The Navagio Shipwreck (in Greek "Ναυάγιο", meaning "shipwreck") is probably the most photographed beach in all of Greece. The rusting carcass of the MV Panagiotis, a smuggler ship that ran aground in 1980, rests on a bed of perfectly white sand surrounded by cliffs over 200 metres tall. The water is an impossible blue you have to see to believe.
But visiting Navagio in 2026 isn't quite as straightforward as the Instagram photos suggest. After the 2018 cliff collapse and the new restrictions of 2022-2023, the rules have changed. In this guide we explain how to get there by car, where to park, which viewpoint is best, and the current restrictions for the beach itself.
Access to the Navagio beach from the sea is now regulated by the Marine Park authorities — boats do the wreck tour but landing on the beach is not always permitted, particularly in peak season, due to falling-rock risk. Confirm at the harbour at the moment of boarding. The viewpoint from above is always accessible.
The two ways to see Navagio
1. Viewpoint (from above, by car)
The viewpoint — locally called the "Navagio Viewpoint" or "Skopia Volimon" — is a platform around 220 metres above sea level, looking down on the beach. You reach it only by car, via an asphalt road that branches off from the village of Volimes in the north-west of the island.
How to get there from the airport:
- Take the main road north (direction Zakynthos Town, then Tsilivi).
- Continue past Katastari, then climb to Volimes (around 50 km, ~1 h 5 min total).
- From Volimes follow the "Shipwreck Viewpoint" signs — three switchbacks and you arrive at the parking area.
The car park is free, unpaved, fairly large. From there it's a 200-metre walk on a wooden boardwalk (rebuilt after the 2018 landslide) to a glass platform that overlooks the wreck directly. The vertigo is real — don't get close to the edge if you're afraid of heights.
2. Beach (from the sea, by boat)
The beach itself can be reached only by sea: there are no safe paths down from above. Boats leave from:
- Porto Vromi (west side, the closest — 15 minutes' sailing)
- Cape Skinari / Agios Nikolaos Volimes (north — 30-40 min, but includes the Blue Caves tour as well)
- Zakynthos Town / Tsilivi (full-day excursions — about 1 h sailing)
Tours cost €15-25 per person (Navagio only) or €30-45 (Navagio + Blue Caves). Departures every hour from 09:00 to 17:00 in peak season.
What's the best time to visit Navagio?
It depends on the angle you want to see it from:
- Viewpoint: between 10:00 and 14:00. The sun lights the beach from above, the water is a perfect cobalt blue. After 16:00 the cliffs cast a shadow on the bay and the colour fades.
- From the boat: between 11:00 and 13:00, when the sun is near peak and lights the seabed. Photos turn out much better.
- To avoid crowds: go early — 09:00 at both the viewpoint and Porto Vromi boats. In peak season (July-August) the viewpoint fills up by 11:00.
Which car is best for the Volimes road?
The climb to Volimes has narrow switchbacks and noticeable gradients. Every car in our fleet, even Group A (Toyota Aygo, Fiat Panda), can handle it without issue. That said:
- If you're a family of four with luggage, we recommend Group B (Hyundai i20, Renault Clio) — more stable on the ascent.
- If you're not used to manual gearbox, ask for an Automatic F1 (VW Polo Automatic) — switchbacks become a relaxed experience.
- If you want full comfort, Group C (VW Golf, Peugeot 308) or an SUV like the Audi Q3 are the top picks — excellent road grip.
Every car in our fleet is delivered free of charge to Zakynthos Airport.
What to bring to the viewpoint
- Plenty of water (at least 1 litre per person) — there's no permanent kiosk at the car park.
- Hat and sunscreen — full sun, no shade.
- Closed shoes or sneakers — the path is wooden but with some unpaved sections.
- Camera or phone with a good lens — the panoramas are once-in-a-lifetime.
- Patience for the selfie queue — the glass platform line can be long.
Frequently asked questions about Navagio
No. There are no official paths and trying to climb down the cliffs is extremely dangerous — landslides are frequent and several people have lost their lives over the years. The beach is reachable only by boat.
Drone flying is regulated by Greek aviation and the Marine Park. Pre-registration is required and during certain periods drone flight is prohibited to protect turtle nesting. Check current rules before you travel.
The glass platform is safe, but the path leading there has some open edges. Keep kids by the hand and stay clear of unfenced edges. The path is awkward for prams (unpaved sections).
The viewpoint is accessible year-round, but boats to the beach run only from May to mid-October. In winter the wind on the way up to Volimes can make driving risky. April-June and September are the best months — good weather, fewer crowds.
For just the viewpoint, plan around 1 hour 30 minutes (parking, walk, photos, return). For the boat trip from Porto Vromi plan 2-3 hours. Combining both is a full day's plan.
In conclusion
Navagio is absolutely worth the visit, just with a few more precautions than in years past. The viewpoint remains accessible whatever the season and rewards you with one of the most spectacular views in the Mediterranean. The beach itself, by boat, is a different and more "marine" experience that's still worth the price of the tour.
The only way to enjoy both without rush is with a rental car. Get in touch to reserve yours: we deliver the car to the airport, with no deposit and no credit card.
"The real spectacle of Navagio isn't the wreck. It's the impossible blue of the water that looks hand-painted."