Whether you're travelling to Zante
in the Greek Islands, also known as Zakynthos, for a relaxing
holiday, or seeking a holiday with a difference in Zante, I am
developing my 'Explore Zakynthos' Youtube video channel to help you
plan your stay.
Business hours in Zakynthos
Banks are open from 8am to 2pm on weekdays.
Shops in Zante Town are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
from 9am to 2pm and then again from 6pm to 9pm. On Wednesday and
Saturday shops only open from 9am to 2pm and do not reopen in the
afternoon. On Sunday shops do not open at all.
Shops in the tourist resorts are generally open everyday from 9am to
10pm, if not later. Bear in mind that in the first weeks of May and the
last weeks of October some of the tourist shops may not have opened, and
towards the end of October some start to close.
Gas stations are open from 7 am to 10 pm and some are open 24hours a
day.
Government offices are open from 8 am to 3 pm on weekdays only.
Luggage Requirements
Every airline has slightly different luggage requirements, generally
20kg per person. Check with your airline before you start packing.
Greek Time
Greek time is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, an hour ahead
of Central European Time and seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
Using the Telephone in Zante
There are telephone boxes in most of the resorts, and plenty around
Zakynthos Town. You need to purchase a prepaid phone card from one of
the local stores to use these phones.
Alternatively, you can normally use the phone in your hotel room.
Make sure you find out the cost of calling the UK before you use the
hotel phone as you might find it is much cheaper to use a local phone
booth.
To reach the UK from Greece dial 0044 followed by the local UK
telephone number.
Postal Service in Zakynthos
The main Zante post office is located in the centre of Zante Town.
Most of the locals will help to point you in the right direction.
Signs denoting post offices and post boxes in Greece are usually bright
yellow with blue writing.
What is the travel time by bus from Athens to Zakynthos?
KTEL buses depart from Kifisos central bus station in Athens
throughout the day. Travel time is approximately four hours between
Kilini harbour and the Athens bus station. The boat between Zante and
Kilini is approximately one hour and fifteen minutes.
So the total duration of the bus trip is around five hours, allow for
some fluctuation depending on traffic in Athens.
Are there direct ferries from Italy?
Ferry Boats sail daily from Ancona, Bari and Brindisi to Patras. It
is then a fifty minute drive to Killini harbour, followed by an hour and
fifteen minute ferry boat ride to Zakynthos.
What is the flying time from the UK to Zante?
Direct flights, from most UK airports take about three and a half
hours to Zakynthos (Zante) airport.
What is the flying time from Athens to Zante?
For many international and European destinations outside of the UK,
the easiest way to get to Zakynthos is to fly to Athens and take a
connecting flight to Zakynthos with Olympic Airways or Aegean.
There are daily flights into Zante from Athens, often in the summer
months flights are even more frequent.
The flying time is approximately fifty minutes from tarmac to tarmac.
As with any holiday, it is always with a sense of excitement that you pack
your bags and head off for an adventure in a country away from the
familiar routines of everyday life. You can be sure the people of
Zakynthos will go out of their way to make your holiday in the Greek
Islands an extremely enjoyable experience!
The Greek Island of Zakynthos, also known as Zante in the Ionion Sea, is a
wonderful holiday destination. With among the highest number of sunshine
hours in the Mediterranean, beautiful beaches and sea caves to explore,
charming traditional villages with local produce, handcrafts and
ceramics in roadside stalls, and such a rich history, you can be sure
your holiday in Zakynthos will be both relaxing and rewarding.
Travelling to Zakynthos is easy. Daily charter flights, from the beginning
of May to the end of October, are available from all over the UK and
Europe, serviced by the international airport in Zakynthos. Internal
connections include daily flights from Athens, as well as scheduled
flights to Thessaloniki and other Ionian islands.
There are also frequent daily ferry connections to mainland Greece. Daily
scheduled boats operate between Kefalonia and Zakynthos and ferry
connections to Italy are also available.
We have put together a few important phone numbers for holidaying in
Zante, as well as a few things to remember before you fly. We hope this
section helps you to be well prepared for your holiday in Zakynthos.
Useful Zante Telephone Contact numbers
Greece Country code: 0030
Zakynthos Main Police Station: (0030) 26950 22000 or 22100
Zakynthos KTEL Bus Terminal: (0030) 26950 42656 or 22255
Athens KTEL Bus Station: (0030) 210 512 9443
Zakynthos Fire Station: (0030) 26950 22199
Zakynthos Hospital: (0030) 26950 42514 or 49111
Zakynthos Port Police: (0030) 26950 28117 or 28118
Zakynthos Taxi: (0030) 26950 22280
Zakynthos Airport: (0030) 26950 28322
ZANTE FAQS – THE ANSWERS YOU NEED, BEFORE YOU FLY
Are there any passport visa requirements to enter Greece?
For European Union citizens no visas are required. You will
definitely need your passport, identification cards are acceptable from
some E.U countries.
For non- EU citizens entering Greece you will definitely need a valid
passport. We recommend that you check with your Embassy, or the Greek
Embassy, regarding visa requirements.
What weather should I expect?
Zakynthos has a great climate with cool sea breezes and some of the
highest number of sunshine hours I the Mediterranean. The month of your
visit will have a huge influence on the weather.
March to Mid-June is a beautiful time with spring flowers and lovely
clear temperatures. The tourist season starts in May and this is when
everything starts to open and the temperature warms up for comfortable
swimming in the sea.
From Mid-June to the end of August the weather can be very hot with
balmy summer nights. This is a lovely time of year to enjoy the sun and
the sea, but prepare yourself for the heat with cool clothing, hats and
sunscreen!
September is the month of wine-making in the island of Zante. The
weather starts to become crisp and clear again and the intense heat of
August starts to reside. September is still great time for swimming and
sunbathing.
Olive harvesting in the Greek island of Zakynthos begins in October,
and carries on through the winter. The rain can come a little more often
but generally this is still a lovely summer month. If you are interested
in hiking and cyclin around the island, this is probably the month for
you as the heat is a lot less intense during the days.
What is the voltage of the electricity in Zakynthos?
The Greek electricity voltage is 220 volts; you need a two pin
European travel plug for electrical equipment from UK.
I recommend you pack one together with your electrical appliances, so
that you do not have to spend valuable holiday time in Zakynthos looking
for adaptors. Alternatively, you can buy one at the airport in the UK on
your way to Greece.
What facilities will I find for money transfer, phone and
internet?
Most of the hotel will provide the service of cash transfer from a
credit or debit card. There are also numerous cash machines in the
larger resorts around Zakynthos.
If you are staying outside of the main resorts in Zante you may need
to find the nearest larger resort to exchange cash or withdraw from an
atm. There are also a number of banks in the centre of Zante Town where
you can exchange money and use the ATMs to withdraw.
I suggest bringing some cash in Euros so that you can relax about
money following your arrival.
Should we bring insect repellent?
There are mosquitoes in the summer months in Zante and the Greek
Islands. I advise you to bring repellent if mosquitoes bother you. You
can also purchase repellent at the local store in Zante, as well as
special candle burners and wall plugs to keep the mosquitoes away.
Can we drink the tap water?
The tap water in Zakynthos is considered safe for basic routines like
brushing your teeth and showering etc.
But the tap water in Zante is generally NOT SAFE to drink.
Bottled drinking water can be bought cheaply in all of the mini market
stores. You will purchase a package of 6 bottles of water for about
€1.50.
