Makris Gialos is a small pebble cove on the northeast coast of Zakynthos. It lies between the resort of Alykes and the northern cape. White and grey pebbles line the shore, and the water is clear and calm. Rock formations, low cliffs and little caves ring the cove. This makes it one of the best places on the island for snorkelling. Sunbeds, umbrellas and a taverna serve the beach in summer. Slip into some of the clearest water on the island with My Greece Tours.
Makris Gialos is small, sheltered and bright, a cove made for swimming and snorkelling rather than long sandy sprawls. Clear water, rocks and caves draw those who like to explore beneath the surface. It sits on the quieter northern shore, away from the big southern resorts. The sections below cover the beach itself, its snorkelling, how to reach it, what it offers visitors, and the sights nearby. Set the cove in its wider surroundings with our Zakynthos travel guide.
What is Makris Gialos beach on Zakynthos like?
Makris Gialos is a small pebble cove on the northeast coast of Zakynthos. White and grey pebbles line the shore, the water is clear and calm, and rocks and low cliffs frame a sheltered bay ideal for swimming.
The cove is compact and enclosed, cupped by low rocky headlands. Its shore is pebble rather than sand, in shades of white and grey that give the water a bright, clean look. The sea shifts from pale turquoise near the shore to deeper blue further out. Low cliffs and rock formations rise at the edges of the bay, and small caves and inlets open along the rock. The water is calm and clear, sheltered from the open sea, and it deepens gently from the shore. It is a beach for swimming and floating in bright water rather than for wide stretches of sand. The pebbles range in tone across the shore, and the water reads bright above them.
The bay stays sheltered from wind on most summer days.
Makris Gialos sits on the quieter northeast coast of the island. This shore is greener and calmer than the busy south, lined with low cliffs and coves rather than long resort strips. The nearby resort of Alykes gives the area a relaxed base, and the sea caves of the far north lie close by. Makris Gialos draws people who prefer clear water and rocks to crowds and nightlife. It can fill in the middle of the day in high summer, yet it keeps a small, easygoing feel compared with the great sandy beaches elsewhere on the island. The setting rewards a slow visit, with clear water for swimming and rocks to explore.
The quiet north keeps its own gentle pace through the season.
The cove runs about 160 metres along the shore and reaches roughly 15 metres wide at most. Fine yellow pebbles cover the beach rather than sand, and tall rocky cliffs rise directly behind it. The cliffs give the bay shade at certain hours of the day and frame the clear turquoise water below. Makris Gialos lies on the northeast coast, about 26 to 30 kilometres from Zakynthos Town, a drive of around 40 minutes. The coastal road passes Volimes and Agios Nikolaos on the way to the cove. The compact size and the enclosing cliffs give the beach a private, tucked-away character all its own.
This small scale and the pebble shore mark it out clearly from the broad sandy resorts down on the southern coast of the island.
Why is Makris Gialos good for snorkelling?
Makris Gialos has clear, calm water and a shore of rocks, cliffs and small caves, which shelter fish and make fine underwater scenery. This mix makes the cove one of the best snorkelling spots on Zakynthos.
The clarity of the water is the first draw. Sheltered from the open sea and rising over pebbles rather than sand, the water stays clean and bright, so snorkellers can see far below the surface. The rocks are the second draw. Formations, ledges and small caves line the edges of the cove, giving cover to fish and shape to the seabed. Swimming out to the rocky sides, you pass over stones, weed and shoals of small fish, with the light playing down through the clear water. It is easy, rewarding snorkelling, close to shore and calm, suitable for beginners as well as the more practised.
The seabed shows stones, weed and small fish in fine detail below the surface. The light reaches deep on a calm, bright day.
The cove suits exploring both by mask and by boat. Snorkellers can work along the rocky edges and into the mouths of the little caves, while small boats can be hired to reach spots further along the coast. The calm, clear water and the varied rock make every swim interesting. For anyone who likes to look beneath the surface, Makris Gialos offers more than a simple dip. It sits among a string of northern coves and caves, so a day here can mix snorkelling at the beach with a Zakynthos boat tour along the nearby cliffs and grottoes. Divers reach the deeper water and the cave mouths with proper gear and care.
The cove rewards patience over speed in the water.
The water at Makris Gialos deepens quickly a short way out from the pebble shore. This depth and clarity suit confident swimmers who want to follow the rocky sides of the sheltered cove. Sea caves open in the cliffs and can be reached directly from the water by a steady, capable swimmer. The marine life is rich along the rocks, drawing both snorkellers and scuba divers to the clear cove. Water shoes help on the fine yellow pebbles and over the rocks near the edge of the shore. A mask and fins let a swimmer trace the base of the cliff and peer into the shaded sea caves.
