Zakynthos Island, Greece: description, beaches, hotels, attractions, excursions, reviews

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

The word Greece caresses the ears of domestic tourists. Along with the popular resort areas of Turkey and Egypt, this country is one of the top three budget options for a beach holiday in the summer. Greece is part of the European Union, which means that to enter the country you will need an appropriate permit, called a visa. By the way, the Greeks are very loyal to this procedure and issue tourist visas for a long period. Well, you have all the documents, now you need to determine the place where you want to spend your Greek holidays. The most popular holiday destinations are the islands of Rhodes and Crete. But in the article I would like to talk about such a wonderful place as the island of Zakynthos, the existence of which many people forget.

Amazing place

Zakynthos is a resort piece of land that is part of the Ionian archipelago. Its distinctive feature is its wide scale, and the coastline has a length of about 123 kilometers. Due to its favorable location and rich nature, the air of the island is filled withheady aroma of sea breeze, coniferous forests, citrus trees, juniper thickets and herbs. If you went to this place in search of historical sights, then we hasten to upset you, it is unlikely that you will be able to find something on the island of Zakynthos, since this territory has been repeatedly subjected to earthquakes.

History

Greece is full of stories and myths, just like the very name of the island. Zakynthos is the son of King Dardanus, who once landed on land lost in the sea and founded his own city here, named after him. The island's banner also bears the founder's symbol, which is flown on all public buildings, along with the national Greek flag.

Mentions of the island of Zakynthos can also be found in the "Iliad" by Homer, who sang the beauty of this wonderful place back in those days. The culture of these places is completely saturated with the Romans, Byzantines and Normans. Since it was these peoples who had the greatest influence on the island in different periods of their possession.

Let's just say that the Renaissance on the island of Zakynthos in Greece fell on the 17th century. As a result of the conquest of Crete by the Ottomans, many of the best architects and craftsmen were forced to move here.

Weather and climate

If we talk about holidays on this beautiful island, then many prefer it not for the sake of architectural values, which are not here at all, but for the sake of beautiful nature. The island of Zakynthos in Greece is one of the greenest places in the entire country. From ecologicalpoint of view, holidays on the island are simply flawless. There are no industrial enterprises and any factors that worsen the air atmosphere.

The island has a temperate Mediterranean climate. Already in late April - early May, tourists slowly arrive on the island, thereby opening the first swimming season. It is also worth noting that meteorologists have recognized the local climatic conditions as the mildest in all of Greece.

It is worth mentioning separately that the weather on the island is completely opposite in winter. This is probably very fortunate, since Zakynthos managed to combine a kind of golden mean between mild cold in winter and no sun in summer.

What to see?

Sights of the island of Zakynthos are represented, to a greater extent, by luxurious beaches, grottoes, nature and local wildlife. The inhabitants of the island have great respect for the conservation of wildlife on their territory. Unfortunately, most of the historical monuments have not survived to this day, but the perfection of nature in Zakynthos has remained unchanged.

Blue caves, countless grottoes, stone arches and a beautiful embankment deserve special attention. For those who are on the island for the first time, the presence of the most beautiful stone reserve of Askos, a kilometer from the port of Agios Nikolaos, can serve as useful information.

But the main reason to visit this truly beautiful place lies in the amazing natural attractions and luxurious beaches. All the beauty of Fiore de Levante - that's what they calledVenetians island Zakynthos, it is impossible to describe in words. Let's get acquainted with this magnificent natural heritage.

Navagio Bay

If you are not traveling on your own, but turn to tourist organizations for help, then in any of them you will definitely be shown a photo of a fabulously beautiful embankment with azure water and snow-white sand. Is it a montage? No, this is the famous Navagio Bay, which occupies a leading position in the list of the most photographed places on the planet. Previously, the bay was called St. George, but after a storm, as a result of which a small ship carrying contraband cargo was thrown ashore, the country's authorities decided to rename the place. Unfortunately, the only way to visit this place is by sea.

