Zakynthos is a fine family holiday island, with safe sandy beaches, gentle seas and activities for children to enjoy. The long sandy beaches of the east and south, such as Tsilivi, Alykes, Laganas and Kalamaki, shelve gently into calm, shallow water, ideal for young children. Family attractions include a water park near Tsilivi, the Askos Stone Park where children feed tame deer, and boat trips to spot the loggerhead turtles. The resorts offer family-friendly hotels and gentle nightlife. Plan an easy family holiday with My Greece Tours.
Zakynthos joins safe beaches to a wealth of family fun. Shallow sandy shores, a water park, an animal park, turtle-spotting boat trips and easy resorts make it an easy island for a holiday with children. The sections below cover the family beaches, the attractions, the boat trips and turtles, the best resorts, and practical tips. Set the family island in its wider surroundings with our Zakynthos travel guide.
Is Zakynthos good for a family holiday?
Zakynthos is an excellent family holiday island, with safe sandy beaches, calm shallow seas, and attractions for children. Family resorts, a water park, an animal park and turtle-spotting boat trips make it easy and rewarding for a holiday with children of all ages.
The island suits families well, combining the ease of a beach holiday, with games and outings to keep children happy. The long sandy beaches of the east and south coasts, backed by family resorts, shelve gently into calm, shallow, clear water, safe and pleasant for young children to paddle and swim. Several hold the blue flag for cleanliness and safety. Beyond the beach, the island offers a fine range of family attractions, from a water park to an animal park to boat trips in search of turtles. The resorts are set up for families, with suitable hotels, apartments, tavernas and gentle entertainment, rather than the wild nightlife of the party strips.
The mild climate and short distances make getting around easy.
For parents, the island offers a relaxed and manageable holiday. The main family resorts have all the practical needs close at hand, and the safe beaches allow easy days by the sea. The variety of attractions means the beach can be broken up with trips to the water park, the animals or the turtles, keeping children of different ages entertained. The friendly, family-oriented Greek culture welcomes children warmly in the tavernas and resorts. Whether for toddlers who need shallow water and sand or older children who want water sports and boat trips, the island has something to offer, making it a popular and rewarding choice for a family holiday among the Zakynthos beaches.
Families find the island easy to reach and to move around during a holiday. The airport sits close to the southern resorts, so the transfer from plane to hotel stays short and simple with tired children. Distances across the island are modest, and a hire car opens up beaches, parks and villages within a short drive of any base. Pharmacies, supermarkets and clinics serve the main resorts, so parents can find nappies, medicine and supplies without trouble. Tavernas welcome children warmly and keep simple dishes such as pasta, chips and grilled meat that fussy eaters accept. Warm, dry summer weather means outdoor plans rarely wash out, and the evenings stay mild for family strolls.
This blend of short transfers, easy supplies and a relaxed welcome takes much of the stress out of travelling with young ones.
Parents worry about the practical side of a beach holiday, and the island answers most of those worries well. Lifeguards watch the busier organised beaches through the peak months, and the calm bays rarely throw up strong currents. Shade sits within easy reach at the resort beaches, whether under a hired umbrella or in a beach-bar corner, a real help for fair skin. Baby-changing facilities and family toilets appear at the larger beaches and the water parks. English is widely spoken in the resorts, so parents can ask for help or directions without difficulty. The island’s calm, family-minded atmosphere means children are welcomed rather than frowned upon at tavernas late into the warm evenings.
This gentle, unhurried mood is a large part of why families return to the island year after year.
What are the best family beaches on Zakynthos?
The best family beaches on Zakynthos are the long sandy shores of the east and south, such as Tsilivi, Alykes, Laganas and Kalamaki. They have soft sand, calm shallow water and full facilities, with blue-flag status, ideal for children.
The island’s finest family beaches lie along the gentler east and south coasts, where long stretches of soft golden sand meet calm, shallow, clean water. Tsilivi, north of the capital, is a prime example, a wide sandy beach shelving gently into safe water, backed by a family resort with every facility. Alykes, further north, offers another long sandy beach with calm water and a relaxed resort. On the south coast, the great sweep of Laganas and neighbouring Kalamaki give more long sandy beaches, shallow and safe for paddling. These beaches hold the blue flag, a mark of their cleanliness and safety, and all offer sunbeds, umbrellas, water sports and tavernas close at hand.
