A Beautiful Greek Island You Have to See to Believe! (2023)

Therelatively unexplored Greek island ofZakynthos(ZanteGreece)is begging for people to discover it.ItsiconicShipwrecktourist attraction is the spot of millions of photosannually;however, there are parts of the island that is still relatively unexplored. Standing in a local village, untraveled by any tourists, you will still witness cultural traditions that can’t be found in the hot tourist areas. Forested wilderness and untouched landscape still exist in a destination that is visited by ten times as many foreigners than it has residents. It’s entirely possible tofind things to do inZakynthosto make itinto whatever kind of vacation you would like.

If you prefer, it still has the beautiful white sand beaches and rugged cliffs that it is famous for. Take a swim in its turquoise Ionian Sea water where you will find a variety of marine life including its abundance of the infamousCarettaCarettaLoggerhead sea turtles. Tired of the beach? Stay at one ofZakynthos’ luxurious seaside resorts and receive catered treatment while you soak in all the relaxedness you can imagine.

Greeceis a country geographically placed insoutheasternEurope. It borders itsBulgarianneighbors to the north,Turkishneighbors in theeast, and shares a bit of its border with a coupleother European countries. It is, truly, very well-located for any American tourist backpacking through Europe routes. Its capital,Athens, is located onlya day’s travelon theZakynthosferryto the east ofZakynthos.Zakynthosto Athens is the most popular backpacking route. However,ZakynthostoSantoriniis also a very common route.

My top advice for backpackingZakynthosis to rent a four-wheeler the first day youarrive. Nothing saved me more time and allowed me to see more of the island than that decision.I’vebeen traveling and living in Europe for almost three years and it has given me the ability to see over half of the continent. Along the way, I’ve picked up some knowledge on how to travel in Europe efficiently and on abudget. I’ve written a series of guides for Flying and Travel to help you get the most out of your trip abroad.

Things to do inZakynthosGreece

There are plenty of things to do inZakynthosthat can keep you busy for as long as you want to stay.Personally, I think you can get a full experience in less than a week, however, if you love to laze around the beach, you may want to plan your itinerary around that. The multitude of itinerary options ispart of the reasonZakynthosmakes an excellent stop on anyone’s ‘Euro Trip’.

Here are a few must-see places that should be on everyone’sZakynthositinerary:

Porto Beach–It is one of the most hidden places and maybe for this reason more beautiful and wild of the entire island. To get there you have to pass through the mountains village ofAgiosLeon and from there following the signs, driving down a recently asphalted road running downto the sea and ending in a small square where you can park.Porto beach is one of the top things to do inZakynthos.

NavagioBeach–NavagioBeachinZakynthosGreece, or ShipwreckIsland Greece, is an exposed cove, sometimes referred to as “Smugglers Cove”, on the coast ofZakynthos, in the Ionian Islands of Greece.NavagioBeach was originally known asAgiosGeorgios.Zakynthoscar rentalis the best way how to get toNavagioBeach. It’s one of the best beaches inZakynthosGreeceand, perhaps, tops the list of things to do inZakynthos.

Keri Caves–KerìCaves, accessible only by the sea with private boats or tourist excursions, develop along the promontory ofMarathiaCape, in the South-West area of the island. A boat tour is one of the most popular things to do inZakynthos.

KalamakiBeach–Kalamakibeach is also protected by Greek legislation, as one of the places where the endangered Loggerheadturtlelaysitseggs. For this reason, Kalamakibeach is a part of the National Maritime Park ofZakynthos.Kalamakiis ideal for  family or romantic holidays, as it is pretty close to ZanteTownand one of the best beaches inZakynthosGreece.

Blue Caves–The Blue Caves are one of the islands most famous natural attractions and were discovered in 1897 by AntonioKomouto. The caves attract thousands of visitors each year and are located just below the lighthouse at CapeSkinari.It’s one of the must-see things to do inZakynthos.

AgiosDionisiosChurch–This church, dominant at the port, is dedicated to the Saint ofZakynthosand it is a landmark not only for the town but for the entire island ofZakynthos. It was rebuilt in 1948 after being destroyed by an earthquake in 1893.Along with St. Denis Church,AgiosDionisiosis one of the few churches that survived inZakynthosGreece.

Marathonisi(Turtle Island)–The small islet is situated inLaganasbay and provides one of the nesting homes for the loggerhead turtleCarettaCaretta. Itsturtled-shape formation has evoked a number of myths over the years.Seeing the turtles is one of the best things to do inZakynthos.

