Villa Tragaki

Tragaki is a beautiful location for families and couples wanting to relax in the brilliant Greek sunshine with beautiful scenery around them. The sandy beach has a grassy bank behind it with sun loungers and parasols and a fantastic restaurant. There are several beaches within a thirty minute walk or short drive. Tsilivi is a lively resort with a 2km swathe of golden sand. Amboula’s stretch is secluded and peaceful. The sand and shingle cove of Kato Tragaki or Tsilivi are the places to go to for watersports. Bouka Beach is downhill from Tragaki. The fine sand is decked with many sun loungers. There is a swimming pool and a children’s play area. There is also a working harbour so you will see the local fishermen hauling in the day’s catch.

Tsilivi is lively with late-night cocktail bars, karaoke bars, many restaurants and family entertainment. The main strip, though, still has the feel of an old fishing village. There is a water park which is great fun with impressive slides and various pools. Also, you can compete in mini golf or 10-pin bowling. The big favourite though is the outstanding beach. Bars, restaurants and watersports centres jostle for position on the 2km stretch of sand. Half of the beach is given over to sun loungers.

Zante Town is only half an hour away where you can make a day exploring its ancient churches and museums on the main squares. The opulence of Saint Dionysios Church is unmissable, and the Museum of Byzantine Art is home to works from the 13th century. There are boutiques squeezed into narrow lanes, harbourfront seafood restaurants to try out, and many bars and cafes. You will find traditional Greek music and dancing in the town and buzzing nightclubs. You might even smash some plates in some of the traditional places.

Alykes is packed with charming touches, such as the horse and carriage rides available and the old stone bridge over its river. There are wildlife-filled salt flats to explore with owls, geckos, and a gorgeous sandy beach. The vast sandy stretch is divided into Alykes and Alikanas Beach. Alikanas has gentle winds, so is great for windsurfing.

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.