Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
The name is about the shape. The bay curves, and from the road above it reads as a long shallow crescent.
What it is like
Fully organised, and unapologetic about it. Sunbed rows run most of the length, there are beach bars along the back, and watersports are the main business: jet skis, parasailing, banana boats and the rest, concentrated at the developed end.
The sand is soft and golden rather than pebbled, and the water shelves gently, which is why the beach fills with families at one end while the engines run at the other.
It gets busy. In July and August this is one of the most-used beaches on the island, and the quiet version of it exists only early or late in the day, or at the far ends where the loungers thin out.
Where it sits
The Vasilikos peninsula is the south-eastern arm of Zakynthos, and Banana faces north-east from it, which shelters it from the prevailing summer wind. That shelter is the practical reason it works so consistently.
Its neighbours make the comparison easy:
- Gerakas is on the other side of the same peninsula, protected, and a turtle nesting beach with rules to match. Quieter, and deliberately so.
- Tsilivi is the family resort beach on the north coast.
- Laganas is the party one.
Banana sits between them: louder than Gerakas, less of a resort strip than Laganas.
Practical notes
- Bring nothing and buy everything, or bring everything and walk to the ends. The middle is comprehensively serviced; the ends are not.
- A car or scooter helps. The peninsula is a drive from Zakynthos town and the bus service is seasonal.
- Shade is bought, not found. There are few trees behind the sand.
- The engines are part of the deal. If the point of your day is quiet water, Gerakas is ten minutes away.
Last checked August 2026. Seasonal facilities and bus routes change - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
Where is Banana Beach on Zakynthos?
On the north side of the Vasilikos peninsula, the south-eastern arm of the island, facing north-east.
Is Banana Beach sandy?
Yes. It is a long curve of soft golden sand with water that shelves gently, which is the reason it is the island’s busiest family beach.
Is Banana Beach good for watersports?
It is the main watersports beach on Zakynthos, with jet skis, parasailing and towed rides concentrated at the developed end.
Is Banana Beach crowded?
In July and August, yes. Early morning and late afternoon are the quieter windows, and the far ends of the sand stay looser than the middle.
How is it different from Gerakas?
Gerakas is on the other side of the same peninsula, is a turtle nesting beach with restrictions, and is deliberately quiet. Banana is long, organised and loud.
Next
Read best beaches in Zakynthos, Gerakas, or where to stay in Zakynthos.