Keri Lighthouse (Keri Village)–Don’t forget to visit the lighthouse of Keri, one of the best places in Zakynthos to watch the sunset. It’s near many of the best beaches inZakynthosGreeceand one of the most interesting things to do inZakynthos.

St Dennis Church– The St Denis Church is one of the few churches that survived the earthquake of 1953 inZakynthos. Luckily – because it’s one of the top things to do inZakynthosGreece!

Banana Beach (Vasilikos)–Banana beach is a very long and wide beach with shallowwaterand exotic style. The golden sands of the beach and the deep blue and blue flagstandardsSea, completes its existence, with the signing of the BananaBaya. An area characterized irresistible for style, hospitality. The kitchen ”choose” the freshest and the most superior quality materials, paying particular based on local products.Although it’s a day trip away, Banana Beach can still be considered one of the best beaches inZakynthosGreece.

Best time to travel toZakynthos

Zakynthosis a great place to travel toyear round. Whether you are looking for beach refuge during the hot summer or a cold winter escape –Zakynthosis your place.

In the summertime,Zakynthosis buzzing with action and tourists flock to the island – outnumbering the localsmore than10:1. However, in the wintertime, although too cold to swimand only lasting a few months between the summerseason,Zakynthoscan offer a much more authentic appealwith fewer crowds and a quieter island.

Where to stay inZakynthos?

When I traveled toZakynthos, it was the height of the summer season and accommodation was limited.Booking in advanceis definitely good advice when traveling to this summer beach destination. There are no hostels, but a few budget hotel options.

You would be best suited to maximize your time by staying nearLaganasor inZakynthosCity. Depending on what you plan on doing, both should be a top priority. If you plan on spending yourdayslazyingaround on the beach, the shallow waters ofLaganasBay and the long stretch of white sand beach is your best bet. If you are interested in sight-seeing, perhapsZakynthosCity ismore well-located.

What to eat inZakynthos

If you want a taste of the local cuisine, try these traditional foods:

AGyrois the Mecca ofGreek cuisine.It’ssliced meat prepped in a certain way with loads of spices, fries, salads, and a secret sauce that is to die for. It’s all wrapped up in a warm pita wrap and given to you for a cheap price. A Greek Gyro is a gift from the Greek gods.

Moussakahas gained worldwide fame over the decades. It’s a dish made fromeggplants, minced meat, and béchamel.

Souvlakiis amixture of meats and vegetables on a skewer and coated with spices and lemon juice.It’s probably the second most popular Greek food after the gyro. I preferred the gyro only because it was more filling for the same price.Locals told me that tasting propersouvlakiis one of the things to do inZakynthosthat they’d recommend first.

Stifadois acasserole-baked Greek stew made with meat (beef or lamb), tomatoes, pearl onions, white wine, garlic, cinnamon, and oregano.It wouldn’t have been my first pick of Greek food, but I had to try something other than fast food snacks while in Greece.

Shipwreck – the journey toZakynthos’ most popular attraction

I knew from the first moment I arrived what my main purpose of visiting the island was. I had wanted to seean attractionknown asShipwreckthat is located inZakynthosfrom the moment I started traveling. Actually, seeing pictures of the place was part of my inspiration to travel abroad.

On my first day on the island, I realized it would not be possible (at least, it’d be extremely difficult) to reach Shipwreck by public transport. Therefore, my only option was to rent a4-wheelerfromZakynthoscar rentaland make my way across the island that way.

The ride to Shipwreck is quite beautiful. Along the coastline and high up in theZakynthoshills, I rode withvery little trafficand needing very little reference to direction. It’s pretty straight-forward to get around inZakynthos. It’s a two-lane, one highway kind of place.

Judging from thelackof traffic I saw on the way to Shipwreck, I was assuming I’d have the place to myself. However, a few tour buses proved me wrong. I believe Shipwreck (being themost popular attractionofZakynthos) is always crowded. There was a long line to take a picture from the man-made balcony overhanging the cliff.

However, it’s not too hard to escape the rush at Shipwreck no matter how many people are there. If you want a different, better, and less-touristy view, take thewalking trailthat’s not so clearly marked behind the balcony. There, it’s easy to find a spot for your own and take in the unbelievable view at peace.

The Tale of the Tape on Zakynthos, Greece

Zakynthosis a Greek island located in the Ionian Sea. It is the third largest island in size in the Ionian Sea. The island has74 miles of coastlinewith the clearest blue water you’ve ever seen. That and its international airport make it a very popular tourist destination.

