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Mediterranean Beach Resort, Zante

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Zante

Updated 1 October 2026 · 12 things to do

Pictured: Mediterranean Beach Resort

Zante, or Zakynthos if you want to sound local, is the Ionian island of impossible blues. Limestone cliffs fall into water so clear you can see the sea floor from the boat, and the most famous beach in Greece sits at the bottom of a cove with a rusting shipwreck on the sand. Almost everything worth seeing is best reached by sea.

The rest of the island is lower-key than the party reputation of Laganas suggests. There's a handsome harbour town, olive groves and villages in the hills, and turtle-nesting beaches in the south. Get a boat for a day and a car for another, and you'll have seen the best of it.

Don't miss

  1. 1Navagio Beach
  2. 2The Blue Caves
  3. 3Laganas Bay
  4. 4Gerakas
  5. 5Solomos Square

Boats and bays

The big sights of Zante are on the water.

  1. The Blue Caves

    Nature

    A sea arch at the Blue Caves of Zakynthos
    Photo: Bouke ten Cate, CC BY 4.0

    Sea caves and arches carved into the cliffs near Cape Skinari at the northern tip of the island. Inside, the sunlight bounces off the white rock and turns the water an electric blue. Small boats take you in, and many trips let you swim.

  2. Laganas Bay

    Wildlife

    The island of Marathonisi in Laganas Bay
    Photo: Jimzoun, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The wide southern bay is a National Marine Park, protected as a nesting ground for loggerhead turtles. Boat trips and the little island of Marathonisi offer a chance to spot them in the wild, from a respectful distance. Choose a trip that follows the park rules, keeps its distance and never feeds or touches the animals.

Beaches and coves

  1. Gerakas

    Beach

    Gerakas beach below its pale cliffs
    Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A long, golden beach beneath low cliffs on the southern coast, and a key nesting beach for loggerhead turtles. Access is regulated, with parts of the beach roped off, so follow the rules and leave the sand as you found it.

  2. Porto Limnionas

    Beach

    The rocky inlet of Porto Limnionas
    Photo: Michal M, CC BY-SA 3.0

    On the west coast, a narrow inlet cut into tall rocky cliffs, with ladders and rocky platforms for swimming in deep, clear blue water. There's no sand, but the colour of the sea is the draw.

  3. Xigia Sulphur Beach

    Beach

    A rocky bay on the east coast where sulphur springs bubble into the sea. The water smells of eggs and is said to be good for the skin, and it makes for an unusual swim.

  4. Keri Lighthouse

    Landmark

    The lighthouse at Keri on the south-west coast
    Photo: Maesi64, CC0

    In the far south-west of the island, a small lighthouse stands over white cliffs and a wide sea view. It's quiet and beautiful, especially at sunset, and close to the village of Keri.

Zakynthos Town

  1. Solomos Square

    Neighbourhood

    Dionysios Solomos Square in Zakynthos Town
    Photo: Christaras A, CC BY 3.0

    The main square of the island's capital opens onto the harbour and is named after the national poet Dionysios Solomos, who was born here. Cafés, tavernas and narrow shopping streets lead off from it, and the church of Agios Dionysios, patron saint of the island, stands a short stroll along the waterfront.

  2. Bochali

    Landmark

    The old fortress above Zakynthos Town
    Photo: Didier Descouens, Public domain

    A hilltop village above Zakynthos Town, with the ruins of a Venetian castle and a wide view over the town, the harbour and the bay. It's best at sunset, with a drink in hand.

For the family

  1. Zante Water Village

    Water park

    A water park in Tsilivi with pools, slides and a lazy river, a splash of fun on a hot day. It's an easy half-day for families staying on the east coast.

Eat and drink

  1. Mandolato

    Food

    A soft Zakynthian nougat made with almonds and honey. It's a traditional sweet on the island, and a good souvenir.

  2. Verdea

    Food

    The island's traditional white wine, made from local grapes. Try a glass with seafood and a plate of local olives.

Where to stay in Zante

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Zante →

Getting around

Buses link Zakynthos Town with the main resorts, but a hire car is the best way to see the villages, viewpoints and quieter beaches. Boat trips, including to Navagio and the Blue Caves, leave from several ports.

When to go

The beach and boat season runs from late spring to early autumn, with the warmest sea in summer. Turtle nesting is in summer, so some beaches have restrictions at that time. Spring is lovely for walking and wild flowers.

Questions about visiting Zante

What is Zante best known for?
Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach, the Blue Caves, clear Ionian water, and the loggerhead turtles of Laganas Bay.
How do you get to Navagio Beach?
Only by boat. Trips leave from Porto Vromi and Agios Nikolaos, and there is a clifftop viewpoint for a view from above.
What is there to do in Zante with kids?
Shallow sandy beaches, boat trips and the Zante Water Village in Tsilivi.
Do you need a car in Zante?
It helps. Buses link the resorts with Zakynthos Town, but a car makes the viewpoints and quiet beaches much easier to reach.

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