Navagio, the Shipwreck Beach, is the small cove of white pebbles on the north-west coast of Zakynthos, closed in by sheer limestone cliffs, with the rusting hull of a smuggling ship on the sand and water of an unreal blue. As of October 2026 the beach is closed until 31 October 2026 under a joint ministerial decision: no landing, no swimming in the bay, and boats must stay at least 50 metres from the shore. You can still see it from a boat passing offshore, usually combined with the Blue Caves, or from the cliff-top viewpoint, which the decision allows once safety fencing on the slope is complete. Check locally that the viewpoint is open before you drive there.
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Tickets and tours for Navagio (Shipwreck) Beach
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Why Navagio is famous
The ship is the Panagiotis, a small freighter that ran aground in the cove in 1980, reportedly while carrying contraband cigarettes, and was abandoned. The cove, until then known as Agios Georgios, became Navagio, “shipwreck”, and its photo, taken from the cliffs above, went around the world. For decades boats landed thousands of visitors a day on the beach in summer.
That has stopped. In September 2018 a rockfall from the cliffs capsized small boats and injured several people; more landslides followed, including one after an earthquake in 2022. Since 2023 the beach has been closed every summer on the advice of geologists, and the wreck itself is decaying fast.
The 2026 rules
A joint decision of four Greek ministries (Citizen Protection; Shipping and Island Policy; Tourism; and Climate Crisis and Civil Protection), published in the Government Gazette (ΦΕΚ Β’ 3033) on 28 May 2026, keeps the area closed until 31 October 2026. Under it:
- No landing: nobody may set foot on the beach, from the sea or any other way.
- No swimming: swimming is banned in the sea area of the bay.
- Boats keep their distance: boats may not come within 50 metres of the shore, anchor or stay there, but can view the cove from beyond that line.
- The viewpoint: visitors may use the existing upper viewing platform on the cliff top, but only once the fencing and protection works along the slope are complete.
- Enforcement: the Municipality of Zakynthos implements the decision and the police can fine offenders.
What happens after 31 October is not yet decided. The government’s development fund has tendered a project worth about €3.9 million to rebuild the eroding beach with sand and gravel, with a second phase planned to save the wreck, so the rules may change in future seasons. Don’t book a trip that promises a landing.
Seeing Navagio from the sea
Boat trips leave from the little port of Agios Nikolaos and from Cape Skinari in the north of the island, and from Porto Vromi on the west coast. Short trips of one to two hours visit the Blue Caves under Cape Skinari; longer trips continue down the coast and stop off Navagio, typically for about €35–60 per person (prices from operators and booking sites, 2026). Morning trips have the best light and the calmest sea; trips are cancelled when the wind is strong. Choose an operator that respects the 50-metre line. See our boat trips guide.
Seeing Navagio from the cliff top
The famous view is from a small platform on the cliff edge above the cove, near the monastery of Agios Georgios Krimnon, on the road through the hill villages of the north-west. Travel sites reported the viewpoint in use in summer 2026, but we found no official confirmation that the fencing works are finished, so check with your hotel or the Municipality before you go. At the viewpoint, stay behind the railings: on 25 May 2026 a young tourist climbed over for a selfie and fell; a tree stopped his fall and he was lucky to survive.
Practical information
As of October 2026:
- Tickets: the viewpoint is free; boat trips are paid to the operator.
- Hours: boat trips run mostly from May to October, with fewer departures in October and almost none in winter.
- Booking: book boat trips a day or two ahead in July and August, and confirm the weather the evening before.
- Heat: there is no shade at the viewpoint or on open boats; bring a hat, sunscreen and water.
- Dress code: none for the beach area; cover shoulders if you visit the monastery nearby.
- Accessibility: the viewpoint is reached from a roadside parking area on a short, rough path, and getting on and off small boats involves a step down.
- Getting there: drive or take a tour to the north-west of the island; there is no regular bus to the viewpoint. Agios Nikolaos port is in the north-east of the island.
Combine it with
Make a day of the north: the Blue Caves by boat in the morning, the Navagio viewpoint and the hill villages of Volimes and Anafonitria in the afternoon, and sunset at the Keri lighthouse in the south-west. Another day, see the loggerhead turtles in Laganas Bay inside the National Marine Park. Plan your stay with our Zakynthos travel guide and Greece travel guide, and see our beaches guide and snorkeling guide. Nearby Ionian islands include Kefalonia and Corfu.
Navagio Beach FAQ
Can you go on Navagio beach in 2026?
No. A ministerial decision keeps the beach closed until 31 October 2026: no landing, no swimming in the bay, and boats must stay at least 50 metres from the shore.
Is the Navagio viewpoint open?
The 2026 decision allows visitors on the upper viewing platform once fencing works on the slope are complete. It was reported in use in summer 2026, but check locally, and stay behind the railings.
Why is Navagio closed?
Because of rockfalls from the unstable cliffs, including one in 2018 that capsized boats and injured visitors. Geologists have advised closing the beach every summer since 2023.
Can you still see the shipwreck?
Yes, from a boat passing beyond the 50-metre line, or from the cliff-top viewpoint when it is open.
How much is a boat trip to Navagio?
Longer trips from the north of the island past the Blue Caves to Navagio cost about €35–60 per person in 2026, depending on the boat and the length of the trip.
Will Navagio reopen in 2027?
It is not yet decided. A project to rebuild the beach and save the wreck has been tendered, and a new decision is expected before the 2027 season.