Tour & Activity Scams in Zakynthos, Greece
Unlicensed guides, fake tickets, bait-and-switch excursions, and ticket scalping. Below are the tour & activities scams reported in Zakynthos — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Mykonos, Barcelona, and Krakow.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
3
Tour & Activities Scams
10
Total in Zakynthos
How it works
Touts near the port and in Zakynthos Town sell tickets for boat trips to Shipwreck Beach and the Blue Caves at inflated prices, sometimes selling tickets for boats that do not exist or are already fully booked.
How it works
Rental shops in the Laganas resort strip rent out ATVs and quad bikes to tourists, then charge substantial damage fees — often €100–€400 — at return, claiming pre-existing scratches or dents were caused by the renter. The bikes are frequently already worn, and staff photograph them selectively before rental to obscure prior damage. Tourists who did not document the full vehicle condition before riding have little recourse.
How it works
Boat excursions to Navagio (Shipwreck Beach) are advertised at one price dockside in Zakynthos Town port or Agios Nikolaos, but the actual cost often climbs with undisclosed add-ons: entry to the Blue Caves, a buffet lunch, "captain's fee", or a surcharge for stopping time on the beach. Tourists agree verbally to a headline price and discover the extras only when the final bill is presented on the return journey.
See all scams in Zakynthos
10 total warnings across all categories