Agios Nikolaos Beach, Vasilikos: Not to Be Confused With the Other Beach of the Same Name on the Other Side of the Island

Greece | Vasilikos | Zakynthos, Ionian Islands

A point of confusion comes up often enough in independent accounts of Zakynthos that it deserves stating plainly at the outset: there are two beaches on the island sharing the name Agios Nikolaos, and they are not related to one another. This one sits at the southern tip of the Vasilikos peninsula, on the southeastern part of the island. The other lies near a port of the same name in the northeast, used as a ferry connection point toward Kefalonia. Several guides to the island flag this distinction independently, which suggests visitors regularly arrive at the wrong one when planning by name alone rather than by location.

The Vasilikos beach takes its name, as is the case with the great majority of beaches on Zakynthos, from a small whitewashed chapel — in this instance perched on a rocky outcrop directly above the shore, a frequently photographed structure that functions as the beach’s visual landmark from both the sand and the access road. The chapel itself is reachable by the same road that leads down to the beach.

A short distance away, the rock formation known as Korakonisi presents a natural arch spanning approximately twenty metres, formed through the gradual erosion of the surrounding limestone. The arch opens onto a small, secluded bay with calm, clear water, and the underwater landscape around it is considered notable enough to draw snorkellers specifically for this feature rather than for the main beach itself.

Getting There: Thirty-Two Kilometres From Zakynthos Town, Twenty to Twenty-Five Minutes by Car

The drive from Zakynthos Town covers approximately thirty-two kilometres and takes twenty to twenty-five minutes along a well-paved road through the pine-covered hills of the Vasilikos peninsula, with panoramic views of the coast along the way. A large free parking area sits at the beach entrance.

Free shuttle buses operated by several of the watersports centres and beach bars run from the main tourist hubs of Laganas, Kalamaki, and Argassi, with schedules generally available through local travel agencies or signposted directly at the relevant operators. Taxis are also readily available from any part of the island for a direct transfer.

The Beach: Fine Sand, Shallow Entry, a Recognised Centre for Watersports

The shore is composed of fine, soft sand extending well into the sea, in contrast to the pebbled coves more common on the northern part of the island. The bay’s partial enclosure by surrounding hills keeps the water generally calm, and the clarity is sufficient on a still day to see the seabed several metres down.

The beach functions as one of the principal watersports centres on Zakynthos, with jet skiing, parasailing, towable inflatables, and scuba diving instruction all operating from established centres along the shore. This concentration of activity distinguishes it from the quieter, more secluded beaches on the island’s western coast, and accounts for its consistent popularity among both families, drawn by the shallow water, and younger visitors, drawn by the watersports and the beach bars operating nearby.

A Note on the Island’s Protected Turtle Beaches Nearby

The southern coast of Zakynthos, including parts of the Vasilikos peninsula, falls within or near the National Marine Park, established to protect the nesting grounds of the loggerhead sea turtle. Gerakas, a short distance from Agios Nikolaos, is among the most significant nesting beaches in the Mediterranean and operates under considerably stricter rules, including closure between dusk and dawn during the nesting season and a prohibition on personal umbrellas in the protected zones. Agios Nikolaos itself does not carry the same nesting designation, and the watersports and organised beach club activity reflect that distinction.

Agios Nikolaos Beach on the Vasilikos peninsula should not be confused with the separate, unrelated beach of the same name near the ferry port in northeastern Zakynthos. Named for the whitewashed chapel above the shore, the beach offers fine sand, shallow water, and one of the island’s principal concentrations of watersports activity, with the Korakonisi rock arch and its secluded bay a short distance away. For those who have already explored the island’s dramatic western coast at Porto Limnionas Beach Zakynthos Greece and Porto Roxa Beach Zakynthos Greece, Agios Nikolaos represents the opposite end of the island’s character: organised, sandy, and built around activity rather than seclusion. Thirty-two kilometres from Zakynthos Town, with free shuttle options from Laganas, Kalamaki, and Argassi.

Confirm the location before booking. Visit the chapel on the headland. Walk to Korakonisi if the main beach feels too busy.