There are 50+ beaches on Zakynthos and almost every guide tells you the same six. This is the honest version — the famous ones, the family ones, the hidden coves, and the few you can comfortably skip.
The 30-second answer
- Most iconic photo: Navagio (view only — the beach itself is closed to landings since 2022).
- Best for swimming + drama: Porto Limnionas.
- Best for a sandy family day: Banana Beach (Vasilikos) or Tsilivi.
- Best for wildlife: Gerakas (loggerhead turtle nesting site).
- Best hidden cove: Pelagaki ("Little Xigia") or Korakonisi.
- Skip if you can: Laganas main strip in August.
The famous ones (and whether they live up to the hype)
1. Navagio Beach (Shipwreck Beach)
The most photographed beach in Greece. Closed to landings since the 2022 earthquake, but the cliff-top viewpoint is open and the boats still run for the photo from the water. The hype is real for the visual; the experience is now "look, don't touch". Full Navagio guide here.
2. Porto Limnionas
The west-coast deep cove that genuinely looks like its photos. Limestone cliffs, water you can see your toes through at 4 metres, a taverna deck looking down. No sand — you swim from the rocks — and that's the catch. Not for toddlers, perfect for anyone else. Lunch upstairs is part of the experience.
3. Gerakas Beach
A long curve of golden sand under clay cliffs on the eastern arm of Laganas Bay. Protected as part of the National Marine Park because it's a Caretta caretta nesting site. From May to October numbers are limited to 350 swimmers a day, no umbrellas in the front 5 metres, off the beach by sunset. Wild and beautiful and worth the rules. More on the turtle rules here.
4. Banana Beach
Half a kilometre of soft sand on the Vasilikos peninsula, shallow shelving, gentle water. Sunbeds, beach bar, jet skis at the far end if you want them. The east-coast pick that works for almost any age and most travel styles. About 14 km from Zakynthos Town.
5. Xigia Sulphur Beach
A small white-pebble cove past Alykes where natural sulphur springs bubble up under the cliff. Smells faintly of egg, the water turns slightly milky, locals swear it's good for the skin. It's tiny — on a busy August afternoon you queue for towel space. Combine it with a drive up to Pelagaki, the smaller cove next door, often called "Little Xigia".
The hidden ones (the real local picks)
6. Korakonisi
An offshore islet with a natural rock arch and water so blue it doesn't quite look real. No facilities, no sand, just rocks to dive from and a small parking area at the top. The Instagram crowd has discovered it but it still feels remote. Bring water, snacks, towel. Stunning at golden hour.
7. Vathi Beach
A small deep cove off the road north of Korithi. Pebble entry, very calm water, a single small taverna at the back. Almost no day-trippers. The kind of beach you stay on for hours because there's nowhere to rush off to. Not great for weak swimmers (no shallow shelf), brilliant for everyone else.
8. Marathias
South of Keri, just past Limni Keriou. Long, sweeping bay with sand-meets-pebble entry. Calm water (it's tucked into the protected south coast), a couple of tavernas built into the cliff at the back. Quieter than its eastern neighbours; the kind of place older couples come back to year after year.
The family beaches (sand, shallow, easy)
9. Tsilivi
The east-coast family staple. Long, soft sand, gently shelving water, the entire resort backline of bars, water sports, restaurants, supermarkets. Not "wow" beautiful, but very easy with kids — you can walk from your hotel room to your sun-lounger in flip-flops.
10. Alykes & Alikanas
The mellower alternative to Tsilivi, a few minutes north. Long ash-white soft sand, calm shallow water, a quieter strip of tavernas and beach bars. Locals' choice when you want the comforts of a resort beach without the busiest crowd. Brilliant for retirees, young families and anyone over 30.
11. Kalamaki
Long, sandy, family-friendly beach inside the National Marine Park. Same Marine Park beach rules as Gerakas (umbrellas back from the line, off by sunset). Walk it at first light to see the Archelon volunteers cage off new turtle nests — one of the most underrated mornings in Zakynthos.
Niche picks (worth a detour for one specific reason)
12. Cameo Island (Agios Sostis)
A tiny private islet linked to the mainland by a wooden footbridge in Laganas Bay. There's an entry fee and a fancy beach-club setup, but the sunset from the back of the islet is spectacular and the swim around the rocks is genuinely lovely. Touristy, yes; pretty, also yes.
13. Climati & Filippoi
Two small pebble coves on the north-west coast known to divers for visibility and to snorkellers for the rocky shelves out to deeper water. Small, hard to find, mostly empty even in August. Best with a car and a willingness to drive a bumpy approach road.
If we had one swim left, we'd take it at Porto Limnionas mid-morning, then drive 20 minutes to lunch at a Volimes village taverna. That's a perfect Zakynthos day.
Beaches we'd skip (or visit at the right time only)
- Laganas main strip in August. If you came for foam parties at 2pm, fine. Otherwise pick a calmer beach.
- Argassi front beach in peak. Narrow, very busy, traffic noise from the road.
- Beaches with "private" in the marketing. Most are public Greek beaches with overpriced sunbeds. Walk 100m down and use a towel for free.
- Anywhere advertising "swim with turtles, feed turtles". Feeding turtles is illegal in the Marine Park. Skip.
Practical: parking, sunbeds, prices
- Parking at most beaches is free dirt-lot parking. Banana, Tsilivi, Alikes have proper paid lots in peak (3-5€). Hidden coves (Korakonisi, Vathi, Pelagaki) just have roadside spots.
- Sunbed prices: 8-12€ for a pair on resort beaches. Up to 15-20€ in peak. Many beach bars give them free if you order food / drinks.
- Showers and toilets: most resort beaches yes; hidden coves no — bring water.
- Lifeguards: only on the bigger resort beaches in high season.
A 5-beach week (if you only have time for the highlights)
- Day 1: Banana Beach for the easy sandy starter.
- Day 2: Boat tour past Navagio + Blue Caves + swim at Xigia.
- Day 3: Porto Limnionas + lunch on the deck.
- Day 4: Gerakas + walk along the Vasilikos cliff path.
- Day 5: Korakonisi or Vathi for the quiet day.
For the full week-by-week version see our 7-day Zakynthos itinerary. For the full A-Z, every beach is on our beaches page.
Quick answers
What is the best beach in Zakynthos?
Different best for different needs. Navagio for the iconic photo (view-only since 2022). Porto Limnionas for swimming + drama. Banana for sand and family ease. Gerakas for protected wildlife. Tsilivi or Alikes for resort comfort.
Are Zakynthos beaches sandy or pebbly?
East and south coasts are mostly sandy (Tsilivi, Alikes, Banana, Kalamaki, Gerakas). West coast and northern coves are mostly pebble or rock (Porto Limnionas, Xigia, Korakonisi, Vathi). Sandy is easier with kids; rocky has clearer water.
Which Zakynthos beaches have sunbeds?
All resort beaches — Tsilivi, Alikes, Banana, Kalamaki, Argassi — have rented sunbeds (8-12€ a pair, more in peak). Porto Limnionas, Xigia, Gerakas have a smaller number. Hidden coves like Pelagaki, Korakonisi, Vathi have none.
Which is the most beautiful beach in Zakynthos?
A tie between Navagio (closed to landings, view-only from above) and Porto Limnionas. Navagio for the iconic photo, Porto Limnionas for a swimmable beach that genuinely matches the postcard.
What beaches should I avoid?
Skip Laganas main strip if foam parties aren't your scene; calmer choices are 5 minutes either side. Skip Argassi front beach in August. Anywhere advertising "private" tends to be a regular public beach with overpriced sunbeds.
