Banana Beach
Best for. Travellers who want a big sweep of organised golden sand with sunbeds, water sports and easy beach bars, and who like the option of a lively day and a quiet corner.
Best spot. A front bed near Banana Baya or Casa Playa for the service and the water sports, or a stroll to the quieter far end when you want more room.
Know this. This is a long, busy organised beach rather than a secret cove, so it is lively in season, but the sand runs far enough that the ends stay calm.
Banana is the island workhorse in the best sense, a long golden ribbon of sand on the sheltered east side of the Vassilikos peninsula, organised from end to end and built for an easy full day. Sunbeds and umbrellas run along the front, beach bars and restaurants keep the day fed and watered, and a full line up of water sports buzzes off the central section. The water is clear and gentle, the sand is soft, and there is simply room here, which is the beach quietly excellent quality that the smaller famous coves cannot offer.
Because the sand stretches so far, Banana carries a crowd with ease and gives you a choice of day. Settle in near Banana Baya or Casa Playa, two established beach bars on the sand, for the service, the lunch and the easy access to pedalos, jet skis and inflatables. Or walk away from the concessions toward the quieter ends, where the loungers thin and the buzz fades to a hum. Few beaches let you pick your own volume so easily, and that flexibility is why Banana suits families, groups and couples alike.
The honest read is that Banana is no hideaway and never feels remote. In July and August the central front fills with sunbeds by late morning, the water sports add their soundtrack, and the car park works hard, so anyone after a wild or silent shore should look to the protected coves instead. The sand is wide enough that it rarely feels oppressive, and the trade is everything on tap, but for true calm come in June or September, arrive early, or simply walk to the ends. For the quiet and the protected sand, Gerakas next door is the better call.
Beach bars on the sand
Banana is an organised beach with beach bars and sunbed concessions. For the full directory and to enquire about a daybed, use the Zakynthos beach clubs guide.
Banana Baya and Casa Playa
Banana is an organised public beach with beach bars and sunbed concessions rather than a single gated club. Banana Baya and Casa Playa are the established bars and restaurants on the sand, with details and prices to be confirmed locally.
East side of the Vassilikos peninsula
Banana runs along the east side of the Vassilikos peninsula in the south of the island, around fifteen to twenty minutes by car from Zakynthos town. A road drops to a large car park behind the sand, and the central section is where the beach bars, sunbeds and water sports concentrate.
A car is the easiest way to arrive with beach gear, and parking behind the sand is generally manageable outside the very peak. Buses to Vassilikos are limited, so a hire car or a short taxi hop is the simplest way to time your visit around the crowds and reach the quieter ends.
Photo: Banana Beach via GoogleBook a beach club
Banana is an organised beach with concessions and bars. Tell us your dates and we can point you to a daybed on the Vassilikos sand. We reply by email.
We are an independent editorial resource. Booking requests are passed to clubs and operators, and some may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices, availability and opening status are set by the venue and are to be confirmed at the time of booking.
Common questions about Banana
Is Banana beach good for families?
Yes, it is a strong family choice. The sand is soft, the water is gentle and shelving, and the full services mean sunbeds, food and toilets are all on hand. Lifeguard cover is seasonal and not guaranteed, and the central water sports zone is busy, so supervise children and set up away from the jet skis if you want calm.
Is Banana beach crowded?
In July and August the central section fills with sunbeds by late morning and the car park is busy. The beach is the longest on the island, though, so the ends stay much quieter and it rarely feels unbearable. For more room, come in June or September, arrive early, or simply walk away from the concessions.
Are there beach bars at Banana beach?
Yes. Banana Baya and Casa Playa are established beach bars and restaurants on the sand, serving food and drinks with sunbeds and umbrellas, and there are other concessions along the front. Prices and opening times are set locally and are to be confirmed when you visit, so ask what a sunbed includes.
How do you get to Banana beach?
Banana is on the east side of the Vassilikos peninsula, around fifteen to twenty minutes by car from Zakynthos town, with a road down to a large car park behind the sand. A car is the easiest way to arrive, as buses to Vassilikos are limited, and parking is generally manageable outside the very peak.
Banana or Gerakas, which is better?
It depends on the day you want. Banana is the longer, livelier, fully organised beach with water sports and beach bars, ideal for an active social day. Gerakas next door is the quieter, protected marine park beach with softer sand and a calmer feel, the better choice for a refined or family day with less noise.
