Guide //Greece Zakynthos Island Tourism Zone 3 (Zakynthos Town, Vasilikos Peninsula Attractions Guide)

Regional Highlights: Beautiful townscapes, monasteries and museums, food and shopping.

My choice: Stay one night in a hotel on the top of Bochali Mountain, watch the panoramic view from the top of Bochali Mountain in the early morning, and spend half an hour in the morning visiting Solomos Square and the Beach Road to take photos.

Zakynthos on Google Maps is the capital of Zakynthos Island, also known as Zakynthos Town and Zante. It has a population of about 10,000 and is located in the east of the island.

The town of Zakynthos is a modern city built after the 1953 earthquake. It is the island's main port, with daily ferries to and from the Greek mainland. The port is also used for daily private or group boat tours that circle the island to visit Shipwreck Cove, the Blue Grotto, Marathonisi and other attractions.

Zakynthos Town is a popular destination on the island of Zakynthos, but it is not a beach destination but a bustling port city. It once had a unique architectural style, influenced by the Venetians, French and British who colonized the island. However, a great earthquake in 1452 destroyed much of the elegant mansion and exquisite neoclassical architecture. Today, only a few traditional buildings and churches can be seen in the town. The most popular place in Zakynthos is the seaside road between Solomos Square and the Church of Agios Dionysios, with many museums, restaurants, shops, travel agencies and cruise companies. The top of Bochali Mountain overlooks the town of Zakynthos with breathtakingly beautiful scenery.

Schematic map of the main attractions in Zakynthos Town (made by Anny on Google Maps)

My rating: 4.6 (recommended)

Recommended tour duration: Allow at least 1 hour for walking + photography, and an additional 1 hour for visiting churches and museums.

The 1.2-kilometer seafront road Lomvardou, also known as Strata Marina, connects Solomos Square to Saint Dionysios Zakynthos Holy Orthodox Church. This is the prettiest street in Zakynthos town, perfect for walking and taking photos.

——Photography point 1 coordinates: 37.785688, 20.900822 is located on the north side of the pier, taking pictures of the beautiful scenery of the seaside road and the port bay. The following are my real shots.

——Photography point 2 coordinates: 37.779356, 20.900495 is located on the south side of the pier, shooting the beautiful scenery of Saint Dionysios Monastery and the seaside road.

morning and night

——Photography point 3 coordinates: 37.780985, 20.902891 Located at the end of the south pier, Zakynthos Town is seen from the sea.

——Solomos Square Solomos Square

Google Rating: 4.5 My Rating: 4.4 (Recommended)

Solomos Square is the main square of Zha town. It is named after the poet Dionysios Solomos, a famous person on Zakynthos and the author of Greek national lyrics. A statue of the poet is erected in the square. The square is surrounded by beautiful buildings, including Church Agios Nikolaos of Molos, Zakynthos’ Museum and Cultural Center of Zakynthos.

—— Church Agios Nikolaos of Molos St. Nicholas Church

Google Rating: 4.7 Located in Solomos Square, at the northernmost point of Seaside Road. The church dates back to 1561 and is the only Venetian-style building to survive the 1953 earthquake.

——Zakynthos’ Museum Google rating 3.8

Zakynthos Museum is located in the middle of Solomos Square. The museum was built in 1959 and displays all the valuable items saved from the catastrophic earthquake and fire of 1953.

——Saint Dionysios Zakynthos Holy Orthodox Church Saint Dionysios Monastery Google rating 4.8

The largest church in Zakynthos, Agios Dionysios Monastery was begun in 1925 and completed in 1948, just a few years before the devastating 1953 earthquake. There are three buildings, none of which caused any damage during the earthquake, and are considered miracles and blessings by locals. The church is dedicated to Saint Dionysios, the patron saint of Zakynthos, whose remains are placed in a silver coffin in the church. The church's museum explains the history of the church and the saint. The church's bell tower is over 40 feet tall and is a landmark of the city.

——St. Markos Square San Marcos Square

Google rating 4.9 (recommended)

Saint Ma Can S Square is another important square on Zadar Island. In the 18th century it was a centre for social and political debate among the island's notable figures. There are now neoclassical buildings such as Saint Marks Church (the only Catholic church on the island), Museum of D. Solomos and Other Eminent People of Zakynthos, etc.

