Make Zante your next holiday. The southernmost of the Ionian island chain, it’s cooler, greener and breezier than the Aegean side of Greece but still has the same white sunshine and blue waters.
With its great beaches and dramatic coastline, Zante is the perfect destination for families, couples or friends away for the summer. There are mountains of startlingly white limestone under green trees, rocks riddled with caves and coves, a fiercely blue sea and a beautifully warm sun. The north has picturesque mountain towns, hillside walks and the famous Navagio Beach, only accessible by boat. The southwest has the town of Zante, with beautiful churches and traditional tavernas. Live music, if you can catch it, spills out of the bars. There are plenty of beaches and the Vasilikos peninsula alone has five spectacular ones. Book flights to Zante and get in the sea as soon as you can.
Zante’s best beaches
Where to find the whitest sand and the freshest cocktails
Vasilikos peninsula boasts five great beaches. Choose Banana Beach, with white sand, shallow sea and bar service to your lounger. Or visit the nesting site at Gerakas, where year after year, rare loggerhead turtles choose to lay their eggs. Set back from the beautiful, protected beach, plenty of shops and bars add to the bustle of the bay.
Agios Nikolaos is little more than a small port, but from here boat excursions take you to swim at the Blue Caves cut into the wonderful limestone. Then you’ll go on to the famous Navagio Beach, the unofficial emblem of Zante. Surrounded by soaring cliffs, this large slab of sand is only accessible by boat. The water here is perfect, the view from the cliff astounding.
Near to Zante town, Tsilivi is one of the most family friendly resorts on the island. There’s a lot going on in the summer and plenty of beach space to do it on. Try jet skiing or boat excursions, relax in a bar or in the water- you’ll find the beach and water are both clean, clear and beautiful.
Alykanas, on the north east bay of the island, has white sandy beaches with sand dunes next to a small harbour, with charming tavernas and shops in the town. The nearby Alykes beach, with more restaurants and bars, is just a short stroll away.