These beaches suit children of all ages, from toddlers splashing at the shore to older children swimming and trying water sports. The gentle shelving and calm seas give parents peace of mind, and the full facilities, from sunbeds to snacks to shade, make for easy, comfortable days. Pedalos, kayaks, glass-bottom boats and other gentle water activities add to the fun. The nearby resorts of Tsilivi and Alykes mean a family need never be far from the beach. For families, choosing a base near one of these long sandy beaches gives the easiest and most enjoyable holiday, with safe swimming and space for children to play.
Banana Beach on the Vasilikos peninsula rewards families with soft sand and wooden walkways that ease the path for pushchairs. Its calm, shallow water suits paddlers, while older children try the parasailing, paddleboarding and beach volleyball on offer. Gerakas, nearby, keeps its water knee-deep for a long stretch out from the shore, so toddlers can wade and play in safety. Gerakas ranks among the protected turtle-nesting beaches, and an ARCHELON information kiosk there explains the loggerheads to curious children. Sun loungers, snack bars and shaded spots line the busier family beaches for comfort through the day. Parents should pack water shoes for the pebblier stretches and plenty of sun cream for the strong midday light.
The spread of beaches means a family can pick a calm cove one day and a livelier resort strand the next.
Choosing the right beach for the day depends on the age and mood of the children. Tsilivi and Alykes give the classic organised experience, with loungers, water sports and snack bars a few steps from the sand. Vasilikos beaches such as Banana and Gerakas trade some facilities for calmer water and a more natural setting among the dunes. St Nicholas beach on the Vasilikos peninsula offers water sports and a sandy shore in a sheltered bay. Porto Zoro, also on the peninsula, pairs soft sand with curious rock formations that older children enjoy exploring. Parents should arrive early in peak season to claim shade and parking before the beach fills.
Rotating between a lively resort beach and a quiet cove keeps the days fresh across a longer holiday.
What family attractions does Zakynthos have?
Zakynthos has family attractions including a water park near Tsilivi, the Askos Stone Park where children feed tame deer, glass-bottom and turtle-spotting boat trips, and water sports at the main beaches, beyond the beach itself.
Away from the beach, the island offers attractions that delight children. A water park near Tsilivi, with its slides and pools, is a favourite family day out, especially on the hottest days. The Askos Stone Park, a nature and wildlife park in the northern hills, lets children walk among tame deer, goats, ponies and other animals, feeding and stroking them along the trails, a hands-on experience young ones love. Boat trips of varied kinds run from the harbours, from glass-bottom boats that let children see the seabed to trips out into Laganas Bay in search of the sea turtles. Water sports at the main beaches, from pedalos to banana rides, add active fun for older children.
These attractions let families break up the beach days with variety, keeping children of different ages entertained through the holiday. A morning at the water park, an afternoon meeting the animals at Askos Stone Park, or a boat trip to look for turtles all make memorable outings. The mix of sea, animals, water and adventure suits the tastes of most children. These attractions are easily reached from the main family resorts, making day trips simple to arrange. Together with the safe beaches, they give the island a strong range of family activities, ensuring that a holiday here offers far more than just time on the sand, and that children go home with happy memories.
The Little Farm near Laganas gives younger children a gentle break from the beach among goats, chickens and rabbits. Staff there turn the visit into a lesson in animal care, a calm escape from the busy resort strips. Water Village, in the south-east, ranges its slides from gentle chutes for toddlers to steeper rides for teenagers, so mixed-age groups all find their level. Horse riding through the countryside offers another outing that bonds a family while showing the quiet interior. Glass-bottom and small-group boats leave from the harbours for trips around Marathonisi and the coves. Mini-golf, go-karts and evening fairs in the resorts fill the hours after the beach.
This spread of options lets parents shape each day around the ages and moods of their children.
Rainy days come rarely in the island’s dry summer, yet a few indoor options exist for the odd cloudy spell. The small museums in the capital hold the interest of older children for an hour, telling the island’s story of earthquakes and rebuilding. A visit to a family-run olive press or a honey cooperative shows children how the island’s food is made, with tastings to follow. The evening promenade along the town waterfront gives younger children space to run while parents relax over a coffee. Traditional festivals through the summer bring music, dancing and sweets that delight children of every age. A cinema and bowling in the town fill a cooler evening.
