Zakynthos Greece, Navagio beach in Zante, shipwreck, map, photos, beaches

Navagio beach in Zakynthos

It is the hallmark of the island. Surely the most famous beach in Greece and the most impressive in the Mediterranean. Its photo has gone around the world and is included in all tourist guides displaying our country.

Hotels and rooms to let in Zakynthos island

Along with the Caretta-Caretta turtles, the Navagio (Shipwreck) beach is the main advertiser and representative of the island of Zakynthos in the world and ranks as one of the most photographed beaches in the world.

It is located northwest of the island. Its old name was Agios Georgios. Its current name Navagio derives from an actual shipwreck that occurred there in 1983.
The cargo ship “Panagiotis” was smuggling cigarettes from Turkey in international waters. Due to bad weather and the broken engine, the ship crashed into the rocks and washed out on this beach where it remains until today.
It is one of the major attractions of the island (not wrongfully) and it would be an omission if you did not see this exceptional picture from up close.

In the memory of the locals there is still the picture of thousands of cartons of cigarettes floating on the water and amongst them the seamen, the crew of the ship trying to escape swimming away from the Coast Guard.

The island's visitors come to admire the beautiful scenery and to swim in its crystal waters.

There are two ways to see and visit this beautiful beach.

How to go (by boat)
With small boats and speedboats you can visit the shipwreck from many places. From the port of Zakynthos, from the Bay of Laganas and from Alikes many cruises are organized touring the island. From Agios Nikolaos of Volimo and from Skinari Cape, the northernmost point of the island there are frequent scheduled trips to Navagio and the Blue Caves and which are much closer than from any other place. However, the shortest access is from Porto Vromi (approx. 20 minutes). All these trips give you the opportunity to swim in the famous beach and they can be combined with a visit to the Blue Caves.

How to see it (by car)
By car, about 30 km northwest of the town of Zakynthos going towards Volimes, near the village of Anafonitria at the monastery of St. George of Kremni by following the signs you can easily reach the balcony - platform that literally hangs out into the gap where you are given the opportunity to admire and photograph the beautiful beach from above.

The wild beauty of the scenery is breathtaking. The towering white cliffs and the crystal blue waters constitute a unique spectacle. The boats and the people swimming seem to be floating in the air as the blue of the water and the fine white pebbles give this illusion.
Although the rusty shipwrecked boat could in other circumstances be an ugly spectacle, in this case, however, it has blended with its environment in harmony making an incredible combination.

It is one destination worth visiting at least once in your lifetime.

Accommodation
For your stay in Zakynthos island, you can book a room in one of the hotels and Bed & Breakfast inns.
In Zakynthos town, as well as in many other areas of the island, there are hotels and accommodations of various categories and types (rooms to let, residences, Bed & Breakfast inns, studios, hostels, guesthouses and furnished apartments) that can satisfy every visitor's demands and needs for a pleasant and enjoyable stay.
You will find wonderful hotels, rooms and apartments to let of all categories and price ranges.

Access
The distance from Athens to Kylini is 305 km. and there are bus routes every day with trip duration 5 hours approximately.

By ferry:
From the port of Kylini. Trip duration is 1 hour and 15 minutes. Distance: 18 nautical miles.
Also there is coastal link with Kefalonia.

There are daily flights from Athens, flight duration is 45 minutes.
Dionysios Solomos Airport is located in Ampelokipi region just 4 km far from Zakynthos town.
During summer season there are also charter flight and many flights to and from other countries.

For your convenience, you can use the route map on the field “Routes” with information about the mileage, the time you need and the route you will follow, selecting the points of interest.