Zakynthos (or Zante) is getting more and more popular as a holiday destination and what is not to love? The best feature of this Ionian island is indisputably the clear blue sea. A perfect destination for snorkelling and turtle spotting. Furthermore, the people are warm and welcoming, the food is delicious, it’s sunny and all reasonably priced. The perfect summer getaway.
Where to stay?
There are a lot of different towns to stay in. It depends on what kind of holiday you prefer. If you like nice beaches and a quiet and relaxed vacation, you should stay in Vasilikos. The beautiful Amos beach club is right around the corner and if you want to have a more exciting evening you are in Argassi in no time.
Argassi is probably the ideal place to stay if you like to spend your holidays in a Greek tourist town. During the day you can enjoy the sun at one of the beaches, at night time you can enjoy yourself in one of the restaurants, pubs and shops on the main road.
If you like a busy atmosphere with a lot of places to go out, you can best stay in Laganas. Laganas is the party town of Zakynthos. There is a lot to do at night. But be aware during the day the beaches and the water is also very crowded.
The island is relatively small, so in whatever town you’re staying you can easily explore the rest of the island by boat or rental car. Zakynthos has a lot to offer I wrote down the 5 things I think can’t be missed while spending your holidays on this Greek island.
Tip 1: Rent a car and take a road trip around the island
An easy way to discover all the beautiful things that Zakynthos has to offer is by taking a road trip. There are a lot of places that you can rent a car, like really a lot, so that won’t be a problem.
I took a drive around the north side of the island all the way up to the viewpoint of Navagio beach. There you have the best view of the entire beach and the magically blue sea surrounding it. You need to wait in line for your turn on the small lookout platform. But the photo is worth it. Next of the lookout platform there are local sales men selling their products. I left with a bag full of strawberry almonds, olive oil and flowery honey.
The landscape of the island is diverse, olive trees, old churches and narrow roads. A day trip around the island is definitely a must.
Tip 2: Have a drink at Cameo Island
When you’re taking a trip around the island, pay a visit to the idyllic Cameo Island in Agios Sostis (near Laganas). This is really a beautiful place to have a drink and enjoy your surroundings. No wonder this small island is a very popular wedding location.
You pay a fee of 5 euro to enter Cameo island. But, you get a free drink in return. I got a cool Desperados and enjoyed it on the small beach while enjoying the view of white sheets dancing against the blue sky.
Tip 3: Relax and enjoy the sun at Ammos Beach club
When you just want to sit back and relax Ammos Beach club at Sint Nicholas Beach in Vasilikos is the place to be. Lay down on a comfortable beach bed and enjoy the sun. The beach beds are cheap (8 euro per two beds), including a beach umbrella.
You can get service on the beach. Nothing better than sun, a good book and a tasty ice coffee. So refreshing on a hot day!
And if you really want to sit down for a nice lunch, you can go up to the restaurant. A beautiful white and blue tavern overlooking the entire beach.
Tip 4: Take a boat trip to Navagio “Shipwreck” beach
Spend a nice day on the water and visit Navagio beach in the North of Zakynthos. There is enough time for snorkelling and who knows…you might see some turtles on the way over. It is very easy to arrange a boat trip, almost every travel agency or hotels offers these.
Navagio beach is famous for its rusty washed up shipwreck on a white beach. The water is crystal clear and o so blue. The shipwreck is hidden away like a gem between some steep cliffs. Step in to paradise when you visit this famous “Shipwreck” beach.
Tip 5: Explore the sea with Mario’s Glass Bottom Cruises
Mario is big fan of the sea and all the creatures that live in it. No wonder that he is your best guide to explore the blue sea by boat. And turtle spotting is almost guaranteed. Mario knows where he can’t find them and treats them with the utmost respect. I was lucky to see seven turtles during our day trip. And because Mario has a glass bottom boat you can also see the turtles swimming under the boat, bonus points!
A couple of times during the trip Mario dove down the water to show us some of the sea creatures, like an octopus and a sponge. He loves to share his knowledge about the sea and its inhabitants. Especially children love his stories and meeting the octopus up close.
Popular stops at Mario’s Glass Bottom Cruise are Marathonis, The Turtle Island and the Kerri Caves. The first stop was at Marathonis, where the famous turtles come on land to lay their eggs. Of course the nesting area is well protected. The stop took approximately an hour and everybody had enough time to do some snorkelling or relax on the beach. Half way the day there was time to lunch in Agios Sostis. On our way back to Vasilikos, the home port of Mario’s Glass Bottom Boat, we stopped at the impressive Kerri Caves where we could do some more snorkelling. Mario knows all the best caves to go in and the view is really spectacular.