This variety beyond the beach means a family never runs short of ways to fill a day on the island.
Can children see the turtles on Zakynthos?
Yes, children can see the loggerhead turtles of Zakynthos on boat trips into Laganas Bay, often on glass-bottom boats. The bay is a key nesting ground, and spotting a turtle in the wild is a family highlight, though sightings need luck.
One of the most special experiences the island offers children is the chance to see the loggerhead sea turtles in the wild. The great bay of Laganas, in the south, is one of the most important nesting grounds for these turtles in the Mediterranean, protected as a national marine park. Boat trips run out into the bay in search of the turtles, and often use glass-bottom boats, letting children peer down at the seabed and, with luck, watch a turtle glide beneath. Spotting one of the loggerhead turtles swimming in the clear water is a thrilling moment for young and old alike, and a highlight of family holidays on the island.
Seeing the turtles comes with a responsibility that older children can learn from. The turtles and their nesting beaches are protected, and the boat trips must keep their distance, follow the marine park rules, and never chase or disturb the animals. This care teaches children about wildlife and conservation, adding a valuable lesson to the fun. Sightings depend on luck, as the turtles are wild, but the trips are enjoyable in themselves, out on the clear water of the bay. For families, a turtle-spotting boat trip combines adventure, nature and learning, a memorable outing that gives children a connection to one of the island’s greatest natural treasures, well beyond the ordinary pleasures of the beach.
Boat trips to see the turtles leave from several southern harbours, including Laganas, Agios Sostis and Keri. Smaller vessels carry fewer passengers and give children a closer, calmer view than the large crowded boats. Many trips pause at Marathonisi, the turtle-shaped islet in the bay, where the shallow water lets families swim and snorkel over a sandy bed. Guides on the better trips explain the life cycle of the loggerhead and the work of the marine park to young passengers. Children should learn to watch quietly and never touch or feed a turtle, a rule the guides enforce. Morning departures often bring calmer seas and better light for spotting a turtle near the surface.
A trip of a couple of hours suits most family attention spans without tiring the youngest.
Which resorts are best for families on Zakynthos?
The best family resorts on Zakynthos are Tsilivi, Alykes and Argassi, with their safe sandy beaches, family hotels and gentle nightlife. They avoid the wild party scene of Laganas and Kalamaki, offering a calm, family-friendly base near the beach.
For families, the choice of resort matters, and the island offers resorts well suited to a holiday with children. Tsilivi, with its long safe sandy beach, water park and family facilities, is among the most popular family bases, calm and well equipped. Alykes, further north, offers another long sandy beach and a relaxed, family-friendly resort. Argassi, close to the capital, gives a lively but family-suitable base with easy access to the town and the Vasilikos beaches. These resorts offer family hotels and apartments, tavernas serving familiar and local food, and gentle evening entertainment rather than the wild nightlife found elsewhere on the island.
Families are generally best to avoid the heart of Laganas and, to a lesser extent, Kalamaki, whose beaches are fine by day but whose strips are the centre of the island’s loud, late nightlife, less suited to young children. The calmer resorts such as Planos and Tsilivi and Alykes give the safe beaches and facilities families need without the noise. Choosing a base near a long sandy beach, with the attractions and the airport within easy reach, makes for the smoothest family holiday. With the right resort, the island offers families an easy, safe and enjoyable holiday, combining relaxed beach days with the variety of attractions that keep children happy throughout their stay.
Vasilikos and the Kalamaki fringe suit families who want calm sand away from the loud strips. Small hotels and villas there sit close to gentle beaches yet within an easy drive of the parks and boat harbours. Alykanas, beside Alykes in the north-east, offers another quiet family base with a shallow beach and low-key tavernas. Self-catering apartments give parents the freedom to prepare simple meals and keep to a child’s routine. A ground-floor room or a place with a shaded pool eases days with a baby or a toddler. Resorts with a shallow children’s pool and a play area repay the extra thought when booking.
