The Panagiotis on Navagio Beach
The rusting ship on the white pebbles is called the Panagiotis. It gave the bay its fame and its second name, Shipwreck Beach. The Greek word navagio means shipwreck. Before the wreck, the bay is said to have been called Agios Georgios, and the bay is linked to the place name Ormos Spyrli.
The stranding is dated to 1980 or 1983. What visitors see today is a hull left to the weather, with the sea and the cliffs behind it.
To see the wreck yourself, read the page on the Navagio viewpoint or pick a trip from our overview of Zakynthos boat tours. Landing on the beach is not allowed.
The story, as it is told
What is passed down and what is certain are two different things.
The smuggling tale
The most repeated story says the ship carried smuggled cigarettes, was chased and ran aground in bad weather. That is a tale handed down locally. Read it as folklore, not as settled history.
The year of the stranding
The ship ran aground in 1980 or 1983. If you need to quote the year, write 1980 or 1983.
A name with two layers
The bay has carried the name Agios Georgios in older use, and today people say Navagio or Shipwreck Beach. The two names point to the same place on the coast.
Our pick: the wreck from the water
This boat from Agios Nikolaos passes the wreck before the Blue Caves.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
See the Navagio wreck by boat
Cruises and island tours that pass the bay and the wreck, with live prices and availability.
What condition the wreck is in
The hull is rusting, and the coast around it is eroding. A project presented in July 2026 would extend the beach with gravel by 30 meters seaward to protect the wreck. It is a plan, so the view you see in a photo may differ from the view on your day.
The cliffs above are not stable either. A rockfall on 13 September 2018 led to an evacuation of the beach. Today landing and bathing are not allowed in the bay, and boats may only enter a defined sea zone for up to 20 minutes.
The wreck is also not a place to climb. It sits inside the closed area of the bay, and nobody can walk up to it as a visitor.
Where you can see the wreck today
Three views, each with its own conditions.
| View | What you see | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| From a boat | The hull and the beach from the water | Defined sea zone, up to 20 minutes, no landing, weather decides |
| From the viewing platform | The wreck and the bay from above | Only after the protective works, status to check on the day |
| On the beach | – | Not allowed |
For most visitors, a morning boat trip is the plan that works most often. The platform is a bonus if it is open.
Tips for seeing the wreck from a boat
You have up to 20 minutes in the zone, so prepare for them.
Know where to look
The boat enters the zone in the north and leaves it in the south. Decide before you arrive which side you want to photograph from, and keep your phone or camera ready.
Expect other boats
At most 15 boats can be in the zone at once, so the view can include other vessels. A departure early in the day gives you more room on the water.
Keep distance and stay on board
Boats must keep 50 m from the shoreline. Nobody leaves the boat at the bay, and swim stops take place elsewhere on the route.
Keep reading
More about the bay behind the wreck.
Navagio shipwreck: frequently asked questions
What is the name of the Navagio shipwreck?
The ship is called the Panagiotis. The bay is known as Navagio, the Greek word for shipwreck, and as Shipwreck Beach.
When did the ship run aground?
In 1980 or 1983.
Is the smuggling story true?
It is a story handed down locally: smuggled cigarettes, a chase and bad weather. Treat it as a tale and not as settled history.
Can I walk up to the wreck?
No. Landing on the beach and swimming in the bay are not allowed. You can see the wreck from a boat in the defined sea zone, or from the viewing platform if it is open.
Will the wreck survive?
The hull is rusting and the coast is eroding. A plan presented in July 2026 would extend the beach with gravel by 30 meters seaward to protect it. Check the current state before you go.
Is navagio.org an official site about the wreck?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the municipality of Zakynthos, a museum, a ministry or a tour operator.