Villa Agrilia

Kalamaki is part of Lagunas Bay on the southern coast of Zakynthos. The very fine sand and crystal clear water makes for a wonderful beach which is protected and home to the endangered loggerhead turtles. The beach is part of the National Maritime Park of Zakynthos. Kalamaki is ideal for family or romantic holidays as it is a quieter than the busy resort of Zante Town though it is close. You will find sun loungers to rent on the beach as well as pedalos but there are strict measures about watersports because of the turtles. At the east end of the beach, behind some tall rocks, there is a nudist beach called Vrodonero.

Kalamaki has many shops, restaurants and bars, mini-golf, go-karting, playgrounds and horse riding. Many of the souvenir shops sell miniature Caretta turtles as well as jewelry, bags, pottery and local products such as mantolato and pasteli sweets.

Zante Town is only 5km away. Most of the houses, shops and buildings were rebuilt in traditional Venetian style after the destructive earthquake of 1953. It is an attractive town with a wide variety of activities. On Solomos Square you will find the Byzantine Museum and Cultural Center and in the Medieval square of St Mark, the Solomos Museum has impressive tombs and the attractive Catholic Church of St Mark. Zante has a wealth of shops and places to eat around the square and lining the harbour. You can venture up the hill to the remains of the Venetian castle at Bochali and enjoy the mesmerising views over the east coast.

The charming village of Volimes is around an hour’s drive north from the villa. It is lovely with many craft and gift shops. It is famous for its oils, honey, tablecloths, centrepieces and carpets which are handmade during the winter. It is a lovely drive through the countryside to get to Volimes.

Argassi, on the foothills of Mount Skopos where pine forests, lemon trees and wildflowers are in abundance, has a lively selection of bars and restaurants. There are many shops and a lovely beach. You can take a tourist train from
Argassi into Zante Town which is only 10 minutes away.

Tsilivi, on the north coast, also has an outstanding beach and the winding streets are crammed with bars, a waterpark, mini-golf and restaurants. Away from the main strip, the town still has the feel of an old fishing village.

Read more about Zakynthos

An Ionian island of contrasts, Zakynthos (Zante) offers wild landscapes of olive groves and sleepy villages, iconic beaches and idyllic coves alongside bustling tourist hot-spots and long stretches of coastline with sun beds and watersports. Whether you are seeking Greek authenticity or the ease of family-friendly resorts, Zakynthos has so much to appeal to every visitor on the island.

Starting off in the capital, Zakynthos Town, enjoy a morning coffee on the vast Solomos Square overlooking Agios Nikolaos Church by the sea, then get lost in the warren of flower-filled lanes in the old quarter before shopping and dining by the waterfront. As evening nears, the town is a mecca for locals and visitors alike looking for vibrant bars and nightlife.

Head to the rugged north of Zakynthos for a wealth of hidden pebbled coves, picture-perfect swimming spots, the incredible Blue Caves and popular Navagio Beach (also known as Shipwreck Beach). Tour the natural beauty of Cape Skinari, drive to the traditional village of Volimes, bathe in the healing sulphur waters of Xigia Beach, then dine by the harbourfront in Agios Nikolaos.

A little further down the eastern side of the island, be enchanted by the traditional seaside village of Alykansas with its olive groves, vineyards and family-friendly ambience, then hop on a horse-drawn carriage to Alykes across the other side of the vast sandy bay.

Venture inland to experience the island’s wild landscapes of olive groves, cypress and pine forests, mountain slopes and the lovely scent of wild thyme. Zakynthos is wonderful for nature explorers as well as keen hikers with trails criss-crossing through the valleys.

The south of Zakynthos also awaits, so loved for its beautiful beaches and the incredible Marine Park, a protected area including Gerakas Beach, Marathonisi Island and the famous loggerhead turtles.

Bustling Laganas Beach will appeal to tourists wanting to stay near restaurants, bars and a beach with summer watersports. Meanwhile, Kalamaki is located between Laganas and Zakynthos Town, ideal for couples and families searching for a long and sandy beach, inviting places to eat and a range of child-friendly activities. For a truly memorable outing, join a sea-kayaking tour of this part of the coastline in search of the island’s beloved turtles.