Planning an itinerary for the Ionian island of Zakynthos depends on how long you stay and what you want to see. A week is ideal to enjoy the beaches and see the main sights without rushing, while three or four days can cover the highlights, and a longer stay allows deeper island exploration. The essential … Read more
Agalas is a traditional village situated in the hills of the south of the Ionian island of Zakynthos, set among vineyards and olive groves. It is known for its old stone houses, its rural character, and the natural features nearby. Visitors can see the Damianos caves, a series of caverns in the rock, and old … Read more
Ammoudi is a long, quiet sandy and pebble beach on the northeast coast of the Ionian island of Zakynthos, found between the resorts of Alykes and the northern capes. Its name comes from the Greek word for sand. The beach is broad and open, featuring soft sand and shingle shelving into calm, clear, shallow water. … Read more
Cameo Island is a tiny private islet off the shore at Agios Sostis, on the south coast of Zakynthos, near Laganas Bay. It is joined to the mainland by a slender wooden footbridge, its trademark image. The little island is covered in pine and rock, ringed by small pebble coves and clear turquoise water, and … Read more
Zakynthos is a fine family holiday island, with safe sandy beaches, gentle seas and activities for children to enjoy. The long sandy beaches of the east and south, such as Tsilivi, Alykes, Laganas and Kalamaki, shelve gently into calm, shallow water, ideal for young children. Family attractions include a water park near Tsilivi, the Askos … Read more
Honey is a traditional product of Zakynthos, made by bees that gather nectar from the wild herbs, flowers and trees of the hills. The island’s rich flora, its thyme, wild herbs, pine and orange blossom, gives its honey a fine aroma and flavour, and thyme honey is especially prized. Beekeeping is an old rural craft, … Read more
Kiliomeno is a traditional stone village in the western hills of Zakynthos, one of the best preserved on the island. Unlike most of the island, whose old buildings were lost in the great earthquake of the twentieth century, Kiliomeno kept its old stone houses, giving it a rare traditional character. Its landmark is the church … Read more
Easter is the greatest religious festival of the year on Zakynthos, kept with deep devotion and distinctive local customs. Holy Week brings solemn church services, the mourning of Good Friday, and processions of the Epitaphios through the streets. On Holy Saturday morning comes a famous custom, when people throw clay pots from their balconies to … Read more
Zakynthos possesses a rich and distinctive musical tradition unlike the rest of Greece, shaped by the long rule of Venice. Its most famous form is the kantada, a serenade for groups of male voices singing in harmony, often with guitar and mandolin. This style is closer to Italian than to mainland Greek music. Groups of … Read more
The carnival of Zakynthos is one of the oldest and liveliest in Greece, rooted in the long rule of Venice over the island. Held in the weeks before Lent, in late winter, it fills the capital and the villages with masked revellers, parades, floats, music and dancing. Its most distinctive feature is a tradition of … Read more