Cameo Island — A Postcard You Can Actually Stand In

Some places look almost too perfect to be real. Cameo Island — officially Agios Sostis — is one of them. A tiny, pine-covered islet just off the coast of the Vasilikos peninsula, reached by a wooden footbridge that must have been designed with Instagram in mind. But dismiss the hype and you’ll find something genuinely charming: a small, wild island with clear water on every side and a sense of separation from the mainland that’s startlingly complete for something you can walk to in thirty seconds.

What Awaits You

The island itself is compact — you can walk its perimeter in under fifteen minutes. What it lacks in size, it makes up for in atmosphere. Pine trees lean over the rocks, providing real shade (a luxury on many Zakynthos beaches). The water around the island is clear and swimmable from multiple points, with rocky entry points rather than a traditional sandy shore.

The wooden bridge is the obvious focal point — and yes, everyone photographs it, and yes, you will too, because it looks exactly as good as the photos suggest. Beyond it, the island has a small bar and lounge area, sunbeds positioned around the southern rocks, and a handful of spots where you can simply sit with your legs dangling over the edge and watch the Ionian stretch away towards the horizon.

The southern tip of the island offers one of the most open, unobstructed views of any accessible point on Zakynthos. On clear days you can see across to the Peloponnese. At sunset, the light turns everything amber and the silhouettes of pine trees against the coloured sky make for photographs that don’t need any filtering.

Getting There

Cameo Island is located near the village of Agios Sostis, about 16 km south of Zakynthos Town. Follow the main road towards Vasilikos and look for the signs to Agios Sostis. There’s a car park on the mainland side, and the wooden bridge connects to the island directly.

Entrance to the island costs €2-3 per person (varies by season) — a modest sum for what it offers.

Facilities

• Bar/café: Open during daylight hours, cocktails and cold drinks
• Sunbeds: Available for rent on the rocky platforms
• Swimming spots: Rocky entry points around the island, bring water shoes
• Toilets: Available on the island
• Parking: Free on the mainland side

Insider Tips

The bridge itself looks best photographed from the island side, looking back towards the mainland. Walk across, turn around, and you’ll understand what I mean.

Water shoes are strongly recommended — the entry points are rocky and can be slippery with algae in places. The swimming is excellent once you’re in, but the transition from land to water requires some care.

The bar serves cocktails from mid-morning, and the island has a genuinely pleasant party-adjacent vibe in the late afternoon. It’s not a club, but the music, the drinks, and the setting combine into something memorably festive.

For the absolute best experience, come early (8-9 AM) when the bridge is quiet, or in the evening (after 6 PM) when the day-trippers clear out. Midday between June and August can feel overwhelmingly crowded for an island this small.

Best Time to Visit

Golden hours: Early morning for calm, late afternoon/evening for sunset. Both are dramatically better than midday.

Season: The island is at its best in May-June and September-October. July and August it fills to capacity by 11 AM.

For sunset: Face southwest from the southern tip, roughly 30 minutes before actual sunset. The light builds slowly and then explodes. Don’t blink.

Tourist vs Local Perspective

Cameo Island divides opinion. Tourists adore it — the wooden bridge, the views, the romance of it all. Local Zakynthians are more ambivalent: they acknowledge its beauty but find it too curated, too crowded, too much of a scene in high season. Many will tell you there are quieter, equally beautiful spots on the peninsula. They’re right about the alternatives, but they’re underselling Cameo. Yes, it’s popular. Popularity, when the underlying thing is genuinely this good, is not always a criticism.