Visiting Zakynthos during spring – all you need to know

Zakynthos is a Greek island and popular summer holiday destination. It surely gets swapped in summer. However you shouldn’t overlook the island’s attractiveness during spring. During the less hot spring time you can enjoy going on hikes, discovering various attractions without tourist crowds and traffic jams. 

Zakynthos history and geography

Zakynthos is one of seven Ionian islands. It is – and that’s something that caught my eye right away – a very green island. It has a rich vegetation and if you are into herbs and plants this is the place to go! At Zakynthos you can find wild fennel, thyme, artichokes (not wild but cultivated), mountain savory and sage.

At 405.55 km² the island has the same size as Vienna. But surely fewer inhabitants, namely 41,180.

Unfortunately in Zakynthos city you can’t find a historical city center. But you can find some landmarks. Most of the island’s historical buildings were destroyed by a heavy earthquake in 1953. 

The mountaineers’ region of the Greek island stretches from north to south on the western side of the island. The highest peak is Mount Vrahionas with 756 m. The south eastern region is a tourist-developed part of Zakynthos. With it’s partymile Laganas Beach.

Animals of Zakynthos

Turtles, dolphins and monk seals are among the wildlife that lives in Zakynthos. The loggerhead sea turtles are endangered and tourism plays a big part of this problem. The Zente Turtle Center informs you about the role of tourism and why you should not engage in turtle boat tours. The methods used to get sight of the turtles can disorient and harm them.

While in the west of the island nature protection is being taken very seriously, the sand beach protection (nesting place for sea turtles) seems to be less important. So before going on a turtle spotting boat trip in Zakynthos, think about it and inform yourself about the protection of the animals. 

Another interesting animal that lives in Zakynthos is the monk seal. Those are the rarest mammal species in Europe! Furthermore snakes (but not dangerous once), lizards, geckos  also belong to the Zakynthos wildlife. 

Getting around in Zakynthos – Public transportation or renting a car

Unfortunately the island has a very poor public transportation system. Basically one that is only made for tourists, some routes are sole operating during the high season in July and August. So to get around it is the best to rent a car. There are endless car rental companies at the airport. The transportation issue in Zakynthos is another reason to skip the high season and rather visit the Greek island in spring. You don’t want to be stuck in a traffic jam when it is over 30°C. A stress free day on the beach restores your batteries and returning to your accommodation hassle free is ideal. Another alternative way to get around is hitchhiking. Which might be a bit tricky and you need to have a flexible schedule. 

This article is also featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Zakynthos.

Temperature in Zakynthos in spring

The weather in Zakynthos in May is wonderful. You can expect temperatures around 20-27° C. in the evenings however it can be chilly, with 14°C. If you want to wear your summer dress, take a sweater with you! 

There might be stormy and cloudy days. Since it is an island, the weather and clouds can change quickly. When it seems like it’s going to be a cloudy day, it can turn into a warm, sunny day or vice versa.

The sea temperature in spring is around 19° C. The southeastern region has beautiful sandy beaches that extend far out into the sea. It’s really ideal for kids or anyone who likes to play in the water. Give it a try.

What to pack for spring in Zakynthos

When it comes to packing for spring temperatures in Zakynthos you should not leave out long shelves and trousers. It can get chilly, especially in the evening, so be sure to have a change of clothes ready. This is also helpful for protecting against mosquitoes. Yes, they are already active and hungry.

You can still bring light beach wear during the day, a beach dress or shorts and sleeveless shirt. But for evenings a pair of jeans and sleeve t-shirt is the best option. 

Pre-season activities in Zakynthos

Zakynthos North

The north of the island is less touristy. The landscape is hilly and at the coast you can find hidden coves. Anyone looking for adventures this is your call. Also located in the north of the island is the Church of Saint Spyridon. In Lower Volimes is the picturesque blue church that endured the big earthquake. A perfect photostop. Another famous spot in the north of the island is the shipwreck. Yes, the famous picture of a shipwreck in a desert bay. 

Sunset spots in Zayknthos in spring

The west side of Zakynthos is very hilly which results in untouched nature areas. The nature here is protected. As it is home for many unique animals – such as the monk seal.