Laganas

An equally important attraction of the island is considered to be the endangered species of sea turtles with the funny name "carriage-carriage", living in the picturesque place of Laganas. The park-reserve consists of several beaches, where the most comfortable conditions for the habitat of these wonderful creatures are recreated. As excursions on the island of Zakynthos, many travel companies organize a trip on a boat with a glass bottom in these surroundings, so that tourists can observe the life of the marine fauna.

Blue Caves of Zakynthos

A few paragraphs earlier, we have already mentioned in passing the blue caves in Greece, but it is not enough just to know about their existence, it is important to get a full understanding. The northern side of the island received numerous grottoes,caves and the cleanest sea in Greece. This whole complex is called the “Blue Caves” and is an important tourist destination in the country. The most famous of the caves is considered to be the “Blue Grotto”, located on Cape Skinari. Every tourist who arrives on the island should get inside. It can also be a great solo adventure, as none of the ships can fit under the low vaults. Thus, there is only one way out of this situation - to get by swimming.

Stone reserve

Attention of tourists is also given to the stone reserve of Askos, located near the port of Agios Nikolaos. Here you can find interesting architectural delights built in ancient times, such as water tanks, wooden compositions and much more. It is also worth noting the beautiful nature in this part of the island.

Beaches of Zakynthos

In addition to the famous Navagio Bay, there are many interesting beaches on the island. In addition, Navagio is not the best place for a beach holiday. Since tourists are dropped off here for a short time, many only manage to take a couple of selfies against the backdrop of majestic rocks.

Porto Roxa and Porto Limnion

Tourists in the reviews do not call these places favorable for a beach holiday, but here you can enjoy clear water, sunbathe in the sun on terraces overlooking small fjords. Because it is quite rocky andthere is no sand at all, many vacationers actively use Porto Rocks and Porto Limnion as a place for amateur diving.

Porto Vromi

Porto Vromi is one of the fjords on the island, but unlike previous places, there is a full beach here. The main highlight of this location can be considered a picturesque view of the shaggy rocks, which are perfectly visible from the beach. In addition, boat trips to Navagio Bay are regularly organized from here, but this is not the only exotic route. Depending on the time spent on the island, the organization may change, so experienced travelers are advised to find out all the details directly on the spot.

Agios Nikolaos

Many tourists mistakenly take it for another city of the same name located in Crete. No, don't be fooled. That Agios Nikolaos, which is discussed in our article, is located a few kilometers north of the city of Zakynthos. This is probably one of the best beaches on the island. It has excellent infrastructure, the necessary amenities for a pleasant pastime, as well as magnificent landscapes. The only disappointment for vacationers, according to reviews, is small pebbles on the shore, so you should always take beach shoes with you.

Makris Gialos Beach

If you start talking about exotic and beautiful views, then this is Makris Gialos. This beach was created to show off on postcards. From the moment you approach it, the view is breathtaking. FromZakynthos town is only 30 kilometers from the beach. Believe me, if you come here, it is better to stay for the whole day and spend it under the sun. The beach of Makris Gialos consists of a mixture of sand and pebbles and has a fairly large length. On the sides you can see a kind of blue caves. Nevertheless, this is a good option if you failed to look at the original.

According to reviews of the island of Zakynthos, Makris Gialos is the most popular, because there is not only a beautiful beach, but also a magnificent landscape.

Hotels

There are a lot of hotels on the island of Zakynthos. But, as everyone knows, the right choice of bed is the key to a successful holiday. Judging by the reviews, Astir Palace Hotel, Zante Park Resort & Spa and Zakantha Beach are considered the most popular.

Conclusion

Tours to the island of Zakynthos are quite a popular phenomenon among various travel agencies, and for good reason. This place, like many others on the territory of the Greek state, deserves special attention. We hope that in our article you managed to find a lot of useful information.