Navagio, the iconic beach on the Greek island of Zakynthos, will remain closed to the public throughout the summer, after local authorities banned access by boat or swimming due to ongoing safety concerns.
The world-famous beach, also known as Shipwreck Beach, will be off limits until October 31 following a decision by Greece’s Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (OASP), which found that the cliffs surrounding the cove posed a landslide risk.
One of Greece’s most photographed locations and among the world’s most Instagrammed beaches, Navagio has faced repeated closures in recent years following rockfalls and seismic activity.
Local authorities this week unveiled plans aimed at protecting the site and improving visitor safety. The project includes extending the beach by 30 meters using gravel to help combat coastal erosion, as well as additional stabilization works in the surrounding area.
Navagio has remained largely inaccessible during several recent summer seasons. In 2018, a section of the cliff collapsed onto the beach, injuring seven visitors and prompting its closure. In 2022, a magnitude-5.4 earthquake struck off Zakynthos, once again raising concerns over the stability of the cliffs and leading to further restrictions.
Although visitors will not be able to access the beach this summer, they will still be able to see and photograph the cove from the designated clifftop viewing platform above.
The secluded bay was originally known as Agios Georgios (St. George) before becoming famous as Navagio Beach after cargo ship MV Panagiotis ran aground there during a storm in the early 1980s. The Greek word “navagio” means “shipwreck”.
