Zakynthos Town and Tsilivi are the easiest places to start on a first visit, with beaches, hotels and restaurants close at hand. Pick the north or the southwest if quiet and views matter more than a short walk to dinner. A rental car makes life easier from many bases. Tsilivi and Zakynthos Town can work with fewer drives if you lean on buses, taxis and tours.
Zakynthos is compact, roughly 19 miles long and 12 miles wide. With a rental car, most of its attractions are within about an hour's drive of wherever you stay. Most beaches and towns sit along the south and east shores, which have the sandy beaches and the calm swimming. The west and north are extremely mountainous, with cliffs dropping many hundreds of feet into the sea, and the west is known for small coves and fine sunset views.
The south coast curves around Laganas Bay. Laganas Bay lies inside the National Marine Park and is a significant Mediterranean nesting area for loggerhead turtles, with turtle protection rules covering both the water and the nesting beaches.
Boat trips that pass through the bay offer a view of the beach from offshore. Getting to the clifftop viewing area can change, so it helps to ask locally before you drive there.
Where should first-timers stay?
Zakynthos Town
The capital works for young travelers, families and couples alike, and it is where the ferry from Kyllini on the mainland docks. A waterfront promenade follows the harbor, and the heart of town is built around Solomos Square and Agios Markos Square. Alexandrou Roma Street, the pedestrianized main shopping street, runs one block back from the water. The Museum of Zakynthos and the Byzantine Museum both stand on Solomos Square, so a day off the beach is easy to fill.
Phoenix Hotel sits right on Solomos Square, with family rooms and upper-floor rooms with sea views. Diana Hotel faces Agios Markos Square and offers rooms from singles to family rooms, which makes it handy for solo travelers. Bitzaro Boutique Hotel is small and modern, an easy walk from the waterfront. Strada Marina, on the harborfront near the port, has a rooftop pool and suits a night before or after a ferry crossing.
The town keeps far more life outside the main summer season than the beach resorts do. The catch is the beach. You won't step out of your hotel onto sand, so plan on driving to the coast.
Bochali, on the hill above town, holds the castle, the Naval Museum on Strani Hill, and a viewpoint that's lovely for photos late in the afternoon. For a calm last evening, head up from the harbor and watch the sunset from there.
Tsilivi
Tsilivi is one of the most popular spots on the island and one of the easiest bases. The beach is long and sandy, with shallow water and water sports, and it has earned a Blue Flag. The main street is lined with tavernas, bars, shops and minimarkets, and the resort also has a bowling alley and the Milanio Naval Museum. Evenings in town and day trips are easy to fit in from here. The resort stays lively without the party scene of Laganas. Zante Calinica Hotel & Suites is in the area.
Alykes and Alykanas
Farther up the east coast, Alykes and Alykanas have grown into practically one resort. Together they offer a wide choice of places to stay and plenty of bars, tavernas and bazaars.
Which area is best for families?
Tsilivi comes first. The beach, restaurants, a water park and mini-golf sit close together, which makes life easy with small kids. Alexandra Beach Resort & Spa has direct sea access, an infinity pool, family rooms and bungalows, and a beach bar. Lesante Classic, a short walk from the beach, has two pools, a spa and a children's playroom.
Kalamaki, on the south coast, has gentle, shallow water and a much calmer feel than Laganas next door. There, the all-inclusive Caretta Beach Hotel & Waterpark has slides, a wave pool and a lazy river. The beach is about half a mile away, and a free shuttle runs during the day.
For a luxury family stay with real privacy, look at Porto Zante Villas & Spa. It sits on a secluded beachfront in Tragaki, a quiet area of olive groves north of Tsilivi. Little is within walking distance, so plan on a rental car.
Where do couples go for quiet and views?
Northern Zakynthos and Agios Nikolaos
The north is slower and more traditional, with olive groves, small coves and tavernas a short detour off the main road. Agios Nikolaos is a harbor village with a few tavernas, a minimarket, boat rentals and clear water for snorkeling. Small boat tours leave from here for the Blue Caves, sea grottoes that shimmer sapphire in the morning light.
Nobelos Seaside Lodge has a private beach, water views and a restaurant known for homemade Greek food. It has just four rooms, so booking early makes sense. Nearby, The Peligoni Club is a family-run cluster of villas perched on the water. It caters to couples and families alike.
Getting here takes some planning. The harbor sits roughly 19 miles (30 km) from the airport, and no public buses serve it, so plan on arriving by car.
Southwest: Keri and Limni Keriou
Limni Keri, also spelled Limni Keriou, is a small, quiet seaside resort with beach access, boat hire, a few tavernas, supermarkets and pubs. Couples and families choose it for peace and quiet. Above it, Keri village has tavernas, cafes and a minimarket. Many visitors hire a boat from Keri Beach to see the south shore. Heading out on your own along the south shore brings limestone cliffs, the Keri Caves and, with luck, turtles and dolphins. Sunset is the event of the day here, best watched from Keri lighthouse.
Hillside villas look over white cliffs and wooded hills toward the National Marine Park. Savine is a four-bedroom villa about a 10-minute walk from Keri village. Buses are few, so a rental car gives you far more freedom here.
Vasilikos
The Vasilikos Peninsula suits a quiet, beach-focused stay. It has several of the island's best beaches, including Gerakas and Banana Beach. The area is scattered rather than gathered around one resort town, so having a rental car helps a lot. The Bay Hotel & Suites has direct beachfront access with umbrellas.
