7 exciting things to do in Zante

Kerry Walker

Kerry Walker

You might think sun, sand and souvlaki when you picture Zante*, but there's more to this Greek island than at first meets the eye.

Mizithres beach and viewpoint, southwest Zante
Mizithres beach and viewpoint, southwest Zante © Marius Igas - Adobe Stock Image

Zante, or Zakynthos, is the poster child of the Ionian Islands*, with olive groves and vineyards carpeting steep hillsides, ruined castles nodding to Venetian rule and cliff-rimmed beaches sliding into aquamarine waters that send Instagrammers into raptures.

Beyond the beach, there's plenty to keep you enthralled; from winery tours and tastings to alley-woven villages hiding 2,000-year-old olive trees, magnificent sea caves ideal for snorkelling and marine reserves providing a safe haven for loggerhead turtles. Our pick of the best things to do in Zante covers the lot.

Getting to Zante: find current offers on holidays to Zante with First Choice*, with something for all budgets be it a family, couple or group escape.

Crash on 'Shipwreck Beach'

It's the Greece* of a million postcards: a great white thumbprint of a bay, with limestone cliffs punching high above the Ionian Sea fading from brightest aquamarine to deepest sapphire blue. On Zante's northwest coast, Navagio - or 'Shipwreck Beach' - is a knockout.

Iconic Navagio Beach, Zante
Iconic Navagio Beach, Zante © Elina Manninen - Adobe Stock Image

But this Robinson Crusoe fantasy of a beach, with its rusting shipwreck and high bluffs, is no secret. If you want to swim, snorkel and sunbathe here in relative peace, dodge the crowds by avoiding high season (May and September are much quieter) and visiting early in the day.

Better still, hook onto a private morning tour with eco-conscious Nefis Travel or pick up a paddle for a six-hour sea kayaking trip with Eco Zante.

Tour a winery

The ancient Greeks planted the first vines on Zante millennia ago and the Venetians refined the art, creating terraces introducing grape varieties and improving fermentation and ageing.

Now Zante combines tradition with modern viticultural techniques to produce some of Greece's finest wines, with vines thriving on fertile, sun-kissed slopes with cool sea breezes.

You can pop a cork at any taverna, but for a deeper dive and proper tasting, visit one of the island's wineries.

These include the beautiful, family-run Goumas Estate on a hilltop in the northeast, combining an icon-painting workshop and boutique winery (try the peachy whites).

Then there's Grampsas Winery in the village of Lagopodo at the foot of Mount Vrachionas, famous for its crisp, citrusy Verdea whites and gourmet restaurant. Meanwhile, Solomos Winery below Venetian Bochali Castle is another scenic spot.

Explore sea caves & snorkel spots

Spectacularly eroded by wind and waves, Zante's limestone cliffs are honeycombed with sea caves. The most famous are the Blue Caves at the island's northern tip. Go early in the morning to see them at their dazzling best, as the first light makes the water shimmer in jewel-like blues, creating patterns on the cave walls.

The island's dazzling Blue Caves
The island's dazzling Blue Caves © Yiannis Mantas - Adobe Stock Image

From Skinari Lighthouse, steps lead down to the sea, where you can hop on a 40-minute boat trip (try Potamitis Brothers) or leap off a natural rock diving board to swim and snorkel around the rugged coast.

If you prefer to explore the caves at your own gentle rhythm, you can paddle right through them on a half-day kayaking trip with Sea Kayaking Zakynthos. The views out to sea and over to the neighbouring isle of Kefalonia* are pretty special.

In the island's southwest, the Myzithres rock formations rise like fangs out of the sea, guiding the way to the Kerì Caves, where you can swim and snorkel in brilliantly clear water (keep an eye out for starfish and perhaps a rare glimpse of a loggerhead turtle). Zakynthos Cruises can arrange private boat tours.

