Zakynthos anchorage guide · Ionian
Zakynthos Yacht Anchorages: The 2026 Guide
Where to anchor a yacht around Zakynthos: documented depth, holding and shelter for the island's main anchorages, drawn from published cruising sources.
Last updated May 2026
Zakynthos sits in the Ionian.
The Ionian is mild in summer, with a northwesterly afternoon sea breeze (the Maistro) that builds in the afternoon and eases overnight; katabatic gusts can fall into some bays at night.
It is the gentlest of the Greek cruising grounds.
This guide covers the island's main anchorages with the practical detail charterers and captains actually use: depth where a published cruising source documents it, holding, and shelter direction.
Where a figure was not documented we say so rather than guess.
Zakynthos's headline sites are fair-weather day stops only, with poor overnight shelter and heavy tripper-boat traffic.
Ashore: Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach and the Blue Caves at Cape Skinari (boat access only), and the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, the first national park in the Mediterranean created for sea-turtle protection.
The anchorages
4 anchorages around Zakynthos
Use this guide to understand your captain's routing, request specific anchorages on your preference sheet, judge whether Zakynthos fits your charter style, and pair it sensibly with nearby islands.
Porto Vromi (west coast)
Depth
10-15m
Holding
Foul, sand, weed, rock and chains, use a tripline
Shelter
One of the safer west-coast anchorages; mooring buoys available.
Near Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach.
Port of Zakynthos (Zakynthos Town)
Holding
Mind the Dimitris reef east of the green light; the SW part is often too shallow.
Shelter
Provides the best shelter on the island.
The main harbour; depth varies, confirm on chart.
Best for: Town access, shelter
Agios Nikolaos (Skinari, NE)
Holding
Good, but the seabed rises quickly, use plenty of chain
Shelter
Suitable in NW to NE; swell with N to NE winds.
Strong late-afternoon gusts sweep the valleys; depth not documented.
When to visit
The Ionian is mild in summer, with a northwesterly afternoon sea breeze (the Maistro) that builds in the afternoon and eases overnight; katabatic gusts can fall into some bays at night. It is the gentlest of the Greek cruising grounds.
Captain's note
The Ionian is mild in summer, with a northwesterly afternoon sea breeze (the Maistro) that builds in the afternoon and eases overnight; katabatic gusts can fall into some bays at night. It is the gentlest of the Greek cruising grounds. Pick the anchorage to the wind: in the prevailing summer airflow, favour the lee and sheltered bays listed above, and keep a documented all-weather shelter or a layover day in reserve when the forecast climbs. Depths and holding here follow published cruising sources; your captain will confirm the exact anchor drop against current charts on arrival.
Charter Zakynthos
Speak with George P. Biniaris directly. MYBA-standard contracts, full Greek charter fleet.