Akrotiri
Akrotiri is a calm, mostly residential area in the hills just north of Zakynthos Town. Akrotiri suits villas, privacy and sea views, with Zakynthos Town roughly five minutes away by car and the airport around 15 minutes. Cielo Luxury Villas has three serviced villas in an olive grove, each with a private pool and three or four bedrooms. Skip Akrotiri if you want to walk to restaurants or a beach.
Where should budget travelers stay?
Laganas
Laganas is the center of the island's nightlife. Its hotels, clubs, souvenir shops and supermarkets stay open from early morning to late at night, and the sandy beach is a long one. Hotels here tend to be inexpensive. The resort suits younger travelers who want the clubs within walking distance, and it's a poor choice for quiet. Poseidon Beach Hotel is a good-value all-inclusive right at the beach, within easy walking distance of the main bar and club area.
Value picks around the island
In Zakynthos Town, Palatino Hotel is a midrange favorite.
In the countryside at Agios Kyrikas, Ecoresort Hotel Zefyros offers good value among vineyards and olive groves, with a large pool and an evening buffet. It's about 15 minutes by car from town, and you'll need that car.
Near Vasilikos, Lithies Farm Houses is an affordable family-run farm stay. In Argassi, Katerina Palace Hotel and Studios has two pools and weekly Greek nights. Its studios are the cheaper option, and the hotel rooms tend to sell out first.
Where should you stay for convenience?
Argassi
Argassi is a seaside resort about 2 miles (3 km) from Zakynthos Town. Argassi has dozens of Greek tavernas, pubs, ice cream parlors, minimarkets and souvenir shops, with easy access to the Vasilikos beaches. The resort's own beach is narrow in places, so it works better as a convenient base than as a place for a long stretch of sand. Windmill Bay Hotel stands on the seafront and has an outdoor pool, and it is worth asking for a room higher up with a view.
Kalamaki
Kalamaki lies between Zakynthos Town and Laganas, very close to the airport. It stretches along a main street of hotels, shops, car rentals, pubs and restaurants. Meandros Boutique Hotel & Spa generally welcomes adults only and sits roughly 10 minutes on foot from the beach. It's a good fit for many couples who want to be near the airport. Kalamaki Beach is an important loggerhead nesting beach, so it is wise to follow the posted rules there.
Where do you stay without a car?
Choose Tsilivi or Zakynthos Town. Tsilivi works for a beach holiday on foot, especially if you'd sooner join tours than drive. Zakynthos Town puts restaurants, shops, bus connections and taxis close by.
Buses run every day from the main town to these resorts:
- Tsilivi: 10 runs per day
- Laganas: 14
- Argassi: 11
- Kalamaki: 14
- Alykes: 5
- Vassilikos: 4
- Limni Keri: 3
- Volimes: 1
The main KTEL bus station is a 15-minute walk from the port. The airport is less than 2.5 miles (4 km) from the main port, and a KTEL bus runs from the airport into town. Taxis are convenient for short trips, but the costs add up.
Buses cover the main resort routes but aren't enough to explore the island. A car makes the west-coast swims and northern coves far easier to reach. Roads are not always in good condition, so drive carefully and wear your seat belt.
When is the best time to go?
The season runs from May through the end of October. May is still quiet, with hot days, fresh evenings and empty beaches, though the sea can still feel cool. In June the sea turns ideal for swimming and the beaches begin to fill. July brings visitors from all over Europe. In August the island is full, with beaches busy by day and nightclubs by night. September brings pleasant weather and thinner crowds. Prices in the shoulder months run lower than in July and August.
Seasonal hotels, beach clubs and restaurants start to wind down in October, and many tourist spots close for the winter. For a late-season trip, book in Zakynthos Town, where Palatino and Diana stay open year-round.
Sources
- thethinkingtraveller.com (https://www.thethinkingtraveller.com/blog/where-to-stay-in-zakynthos-the-ultimate-guide-for-luxury-travellers), checked October 18, 2026
- finduslost.com (https://finduslost.com/zakynthos-greece-travel-guide/), checked October 18, 2026
- thetravelexpert.ie (https://thetravelexpert.ie/europe/greece/top-things-to-do-in-zakynthos-and-where-to-stay-zakynthos-travel-guide/), checked October 18, 2026
- santorinidave.com (https://santorinidave.com/best-hotels-zakynthos), checked October 18, 2026
- cntraveler.com (https://www.cntraveler.com/hotels/greece/zakynthos/porto-zante-villas-spa), checked October 18, 2026
- zanteisland.com (https://www.zanteisland.com/en/information-zakynthos.php), checked October 15, 2026
- zantecalinica.gr (https://www.zantecalinica.gr/blog/first-time-in-zakynthos-a-5-7-day-itinerary-with-beaches-villages-viewpoints/), checked October 15, 2026
- welcometozante.com (https://welcometozante.com/en/where-to-stay-in-zakynthos/), checked October 15, 2026
- zanteisland.com (https://www.zanteisland.com/en/museums-zakynthos.php), checked October 15, 2026
- welcometozante.com (https://welcometozante.com/en/what-to-do-in-zante/museums-to-zante/), checked October 15, 2026
- zanteisland.com (https://www.zanteisland.com/en/timetable-bus-ferry-zakynthos.php), checked October 15, 2026
- Visit Greece (GNTO) (https://www.visitgreece.gr/en/islands/ionian-islands/zakynthos), checked October 15, 2026