Diving Into Zakynthos

Greek cuisine has a reputation for its fresh, quality ingredients and Mediterranean flavors, so you can expect to eat well on Zakynthos. Start the day off right with a strong Greek coffee in Loucha, an unspoiled village in the mountains. There’s only one café in town, so you can’t miss it. When you’re ready for lunch, head to the village of Volimes on the northern coast. There, Nobelos Bio Restaurant (Agios Nikolaos; +30-269-503-1400) serves organic cuisine overlooking a rocky beach. “I recommend the moussaka, which is very Greek, and the fresh fish,” Dionysis says.

For a romantic dinner, he adores Aperitto (615 Agios Sostis; +30-269-505-5358) on the southern part of the island. This seafront restaurant serves Greek and Mediterranean specialties, like mussels steamed with saffron and ouzo, bruschetta with tomatoes and feta, and octopus carpaccio. Another great option is Votsalo Taverna (Marathias; +30-269-504-8044) in the seaside hamlet of Marathias, which serves traditional Greek cuisine in a laid-back environment. “It’s a very green area with fantastic views of the sea,” Dionysis explains.

With so many incredible beaches to choose from, it’s hard to pick favorites, but there are a few that stand out. If there’s one place you absolutely must visit, it’s Navagio, or Shipwreck Beach (Anafonitria)—one of Dionysis’s favorite places on the island. “Even for me, I’m from the island, but every time I go, I’m impressed,” he says. “So I can understand why people love it.” Rumor has it the ship—which ran aground in 1980 and has remained stuck in the sand ever since—was smuggling illegal cigarettes and other contraband. Whatever the true history, it’s one of the island’s top spots for photo ops. Lesante Blu organizes excursions by private yacht to visit Shipwreck Beach and the Blue Caves on the northern coast. You can add a stop at Marathonisi, a protected island off Zante’s shores where turtles migrate from Africa for a few months during the summer.

For pristine stretches of sand with a full-service beach club complete with umbrellas, lounge chairs, bar service, and a boutique, he recommends Porto Azzurro (Vassilikos; +30-269-503-5217). “It’s on the southeast part of the island in an area called Vassilikos with very nice clean water.” To stay active on your vacation, Dionysis suggests doing water sports at Banana Beach (Vassilikos), where you can go paragliding, jet skiing, snorkeling, and sailing.

There are a number of museums in Zakynthos town where you can learn all about the island’s rich history, from the Byzantine Museum to the Naval Museum. Dionysis suggests visiting Solomos Square, where the Solomos & Kalvos Museum (15 St. Marco Square; +30-269-502-8982) recounts the history of the island and Dionysios Solomos, the poet who wrote Greece’s national anthem. You can also visit Lofos Strani (Bochali), the hill where Solomos heard cannon fire during the war between the Greeks and the Turks, which inspired the anthem’s lyrics.
The island’s many churches reveal its multi-cultural influences. St. Dennis Church (1 Markovitz; +30-269-504-3805), sometimes referred to as St. Dionysis, is Zakynthos town’s largest Greek orthodox church built to honor the island’s patron saint. At St. Marco Square, you can visit the island’s only Catholic church, a reminder of the days when Zante was under Italian rule.