Although the island is only home to around 40,000 people, it pulls in well-above500,000tourists annually. I suppose it’s hard to resist a vacation to a sunny beach and a Gyro on a Greek Island.

How to get there/get around:

Personally, I saw it fit torent a 4-wheelerat the beginning of my stay inZakynthos. With it, you’llbe able to reach all thetop destinationswith ease and it is a bit more fun and reliable thanZakynthospublic transport.

However, if you’d like to stick with buses,Zakynthosmakes it possible to reach almost every destination by public transport. It will justtake a little bit more patience and you may not see all the things to do inZakynthosthis way.

American Survival Guide

TraditionalGreekMeal

A traditional dinner nearLaganasBeachwill cost you nothing out of the ordinary;$10-$12will usually cover a delicious traditional entrée.

A Night Out

A beer in the heart ofLaganasBeach district (Zakynthos’ most popular nightlife)isn’t exactly cheap, but it also won’t break your budget. You canbuya pint for about$3.50per.A stroll down toLaganasBeach at night was one of my favorite things to do inZakynthos.

Fast food

AGyrojointin the middle ofLaganasBeach districtwill cost you about $2.50for a nice budget lunch. The price is even a little lower as you get further out fromthe busy tourist parts.This is an absolute pleasure food!

Transport

Bus or Train

Public transport is fairly inexpensive inZakynthoswhen compared to other cities more regularly on a backpackingitinerary. It costs$1.40for a single ride ticketand it’s even cheaper to get dropped off at some of the islands most popular resorts.

However, the trouble becomes the consistency ofZakynthospublic transport system. As most people elect to rent cars on theeasy-to-navigate roads, most tourists don’t use the public buses and so they don’t come around nearly as much as they should for the tourist’s advantage.Just pick up aZakynthosGreece map before you go!

Car, ATV, Moped Rental

As the public transportation inZakynthosis quitelacklusterand the island is too big to explore on foot, I highly recommend vehicle rental while staying inZakynthos.

To rent a 4-wheeler for 72 hours, I paid less than$60including the gas fill-up. It takes a bit of bargaining, but if you don’t like the price one rental company offers, just move to the one next door. There are rental companies all over the island!

ZakynthosAirBnB

ZakynthosAirBnBdoesn’t have thewidestselection.The selection they do have is fairly spread out, price-wise, depending on where you want to stay.Generally speaking, you can usually find an entire apartmentfor anywhere from$30-50on a nightly basis.

For an individual room, one person can normally find a bed for less than$20 per night.

Language

The residents ofZakynthosare Greekspeakers with their own dialect. Check out thisbasic Greeklanguageguide before you go!However, overall, everyone can speak pretty clear Englishon this island as most are foreigners themselves.

Cell Service

If you want cell service, it’s important to check with your provider about international charges. In addition, it’s always a good idea to alert your provider (and your bank) that you’ll be traveling internationally.

Credit Card Transaction Fees

It’s important to check your credit company’s policy on international transactions before using it abroad. There are plenty of credit cards available that advertise “No International Transaction Fees”. If you want to get a new card before leaving, find one like this.

Things to have before you arrive

It’s not imperative; however, I’ve always found travel much more relaxing when you arrive without a dire need of any essentials. Here are a few of them:

• Euros
• Electrical Adaptors
• Power Bank
• Offline Map (app)
• Directions to youraccommodation

Visa Requirement

Zakynthos– orGreece, in general – is a country a part of the European Union – which means Americans are granted 90-days in a 180-day period to travel freely throughout the E.U. This means if you plan to be in Europe for longer than three months, you should take a look atthis.

Stereotypes

There are a lot of stereotypes that Americans have adopted over time. There are, also, a lot of stereotypes we have made about Europeans that just aren’t true.

With that being said, there are some cultural differences in everywhere you go. Embrace those – they’re the best part about traveling because those differences educate you.

Tipping

InGreece, tipping is commonif the restaurant doesn’t round its bill to include a tip. A5-10%tip is an acceptable amount. Be careful that gratuity isn’t already included on your bill!

DiscoverZakynthosand Top Things to DoinZakynthos

Zakynthosleftme wanting more. I wouldn’t say I was disappointed, but it wasn’t quite what I was expecting. The beaches weren’t all that I had imagined and the island itself was fairlyquietfor a summer season.However, I know there are still plenty of things to do inZakynthosif I ever return.

If you want to find out more about how to travel Europe on a budget, and all that it has to offer, click on over to our Europe travel blog page dedicated totips for backpacking Europe! You will find these to be informative, giving you excellent insight into planning a trip through this multi-cultural continent.