From St. Markos Square to the south, 21 Μαίου street connects to Alexandrou Roma street, which is the main commercial street of Zha town. Here you will find many unique shops selling a wide variety of things: clothes, antiques, embroidery, ceramics, wine, drinks, Zakynthos cologne, jewelry, jewelry, books, etc. . This street is not easy to find on Google Maps. You can search for the coordinates: 37.787120, 20.897768.

I didn’t do any homework when shopping, so the following two posts are for your reference.

HTTPS://wuwuwu.Greek A.com/Ionian/zacanNdayhouOS/shopping/

HTTPS://wuwuwu.TripAdvisor.com/attractions-一1429598-activities-from 26-zacann天后OS_town_zacanN天后OS_Ionian_islands.HTML

Bochali (or Bohali), the hill above the town of Zakynthos, offers a very beautiful panoramic view of the city and port. There are two locations for panoramic views:

——Panoramic View of Bohali

Google Rating4.7 My Rating4.6 (Recommended)

There is a platform at the top of the mountain with railings. There are also several restaurants and coffee bars here. Whether it is day or night, the panoramic view from the top of Bochali is stunningly beautiful.

The picture below is my real shot, a panoramic view in the early morning

The following is from Google Images

——Bóchali Venetian Castle Venetian Castle Google rating 4.1

Zakynthos Castle was completed by the Venetians in 1646. Above the main entrance is the winged lion of St. Mark, the symbol of the Venetian Empire. At that time the castle was the residence of the Venetian procurator and other officials, the administrators of the island. The castle was damaged due to time, war attacks and earthquakes. For opening hours, check Google Maps for location details. Closing hours vary every week depending on the season. Most of the castle is in a quiet forest, and the innermost observation deck is the place to see the panoramic view of Zha Town.

As the most prosperous city on the island, there are many restaurant options, including bars, snack bars, bistros, luxury restaurants, rooftop gardens and fast food restaurants.

——Prosilio Restaurant Google rating 4.6

Official website:

HTTPS://wuwuwu.proprivateoz AK requires NT and OS.personal/

—— Yard of Taste Google rating 4.6

Official website: http://www.avlizante.gr/

——Movida Google rating 4.3

Located on top of Bohcali mountain in Zakynthos town

Official website: http://movida.gr/movida-bar-restaurant-zakynthos-zante-gallery-en.html

——Base Cafe & Roof Cocktail Bar Rooftop Coffee and Bar Google rating 4.3

Located in the center of Zakynthos town, it’s the perfect place to relax with a coffee during the day. After sunset, its rooftop cocktail bar becomes the entertainment hub of Zakynthos Town.

** If you are unable to drive by yourself, it is recommended to stay in Zha Town, where accommodation, dining, shopping and transportation are very convenient. There are buses to other popular towns, and there are also many local travel agencies that organize bus + boat trips to the Blue Grotto and Shipwreck Bay. The port of Zakynthos Town can accommodate large ships and is a popular starting point for day boat trips around the island.

**There are many travel agencies in Zakynthos Town. Open the Zakynthos Town area on the Google Maps app and search for "travel agency". There is no need to book in advance online. You can choose from several of them, and compare prices on site for cheaper ones. They provide various day and half-day tours, boat tours, bus tours, customized tours, multi-day tours (to several surrounding islands), etc. .

** Among the attractions in Zakynthos Town, I think the ones not to be missed are the beautiful views from the top of Bochali Mountain and the Coastal Road. It is recommended to stay for 20 minutes to see the panoramic view from the top of Bochali Mountain and 1 hour to take pictures of the beautiful scenery on the coastal road. It is recommended to go to the top of Bochali Mountain from morning to noon to see the panoramic view. The water color is particularly blue and the yellow roofs are very beautiful. In the evening, take a walk along the coastal road to enjoy the beautiful scenery, choose a restaurant or cafe to eat, and stroll around the shops.

** The top of Bochali is about 3 kilometers away from Zakynthos Town. It takes 6-10 minutes to drive up the mountain. The mountain road is relatively narrow. It takes 30 minutes to walk from the square at the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain, 1.7 kilometers.

** The internal roads in Zakynthos Town are mostly one-way streets. It is recommended to park at the port. The parking point coordinates of the pier on the north side of the port are: 37.785377, 20.901300, and the parking point coordinates of the pier on the south side of the port: 37.778781, 20.900988. Parking is free. After parking the car, walk around Zha Town. Haibin Road is 1.2 kilometers from south to north.

