Zante holidays

Zante beaches are a pretty varied line-up. There’s everything from hidden white-sand coves to pebbly stretches backed by steep cliffs and pine forests. The most popular sweeps often pair watersports with sunbathing, too. Try Banana Beach for one of Zante’s longest, softest stretches of sand, or Xigia Beach for its natural sulphur springs, where mineral‑rich waters create a unique, spa‑like experience.

Laganas Beach is Zante’s queen bee, drawing everything from families enjoying the calm waves to night owls recovering on the sand after a big night out. Its long beachfront is packed with facilities, from ice‑cream parlours to banana boats, but it also sits within the protected zone of the National Marine Park, where rules help safeguard the area’s precious wildlife and nesting sites.

Bouka Beach neighbours Tsilivi Beach, but because the latter grabs most of the headlines, the former tends to swerve the crowds. It’s super quiet, so you can forget anything in the way of restaurants or watersports. Instead, it’s best to pick up a snorkel from one of the shops on Tsilivi’s main road on your way here – the waters are really clear, and are ideal for spotting a turtle or two among the fish. Gerakas Beach is another of Zante’s most protected coves, celebrated for its sweeping arc of soft golden sand and calm, shallow waters.

Anafonitra Market is the place to hunt for bargains, with stalls stacked high with embroidered tablecloths, handmade rugs, and leather sandals crafted in traditional Zakynthian style. For something closer to the resorts, the Laganas beach shops offer a mix of souvenirs and beachwear, and you’ll also find local treats like Zakynthian nougat – or mantolato – alongside the usual holiday trinkets.

Laganas town centre is the island’s hotspot for lookalike designer handbags (without the price tag), with shelves full of big‑name imitations that echo labels like Chloé and Prada. For a more traditional shopping scene, Zante Town’s high street and the boutiques around Solomos Square offer a mix of international brands – including Benetton and Diesel – alongside local boutiques selling handmade crafts, jewellery, and island‑made treats.

Zante Town has plenty in the way of swanky stores and clothing boutiques, plus a few treasure chest shops displaying unusual antiques in their windows. Make your way to Alexander Roma for the best choices. This street is also really good for gold – it’s full of stores where you can get quality jewellery featuring stones like emeralds and rubies.

Alykanas’ main road is lined with traditional tavernas and a couple of laidback music bars, giving evenings here a relaxed, local feel. Down by the seafront, you’ll find more restaurants where you can dine with views of the water. For something special, the nearby village of Kampi offers clifftop dining 300 metres above sea level, putting you in prime position for catching the sunset. Another standout viewpoint sits above Zakynthos Town, where a dedicated lookout delivers sweeping panoramas of the Venetian Bohali Castle.

Laganas wears the party crown on Zante, with the Laganas Strip packed full of neon‑lit clubs, including big names like Rescue Club and CherryBay, which keep the music going until sunrise. For a more polished night out, San Marco Square in Zante Town offers stylish cocktail bars and open‑air cafés with a more relaxed vibe. If singing’s more your scene, the main roads leading into Tsilivi and Kalamaki are lined with karaoke bars, making them easy places to dip in and out of light‑hearted, sing‑along nights.

Spetsofai, a traditional stuffed rabbit, is an island favourite, and a local Zante taverna staple. The tender meat is stuffed with the likes of creamy cheese and tangy herbs, before being cooked in a rich wine sauce and served with vegetables.

Looking for Zante’s answer to a Cornish pasty? Tyropita is great as a mid-afternoon snack if a round of meze snacks seems like too much. This Greek flaky puff pastry is served warm, and crammed with crumbly feta cheese, spinach, ham and spicy meat.

Ladotyri is a must‑try on any trip to Zante. The name translates to “oily cheese”, and it’s a staple in the island’s tangy casseroles, though it’s just as delicious eaten on its own thanks to its naturally spicy flavour. A chunky slice pairs perfectly with a glass of local mastelado wine, giving you a true taste of Zakynthian tradition.

Zakynthian eggs are a dish where a fresh tomato and garlic base is created by being tossed into a pan, before an egg is dropped in and poached. Once it’s all cooked, it’s served with big chips or sweet potatoes.

The crisp Verdea white wine is made from a blend of Pavlos and Robola grapes. It’s harvested early in the season and should be drunk when it’s about a year old. The wine goes really well with fish and seafood, thanks to being high in acidity and citrus flavours.