Laganas Beach — Where Party Town Meets Turtle Sanctuary

Laganas is Zakynthos’s contradiction in physical form. A 9-kilometre sweep of golden sand that is simultaneously one of the busiest resort strips in Greece and one of the most critical sea turtle nesting habitats in the Mediterranean. It shouldn’t work. Somehow, awkwardly, imperfectly, it does — and understanding that tension makes Laganas far more interesting than its party-beach reputation suggests.

What Awaits You

The beach itself is genuinely impressive in scale. Nine kilometres of mostly fine, golden sand — wide, flat, and accessible — make it one of the longest beaches in the Ionian Islands. The sea is calm and warm, the slope gentle, and the swimming suitable for all ages and abilities. At its western end, the resort of Laganas town delivers everything you’d expect: packed sunbeds, multiple beach bars, water sports operations, and a background thrum of bass from the strip behind.

But Laganas is not monolithic. Move eastward along the shore and the atmosphere shifts. The resort infrastructure thins. The sand widens. Sunbeds give way to open beach. Eventually you reach the boundaries of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, where roped-off sections mark active turtle nesting zones. Here, Laganas reveals its other face — not a resort beach but an ancient nesting ground that was hosting loggerhead turtles long before the first beach bar opened.

The Caretta caretta turtles have nested on this beach for thousands of years, guided by the same instinct that brings females back to the exact beach where they were born. An estimated 800-1,200 turtle nests are laid on Laganas beach each season — the highest concentration in the Mediterranean. This is remarkable. It is also fragile.

Getting There

Laganas is 9 km south of Zakynthos Town via the main coastal road — a straightforward 15-minute drive. Parking is abundant around the town of Laganas. The beach is accessible from multiple points along the resort strip. Local buses connect Laganas to Zakynthos Town regularly throughout the day.

Facilities

The western resort area has every facility imaginable:

• Sunbeds and umbrellas: Densely packed, competitive prices (€7-10 per set)
• Beach bars: Dozens, from breakfast through late night
• Water sports: Jet skis, parasailing, pedal boats, kayaks
• Restaurants: Every cuisine represented along the main strip
• ATMs and shops: All standard amenities in Laganas town
• Showers: Multiple access points

Note: The protected eastern sections have no facilities. Bring water and sunscreen.

The Marine Park — What You Need to Know

The National Marine Park of Zakynthos was established in 1999 specifically to protect the loggerhead turtle nesting grounds. Laganas falls under strict regulations:

During nesting season (June-August):

• The beach closes to all visitors from dusk to dawn
• Speed boats must follow exclusion zones offshore
• No vehicles on the beach
• Roped areas around active nests must not be crossed
• No umbrellas on the unorganised eastern section

These rules exist for good reason. Artificial light disorients nesting females and hatchlings. The nests are shallow and easily crushed. One thoughtless moment can destroy months of incubation. Comply absolutely.

If you visit in late August or September, watch the waterline at dusk. Hatchlings emerge from their nests and make their run for the sea. Seeing fifty tiny turtles scrambling across moonlit sand is an experience that reframes everything about this beach.

Insider Tips

Laganas town itself deserves a brief mention: it exists almost entirely for tourism, and if that’s not your scene, it’s easily ignored in favour of the quieter eastern sections. But the restaurants immediately behind the beach front are actually decent — local tavernas mixed in with the international options, serving fresh fish at reasonable prices.

The boat trips from Laganas harbour run to Marathonisi (Turtle Island) for close-up turtle watching in the water — one of the genuinely magical experiences on the island. Book directly at the harbour for the best prices.

For an uncomplicated family day, the main beach between June and September doesn’t get better in terms of convenience and safety. For a meaningful experience, add some time at the eastern end and consider a late afternoon visit to understand what this beach is really protecting.

Best Time to Visit

Ideal: May-June for calm conditions and manageable crowds. September-October for warm water, fewer tourists, and active hatchling season.

Avoid if possible: July-August midday. The beach is spectacularly crowded, the resort strip behind can feel relentless, and the combination of summer heat and packed humanity can be overwhelming.

For turtles: Late August through September for hatchlings. June-July at night (from the respectful distance of the harbour boat tours) for nesting adults.

Tourist vs Local Perspective

Many Zakynthians have complex feelings about Laganas. The resort development expanded rapidly in the 1980s and 90s, in direct tension with the turtle nesting grounds that predated it by millennia. The Marine Park was hard-fought — conservation groups, local activists, and EU pressure eventually forced the boundaries. Today, most locals accept the compromise: resort tourism in the west, protected nesting grounds in the east. Neither side is entirely happy, which probably means the balance is roughly right. What they agree on: the turtles were here first, and they’ll be here long after the beach bars close.