** If you have plenty of time, you can go shopping in Zhazhen Commercial Street. It is recommended to reserve 1.5-3 hours.

** I visited Zha Town for 1.5 hours, went to the top of Bochali Mountain to shoot panoramic views for 1 hour in the early morning, and spent half an hour shooting beautiful scenery at Solomos Square on the Corniche Road in the morning. I originally planned to spend more time in Zha Town, but because I failed to pick up the car, I spent a lot of time processing the reserved vehicle that day, so I could only shorten my stay in Zha Town.

Area Highlights: A string of beaches perfect for relaxing and pursuing the thrill of water sports, sea turtle nesting sites, popular bars and clubs and tranquil organic farms, traditional cuisine taverns and exquisitely landscaped restaurants.

My choice: No arrangement. I like the beautiful view of the small church in the southeast corner, but I haven't arranged the time. This area is suitable for families with children and young people to play in the water, and also suitable for finding turtles (depending on your luck).

Vassilikos is located on the southeastern tip of Zakynthos and is known for its natural beauty and tranquility. Mountains, olive groves, pine forests, sandy beaches, turtles, sunshine and crystal blue waters make up this wonderful area. Considered the most charming and tranquil beach resort on the island, this is a chain of clean, shallow water beaches. Some beaches are known for exciting water sports, while others are nesting grounds for Caretta Caretta sea turtles. With the exception of the beach areas, many of the peninsula's villages are sparsely populated and feature vast expanses of carefully planted olive trees.

Map of Sirikos Peninsula. Towns and peaks are marked in blue, and beaches with high scores are marked in red, which will be introduced later. Porto roma, plaka, ionion and kaminia in the picture below are all beaches and will not be introduced below.

—— Gerakas Beach Gerakas Beach

Google Rating4.6 (recommended)

Features: Turtle nesting beach, golden sand, shallow water suitable for swimming.

It is located at the southernmost tip of Vasilikos Peninsula, at the eastern end of Laganas Bay, 18 kilometers away from the town of Zakynthos. For many, Gerakas Beach is the most beautiful beach on the island. The water here is clear and shallow, and the sandy golden beach is suitable for swimming and sunbathing, thus attracting families with children, the elderly and couples. The white cliffs at the end of the bay are made entirely of clay and have been used by tourists for "mud baths" in the past. Today, the last section of the beach is closed because too many people haul away the clay, making the ridge unsafe.

Gerakas is a turtle nesting beach within the protected area of ​​the National Marine Park. Therefore entry to the beach is prohibited from half an hour before sunset to half an hour after sunrise. Many turtle nests can be seen on the beach. In order to protect the sea turtles, there are no facilities on the beach (there are parking lots, toilets, restaurants, etc. nearby), water sports are prohibited here, the facilities are more restricted than other beaches, some are equipped with sunbeds and parasols.

Special Note: From May to October, sea turtle hatching occurs early in the morning, so it is recommended that you get up very early in order to be able to see the hatchlings. After the baby turtles emerge from their shells before sunrise, they immediately head to the sea...but please note that you can only enter the beach half an hour after sunrise. Seeing baby turtles depends on luck.

At the Zakynthos Sea Turtle Rescue & Information Center next to the beach, you can learn about the protection of Caretta Caretta (sea turtles) on Zakynthos Island.

——Daphni Beach Daphni Beach Google rating4.5

Features: Sea turtle nesting beach, clear water and undeveloped

Daphni Beach Daphni Beach is part of the extended Laganas Bay. Unlike other beaches in the area, the road leading to Daphni Beach is very bumpy and in extremely poor condition, with a sharp drop off in the last section. This beach is long and sandy with clear water. Due to the large number of Caretta Caretta nests, it is listed as a protected beach in the National Marine Park. Entry to this beach is prohibited from half an hour before sunset to half an hour after sunrise. There are several taverns on this beach that provide free sun loungers to keep people away from the turtles' nesting areas. But there are no water sports so as not to disturb the turtles’ habitat.

