The Island

Zakynthos — or Zante as it is often called — is the southernmost of the Ionian Islands, and arguably the most breathtaking. Sheltered by crystal-clear waters that shift from deep sapphire to bright turquoise, the island is home to some of the most dramatic coastline in all of Greece. Towering limestone cliffs, hidden sea caves, wild pebble beaches and lush green hills — Zakynthos has it all, and then some.

The island is famous worldwide for the iconic Shipwreck Beach — Navagio — a rusted freighter resting on a strip of white sand, enclosed by sheer white cliffs and accessible only by sea. Equally stunning are the Blue Caves at Cape Skinari, where sunlight refracts through the water to paint the cave walls in every shade of blue and turquoise. And in Laganas Bay, the protected waters are home to the loggerhead sea turtle — Caretta caretta — one of the Mediterranean’s most treasured and endangered species.

But Zakynthos is more than its postcard views. The island has a rich history, a proud local culture, and a warmth that welcomes every visitor like an old friend. Wander through Zakynthos Town’s Venetian architecture, taste the local olive oil and nougat, watch the sun melt into the Ionian Sea from a hillside village — and understand why people come here once and spend the rest of their lives trying to come back.