Bathe in sulphur-rich springs

For a free spa treatment, rent your own wheels (bike, moped or car) and head to Xigia, a trio of white pebble beachlets on Zante's northeast coast.

Celebrated for their anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties, sulphuric waters bubble out of the limestone rocks and caves at a refreshingly cool 20°C. Join locals for a swim or float around the cliffs and absorb the healing waters. The beaches are most photogenic at midday when the sun is directly overhead but come in the morning or late afternoon for more peace.

On a scenic perch above the beach is Xigia Taverna, where you can cool off with drinks, far-reaching sea views and simple lunches (try grilled octopus, souvlaki or aubergine in tomato sauce) under the pines.

Hang out with loggerhead turtles

Spreading along the Bay of Laganas* on Zante's southern shores, the National Marine Park of Zakynthos is one of the world's hotspots for the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), with an estimated 1,300 turtles nesting here.

Between May and October, the odds of spotting turtles - and perhaps a hatchling or two - are excellent. Bring your snorkel for an early morning or late afternoon swim around Marathonissi (Turtle Island).

Look out for loggerhead turtles
Look out for loggerhead turtles © Yana - Adobe Stock Image

The best way to up your chances of turtle sightings is on a boat trip taking you past caves, around the island and to secluded, quiet beaches beloved of loggerheads.

Try eco-minded Nefis Travel or Mario's Cruises, or grab your paddle and kayak through the reserve with Sea Kayaking Zakynthos. If you're lucky you'll also glimpse dolphins and monk seals.

Go gourmet Greek

You'll eat simply and well at many a coast-hugging taverna on Zante. But for a meal with flair and finesse, book a table well ahead at the Grampsas Winery Restaurant, headed up by chef Stavros Yfandis, who has shaken the pans at such mythical restaurants as three-Michelin-starred The Fat Duck and Vendôme.

Overlooking vine-ribbed slopes, the restaurant delivers a meal to remember. Fresh sourdough bread with estate extra-virgin olive oil and Kalamata olives prelude dishes full of clean, bright, seasonal flavours, such as prawn carpaccio with clam sauce, basil sand and bonito flakes, lamb neck with homemade Greek pasta and fresh herbs, and papoutsaki (stuffed aubergine) with oxtail ragout, smoked aubergine cream and potato pops.

Dip into island history

Zante's appeal goes way beyond its knockout beaches. The ancient Greek poet Homer gave a nod to Zante in his epic works The Iliad and The Odyssey, and Apollo (god of the sun) and his twin sister, Artemis (goddess of the hunt) were particularly fond of the island. Still today you feel the pulse of history exploring the island, both in artefacts and natural wonders.

Gnarly 2,000-year-old olive tree
Gnarly 2,000-year-old olive tree © Calin Stan - Adobe Stock Image

Visit the time-lost village of Exo Hora in the island's mountainous northwest for a glimpse of a gnarled olive tree said to be 2,000 years old, then take a twisty drive along a dirt road to a Venetian tower with far-reaching views along the west coast.

Other historic highs include the ruined 17th-century Venetian castle of Bochali, built on the site of an ancient acropolis, and the Byzantine Museum in Zante Town, with its fine stash of icons, wood carvings and frescoes.

Climate in Zante

  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C
Hours of sunshine (daily)
Days with some rainfall
Sea temperature °C

The above guide shows the climate in Zante Town. Find out more about conditions across the island and the country in our climate guide to Greece.

Ready to discover Zante? Browse the latest offers on breaks with First Choice.

First Choice: Low deposits & flexible payments on holidays in 2024/2025

More about Zante

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Kerry Walker

Kerry Walker

Kerry Walker is a Wales-based travel writer and author. Kerry specialises in Wales, Central and Southern Europe. She regularly writes for The Telegraph and National Geographic Traveller among others. She's also authored/co-authored over 20 travel guides. Kerry's a qualified translator, avid photographer and lover of mountains and remote destinations.

Posted on Tuesday 30th July 2024 in: Europe Excursions Summer

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