—— St. Nicholas Beach (Agios Nikolaos beach)

Google Rating 4.6 (recommended)

Features: Sandy beaches, clear and calm water, beautiful churches, and abundant water activities

St. Nicholas Beach is one of the most popular beaches on Zakynthos, located in the southeast of the Vassilikos Peninsula. Not to be confused with the northern port of Agios Nikolaos of the same name, the coordinates of St. Nicholas Beach on the Vasilikos Peninsula are 37.727469, 20.989629. It takes its name from a small chapel on the edge of the beach. This is a bay with clear water and fine sand, the biggest advantage of which is that it is protected from the winds that usually disturb swimmers at other beaches on the Vassilikos peninsula.

This is an organized beach with various water sports and offers various facilities including beach bars, parasols, sunbeds. A wide range of water sports, diving and beach games such as volleyball provide an enjoyable and fun-filled experience.

Church of Agios Nikolaos next to the beach.

——Banana Beach Google rating 4.5 (popular beach)

Features: Popular popular beach, complete facilities and abundant water sports, Blue Flag beach (recognized ecological label)

Banana Beach is 14 kilometers away from the town of Zakynthos. It is the largest and widest beach on Zakynthos Island. It has white sandy beaches and shallow, clear water. The beach is well-equipped with many beach bars and restaurants offering parasols and deck chairs. Best of all it offers numerous water sports including jet skis, parasailing, banana, flyboarding and water skiing.

——Porto Zorro Beach Google rating 4.6

Features: Beautiful scenery, clay baths, great for swimming and snorkeling

It is a long stretch of golden sand and pebbles, with beautiful crystal clear waters, suitable for swimming and snorkeling. Pine trees and two rocks in the sea make for a beautiful scene. There are changing rooms, outdoor showers, bar service on the beach, Wi-Fi and ample parking for bathers, as well as disabled access facilities. It is particularly popular among Italians and serves as a wedding venue. A unique feature is the rock formation on the right side of the beach, where bathers can take a mud bath and smear clay all over their bodies.

In the picture below, visitors smear clay all over their bodies.

——Saint Nikolas church (Agios Nikolaos)

Google rating 4.7 (recommended)

A beautiful church on the sea, next to the beach of Agios Nikolaos (note that there is another town with the same name to the north). The chapel is inaccessible and can be used for weddings.

The picture below is a sunset.

——Monastery Panagia Skopiotissa

Built in 1624, it is located on Mount Scopos. The monastery offers views across the peninsula and the church has beautiful frescoes of saints.

——Zakynthos Venetian Bridge Venetian Bridge Google rating 4.3

Venetian Bridge in the town of Argassi. This bridge was originally built in 1885 and is now in ruins.

Mount Skopos is the island's least-known attraction, the highest peak in the southeast of Zha Island, with an altitude of 492 m. It offers stunning views across the south and southeast of the island. At the top of the hill you'll find the monastery of Panagia Skopiotissa, which dates back to the 15th century.

You can follow a path from the town of Argassi to the Monastery Panagia Skopiotissa on the top of the mountain, a round trip of 13 kilometers with an altitude difference of 500 meters.

Check the details of the hiking route:

HTTPS://best hiking.net/ is KO pos-trail-GPS-za can N days after OS-island/

Argassi is the most popular resort town on the Vasilikos Peninsula. Due to its proximity to the town of Zakynthos, the village has experienced significant tourism development, with numerous hotels, taverns, bars and tourist shops lining both sides of the road that passes through the village. The nightlife here is very famous, with various bars, both quiet and lively, although much smaller than those in Laganas. There is also mini golf.

——Minima Club Club , Google rating 4.6

Legends Bar Google rating 4.3 Official website: https://legends-bar.gr/

——Legends Bar Google rating 4.3 Official website: https://legends-bar.gr/

The best way to experience the peaceful atmosphere of the Vassilikos Peninsula is to visit the organic farm in the village of Vassilikos. Wander among the olive trees, participate in the production of olive oil, stay with the farmers, and experience the traditional lifestyle of the Zakynthos people.

——Logothetis Organic Farm

Google rating 4.6 (recommended)

Official website; https://www.logothetisfarm.gr/ It has accommodation, activity experiences, and sales of agricultural products, etc.

You can sign up for various experiences at the farm, including private dinner/lunch on the farm, olive oil tasting/cooking, homemade olive oil, horseback riding...

HTTPS://wuwuwu.LOGO the prompt farm.personal/article/21/experiences.HTML

Isalatravel travel agency, which provides mid-to-high-end services, also organizes visits to this farm.

