Holidays to Zante

Zante - Greek for idyllic

The sheer pleasure that a holiday to Zante delivers is easy to sum up - sun, sea, and that famous Zante nightlife. Picture sun-kissed golden sand, turquoise sea lapping at tiny horseshoe bays, blue skies that seem to go on forever, the tinkle of goat bells and, of course, all that food and nightlife the Greek Islands are so famous for.

Zante in Greece (or when you're in Greece Zakynthos), is the third largest of the Ionian Islands and is around 20 km west of the Greek (Peloponnese) mainland. To the north lies the island of Kefalonia about15 km away. All the resort areas are on the eastern half of the island on a flat plain, with long sandy beaches, with the occasional hilly outcropping - for example, Bochali - overlooking the city, and the peninsula of Vasilikos jutting out into the ocean. Just ask Holiday Supermarket for a resort recommendation.

A lot of the Greek Islands have those postcard good looks that end up in the tourist brochures, but the 'postcard gotcha' for your holiday in Zante really is special! The most famous landmark on the island is the Navagio beach area named after a shipwreck. You can get to it only by boat, but it's well the trip because the white pebble beach, the horseshoe bay and the incredible waters are something you'll remember for a long time.

Other sights include the "Blue Caves", which cut into the cliffs around Cape Skinari and are only viewable by boat. The beaches are on the northern and eastern coastline and they're long, sandy and delightful. Perfect for a day's sunning. The main resorts are here and the biggest is called Laganos with a beach that goes for 10km or so. Zante Kalamaki is also a renowned resort as is Zante Tsilivi.

The nightlife in Lagonos is notoriously loose and uninhibited. If that's your thing, this is your place. It goes off and is fast taking up the mantle left behind by Rhodes and Crete. It's there if you want it, and like most places, if you don't want it, you don't have to have it!

Hints and tips for your Zante holiday

Eating

Eating out in Zante - cheap, expensive and everything in between

Greek cuisine looks to the sea and the farm in the main for its inspiration and the happy results are a delight to feast on no matter what your budget. But some restaurants stand out, and for what it's worth, here are our top picks.

The budget options – for casual, laid back attitude and super good food, the only answer is The Green Frog on the main road at Argassi. It looks slightly hippy-ish from the outside and seems beset by young travellers, but the food inside is great. There's entertainment in the form of trivia contests, plus the occasional singer. The food is rustic, but the freshness transcends everything.

Mid price options – seafood takes a bow at George's Place in Saint Denis Square, Zakynthos town. The fresh fish is cooked without fuss and appears generally with a little lemon, and maybe done in butter. The salads and side that go with it are where the creative chef does his stuff and the owners are out front. It's a delightful place run by people who enjoy food and company.

Splurge – set in a magical location on top of the hills looking out to the ocean beyond Vromi Bay, on the road to Porto Vromi from Maries, lies Aeras. The hospitality will blow you away and the food is cooked by a husband and wife team who have a small farm that supplies organic greens and lovely rabbit, goat and lamb. You won't find fresher cuisine on the island and you won't find a better view, a more welcoming menu or better hosts.

Things not to miss in Zante

Zante - delightful beaches, awesome nightlife

IIf you're a party-hard group, Zante has everything you need. But it's also a great place to chill out - the beaches are excellent and the restaurants and cafes in the various picturesque towns will have you coming back for more.

The best beach - this green, green island also boasts some of the best beach scenery in the Ionian Sea. Prince among them is Smugglers Cove, also known as Navagio, located on the North West of the island. Some 25 years ago a coaster carrying contraband cigarettes was wrecked and washed up on the beach that formed smugglers cove. The sandy and pebbly beach is only accessible by boat but is well worth the extra effort.

The Blue Caves - are on a stretch of coast on the northern end of Zante and can only be reached by boat. Surprisingly only discovered in 1897, the Blue Caves are now famous world-wide for their stunning shade of blue and the soaring rock formations. This is a great day trip and you'll have a great time swimming and lazing about on the boat deck as well as taking in one of the world's great rock formations.

Marathonisi – this small island is just off the coast, opposite Keri Bay and only accessible by boat. It's relatively unspoilt and the green flora, the rock formations and tons of little sandy bays will keep you occupied for hours. It's paradise in the Ionian Sea!

Weather in Zante

What to wear, when to go

The weather on Zante is typically Mediterranean and you can expect a balmy 28-33 most days in summer, although it drops to around 21-24 by night. Winter temps are around 22C and about 17 at night. The winters are mild to quite cool and you might have a day or two of rain. The days are cloudless and warm all year round. July is the sunniest month with thirteen hours of sunshine per day. December is the wettest month, receiving 170 mm of rain, after which rainfall decreases.

ZANTE WEATHER

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