Zakynthos (Zante) sits in the sapphire Ionian Sea, a storied island of Venetian castles, cliff-hung viewpoints, and sleepy villages perfumed by lemon and pine. Ancient poets praised its light; today, travelers come for the Blue Caves, the sea turtles of Laganas Bay, and sunsets that turn limestone headlands to burnished gold.

Its headline sight, Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach, is best admired from the panoramic clifftop lookout at Anafonitria—while boat tours glide beneath white arches into the Blue Caves and along stark, photogenic coastlines. In the south, Vasilikos promises sweeping strands and warm, shallow water; inland you’ll find family-run wineries and olive presses that have worked these groves for centuries.

Practical notes: summer (July–August) is peak season; book boats, cars, and stays early. Follow local guidance for marine parks—give Caretta caretta turtles space (at least 15 meters), respect speed limits in the bay, and avoid nesting zones on Gerakas and Dafni beaches. As of 2025, landings at Navagio may be restricted due to cliff safety; boats often view the cove from offshore—check current advisories before you go.

Athens (Gateway)

Athens is your springboard to Zakynthos and a worthy prologue to island days. Tread the Acropolis with an expert guide, then wander lively Plaka and Monastiraki where bakers scent the air with sesame bread rings and grill smoke curls above tiny tavernas.

• Where to stay (if overnighting): Search stays on Hotels.com Athens or browse apartments via VRBO Athens.
• Getting there: For Europe flights, check Omio Flights. From beyond Europe, compare via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Zakynthos Town (Base for Culture, Harbor, Night Views)

Graceful neoclassical streets skirt the harbor, opening to Solomos Square and the waterfront promenade. Above town, the Venetian Castle at Bochali peers over red-tiled roofs and the curve of the Ionian—an exquisite spot for twilight aperitifs.

• Top highlights: Solomos Square and museums, St. Dionysios Church, Bochali viewpoint and castle, harbor strolls at golden hour.
• Food & drink: Reserve Prosilio for modern Greek tasting menus; savor slow-cooked rabbit stifado at Varkarola with bursts of island kantades (serenades); grab a freddo cappuccino at Base Cafe before the castle.
• Stay nearby: Compare central hotels on Hotels.com Zakynthos or browse harborside apartments on VRBO Zakynthos.

Vasilikos Peninsula (Beach Days & Nature)

Vasilikos lays out a string of beaches—Gerakas, Dafni, Banana, Porto Azzuro—each with personality. Expect soft sands, turquoise shoals, and low-slung tavernas where lunch might stretch into a sun-drowsed afternoon.

• Top highlights: Gerakas (protected turtle nesting shore), Porto Azzuro’s calm waters, Banana Beach for watersports, quiet coves near Porto Roma.
• Food & drink: Grilled day-catch and zucchini fritters at seaside tavernas; sunset cocktails at Porto Azzuro’s lounge; village grills for spit-roasted lamb on weekends.
• Stay nearby: Search beach hotels on Hotels.com Vasilikos or villas on VRBO Vasilikos. Zakynthos Town to Vasilikos is ~20–25 minutes by car (12–14 km).

Day 1: Arrive in Athens, Touch the Classics

Afternoon: Land in Athens and head to your hotel. Consider a no-stress ride with Athens Airport Round Trip Comfort, Low Cost Price. Then join an expert-led Acropolis experience—skip the guesswork and absorb the stories behind the Parthenon and the Acropolis Museum with Athens All Included: Acropolis and Museum Guided Tour with Ticket.

Evening: Eat your way through central Athens on a guided tasting walk—flaky spanakopita, loukoumades drizzled with honey, tangy feta at the market—with the Greek Food Walking Tour in Athens (great intro if you have the energy after your flight).

Day 2: To Zakynthos, Sunset at Bochali

Morning: Fly Athens (ATH) to Zakynthos (ZTH), ~50 minutes; in summer fares often run ~$60–$150 one-way. Compare options on Omio Flights. If you prefer the scenic route, take a bus from Athens to Kyllini (~3.5–4 hours) and ferry to Zakynthos (~1h15). Check buses on Omio Buses and ferries on Omio Ferries. Pick up a rental car at ZTH for island flexibility.

Afternoon: Check in around Zakynthos Town. Walk the harbor to Solomos Square and the statue of Dionysios Solomos, poet of Greece’s national hymn. Pop into the Museum of D. Solomos & Eminent Zakynthians for a quick primer on island history.

Evening: Drive or taxi 10 minutes up to Bochali for sunset—silvery olives, sea views, and the Venetian Castle’s quiet ramparts. Dine back in town: Prosilio (reservation advised) for octopus with fava and lamb with thyme jus; or Yard of Taste for slow-braised rooster and herb-laced salads. Nightcap at Movida’s terrace overlooking the lights.

Day 3: North Coast—Blue Caves and Navagio Views

Morning: Drive ~45–60 minutes to Agios Nikolaos or Skinari Cape. Join a small boat to the Blue Caves—skimming under arches, your skin and the hull glow electric-blue in reflected light. Many trips continue to Navagio cove to view the famous shipwreck from offshore (as of 2025, landings may be restricted for safety; swimming stops usually happen away from the cliff face).