The clear, deep water makes Makris Gialos a rewarding snorkelling spot for those comfortable in the open sea.
How do you reach Makris Gialos on Zakynthos?
Makris Gialos lies on the northeast coast of Zakynthos, near Alykes and Agios Nikolaos. A short path leads down to the cove from the coast road, and it is easily reached by car or as part of a north-coast trip.
The cove sits along the northeast shore, on the road that runs up toward the northern cape. From the coast road a short path drops down to the pebbles and the water. Parking is available near the top, and the walk down is brief. The route north from the resorts passes green hills and a string of coves, so the drive itself is pleasant. The beach lies within easy reach of the northern resorts, making it a simple half-day trip rather than a long expedition. Signs and the coast road make it straightforward to find. The final stretch narrows toward the shore, so a slow, careful approach helps the driver.
The track underfoot is short but a little uneven in one or two parts.
The cove pairs well with the other sights of the north coast. The port of Agios Nikolaos lies nearby, a departure point for boats to the sea caves. The resort of Alykes and its long sandy beach are close at hand, offering a change of scene. Further up the coast the water grows wilder toward the cape. Many visitors combine a swim and snorkel at Makris Gialos with a boat trip or a visit to a neighbouring beach, filling a relaxed day on the quieter side of the island. The compact cove fits neatly into a wider tour of the north. The clear cove and the wilder cape together fill a relaxed day on this coast.
The northern road links these stops in a simple loop.
The drive from Zakynthos Town runs about 26 to 30 kilometres and takes around 40 minutes by car. The route follows the main coastal road north through Volimes and past the village of Agios Nikolaos. Makris Gialos sits just off this road, signposted where a short track drops down to the cove. A car is the simplest way to reach the beach, given its spot on the quieter north coast. Parking space near the top of the path is limited, so an early arrival helps in high summer. The cove pairs well with boat trips from the nearby coast to the Navagio shipwreck cove and the sea caves.
This handy roadside position makes it an easy stop on a wider drive along the north coast.
What does Makris Gialos offer visitors?
Makris Gialos offers sunbeds, umbrellas and a taverna in summer, along with calm clear water for swimming and snorkelling. Small boats can be hired to explore the coast, and the cove has a relaxed, low-key feel.
For its small size, the cove is well set up in the season. Rows of sunbeds and umbrellas line the pebbles, and a taverna serves food and drink above the shore. The calm, clear water is the main attraction, easy for swimming and floating and fine for snorkelling along the rocks. Small boats can be hired from the beach to explore the neighbouring coast and caves. Facilities are simple rather than lavish, in keeping with the relaxed northern shore. Bringing water shoes helps on the pebbles and rocks, and a mask makes the most of the clear water. The taverna above the shore gives shade and a place to rest between swims.
A towel and drinking water round out a comfortable visit.
The mood is easygoing and low-key. Makris Gialos lacks the nightlife and bustle of the southern resorts, drawing instead those who want a calm swim in bright water. It can grow busy at midday in high summer, yet it keeps a small, friendly feel. Families, couples and snorkellers all find something here. Set among the Zakynthos beaches of the north, it offers a rockier, clearer alternative to the long sandy shores of the south. A few hours here, swimming and snorkelling with a taverna lunch, makes an easy and rewarding stop. The cove draws swimmers, snorkellers and couples who value calm over crowds and noise.
The clear water and the quiet cliff-backed setting reward an unhurried, easygoing stay by the sea.
Facilities at Makris Gialos stay limited, in keeping with its small size and quiet northern setting. Sunbeds and umbrellas may be set out during the season, though the number of them is minimal. A taverna sits by the entrance to the beach and serves food and drink through the day. Boat trips to the Navagio shipwreck cove and to the Blue Caves can be caught from ports close by. The main draw is the clear, deep water and the rocky, cave-lined edges of the sheltered cove. Water shoes and a mask make the visit far more comfortable and far more rewarding for the swimmer.
Visitors who want full resort services will find plenty more at Alykes, a short way down the coast.
What is near Makris Gialos on the north coast?
Near Makris Gialos lie the resort of Alykes, the sulphur cove of Xigia, the port of Agios Nikolaos and the Blue Caves of the north coast. The cove sits among the quieter beaches and sights of northern Zakynthos.
