Zakynthos, also known by its Italian name, Zante, battles against heavy package tourism along its eastern and southeast coasts. Beneath the kiss-me-quick types zipping around on quad bikes it’s a beautiful island – you just have to make a determined beeline to western and central regions of forested mountains dropping off to unreal turquoise waters to leave them behind.
The northern and southern capes are verdant and also less exploited. Choking on restaurants and cherry-red bougainvillea, Zakynthos Town adds a bit of sparkle to the overrun east, where the loggerhead turtle population struggles in the face of development.
Thousands of Greek and foreign visitors are attracted by the island of Zakynthos every summer, due to its turquoise colored waters, which are home to the endangered loggerhead sea turtle. Here we present you with some off the beaten track things to do and see while in this blessed island.
Navagio
The trademark of Zakynthos and perhaps the most famous Greek beach owes its name (‘navagio‘ means ‘shipwreck’ in Greek) to the shipwreck of the ship Panagiotis, which is believed to have been involved in smuggling activity when it got into trouble and washed ashore in 1982, because of terrible weather conditions.
This internationally known beach attracts thousands of visitors every years due to its breathtaking landscape, which is composed of dominant white rocks, golden sand and deep crystal clear waters. The carcass of the old ship completes the incomparable wild beauty of Navagio. You can admire this beauty from above, near the village of Anafonitria, or from up close, taking the small boat from the nearby ports of Agios Nikolaos or Porto Vromi.
Keri Caves
Zakynthos National Marine Park in Laganás Bay
On the southeast coast, 8 kilometers south of Zákynthos town, the wide bay of Laganás is home to several blissful stretches of sandy beach. Since the 1980s, it has been the island’s top resort, with budget accommodation attracting young visitors in search of sea, sun, and fun.
However, locals are now being encouraged to develop eco-tourism here, as Laganás Bay is the breeding area for the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). An endangered species, this timid creature lays its eggs in the sand in summer, and there are an estimated 1,300 loggerhead turtles living around the bay.
Zákynthos Town (Zante Town)
On the island’s east coast, extending in a wide arc along the gently sloping shores of a bay, Zákynthos Town is the capital of Zákynthos. Many of its Neoclassical buildings were demolished by the 1953 earthquake, but its paved streets and squares, filled with bakeries, cafés, boutiques, and jewelry stores, are still a joy to explore on foot.
The town’s main church, Agios Dionysios, which houses the relics of the town’s patron saint, dates from 1708 and was reconstructed in 1954. For spectacular views over town and the port, go up to the village of Bohali (2.5 kilometers) to the ruined Venetian castle, set in a park with pine trees. This attraction was also largely destroyed by the earthquake, but you can still see the main gate (bearing the Lion of St. Mark, the symbol of Venice), the outer walls, and battlements.
Kefalonia Island Tour from Zakynthos
Enjoy a full day out visiting Kefalonia, sister Island of Zakynthos. Join the group and enjoy a lovely ferry ride, and then tour the Island in air conditioned coach and see the sights including St. Gerasimos, Drogarati Caves, Melissani Underground Lake, Ag. Efimia, Myrtos Beach and Argostoli the Capital.(Entrance fees to the Caves and Lake and lunch are not included in the price).
Enjoy a full day out to the neighboring Island of Kefalonia. You will be picked up by our air conditioned coach and then head towards Ag. Nikolaos Port, in time to catch the ferry. It takes about 1 hour 30 minutes to reach Pesada in the south of the Island. First stop is at St. Gerasimos Monastry where you will have time to visit the stunning new church to the front with all its gold and icons and then have a chance to look at the old monastery to the rear. You then head off to the Drogarati Caves, these are stunning but be prepared there are a lot of steps to climb.After, you will visit the Melissani Underground Lake, a mountain with a whole in the top. Let the sunshine ripple on the waters below while you enjoy a row around the lake with your guide.
Blue Caves
On the northern tip of the island, at Cape Skinari, you’ll find the most spectacular so-called Blue Caves. Inside, the bright blue sea reflects the color of the sky, which is mirrored off the walls of the caves and creates magical azure and sapphire light. You can visit the Blue Caves in a small glass-bottom boat, which departs from Agios Nikolaos (on the northeast coast, 32 kilometers from Zakynthos Town), or as part of the longer round-the-island cruise from Zakynthos Town.
Byzantine Museum
The museum that for the first time was open to the public in 1960 is on three levels and in the first two rooms the visitor can admire Byzantine icons carved in the wood whereas in the third and fourth rooms there are original frescos of the 15th, 16th and 17th Century. Two more rooms are dedicated to paintings of the 18th Century and oils on canvas of artists like Doxaras, Koutouzis and Kantouni.
The special importance of this museum is eventually due to the opportunity that the tourist has to appreciate the pictures and plastics reproducing the city before the earthquake besides the artistic evolution from the post Byzantine period to the contemporary Greek art.
The museum is open everyday except Monday from 8.30 to 15.00.
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