If you are looking for peace and tranquillity,
to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, you can find it here
in the quieter regions of Zante - Zakynthos in the Greek islands.
Alternatively, if you want fun in the sun, with
bars and clubs, you wont be disappointed.
The size of Zante makes it an
ideal holiday location – big enough for variation, small enough to
really get around and explore Zante at leisure!
Holiday of a Lifetime in
Zante
With varied nightlife entertainment, great restaurants and tavernas,
and the wonderful hospitality of the people of Zakynthos, you are sure
to head home from a holiday in Zakynthos with more than just a great
suntan!
You can easily travel around Zakynthos, on organized trips, or hire a
car and explore Zante Island at your leisure. Zakynthos has it all -
from buzzing beach clubs to secluded caves and coves, great water
sports, scuba diving and snorkeling adventures, and fantastic boat trips
to extraordinary locations - even eco-friendly turtle spotting is
available here!
During their occupation of the island the Venetians named the island
of Zakynthos 'Fioro di Levante', the 'Flower of the Orient'.
This
beautiful island is the perfect place for a summer holiday. There really
is something for everyone on this charming Greek Island.
You’re spoilt for choice with a wide range of activities, places to
visit and things to do while on holiday in Zakynthos. All will add a
special touch to your stay! Whatever your interests and holiday goals,
you'll find many things to do on holiday in Zakynthos, and extraordinary
places to explore.
On holiday in Zante you can easily combine cultural activities,
including traditional and contemporary arts, with rest and relaxation.
Enjoy basking in the sun, swimming in the crystal waters of the Ionion
Sea, enjoying beautiful beaches.
Why choose Zakynthos for your holiday?
Zakynthos provides an ideal holiday location in the Greek Islands for
all ages. Away from the hectic pace and responsibilities of everyday
life at home, you'll find that the natural beauty of Zakynthos will
provide great energy for reviving body and soul. The Greek island of Zakynthos, otherwise known as Zante, is an
artists paradise.
Zakynthos is full of charm, colour, flowers, and fresh
air, not to mention some of the most amazing beaches in the Greek
islands.
When you open any guide book on Zakynthos, you’ll read the story of
an island which has been home to many famous poets, artists and writers
– an island often referred to as the ‘Flower of the East’. I am sure
you’ll agree with me that Zakynthos is an island filled with magic!
Zante Holiday highlights for visitors to Zakynthos
Enjoy absolute relaxation in Zante, but you can head into busier
Zante resorts if you want a bit of a holiday buzz!
You can explore the wonderful beaches and coastline of Zakynthos
There are plenty of affordable Zante boat trips on offer, to great
locations such as the famous ‘Shipwreck’ at Navagio Bay
Wander round the picturesque towns and villages in Zakynthos,
enjoying traditional Greek Island charm
Discover the history and culture of Zante in wonderful museums
and churches
Learn about Caretta-Caretta Loggerhead sea turtles, the symbol
of the ecology of Zakynthos
Enjoy traditional Greek cuisine, fine wines and locally produced
cheese, olive oil, raisins, and sweets
Enjoy evening entertainment, including traditional Greek dance,
bouzouki and song. Traditional Zakynthian serenades, known as
“Kantades” provide really special evening entertainment, in selected
locations around the island.
Enjoy a great selection of things to do in Zante including great
boat trips to the Blue Caves, Shipwreck beach and Zante turtle
spotting trips
All the regions of Zakynthos
share the natural beauty and cultural
identity of Zante island. The Municipal Authority make a great effort to
create and perfect the infrastructures necessary for continued progress
and development of the island. As the third largest Ionian Island, there is plenty to explore in
Zante.
Each of the regions of Zante has a distinct feel of its own.
For the purpose of exploring Zakynthos we refer to the regions of Zante Island as:
Zakynthos Town
South Zakynthos - from Argassi to the beach of Gerakas
South West Zakynthos - from Kalamaki to Marathias
West Zakynthos – from Marathias to Shipwreck Bay
East Zakynthos - from Tsilivi to Alykes
Far North - from north of Alykes to Skinari
You'll notice the Greek island of Zakynthos varies greatly from
region to region as you travel around on holiday in Zante.
Fertile
plains in the southeast region of Zante contrast greatly with the
mountainous terrain and very steep cliffs of the West coast of
Zakynthos.
The western portion of Zante island is largely untouched
especially from tourism. The South, East, South East and South West
regions of Zakynthos, Zante consist of lush vegetation and spacious beaches.
These regions in Zakynthos are where you'll find the more popular and
developed Zante tourist resorts in Zakynthos.
The weather in Zakynthos, also known as Zante, in the Greek islands
consists of a typical Mediterranean climate.
Zakynthos is one of the sunniest islands in Greece. Rain in the
summer season in Zante is rare.
Zakynthos is considered to have one of
the highest sunshine hours in Greece and the Mediterranean, which makes
it an ideal location for beach weddings, and for those who want to go
abroad to get married in the sun.
In Zakynthos during the winter, not only is the rainfall quite high,
but so is the level of humidity, which explains the rich fertility of
the land in Zakynthos, along with the lush green forests and vegetation,
covering many parts of Zante island.
Zakynthos
is home, during the summer months, to the endangered species of sea
turtles, the Caretta Caretta
Loggerhead sea turtles. From pre-historic
times the Caretta caretta Loggerhead Turtles have nested in Zakynthos.
Caretta Caretta turtles arrive in Zakynthos from May, when the waters
are warmer. The turtles nest three times during the summer, on exactly
the same beach they were born years before.
