Zakynthos (Zante)

Zante, the third largest of the Ionian Islands, is one of Greece’s top holiday - and party - destinations. With gorgeous beaches, a lively nightlife scene and fascinating history, Zante holidays have something for everyone. Filled with rolling hills of green olive groves, hideaway ancient villages and majestic mountains, Zante is fantastically diverse.

How to get in Zakynthos

1.By plane:  Zakynthos is served by one airport which is located on the south part of the island near the resorts of Laganas and Kalamaki and caters for international and domestic flights.

2.By ferry boat: From Patras you can drive or take the bus to Kyllini port, around an hour away and from there take the ferry boat to Zakynthos Island.

There are several routes per day between Zante and Kyllini and the journey takes approximately 1 hour.

Beaches

Zakynthos beaches are famous for their natural beauty and their exotic emerald water. The most famous is the wonderful Navagio Beach (Shipwreck), which has soft white sand, turquoise waters, impressive cliffs around it and can be visited only by boat. Other beautiful beaches in Zakynthos are Gerakas, Agios Nikolaos, Kalamaki, Tsilivi and Spanzia. Most Zakynthos beaches on the eastern side of the island are organized, while the beaches of the western side are secluded. You will find below a list with the best beaches in Zakynthos island.

Accommodation

Most hotels in Zakynthos is found in the popular seaside settlements of Laganas, Tsilivi, Alykanas and Argassi. Accommodation for all tastes is found in those areas, from family hotels, apartments and traditional guesthouses to more luxurious establishments, upscale suites and private villas. These luxurious resorts have pools, jacuzzi, gyms and spa treatments. For something more quiet for your Zakynthos holidays, head to the regions of Vassilikos and Alykes.

Sightseeing

The Post Byzantine Art Museum

The Post Byzantine Art Museum of Zakynthos Town is housed in the large building of Solomos Square, the largest square of the town. It exhibits valuable icons, ecclesiastical clothing, frescoes from the 16th-19th century and papers and photos of Zakynthos before the earthquake of 1953.

Solomos Museum

This museum is located in Agios Markos Square and it is dedicated to the poet Dionysios Solomos and other eminent Zakynthians. A collection of manuscripts, portaits, personal clothes and busts of famous Zakynthians are housed inside as well as the mausoleums of two important Greek poets, Solomos and Kalvos.

Gregorios Xenopoulos  Museum

 This museum is dedicated to the Greek playwriter Gregorios Xenopoulos. It was founded in 1998 and is housed in the Xenopoulos two-storey ancestral residence, on Gaita street, near the church of Agios Dionysios, where the writer spent his childhood. Some of the writer's manuscripts, novels, brochures, leaflets, photographs and magazine issues along with other family heirlooms are on display in the museum's rooms.

Today he is considered the father of the Greek prose and the leading personality of Greek children's literature. He also reformed the Greek theatre and, as an educator, guided the youth along the path of the virtues.

The Helmis Natural History Museum of Zakynthos

The Helmis National History Museum is located in the small village of Agia Marina, in the centre of Zakynthos, only 15 km from the capital of the island. The mountainous nature of the village matches perfectly with the museum, whose exhibits represent the rich flora and fauna of Zakynthos and Greece in general. In fact, this is the only museum of natural history on the island.

Navagio or Smuggler’s Cove

If there’s one place you can’t miss in Zante, it’s Smuggler’s Cove. An arc of sands framed by white cliffs and accessible only by boat, it fronts many Zante postcards. And for good reason - it’s spectacular and home to the wreck of an alleged smuggler ship which ran aground in 1982. This turquoise water and white pebble beach is only accessed by boat, making it a secluded and idyllic setting.

National Marine Park

The Bay of Laganas boasts a National Marine park where loggerhead sea turtles come to lay eggs.

Blue Caves

Around Cape Skinari are the famous ‘Blue Caves’ and a holiday to Zante isn’t complete without visiting these spectacular formations of rocks and sunlight.

The blue caves have also interesting arches created by erosion along thousands of years, which allow for going through these caves and get actually surrounded by this surreal environment. However, there is one way of being part of that marvellous scenery apart from getting surrounded by the cave's arches: the blue caves are obviously the soft spot for those who like diving giving them the opportunity to see seals and different species of octopus.

These kinds of experiences usually remind the visitor of the many palaces, myths and fantastic literary characters and scenarios that characterize the Greek art manifestations, and it turns obvious where the inspiration of those ancient artists came from.

Backgammon Festival

The wonderful island of Zakynthos is very popular with tourists because it celebrates life in every way. One of the activities that take place every year is the Zakynthos Festival of Backgammon and chess. Held every year in the end of June and early July, this festival draws many players and visitors who come to watch the interesting and unique player strategies. Zakynthos Backgammon Festival includes 6 days of match play gammon and 6 nights of tournament format. Run by professional players, who also give tips and coach amateur players how to improve their game, this festival is real an entertainment. There is no level of expertise specified and players of all levels and ages are welcome to participate. An unforgettable experience for all, this festival is ideal for game enthusiasts and visitors looking to pick up a new hobby.

Religious feasts & festivals

After the continuous invasions that Zakynthos suffered, the island gave birth to some folklore traditions which are strongly connected to the religious worship. Throughout the centuries, the local feasts, mostly those that have a religious character are well-maintained to this day. Today, there are countless festivities accompanied by great wine and food served to the tourists.

Music is a huge part of Greek culture and Zante is no exception. There is a huge jazz festival during the summer months as well as many clubs playing everything from Basement Jazz to The Beatles.

Local products

Zakynthos Island has a mild Mediterranean climate with a lot of rain during the months of November and January and plenty of sunshine throughout the year. This island has lush vegetation and it is rich in agricultural products such as olives, citrus fruits and grapes.

Mandolato - Fytoura - Pasteli

Mandolato, Fytoura and Pasteli are traditional local sweets of Zakynthos which have been made from recipes passed down through the generations. The Mandolato is nougat made with egg whites, honey, sugar and almonds and is usually consumed at Carnival time.

The Fytoura is made from semolina, fried and covered in lots of sugar and cinnamon. The Pasteli is made with sesame seeds, honey and almonds. Both of these are sold throughout the summer months by stall holders in Zakynthos Town and shops.

Ceramics

Throughout the island of Zakynthos there are numerous pottery workshops that produce beautiful handcrafted ceramics. Some of these offer guests the chance to see the process and make their own works of art. The ceramics are made by molding clay. It is then decorated using spikes and traditional tools, fired in a kiln, colored and finally glazed.