The food of Zakynthos is a rich island cuisine, shaped by Greek roots and long Venetian rule. The fertile plain gives olive oil, wine, fruit and vegetables, while the sea brings fresh fish. Meat dishes such as rabbit stifado and the tomato-and-garlic sauce called sartsa sit beside local cheeses, cured meats and honey. Sweets and … Read more
The castle of Zakynthos is the ruined Venetian fortress on the pine-clad hill of Bochali, high above the island’s capital. Its long walls and stone gates ring the flat top of the hill. Inside stand the traces of an old town, churches and barracks, now shaded by pines. The fortress guarded the harbour and the … Read more
Zakynthos has a long tradition of winemaking, rooted in the vineyards that cover its central plain and rolling hills. The island’s most famous wine is Verdea, a crisp dry white made from a blend of local grapes and aged in the old way. Under Venetian rule it was shipped across Europe. Other island wines, both … Read more
Korakonisi is a small, wild rocky cove on the west coast of Zakynthos, named for the little rock islet that rises just off the shore. It lies below the village of Agios Leon, reached by a track and a flight of steps down the cliffs. There is no sand here, only smooth rock ledges and … Read more
The Byzantine Museum of Zakynthos stands on Solomos Square in the heart of the island’s capital. It gathers religious art rescued from the churches and monasteries of the island, lost in the great earthquake that struck the Ionian Islands in the middle of the twentieth century. The collection is famous for its icons and carved, … Read more
Zakynthos is one of the liveliest of the Greek islands for nightlife, centred on the southern resort of Laganas. The long main strip of Laganas is packed with bars, clubs, cocktail lounges and late-night venues that draw a young crowd through the summer. The party runs until dawn in this vibrant location. Kalamaki, next door, … Read more
The Ionian island of Zakynthos is reached by air or by sea. Its airport, named after the poet Dionysios Solomos, lies just south of the capital. It takes charter and scheduled flights from across Europe through the summer, as well as domestic flights from Athens. By sea, ferries cross from the mainland port of Kyllini … Read more
The Ionian island of Zakynthos enjoys a Mediterranean climate of hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters that shape every aspect of life on this lush, green destination. The island receives more rainfall than the Aegean islands, which gives it a verdant character that visitors fall in love with at first sight. Planning the right … Read more
Renting a car is the best way to explore this beautiful Ionian island. Zakynthos has its finest sights scattered across the hills and coasts, and these spots are hard to reach by bus. Hire cars, jeeps, quad bikes, scooters and motorbikes are widely available at the airport, in the capital and in the main resorts. … Read more
Porto Zoro is a small, pretty beach on the east side of the Vasilikos peninsula in the south of the Ionian island of Zakynthos. It draws visitors with its soft golden sand and clear shallow turquoise water. Curious rock formations rise from the sea just off the shore, making this spot a favourite for photographs. … Read more