Shipwreck coves, turtle bays and the Ionian's liveliest strip
Weed in Zante: what's legal, what isn't, and how the medical route works
Zakynthos — Zante to most British visitors — packs postcard Greece into one island: the world-famous Shipwreck Beach, the glowing Blue Caves, protected loggerhead-turtle bays in the south, and the round-the-clock energy of Laganas. It's also one of the most-searched islands for cannabis questions, so this guide covers the law clearly alongside the travel essentials.
Why Visit Zante
Zante divides neatly in two: a buzzing, youthful south and a wild, scenic north. That split is exactly why it works for such different kinds of trips.
The Ionian's Most Famous View
Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach — a rusting freighter on white pebbles between sheer limestone cliffs — is one of the most photographed places in Greece. Boat trips and the clifftop viewing platform both deliver.
Loggerhead Turtle Country
Laganas Bay sits inside the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, one of the Mediterranean's most important nesting grounds for Caretta caretta sea turtles. Boat trips to Marathonisi, the 'Turtle Island', are a highlight.
A Nightlife Strip With Few Rivals
Laganas is one of Greece's biggest party resorts, particularly popular with British visitors. Bars, clubs and events run all night in peak season.
The Blue Caves
At Cape Skinari in the far north, sunlight turns the water inside these arched sea caves an unreal electric blue. Small boats from Agios Nikolaos run trips all day.
A Quieter, Greener Side
The Vasilikos peninsula, hill villages, and west-coast viewpoints feel a world away from the resorts — olive groves, vineyards and some of the clearest water in the Ionian.
Best Things to Do in Zante
Most of Zante's icons are reached by boat or a hire car — distances are short, and one full day covers each side of the island.
Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach
The island's signature sight. Most visitors combine a boat trip into the cove with the clifftop viewing platform near Anafonitria for the classic photo from above.
Tip: Access to the beach itself has been restricted in recent seasons for safety reasons — check current arrangements locally and book the viewpoint or boat combination instead of assuming you can land.
Blue Caves Boat Trip
Small boats from Agios Nikolaos harbour glide through sea arches where the water glows a vivid blue. Morning light is strongest.
Tip: Combine with the Navagio viewpoint — they're both in the north and most operators pair them.
Turtle Spotting in Laganas Bay
Licensed boats cruise the National Marine Park for sightings of loggerhead turtles surfacing to breathe, usually circling Marathonisi island.
Tip: Choose operators who keep respectful distances — the bay is a protected nesting area.
Gerakas Beach
A protected, gently shelving sweep of sand at the tip of the Vasilikos peninsula and one of the island's main turtle-nesting beaches. Sunbeds are limited by design and it closes at dusk in nesting season.
Zakynthos Town & Bochali Hill
The capital was rebuilt after the 1953 earthquake around arcaded streets and Solomos Square. Climb (or drive) to Bochali for the best view over the town and harbour.
Keri Caves & Myzithres Rocks
Sea caves, swim-stops and towering white stacks off the island's southwest tip — usually visited by small-boat trips from Keri or Limni Keriou.
Xigia Sulphur Beach
A small cove on the northeast coast where natural sulphur springs feed the sea — the water is famously milky-blue and said to be good for the skin.
Get Our Free Zante Island Guide
A practical guide covering the best resorts for your travel style, the boat trips worth booking, turtle-watching rules, and a suggested Zante itinerary.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Where to Stay in Zante
Where you stay on Zante defines your holiday more than on most islands — the resorts have very different personalities.
Laganas
The party capital. Clubs, bars and a long sandy beach. Loud in peak season — brilliant if that's the plan, exhausting if it isn't.
€40–€120/nightTsilivi
Family-friendly middle ground — sandy beach, restaurants and bars without the full Laganas intensity.
€50–€130/nightKalamaki
Quieter neighbour to Laganas on the same bay. Good restaurants, easy airport access, popular with couples and families.
€50–€140/nightVasilikos & Gerakas
Green, peaceful peninsula with the island's best quiet beaches. Ideal for nature-focused and slower trips.
€60–€160/nightWhere to Eat in Zante
Zakynthian cooking is hearty Ionian food — slow-cooked meats, strong cheeses and good local wine, best found a street or two back from the beachfront.
Zakynthos Town Backstreets
The tavernas around the market streets and up towards Bochali serve the local classics — rabbit stifado, moussaka and fresh grilled fish away from resort pricing.
Zakynthos TownVillage Tavernas Inland
Villages like Kiliomenos, Agalas and Exo Chora hide traditional tavernas where the grill and the day's vegetables set the menu. Worth building a west-coast drive around.
Hill villagesLimni Keriou Waterfront
A small harbour lined with relaxed fish tavernas — a favourite spot for long lunches after a Keri caves boat trip.
Keri / Limni KeriouLocal Specialities
Look for ladotyri (a sharp local cheese kept in olive oil), fresh olive oil from the island's groves, and mandolato — the Zakynthian nougat sold all over town.
Island-wideBest Time to Visit Zante
Zante is a summer island — most resorts, boat trips and flights run from May to October, with July and August the hottest and busiest months.
Late Spring (May–June)
Warm seas, everything open, and the island still green from winter rain. Prices and crowds are noticeably lighter than midsummer.
Summer (July–August)
Peak season: 30°C+ days, packed boat trips and Laganas in full swing. Book accommodation and hire cars well ahead.
Early Autumn (September–October)
Arguably the sweet spot — the sea is at its warmest, the party crowds thin out, and turtle hatchlings are still emerging on protected beaches.
Winter (November–April)
Most resorts close and direct flights stop; the island returns to quiet local life. Only worth it for a very off-grid escape via Athens connections or the ferry.
Getting Around Zante
Zante is small — under an hour end to end by car — but public transport is limited, so most visitors hire wheels for at least a day or two.
Hire Car or Quad
The default choice. A car unlocks the west-coast viewpoints, hill villages and the Navagio platform. Quads are everywhere in the resorts but are slow and exposed for cross-island trips.
Local Buses
KTEL buses link Zakynthos Town with the main resorts in season, but timetables are sparse — fine for a town trip, unreliable for sightseeing.
Boat Trips
Much of the island's best scenery — Navagio, the Blue Caves, Keri caves, Turtle Island — is only properly seen from the water. Trips leave from Zakynthos Town, Agios Nikolaos, Laganas and Keri.
Taxis & Transfers
Plentiful around the resorts and the airport. Agree the fare or confirm the meter before setting off for longer cross-island runs.
Things to Do & Experiences
Discover top-rated tours, activities, and experiences across Greece.
Affiliate partner — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Practical Tips for Zante
- Zakynthos International Airport (ZTH) is only 5km from Laganas — seasonal direct flights connect most UK airports from May to October.
- The National Marine Park rules are enforced: no beach access after dusk on nesting beaches, no umbrellas near marked nests, and boats must keep to designated zones.
- Shops selling 'cannabis' products in the resorts are CBD/hemp shops — low-THC products legal across the EU, not medical cannabis. Don't confuse the two.
- Recreational cannabis is illegal everywhere in Greece, including Zante — police do act on possession in the resort areas.
- The clifftop Navagio viewpoint has unfenced sections — take photos from behind the platform barriers.
- Hire-car excess insurance is worth it: west-coast roads are steep and narrow in places.
- Tap water on the island is technically drinkable but most visitors stick to bottled — hotels will advise.
Zante Is Best For
Frequently Asked Questions About Zante
Need Extra Planning Support?
Travelers who want extra planning support — including help navigating regulated medical-access logistics in Greece — can reach out to our team for guided assistance.
Start Your Intake