Zakynthos real estate has no island-level price index, but asking prices across the Ionian islands averaged €2,531/m² in the second quarter of 2026, up 5.9% in a year, according to Spitogatos. The Golden Visa minimum is €800,000, because Zakynthos had 41,180 residents in the 2021 census. This guide covers the main areas, prices, access, the marine park, earthquakes and the costs of buying.
Last checked: October 2026
At a glance
- Prices: Spitogatos published no Zakynthos figure for Q2 2026. The Ionian regional average was €2,531/m², up 5.9%.
- Population: 41,180 residents in 2021, ELSTAT reports, the second largest in the Ionian islands after Corfu.
- Golden Visa: €800,000 for a single home of at least 120 m², or €250,000 for a conversion or a listed building.
- Airport: 2,282,774 passengers in 2025, with 764,954 from the United Kingdom, Fraport Greece figures show.
- Ferry: Kyllini on the mainland, about 1 hour 15 minutes, every day all year.
Where to buy on Zakynthos: the main areas
Buyers on Zakynthos choose between the town, the resort coasts of the east and south, and the quieter north and west. The island’s character changes sharply between these areas.
Zakynthos town
Zakynthos town is the capital and port on the east coast. It was rebuilt after the 1953 earthquakes and is the centre of year-round life, with the island’s services, shops and the ferry to Kyllini.
The north-east: Tsilivi, Planos and Alykes
North of the town, Tsilivi, Planos and Alykes are resort areas with beaches and holiday homes. They are close to town and busy in summer, and many properties are let to visitors.
The south: Laganas, Kalamaki and Keri
The south coast around Laganas Bay is the island’s largest resort area. Much of the bay is part of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, which protects nesting sea turtles. Keri, at the south-western end, is a quieter village above the cliffs.
The Vasilikos peninsula
The Vasilikos peninsula in the south-east is greener and less built up, with beaches facing the open sea. Gerakas beach, at its tip, is a turtle nesting beach with restrictions on use.
The north and west: Volimes and the mountain villages
The north and the western mountain villages are rural and much quieter. The west coast has high cliffs rather than beaches, and plots here tend to be larger.
Zakynthos real estate prices
No average asking price for Zakynthos property was published for the second quarter of 2026. The nearest measure is the Ionian islands average, €2,531/m², from Spitogatos data published on 16 September 2026.
| Area, Q2 2026 | Average asking price |
|---|---|
| Paxoi | €3,846/m² |
| Lefkada | €3,302/m² |
| Kefalonia | €2,531/m² |
| Ionian islands, regional average | €2,531/m² (+5.9%) |
| Zakynthos | Not published |
The regional figure covers all the Ionian islands and is only a guide. Prices on Zakynthos vary widely between a sea-view villa in Vasilikos and a village house inland.
Ask for comparable sales in the same village, and ask a licensed engineer to check the permit and a lawyer to check the title before you agree a price. Asking prices are not sale prices.
Golden Visa on Zakynthos
The Golden Visa minimum on Zakynthos is €800,000. Under Law 5100/2024, islands with more than 3,100 residents are in the higher tier, and Zakynthos had 41,180 in 2021.
- The investment must go into one property. A built home must have at least 120 m² of main areas.
- The €250,000 routes apply to a building converted from commercial to residential use, or to a restored listed building.
- A Golden Visa property cannot be let short term under the sharing economy rules, the Ministry of Migration circular states. Long-term letting is allowed.
Zakynthos is not a border area under Law 1892/1990, so buyers from outside the EU need no prior permit. Full rules are on our Golden Visa hub.
Access and year-round life
Zakynthos has a busy international airport and a year-round ferry to the Peloponnese. Zakynthos town keeps a resident population and services through the winter.
| Link | Detail |
|---|---|
| Zakynthos airport | 2,282,774 passengers in 2025 (provisional); United Kingdom 764,954, Poland 276,753, Netherlands 247,341 |
| Zakynthos to Kyllini | About 1 hour 15 minutes, every day, January to December |
Airport figures are Fraport Greece’s January to December 2025 statistics. Ferry times are from Ferryhopper’s published timetables, which change each year.
Most international flights are seasonal. In winter, owners usually travel via Athens, or by road to Kyllini and the ferry. The resort areas in the south and north-east are very quiet out of season, so check which services stay open near the house.
Local rules: the marine park, earthquakes and building
Three local factors matter most on Zakynthos: the National Marine Park in the south, the island’s earthquake record and the general rules on building.
National Marine Park of Zakynthos
The park was set up by presidential decree in 1999. It covers the marine and coastal area of Laganas Bay and the Strofades islets, and includes three Natura 2000 areas. Each nesting beach has special protection measures.
- Nesting beaches are open from 07:00 to sunset.
- Umbrellas are banned on Gerakas, Dafni and Marathonisi, except park-approved furniture.
