Xigia Beach
Best for. Curious swimmers who want a small, dramatic cove with a twist, the cool clear water of natural sulphur springs that locals say softens the skin, framed by steep cliffs.
Best spot. The deeper water off the pebbles where the cool springs meet the sea, eased into early before the little cove and its car park fill.
Know this. Xigia is tiny, the water is noticeably cooler than the bays and carries a faint sulphur scent, and access is down steep steps with very limited parking above.
Xigia is a small marvel on the wild north coast, a pocket cove where natural sulphur and mineral springs seep out of the cliffs and into the sea. The water is startlingly clear, the cove is hemmed by steep green slopes, and the springs leave a faint scent in the air and a cool thread through the warm sea that locals have sworn by for generations as a tonic for the skin. As a swim with a story, a natural spa hidden in a cliff, it is one of the most distinctive places on the island.
It rewards the early and the curious. Come in the morning, ease over the pebbles into the deep clear water, and feel the cold mineral patches mix with the warm sea, a genuinely odd and lovely sensation. The cove is tiny, though, with a small canteen and only a short row of sunbeds, and the parking on the road high above is very limited, with steep steps down to the water. By midday in summer it can feel full quickly, and the magic of the place needs a little space to land.
Be honest about the trade offs. There is no soft sand, the entry is over pebbles into deep water, the springs make it markedly cooler than the sheltered bays, and the faint sulphur smell is part of the deal. Bring water shoes, accept the bracing swim, and Xigia gives you something no resort beach can. Want warm shallow water, soft sand and room to spread out, and you should point south to Gerakas or Banana instead, and treat Xigia as a memorable stop on a north coast drive.
A canteen, not a club
Xigia is a small natural sulphur cove with a canteen rather than a club. For a daybed and organised sand, use the Zakynthos beach clubs guide.
Small canteen above the cove
Xigia is a tiny natural cove with a small canteen and a short row of sunbeds rather than a beach club. Services are minimal by nature of the place, and details and prices are to be confirmed locally.
North coast, near Agios Nikolaos
Xigia lies on the north coast between Alykes and Agios Nikolaos, around thirty minutes by car from Zakynthos town on the coastal road. Parking is very limited on the road high above the cove, and a steep set of steps leads down to the pebbles, so the approach takes a little effort and an early start helps.
A car is the practical way to arrive, as bus links to this stretch of the north coast are limited. Wear sensible shoes for the steps and water shoes for the pebble entry, and carry water and sun cover, as the services at the cove are deliberately small.
Photo: r DomiXX via GoogleBook a beach club
Xigia is a tiny natural cove with a canteen rather than a club. Tell us your dates and we can point you to a daybed at an organised beach. We reply by email.
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Common questions about Xigia
Why does Xigia beach smell of sulphur?
Natural sulphur and mineral springs seep out of the cliffs and into the sea at Xigia, which gives the cove its faint scent and its cool, clear water. The minerals are the whole point of the place, and locals have long linked the water to softer skin, so the smell is a natural feature rather than a sign of anything amiss.
Is Xigia beach good for swimming?
Yes for confident swimmers, as the water is deep, clear and clean, with the bracing twist of cool spring patches mixing into the warm sea. The entry is over pebbles into deep water with no shallow shelf, so water shoes help and small children need close care. It is a swim with character rather than a gentle paddling beach.
Is there sand at Xigia beach?
No, Xigia is a pebble and shingle cove rather than a sandy beach, dropping quickly into deep water below steep cliffs. It is prized for its clear mineral water and its dramatic setting, not for soft sand, so anyone wanting a sandy day should head to Gerakas or Banana on the southern Vassilikos peninsula.
How do you get to Xigia beach?
Xigia is on the north coast between Alykes and Agios Nikolaos, around thirty minutes by car from Zakynthos town. Parking is very limited on the road above the cove, and a steep set of steps leads down to the pebbles. A car is the practical way to arrive, as bus links along this coast are limited, and an early start helps.
Is Xigia beach worth visiting?
For a curious swimmer, yes, as the natural sulphur springs and the dramatic little cove make it one of the most distinctive spots on the island. It is tiny, cooler than the bays and short on parking and services, so set expectations for a memorable stop rather than a long lounging day, and go early before the cove fills.