Choosing a base within reach of a supermarket, a pharmacy and a sandy beach covers most of what a family needs for a smooth stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zakynthos suitable for young children and toddlers?
Zakynthos is well suited to young children and toddlers, thanks above all to its safe, sandy beaches with calm, shallow water. The long beaches of the east and south coasts, such as Tsilivi, Alykes, Laganas and Kalamaki, have soft golden sand and shelve very gently into clean, shallow, calm seas, giving toddlers safe places to paddle and play at the water’s edge under a watchful eye. Several hold blue-flag status for cleanliness and safety. Beyond the beaches, gentle attractions such as the Askos Stone Park, where little ones can meet and feed tame animals, and glass-bottom boat trips suit young children well.
The family resorts offer suitable hotels and apartments, tavernas that welcome children warmly in the friendly Greek way, and the practical facilities parents of small children need. The mild climate, short travel distances and calm, family-oriented resorts all make for an easy holiday with toddlers. Parents should of course take the usual care with sun protection, shade, hydration and supervision near the water, especially in the summer heat, and choose a base near one of the gentle sandy beaches rather than in the heart of the noisy nightlife strips, to give young children the safest and most comfortable holiday.
What should families pack and know for Zakynthos?
Families visiting Zakynthos should pack and plan with the island’s sunny climate and beach focus in mind. Good sun protection is essential, especially for children: high-factor sunscreen, sun hats, sunglasses and light cover-up clothing, along with plenty of shade and water to guard against the strong summer sun and heat. Beach essentials such as swimwear, water shoes for any rocky or pebbly spots, beach toys, and inflatables or floats for young swimmers are worth bringing or buying locally.
It is wise to choose a base near one of the safe, sandy family beaches, such as Tsilivi or Alykes, and to consider hiring a car to reach the attractions such as the water park, the Askos animal park and the turtle boat trips, as well as quieter beaches. Basic supplies, from nappies to snacks, are available in the resort shops and supermarkets. Families should also be aware that the beaches of the marine park in the south have rules protecting the nesting turtles, including restrictions at certain beaches at night in the nesting season, which older children can learn from.
With sensible planning around the sun, the beaches and the attractions, families will find Zakynthos an easy, welcoming and rewarding island for a holiday with children of all ages.
What is there for older children and teenagers on Zakynthos?
Zakynthos offers plenty to keep older children and teenagers entertained, beyond the safe beaches that suit younger ones. Water sports are widely available at the main beaches, from pedalos and kayaks to banana boat rides, jet skis and paragliding for the more adventurous, giving active fun for energetic teenagers. The water park near Tsilivi, with its slides and pools, appeals strongly to older children and teens. Boat trips of many kinds, including turtle-spotting trips into Laganas Bay, excursions to the famous shipwreck cove and the blue caves, and snorkelling trips over clear water, offer adventure and spectacular scenery.
For those interested in nature, snorkelling and swimming in the clear water of the coves, and the chance to see turtles, add appeal. The livelier resorts and the island’s famous nightlife strips at Laganas cater to older teenagers and young adults, though families will want to judge what suits their children. Exploring the island by hire car, taking in the dramatic west-coast viewpoints, the sea caves, the villages and the beaches, also makes for memorable family adventures. With its mix of water sports, boat trips, natural wonders and lively resorts, the island keeps older children and teenagers engaged throughout a holiday.
What is the best age to take children to Zakynthos?
Zakynthos welcomes children of every age, and the island adapts well to babies, toddlers, school-age children and teenagers alike. Babies and toddlers do best on the calm, shallow beaches such as Gerakas, Alykes and Tsilivi, where the water stays warm and stays shallow far from the shore. Parents of the youngest should favour a quiet base with a shaded pool, a short airport transfer and simple self-catering to keep to a nap and feeding routine. School-age children thrive on the mix of beaches, the water park, the animal farms and the turtle boat trips, which fill the days with variety.
Teenagers gravitate toward the water sports, the paddleboarding, the go-karts and the livelier resort evenings, while still enjoying the boat trips. The island’s short distances mean a family with a spread of ages can please everyone within a single day out. Late spring and early autumn bring gentler heat that suits the very young, while July and August guarantee warm sea for confident swimmers. No single age stands out as best, since the island holds something rewarding for each stage of childhood.