- Cars, motorbikes, bicycles, horses and dogs are not allowed on nesting beaches. Sekania is closed to the public.
The park is now run by the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA). For any plot near Laganas Bay or Vasilikos, ask a licensed engineer whether it falls inside a protected zone and what that means for building.
Earthquakes
In August 1953 a series of earthquakes of magnitude 6.5, 6.8 and 7.2 levelled Kefalonia, Zakynthos and Ithaca and killed about 480 people, the National Observatory of Athens reports. Much of the island was rebuilt afterwards.
Ask a civil engineer to inspect the structure and confirm the permit, the year of construction and any later additions.
Building and title
Every deed must carry the property’s electronic identity (ilektroniki taftotita akinitou), drawn up by a licensed engineer, confirming that the building has no unauthorised works, or that they have been legalised. Read illegal building works: what buyers should check. Land outside a town plan can only be built on if it meets minimum size, road access and other rules. Check the title in the Cadastre before signing.
Renting out a home on Zakynthos
A home on Zakynthos can be let short term if it is registered with AADE and meets the national standards. The freeze on new registrations covers only central Athens and central Thessaloniki, the Housing Policy Portal states.
No density limit for Zakynthos has been published. Each let needs a registry number (AMA) from AADE’s Short-Term Stay Property Registry. Rules are in our short-term rental rules guide.
Costs of buying on Zakynthos
Buyers on Zakynthos pay the same purchase taxes as anywhere in Greece. On a resale, transfer tax is 3% plus a 3% municipal surcharge on the tax, so 3.09% in total.
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer tax on a resale | 3.09% |
| VAT on a new build | 24%, suspended to 31 December 2026 if the developer applies |
| Capital gains tax on a later sale | Suspended to 31 December 2026 |
| Buyer’s agent or estate agent | Agreed case by case |
| Notary, lawyer, engineer, Cadastre | Official scales or agreed fees |
A bill, put to public consultation from 18 October to 1 November 2026 and tabled in Parliament on 3 November 2026 and now in committee, would raise transfer tax to 15% on homes bought by individuals who are not EU or EEA tax residents, for final contracts from 1 July 2027. Buyers who are eligible for the first-home exemption (article 42 of the Property Tax Code) are excluded. The same bill would extend the suspensions of VAT on new buildings and of capital gains tax to 31 December 2027. It is not yet law. See our report on the bill and the real cost of buying property in Greece.
For other Ionian islands, see our Corfu guide and the Greek islands property guide.
Thinking about buying on Zakynthos? Give your brief to an independent buyer’s agency. It can search the market for exactly what you are looking for and advise you through the purchase.
Frequently asked questions
How much is property on Zakynthos?
No island average is published, but the Ionian islands averaged €2,531/m² in asking prices in Q2 2026, Spitogatos data show. At that regional average, 120 m² would come to about €304,000, but this is not a Zakynthos figure. Actual prices vary widely by area.
Can foreigners buy Zakynthos real estate?
Yes. Zakynthos real estate is open to buyers from any country, and the island is not a border area. Buyers need a Greek tax number (AFM) and usually a Greek lawyer. See how to buy property in Greece as a foreigner.
What is the Golden Visa amount on Zakynthos?
The minimum is €800,000, because Zakynthos had 41,180 residents in the 2021 census. The €250,000 routes for conversions and listed buildings also apply.
Can I build near the turtle beaches on Zakynthos?
Plots near Laganas Bay and the nesting beaches may fall inside the National Marine Park or its Natura 2000 areas, where extra rules apply. Ask a licensed engineer to check the plot’s zone and what can be built before you buy.
Is Zakynthos busy all year?
No. Zakynthos town has year-round life, but the resorts are very quiet in winter and most flights are seasonal. The ferry from Kyllini runs every day all year.
Can I let my Zakynthos home to holidaymakers?
Yes, if it is registered with AADE, has a registry number (AMA) and meets the national safety standards. A home used for a Golden Visa cannot be let short term.
Buyers should confirm how this applies to them with a Greek lawyer or accountant.
Sources
- Spitogatos: Greek islands, asking sale prices, Q2 2026 (16 September 2026)
- ELSTAT: 2021 census, resident population by region, regional unit and municipality (17 March 2023)
- Ministry of Migration and Asylum: Circular on Golden Visa, Article 64 of Law 5100/2024 (September 2024)
- Fraport Greece: Zakynthos airport traffic by country, January to December 2025
- Ferryhopper: ferries from Kyllini
- National Marine Park of Zakynthos: protection measures for sea turtle nesting beaches
- NECCA: Ionian management unit
- National Observatory of Athens, Geodynamic Institute: The January–February 2014 earthquakes in Kefalonia, first report (26 February 2014)
- Housing Policy Portal: temporary restrictions on short-term rentals
- Law 5246/2025, article 12: VAT suspension on new buildings
- Law 5219/2025 (Property Tax Code), article 27: transfer tax