The northeast coast holds a run of coves and sights close together. The resort of Alykes, with its long sandy beach and salt flats, lies a short way south. The small sulphur-spring cove of Xigia Beach sits nearby, its water milky with minerals. Further along, the port of Agios Nikolaos sends boats out to the caves. This stretch of coast is greener and calmer than the south, a string of small pleasures rather than one great resort. Makris Gialos fits neatly among them, a clear-water cove on a shore made for slow days. The springs, the salt flats and the coves all lie close together along this shore.
The coastal road links them in a single, easy northern route for a day out.
The great natural draw of the north is the sea caves. The Blue Caves pierce the white cliffs near the northern cape, where the water glows an intense blue inside the grottoes. Small boats reach them from the nearby ports, and trips often run on to the famous shipwreck cove beyond. A day on the north coast can easily mix a snorkel at Makris Gialos with a boat trip to the caves. Together the coves, the springs and the grottoes make the north a rewarding, unhurried side of the island, well worth a day away from the southern crowds. The boats leave from the small ports and thread the cliffs toward the grottoes.
The blue glow inside the caves rewards the short crossing.
The area around Makris Gialos holds a run of northern sights within easy reach by road. Cape Skinari marks the northern tip of the island, above the entrance to the famous Blue Caves. The sulphur cove of Xigia lies to the south, its water milky with minerals from the coastal springs. Inland, Askos Stone Park offers a wildlife park set among terraces and old dry-stone walls. The resort of Alykes and its salt flats sit a little further down the same stretch of coast. A viewpoint above the famous shipwreck cove can be reached by road from this northern part of the island.
Makris Gialos fits neatly among these coves, capes and springs on the quiet north coast of Zakynthos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Makris Gialos a sandy beach?
Makris Gialos is a pebble beach rather than a sandy one. Its shore is lined with white and grey pebbles, which is part of what gives the water its bright, clean, clear look. This makes it excellent for snorkelling and for those who like clear water over pebbles, but less suited to travellers set on soft golden sand. Water shoes are worth bringing, as they make walking into the sea more comfortable over the pebbles and rocks. The clarity of the water and the rocky, cave-lined edges of the cove are the real draws here, rather than a wide sandy expanse.
Visitors who want long stretches of sand will find them on other parts of the island, such as the beaches of the south and the Vasilikos peninsula, or at the nearby resort of Alykes on the same northern coast. Makris Gialos rewards those who come for clear water, snorkelling and a small, sheltered cove rather than a classic sandy resort beach.
Do you need equipment to snorkel at Makris Gialos?
To make the most of snorkelling at Makris Gialos you need little more than a mask and snorkel, and ideally a pair of fins and water shoes. The cove is calm, clear and sheltered, with rocks, ledges and small caves close to shore, so the snorkelling is easy and rewarding even for beginners. A mask lets you see the fish, the rocks and the play of light through the clear water, while water shoes help over the pebbles and rocks at the shore and in the shallows. Fins make it easier to swim out to the rocky sides of the bay where the underwater scenery is best.
It is wise to bring your own gear, as this ensures a good fit, though simple equipment can sometimes be found nearby. As always, snorkellers should take care near the rocks, keep an eye on other swimmers and boats, and not go too far out. With just a mask, the cove opens up into one of the best easy snorkelling spots on the island.
Is Makris Gialos suitable for families?
Makris Gialos can be a good family beach, though its pebble shore and rocky, deepening water suit some families better than others. The cove is calm and sheltered, and the water is clear and clean, which makes for pleasant, safe swimming close to shore. Children who enjoy snorkelling and exploring rock pools often love it, since the rocks and small caves shelter fish and give plenty to discover beneath the surface. Sunbeds, umbrellas and a taverna provide the basics for a comfortable day. The pebbles mean water shoes are helpful for young feet, and because the water deepens gently but steadily, younger children should be watched near the sea.
Families set on soft sand and very shallow water may prefer the long sandy beaches of the south or the nearby resort of Alykes. For families who like clear water, snorkelling and a small, low-key cove, though, Makris Gialos makes a rewarding and memorable stop on the quieter north coast of the island.
When is the best time to visit Makris Gialos?
Makris Gialos is at its best from late spring through early autumn, when the sea is warm and calm and the light is bright. The taverna by the entrance and the sunbeds tend to operate through the main season, and the water is clearest in these settled months. Midday in high summer brings the most people, so an earlier or later visit gives a quieter cove and easier parking at the top of the path. The tall cliffs behind the beach cast shade over parts of the shore at certain hours, which can be welcome in the strong heat.
Snorkellers get the finest views on still days, when the deep water is clearest and the caves in the cliffs are easiest to reach. Visitors chasing peace over facilities may prefer the shoulder months at either end of the season. A calm, bright morning suits the swimming, the snorkelling and the boat trips along the north coast best.