6 Best Sights in Zakynthos, Greece

This beach owes its name to the small chapel that stands to its western end. Its shores are hardly pious though. This is the sportiest of the sands lining the Vasilikos, with the thwack of volleyballs accompanying loud music, the roar of Jet Skis, and a mostly younger crowd. It's also very pretty, with a thick ring of pines fringing the white-pebble shore and twinkling sapphire waters. There's every variety of watersport here, but it's an especially good spot for diving and snorkeling. Amenities: sun beds; umbrellas; food and drink; watersports; showers. Best for: snorkeling and diving; sea kayaking; volleyball.

Not nearly as unknown as it used to be, though the same could be said for the entire peninsula, Banana Beach's golden sands are still impressive. It is the largest beach on the island, with rocky, wooded fringes and clear, shallow waters perfect for families. It has a few bars, restaurants, and services. Sun beds occupy a good chunk of the shoreline, but its size means you can always find a quieter corner. Around four bus services a day run here from Zakynthos Town, if you don't want to drive. Amenities: sun beds; showers; food and drink. Good for: families; sunworshippers; swimming.

One of the better options for those allergic to crowds. Makris Gialos, on the northeast coast, lacks the facilities of many of the larger beaches, so rarely fills up. Limited parking means it isn't the most accessible, though most just park by the road. A few more sun beds and umbrellas have cropped up in recent years, but it's easy to find your own spot. There's a bar and shop a short hop from the shore. Aside from that, all you have is sunshine and deep waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Boats also go from here to the Blue Caves. Amenities: bar a short walk away; sun beds and umbrellas. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; adults; escaping the crowds.

Most beaches accessible only by boat tend to be remote affairs; their shores little trod. Navagio is the exception. It somehow manages to be impossible to reach yet simultaneously overrun. The reason is simply that every ship on the island heads here—though if you don't want to spend all day on a tour at sea, you can grab a quick boat (30 minutes) there and back at nearby Port Vromi. The beach gets its nickname from the MV Panagiotis, a cargo vessel that fell foul of the rocks here in 1983 while smuggling contraband cigarettes. It has been rusting on this shore ever since. Some have theorized it was placed there to attract visitors, but only the most devout of cynics would deny this cove its serendipitous beauty. From above, a curve of white cliffs bristling with green stubble frames its subject and sands perfectly. Strangely, it's perhaps the only beach you can best appreciate from afar. The viewpoint (with nearby parking) is a good hour's drive from Zakynthos Town and just as packed as below. Only from there does its geometry truly sing. Amenities: none. Best for: boat trips; viewpoints; Instagram photos.

Porto Vromi is another gem found on the far northwestern coast. Its narrow shore isn't very large and doesn't attract that many visitors. A pebbly shore drops off quickly to reveal deep waters, so it's not much good for families with small children. Most use it as a departure point for boats to Shipwreck Beach and the Blue Caves, but it's worth a visit in its own right. The cove is riddled with small caves and surrounded by quiet mountain villages. A great escape from the masses. Amenities: a beach bar; tavernas in the villages; a couple of sun beds. Best for: boat trips; mountain trails; rural villages.

For an island that doesn't really do public transport, Zakynthos makes a rare exception for its resort areas. There are regular buses between Tsilivi and Zakynthos Town, around 6 km away, during summer. That helps to make this one of the busiest stretches on the island, and you'll struggle to find an inch of its golden sands not subsumed by a sun bed or lobster-red British tourist. It also means it's well catered to, with umpteen bars, tavernas, and cafés surrounding the shore. Its waters accommodate Jet Skis, kayaks, banana boats, and paragliders. It's busy but you know what you're getting, and it's a good spot for those with little children, who will want for nothing. Amenities: food and drink; toilet; lifeguard; showers. Good for: families; watersports; resorts.