While you are on holiday in Zakynthos, be sure to enjoy a turtle
spotting boat trip in the Bay of Laganas and learn more about the
Caretta Caretta loggerhead sea turtles.
The National Marine Park of Zakynthos was established in 1999, the
first of its kind in Greece, setting an example for other regions in
Greece that require integrated management of the sustainable
environment.
The
objectives of the National Marine Park
include the preservation of
the natural environment of Zakynthos, while conserving the ecological
balance of the marine and coastal regions of the Bay of Laganas and the
Strophadia Islands.
We have found the people of Zakynthos to be optimistic, friendly,
happy, and hospitable people. Zante Island has always been associated
with song, especially the singing of the harmonious kandathes of
Zakynthos. It is often the friendliness and hospitality of the people of
Zakynthos that encourages visitors to return year after year to Zante
island.
Zakynthos is a developing island in many ways.
Many of the people of Zante, Zakynthos are determined to preserve a delicate balance between the past
and the present, between tradition and progress, in order that the
island and her people will remain uniquely gifted and inspiring.
A variety of property development has been taking place in Zakynthos
over recent years. A number of property developments have been
particularly developed to meet the needs of tourists wanting to purchase
a holiday home on the island.
Wherever you choose your accommodation to be located in Zakynthos,
you can be sure that a wide variety of recreational activities will be
available to help keep your holiday in Zakynthos interesting and active.
Most of the main resorts in Zante provide a wide variety of beach and
water sports activities. There are also tennis clubs, horse riding,
water villages, go karts, and mini-golf courses to keep you busy during
your holiday in Zante.
The receptions of most hotels and studio accommodations in Zakynthos
will provide you with information about boat trips in Zakynthos, as well
as car hire, bus trips, jeep safaris, and other creative activities and
things to do and see while on holiday in Zakynthos.
The prospect of lounging around in the sun while on holiday has a
definite charm. But add to that an abundance of delicious Zakynthian
food and drink and you may have the undesirable side effect of piling on
the pounds!
With the stress of work and running a home removed from your schedule,
and with plenty of free time on your hands, your holiday in Zakynthos
provides an ideal opportunity to get your body into great shape, and
reset your goals for a whole new you!
With warm sunny weather, exercising and pampering outdoors can be so
much healthier as you tap into feel-good factors of sunshine, warmth,
fresh air, and the bounties of the sea. With a little imagination you
can turn this beautiful island into a playground to strengthen and
streamline your body.
A wide selection of shops in the main resorts in Zante provides great
holiday shopping! Many shops in the Zante resorts provide a selection of
clothing, gifts and souvenirs, including ceramics and handcrafts.
Zakynthos Town is one of the nicest towns in the Greek islands for
shopping. From clothes, jewels and shoes, to gifts and souvenirs to take
back home from your holiday in Zakynthos, you won't be disappointed with
the shops in Zante Town.
You can also to head to the northern villages of Anafonitria and
Volimes for a wonderful selection of handmade home ware, tapestries,
needlework and beautiful Greek Island linen.
Zante’s blend of traditional Greek values with modern culture
The Zakynthian people go out of their way to honour the traditions of
the past, commemorating and celebrating special events throughout the
year. People of all ages participate in a variety of wonderful events
and special occasions, with a unified spirit that attracts visitors from
all over Greece.
You will experience tradition in many forms while on holiday in
Zante.From sampling traditional food and cuisine, to visiting
traditional villages, to listening to the delightful Zakynthian music
and song. Tradition is alive and well in Zakynthos - adding delight to
your holiday in the Greek Islands.
Zakynthos has inspired numerous poets, musicians and artists - among
them Dionyssis Solomos, Ugo Foscolo, Andreas Kalvos and many more.
By the time your holiday in Zakynthos is over, you are sure to have come
across the statue of Dionysios Solomos in the main Solomos Square in
Zakynthos Town. Solomos (1798-1857) was a famous Greek poet from Zante.
Dionysios Solomos wrote the poem Ode to Liberty, also known as Hymn to
Liberty, in 1823, of which the first two stanzas became the Greek
national anthem.
You can visit the beautiful park of Lofos Strani, above Zakynthos
Town, which marks the spot where Dionysis Solomos actuially wrote the
Greek National Anthem.
Historical traces were discovered in the Bay of Laganas dating back
to the Paleolithic and Neolithic Eras. Historical finds included
significant bone fossils from the Palaeolithic Era.
According to the poet Homer, the name of Zakynthos was derived from the
first inhabitant of Zante Island - who was named Zakynthos. He was the
son of King Dardanos of Troy, who arrived on the island around 1500-1600
BC
According to other historical sources, the name of Zakynthos island is
derived from the words Za and Cynthos (or Kynthos), which means hill.
This corresponds to the mountainous landscape of Zakynthos. Cynthos was
a common name for hills in olden days.
The Architecture in Zakynthos has a strong Venetian influence
The architecture of Zakynthos, also known as Zante, in the Greek
Islands has been influenced strongly by the Venetians, the French and
the English. All have conquered and occupied the island of Zakynthos at
different times in history.
Zakynthos Town is one of the prettiest towns in the Greek islands,
romantic and wonderful for an evening stroll. Zante Town and Zante in
general has a very strong Venetian ambience. The architecture in
Zakynthos combines both Baroque and Renaissance styles.
We are filming a variety of Zante web videos this summer in Zakynthos
which will bring you a wide selection of our favorite accommodations,
sight-seeing, trips in Zante and our selected options of the best
activities and things to do while on holiday in Zante. If you have any
suggestions please email us.
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Zakynthos
Zante Greek Islands
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