Afternoon: Swim at Xigia Beach (the water has natural sulfur and collagen—slightly “spa” scented but wonderfully silky). Lunch at Nobelos Bio near Mikro Nisi: wild greens pies, amberjack carpaccio, and organic island wines under tamarisk shade.

Evening: Drive to the clifftop viewpoint above Navagio at Anafonitria for late light and fewer crowds; heed barriers and stay well back from edges. Return to town for dinner at Varkarola—order pastitsada (beef in cinnamon-tomato sauce) and enjoy live kantades if scheduled.

Day 4: Turtle Island and Keri Caves

Morning: Head to Laganas or Agios Sostis (25–30 minutes from town). Join a licensed turtle-spotting boat (small group, wildlife-respectful) to see protected Caretta caretta in National Marine Park waters; continue to Marathonisi (Turtle Island) and the Keri Caves for snorkeling. Follow skipper guidance: no touching turtles, no anchoring on seagrass, keep distances.

Afternoon: Late lunch near Keri Lighthouse—Lithies Taverna for tomato-keftedes, grilled squid, and village wine. If seas are calm, rent kayaks and paddle along the honeycombed cliffs.

Evening: Golden-hour photos at the lighthouse viewpoint, then dinner in Kalamaki at Essence Restaurant (creative Greek—think sea bream with fennel and citrus) or a casual gyro at Pandesia if you’re craving simple and fast.

Day 5: Shift to Vasilikos—Gerakas, Banana Beach, and Porto Azzuro

Morning: Check out and drive ~25 minutes to Vasilikos. Start at Gerakas Beach—soft entry, crystalline water, and a sea turtle information hut. Bring shade and tread carefully near signed nesting zones.

Afternoon: Move to Banana Beach for watersports (beginners love the wide, sandy runout). Or choose Porto Azzuro for calmer swimming and loungers. Lunch beachside: grilled sardines, Greek salad with local mizithra cheese, and iced frappe.

Evening: Dine at a Vasilikos taverna—try slow-roasted lamb and gigantes beans at a family-run spot inland; end with a rosemary gin and tonic at Porto Azzuro’s lounge while the bay fades to indigo.

Day 6: Olive Groves, Wineries, and West-Coast Coves

Morning: Visit Aristeon Olive Press in Lithakia (~25 minutes) to see traditional and modern extraction; taste peppery extra virgin oils (excellent to take home). Continue to Grampsas Winery in Lagopodo for a tasting—robust Avgoustiatis reds and crisp Goustolidi whites.

Afternoon: Drive to the wild west coast: Porto Limnionas and Porto Roxa are stone-lipped coves with ladders into deep, clear water. Cliffside tavernas do excellent grilled sea bream and horiatiki salad with capers.

Evening: Return to Vasilikos/Town. For a final dinner in Zakynthos Town, try Yard of Taste’s seafood kritharoto (orzo risotto) and a slice of orange pie with mastiha ice cream; toast the week with a kumquat liqueur or ouzo by the harbor.

Day 7: Last Swim, Fly to Athens, Depart

Morning: Sunrise dip at Porto Roma or a quick coffee and bougatsa at a local bakery. Drive to ZTH for your flight to Athens (~50 minutes)—compare options on Omio Flights. If you’re continuing internationally from Athens, you can again book a smooth ride with Athens Airport Round Trip Comfort, Low Cost Price.

Afternoon: Connection time and departure. If you have a long layover, grab a souvlaki near Syntagma or a final museum hour before your flight.

Evening: In the air—kaló taxídi! Keep your photos of Blue Caves glow and Bochali sunsets handy for the trip home.

Logistics Essentials

• In-island transport: A compact car makes coastal coves and hill villages easy; roads can be narrow with occasional goats—drive unhurriedly and avoid night runs on unfamiliar routes.
• Season & seas: Peak heat July–August; May–June and September are superb. Afternoon winds are lighter in the Ionian than the Aegean, but swells can still affect small boats—tours may adjust routes for safety.
• Conservation: Respect turtle nesting signage; use reef-safe sunscreen; pack out what you pack in.

Optional Athens Tours if You Add Time

• Athens: Acropolis, Parthenon and Acropolis Museum Guided Tour (skip-the-line, 4 hours)
• Greek Cooking Class in Athens Including Rooftop Dinner with Acropolis View

Where to book transport:

• Flights (Europe): Omio Flights
• Flights (global): Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com
• Bus to Kyllini: Omio Buses
• Ferry Kyllini–Zakynthos: Omio Ferries

Where to book stays:

• Zakynthos Town: Hotels.com Zakynthos | VRBO Zakynthos
• Vasilikos: Hotels.com Vasilikos | VRBO Vasilikos
• Athens (if overnighting): Hotels.com Athens | VRBO Athens

In seven days you’ll have traced Zakynthos from clifftop monastery views to sea caves lit like stained glass, and from harbor serenades to the hush of turtle-nesting beaches. With Athens as a cultured bookend, this itinerary blends Greek history with Ionian ease—leaving just enough unscripted time for one more swim.