HTTPS://ISA LA travel.com/things-to-do-zacanN天houOS/organic-farm-experience/

——Lithies Organic Farm : Guest Houses

Official website: http://www.lithieshouses.gr/index.html

This farm is most famous for its traditional cuisine restaurant and also operates farm tours and B&Bs. Lithies Farm offers a wide variety of special events: see how honey is made, how special olive oil and wine are produced, etc.

Vasilikos Peninsula has various dining venues such as traditional taverns, beach bars, and landscape restaurants, and there are many high-scoring restaurants.

——Kosta’s Brother Taverna (O Aderfos tou Kosta)

Google rating 4.6 (recommended) Located near banana beach Official website:

https://www.aderfostoukosta.com/index.html

It is one of the oldest taverna on the island. The tavern offers a wide range of traditional local specialties in a relaxed environment and has been awarded the "Greek Gastronomy Award" by the Hellenic National Tourism Organization since 2007 and is rated Ionian "The best quality tavern" in the Islands region . The pub also offers traditional live music.

——Lithies Taverna Traditional Greek Tavern Google rating 4.5

A traditional Greek tavern recommended by many websites. It also has an organic farm that you can visit. Official website http://www.lithieshouses.gr/index.html

——Porto Azurro Restaurant & Bar Beach Restaurant & Bar Google Rating 4.5

HTTPS://wuwuwu.Porto A Tibetan people o weddings.personal/

Located on Porto Azzuro Beach, the restaurant has a stunning view.

——Banana Casa Playa Beach Bar and Restaurant Google rating 4.6 Located in Banana Beach

Official website: https://www.casaplaya.gr/

—— Banana Baya Beach Bar Beach Restaurant Google rating 4.5

Official website: https://bananabaya.gr/ Located at Banana beach

—— Al Nur Gourmet Food & Cocktail Seaside View Restaurant

Google Rating 4.7 Located in Argassi

Official website: https://alnur.co/ The chef uses the best local ingredients in Zha Island to cook.

——Kavo seaside view restaurant

Google rating 4.7 Located on the west coast of Argassi

Official website: https://kavozante.gr/

Fresh fish and seafood dominate the menu, depending on the season. Great location, romantic atmosphere and unique scenery.

——Utopia Resto Seaside view restaurant

Google Rating 4.5 Located in Argassi

Official website: https://www.utopiazakynthos.com/ Elegant and romantic atmosphere

Beaches that can carry out water sports include Banana Beach and St. Nicholas beach. You can enjoy water skiing, motor boating, windsurfing, pedal boats and parasailing.

——Banana Beach Aquatic Center

Address: Banana Watersports, Banana Beach, Vasilikos 291 00 Greece

Official website: https://bananawatersports.com/index.php Price list

——St. Nicholas Beach Watersports

Official website:

https://zakynthoswatersports.gr/ Price for online booking:

** Compared with the wild scenery in the west of the island, Vasilikos Peninsula is a relaxing resort area. There is something for everyone, numerous sand beaches, mountain villages preserving the traditional Greek way of life, beautiful natural scenery, water sports and quality restaurants , bars and nightclubs, sufficient to satisfy all your entertainment needs.

** The beach here is very suitable for bringing children Families can choose to spend half a day or a whole day at one or both beaches.

** Young people like lively beaches with water sports options and numerous bars.

** For those who have high requirements for vacation quality, there are many good restaurants in this area with a romantic and elegant atmosphere.

** It takes 27 minutes to drive from Zha Town to the southernmost part of the peninsula, 15.8 kilometers away. Public buses can also reach popular beaches, but the frequency is too few.

** The beach is crowded during peak season. If you see a baby sea turtle hatching and crawling towards the sea, don't scream or get too close to take pictures, as this will not help protect the sea turtle. Some posts suggest that when the beach is open after sunrise in the early morning and there are fewer people, you can see more baby turtles. If you want to see turtles, you may actually encounter them while snorkeling during the day. You can check tourist experiences on tripadvisor.

HTTPS://wuwuwu.TripAdvisor.com/show user reviews-a776001-of4885489-日192063303-GwhileA-cardis_beach-v AstraZenecaOS_zacanNdayhouOS_Ionian_islands.HTML#reviews