We love the beach, and Greece has so many of them! Many of the country’s top family beaches are on the island of Zante, also called Zakynthos. Part of my Greek family lives there, and that is why we often visit. If you are planning a vacation to the island, here you can find 5 of the best Zante beaches for families!
Update June 2023: A government decision officially bans access to Navagio Beach on the island of Zakynthos. Boats will be allowed to enter the safe sea zone from the northern end of Navagio bay outbound towards the southern end daily from 8am to 3.30pm. Tour boats will be able to remain in the designated safe sea zone for 20 minutes. The popular beach will remain closed for summer.
Best Zante beaches for families
Zante is part of the Ionian island group on the west side of Greece. The Ionian Islands (also called Seven Islands) are Corfu, Paxi, Lefkada, Ithaki, Kefalonia, Kythira, and Zante.
Many of the Zante beaches are awarded the Blue Flag, confirming the quality of its waters and their safety. They are well-organized for recreation and offer excellent amenities like restaurants, sun bed rentals, water sports facilities, and lifeguards.
Lonely Planet has included two beaches in Greece on its list of the Top 20 most Stunning Beaches in Europe to Explore in 2023. One is the Navagio Beach in Zante. The other is Myrtos Beach on Kefalonia.
Known as “the Greek beach of a million postcards”, Navagio stands out for its unique landscape, featuring a shipwreck in the middle of a sand strip, overlooked by cliffs, and embraced by “out of this world” blue waters.
Family Friendly beaches in Zakynthos
Zante has many sandy beaches with soft grainy sand, ideal for kids. In fact, the entire east coast of the island has sandy beaches. The seabed is shallow, and the sea is calm, warm, and safe without waves or strong currents.
The most famous beach of Zante is the Instagrammable Shipwreck Beach. Its white sand and wild natural surroundings make it one of the most photographed beaches in Greece. Shipwreck Beach can be visited by boat tour from Porto Vromi Maries, Nikolaos, Zante Town and Skinari.
For many years, it was possible to enter the beach but in March 2023, the Greek government had to close it due to safety reasons. you can still admire the surroundings from the boat.
5 Family beaches on Zante
Zante’s beaches are great for families. We have listed five of the best sandy beaches on Zante here below. We selected them for their distance from the main town, their facilities, beach quality, and accessibility.
1. Tsilivi Beach
Tsilivi Beach is on the East coast, 6 km from Zante Town. The beach is located in a green area with some traditional villages. There are many hotels, and restaurants too. On the beach are restaurants and bars with beautiful decks where parents can relax while kids play in the sand in front of them.
Tsilivi Beach is a Blue Flag with a few pebbled patches here and there. The water is clean and shallow. There are no steps to get to the beach, so it’s also a perfect option for families with babies.
For dinner, families can walk to Taverna by the Sea Paradeisos to enjoy authentic Greek food on the beach. The other great thing about Tsilivi is the small but fun Tsilivi Water Park, 5 min inland from the beach!
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2. Alykes Beach
Alykes is a family beach with clear turquoise waters and green surroundings. You can find Alykes beach in the northeastern part of Zante. The sand is white and soft and gently shelves into the sea. There can be some waves here, but not high enough to knock you over. For older children and teens, you’ll find water sports and some fun beach bars on Alykes.
3. Banana Beach
Banana Beach is south of Zante town, at 14 km or a 20-minute drive. Older kids will like the possibilities for paragliding, SUP, or jet skiing. It is a busy beach with lots of restaurants, bars, sunbeds, and umbrellas. Banana Beach features soft white sand and shallow crystal-clear water. For families who are looking for a quiet, relaxing day at the beach, Banana Beach is possibly not the best option.
4. Gerakas Beach
Located 16 km from Zakynthos Town towards the south is Gerakas Beach. This sandy beach is ideal for families who are seeking a quieter beach. It is also the favorite spot of Loggerhead turtles. In fact, the beach is part of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos so is not overdeveloped like some other beaches on the island.
You will probably not see any turtles during the day, because they come out at night when they are alone. But if you want to teach your kids more about them, you can visit the Sea Zante Turtle Center at Gerakas.
Marathonisi
Another breeding place for sea turtles is the beach of Marathonisi, a small island in Laganas Bay. You can show your kids the map of the island; because this turtle island has the shape of a turtle (pictured above)! Marathonisi is part of the marine park, and that is why you can only stay at certain parts of the beach, indicated by a rope. You can visit Marathonisi by taxi boat, excursion, or by renting a boat.
5. Laganas, Zante
Laganas is the most popular beach on Zante and the name of the busiest resort on the island. It is packed with hotels, beach bars, restaurants, souvenir shops, and more. This tourist resort is located on the southern coast of the island, 9 km away from the capital.
Laganas is one of the longest beaches in the Mediterranean. The seabed is shallow, and the water is clear and warm. The beach has grainy soft sand, making it also perfect for building sandcastles.
So, if you are looking for a destination where the whole family can enjoy endless days on the beach, you will find them easily on Zakynthos!
