Zakynthos Island
Zakynthos is one of the resort islands of the Ionian Archipelago belonging to Greece. With its outline, Zakynthos Island resembles a cheerful penguin who decided to swim in the warm Ionian Sea west of the Peloponnese peninsula. This relief island of such an original shape is actually a densely forested mountain top rising from the depths of the sea.
Video: Zakynthos
Contents- Highlights
- History and Culture of Zakynthos
Nature and Climate - Zakynthos City
- Resorts and Beaches
- Entertainment
Excursions - Historical attractions
- Shopping
Cuisine - Where to stay
- Transportation
- How to get there
Highlights
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History and Culture of Zakynthos
The historical name of the island is due to the name of the son of King Dardanus, ruler of Arcadia. According to Greek myths, the royal scion of Zakynthos landed on this land lost in the sea and founded a city here. This legendary character is deeply honored by the locals. Zakynthos, sitting pensively on a rock with a snake in his hand, is depicted on the green banner of the island, which flies on all public buildings, along with the striped blue and white national flag of Greece. The motto of the islanders is inscribed on the banner: “Freedom needs virtue and courage”. These words belong to the brilliant poet and public figure, aristocrat and patriot Dionysios Solomos, one of the creators of the modern New Greek literary language, who lived and worked on the island in the first half of the XIX century.
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Nature and climate
Zakynthos City
The capital of the island is also called Zakynthos, but locals unofficially call it Chora. It’s a compact town nestled on a wooded hillside facing the sea. Start your walk from the main square Solomos, from the monument to the poet.
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Resorts and beaches
Zakynthos’ resort life is centered on its east coast. The ranking is headed by the most popular and expensive resort, Laganas. It is here that the most fashionable hotels, spa centers, the best restaurants and the largest nightclubs are located. No less noisy and cheerful in the democratic resort of Argassi. Couples with children and lovers of quiet rest should head to Alykes, Tsilivi or Kalamaki, and fans of water sports are waiting for resort centers Alikanas and Agios Nikolaos.
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By mid-afternoon the beach starts to get crowded, so it’s better to head to the bay in the early morning and then, after enjoying a swim and taking great photos, have lunch at a local taverna with Greek cuisine and panoramic views of the bay.
.Here you can sometimes see an amazing spectacle – wingsuit fans jumping onto the beach from a cliff in wingsuits. After half a minute of desperate flight, the basejumpers land to the thunderous applause of the amazed public. For fans of extreme sports there is another entertainment: strong ropes hang between the rocks, on them you can swing and get a decent dose of adrenaline.
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Two-kilometer long sandy spit of Laganas beach is a typical vacation spot on Zakynthos. It is crowded, but there is enough space under the sun for everyone. Excursion boats depart from the pier, boats with a motor are offered for hourly rent. In taverns and beach bars you can rent sunbeds (7 €), there are sports equipment rentals. Music can be heard everywhere, and there are hotels and restaurants in the neighborhood.
Another secluded beach you will find on the coast of the marine reserve south of Zakynthos town. It is called Dafni. Go there by car, scooter or bicycle, admiring the stunningly beautiful scenery. However, the way along the serpentine mountain road is not easy and even extreme. The reward for you will be an incredibly picturesque coastal strip, where olive trees grow right in the sand. The bottom of the beach is gentle and the sea is usually calm. There are places where turtles lay eggs, such areas are fenced with huts, near them are on duty guardians-volunteers. There is a children’s playground on the beach, and a bar in the olive garden offering drinks and inexpensive fast food. Order any drink (a cup of coffee, lemonade), and take a sunbed for free. There are also taverns where you can have a delicious meal. Specialties are prepared from freshly caught fish and octopus.
.In the neighborhood is located Gerakos beach, it is more spacious and accessible, but there are more vacationers.
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Entertainment
Each resort town of Zakynthos offers tourists its own entertainment program. For example, in Argasi (1 km from Zakynthos) is located one of the most popular nightclubs “Barrage”. The building with a dance stage and three bars is surrounded by a fragrant garden with olive trees mixed with orange and tangerine trees. There is an open music bar in the garden, with tables set up under the trees on stone terraces. World-renowned DJs often moderate the fun here.
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A large amusement park, Caretta Fun Park Center, awaits you in the resort town of Kalamaki. The park is designed for family entertainment. There are carousels, water rides, kiddie pools, and playgrounds. Children enjoy riding the miniature train.
.One of the favorite entertainment of tourists on Zakynthos – visiting water parks. Rates and mode of operation of most of them are approximately the same. The cost of admission ticket for adults – from 18 €, for children from 2 to 12 years – 10 €. Kids under two years old are free of charge. If you want to spend only a couple of hours here and save money, come to 14:30, from this hour at the ticket office there is a discount of 50%. The security staff determines the order of descents from the extreme attractions, preventing collisions in the pools, they will tell you which slides and attractions are suitable for your height and children – for their age.
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Curious to take a trip to Navagio Bay with several stops at the most beautiful beaches of the island. The cost is from 35 €. There are other routes to choose from, including the neighboring island of Kafalonia.
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Historical Sights
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Handmade products are also sold in the stores of art studios, which can be found in every resort village on the island.
>There are many clothing stores on Zanquifa, where you can buy light, beautiful summer outfits made of natural fabrics and shoes. Locally produced perfumes based on only natural ingredients are also popular.
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Cuisine
The gastronomic world of Zakynthos is incredibly diverse and offers guests of the island both simple, hearty food and the most exquisite delicacies of Mediterranean cuisine. The giants of the local cuisine are olive oil, tomatoes, lemons, garlic and sheep cheese “ladotiri”. Another popular local cheese is “mizithra”. It comes in brackish and fresh, and is usually served with honey or sugar. Zakynthos has delicious homemade breads and sweets, which invariably contain honey and almonds.
.Crown island dishes are “sartsa” and “skordostubi”. The former is based on beef, tomatoes and cheese, while the latter is a delicious mix of eggplant, tomatoes and garlic, generously seasoned with olive oil.
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Transportation
If you are not picked up by hotel transportation, you will only be able to get to your destination by cab from Dionysios Solomos Airport, located 4 km from the capital of Zakynthos. Cabs on the island are painted in a single color – metallic silver. In the parking lot of the cars are posted rates for trips. Four passengers with luggage a trip from the airport to the city of Zakynthos will cost 13 €, in Agios Nikolaos – 42 €. Cab stands are available in all tourist centers. You can also call a cab by cell phone.
Public transportation in Zakynthos is well developed, and the roads meet European safety standards. The capital is connected by bus with all the cities of the island and scattered throughout its territory attractions. Fares range from €1.6 to €3.1. However, bus schedules are not easy to understand. In some villages there are several trips a day, in others – two or three a week. Mark on the map the places you want to visit on your own and consult with the guides of the host tour company. They will tell you the numbers of bus routes, departure and arrival stations. It is also possible to buy sightseeing trips on comfortable buses.
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