At the west side of the island you can watch magnificent sunsets. For instance at the restaurant/bar Fondo. Which is a wonderful place to enjoy an afternoon drink, a jump in the sea or a dinner with a first row sea view. The atmosphere at this place is magical. Far away from other towns you can enjoy the tranquility of the sea. Note that the Fondo bar is closing after sunset – due to nature protection reasons.

Boats tour

In order to protect Zakynthos marine life it is best to take a non motored boat tour. Going on a sailboat or catamaran can be a great adventure. And you have the possibility to see the island from a different perspective.

Zakynthos city

From Zakynthos town you can walk up to the Zoodochos Pigi Holy Church. It is around a 45 minute walk and you will pass by the first viewpoint, the Church of Panagia Pikridiotissa. At Zoodochos you can find a few restaurants and bars. It is a great spot to let the day come to an end with refreshments and beautiful views. 

Up the hill is also the Venetian Castle of Bohali. The entrance is 5 euros and there is not much left but some structures in a pine forest. But you will have magnificent views over Zakynthos town.

The main shopping street 

Zakynthos town has a main shopping street where you can find souvenir shops, cute little coffee and cake shops or clothing stores. Consider that it might not be the best to buy cheap souvenirs from here. If you have the chance to get unique presents outside of town at local shops go grab it. Thus you are sure that you are supporting the locals without a middleman. The same is for clothing, most of the pieces are made in far away lands in a cheap producing land. So you can say that you bought it in Greece? Someone else had to pay the price for it.

Anyhow there is a local organic shop in Zakynthos for food, at 123 Main Street. It is a great opportunity to support locals. 

Farmers market

The farmers market Zante is located near the harbour. There you can find local produced items or freshly grown foods from the island like lemons, watermelon, tomatoes, and much more. Of course you can find olives and olive oil. Or any olive made products such as homemade soap and other olive oil cosmetic products 

The farmers market in Zakynthos is open on Monday, Thursday and Saturday from 6 am to 2 pm.

Visit a mountain village and go for walk

The Keri village is located at the very south west of the Island. There you can do a round trip walk to the Myzithres viewpoint. A magnificent viewpoint of two cliffs in the crystal blue water. The walk is slightly uphill and continuous on a broader stone path downhill to the viewpoint. You will cross olive trees and a part of the trail is in the forest. Although the temperatures in spring aren’t that high it is still recommended to do the hike in the morning. 

After the hike you can have a rest at one of the cafes at the main square of Keri. Or check out the restaurant near the viewpoint, most likely this is more touristy, then the cute little cafe shops in the village.

Another beautiful mountain village is Loucha. Unlike Keri, there aren’t any cafe shops. There is one at the entrance of the village. But other than that this is a deserted little village. Still there is holiday accommodation. You can walk through the streets of the village and enjoy the atmosphere. What makes Loucha special is that there you can find many historical buildings that didn’t get destroyed by the earthquake. If you can see at the roof with three rows that’s a sign that it is historical – that was the way they built houses back in the days. 

Another walk is going out of the village towards the fields. In the middle of the field is a gazebo. But take care there are wells – holes in the ground most of them are covered with a stone. Next to the wells is always a hollow for the animals to drink from.  

There are multiple other hiking options in Zakynthos. The best would be to get a printed guide or book a tour with a guide because most paths don’t have signposts. 

Visit an olive press museum

Olives are part of Zantes agriculture; you can find many olive groves. So there are also olive press museums. There you learn more about the practice of pressing olives taste and buy various olive oils. They have orange, garlic, chili olive oil. It was very interesting to taste the different oils. Of course they also sell olives and olive paste or a few olive cosmetic products.

Cameo Island

Cameo Island is a very small island close to the main island in the south of Zakynthos. You can reach it by a bridge. To be honest it is rather a touristy place. You pay 5 Euros for the entrance. Then you can get your picture taken with the cliff and white flags behind you. Which gets printed into a keychain, that you can bring back with you for free. The island is very small. At the bay with the white flags is a bar and on the top is also a bar, which was closed and a toilet. The views are nice and you can enjoy an afternoon there, swimming or with a drink.

How to get to Zakynthos 

Zakynthos has a small airport from which connects the island with many European countries. In May the first flight connections to the island start to operate. You can also take the ferry to the island. From Kyllini, on the mainland to Zakynthos town it takes 1 hour 15 min by ferry. The ferry runs a few times a day. You can also take your vehicle on the ferry or of course board as a foot passenger.