthos is Xigia Beach, which, in addition to its idyllic location, also boasts fine white sand and crystal clear water. After a short descent to the beach you will also be rewarded with an underwater grotto and its natural sulphur deposits. This sulphur is sometimes the reason why the water at Xigia Beach looks so light and turquoise blue - in addition, diving into the sulphurous water also has a very positive health effect!
A beach called Makris Gialos, framed by high rocks, is located in the east of Zakynthos and is also one of the most popular beaches of Zakynthos. Makris Gialos Beach is a snorkeling adventure and a paradise for sun worshippers. The beach is quite wide and consists of very fine pebbles and the water is very clear. Note, however, that the water quickly becomes quite deep and the bottom is made up of sand and rocks, which is especially worthwhile for snorkelers. The whole coast is lined with numerous caves, which you should definitely visit.
You should really take your time to visit the wineries of Zakynthos, some of which have centuries of history. The many different types of vines produce particularly tasty wines, which you should not miss to taste. But also in many restaurants and traditional taverns these are offered beyond the house wines. The landscape of the island is characterized by the lush vineyards, which shine out between the silvery green of the olive groves.
Of course, the olive tree on the island should not be forgotten to mention, as there are numerous mainly old specimens with bizarre growth. The production of the best olive oil is also at home on this Greek island.
Visit Zakynthos and book one of the romantic country houses, traditional holiday homes or exclusive luxury villas with private swimming pool.
