Visit the most authentic and beautiful Greek Island: Zakynthos

We arrived in Zakynthos via plane and had an airport pickup through Luxury Island Events. We checked in to our AirBnB, settled in, and got ready for our first boat tour of trip to the Keri Caves and the Turtles at Marathonisi. 

Our first stop on the four-hour extravaganza was Marathonisi to see the turtles. We didn’t love this portion as we felt like the turtles were just breathing in the gasoline from our boat. We ended up asking the driver to continue on to the next destination. From there we maneuvered through magnificent rock and caves and eventually dropped an anchor in a dramatic, picturesque spot close to shore to have a swim and relax. The scenery surrounding the Keri Caves is absolutely breathtaking and this was the perfect way to start our time in Zakynthos.

Tip: If it’s within budget, I highly recommend booking a private boat so you can fit into small spaces in the caves and so you can control your route a bit better. We also ordered snacks and beverages for the boat tours. I recommend confirming this with your travel agent or booking service prior to (including quantity).

After we soaked up the sun and admired the beauty of the Ionian Seas, we went back to our AirBnB to freshen up for dinner.

Our dinner reservation was at Grampsas Winery, about a 15 minute ride from our AirBnB. Set in the hillside, this winery and restaurant was absolutely gorgeous. It’s owned by generations of natives to Zakynthos and the care and attentiveness of the staff was perfection. We ate outside in their garden which is timelessly adorned with a unique, welcoming feel. The presentation and taste of every plate was delectable. Everyone agreed this was their favorite restaurant of the entire trip. After dinner, we visited their shop and most took home wine or other gifts for themselves or those back at home.

Our final, full day in Zakynthos was meant to be the most epic – we were going to visit the infamous Navagio Beach, also known as Shipwreck Beach due to the smuggler ship that washed up on shore and was found in 1980. Navagio Beach is arguably the most well-known attraction of Zakynthos and rightfully so – the small beach is nestled between majestic bluffs and is only accessible by boat.

To our dismay, the day of our boat tour, we were informed that the swells were too high to visit and we would have to make alternate plans for the day. We quickly pivoted and opted to take a tour of the island via van and stop at the Navagio Beach overlook along the way. 

The drive to the overlook was quite windy and once we got to the top it was PACKED. People line up to take a picture in one specific spot as you can really only take in the full view of the beach from this location. We waited 45 minutes and when they line didn’t move an inch, we decided to continue on our island road trip. 

Hint: If you want to visit the top, you can take some epic pictures of the beautifully blue seas without waiting in line. To me, the beach and the ship are not the star – it’s the sandstone bluffs covered in Kelly green grass contrasted with the crystal blue waters that make this place so magnificent. 

We did see a few boats pull into the beach while we were waiting in line and decided to see if the swells went down, and we could still visit the beach. From our viewpoint, the swells looked non-existent, and we were determined to make this trek. To our delight, there was a few spots open on the last boat tour of the day and we made it just in time before it departed. (Thanks to Luxury Island Events for accommodating this). Once we were on the boat, we quickly realized that swells look and feel A LOT different once you are in the boat. This ride was not for the faint of heart and was the bumpiest boat ride I’ve ever experienced. We were lucky no one was prone to sea sickness.

Once we made it to the beach, it was all worth it! Because of the swells, it wasn’t as crowded as usual (although still crowded) and we relished in all the little island has to offer. This was by far my favorite part of the entire trip.

Hint: Navagio Beach may be closed now so be sure to ask before you book.

For our last dinner in Zakynthos, we enjoyed the views, food and drinks at Utopia.

The atmosphere of this waterfront restaurant was the perfect way to appreciate the beauty of this enchanting island and unfortunately end our time in Zakynthos.