Holidays » Greece » Zante Holidays

Zante is one of the most popular islands for a Greek holiday; it features widely in holiday brochures for cheap last minute getaways. The island has great family beaches, wild cliffs and lush fertile plains, holiday resorts vary from quiet fishing villages to pumped up neon lit beach resorts. In 1953 Zante suffered a catastrophic earthquake which destroyed most of the famous elegant Venetian buildings and killed many of the inhabitants, from that day the island has strived to build up a reputable holiday resort without losing its traditional charm.

The capital of Zante is Zante Town and it is the only place on the island where the residents outnumber the tourists, approximately 35,000 people live here which is most of the islands population. The town offers an interesting mix of houses, shops and bars which surround a very busy harbour. Zante is a relatively small island but has its fair share of good beaches. All of the main holiday resorts have exceptional beaches on their doorstep and if you venture a little further out you will find plenty of hidden sandy coves and bays.

Sea turtles are a huge part of life on the beaches of Zante, unfortunately due to the development of modern holiday resorts some of the beaches have become unsuitable for the turtles to lay their eggs leading to a steady decline of the turtle population. The beaches on the island are usually of a high standard with beautiful fine white sand and contrary to what some locals say they are all accessible to the public. Vassilikos is a popular coast north of the island; it offers excellent water sports and scuba diving. The beach takes its name from the quaint little chapel next to the bay which is a good visit for tourists.

Zante offers a diverse selection of restaurants serving cuisines ranging from Greek and Italian to Chinese and Mexican. The restaurants provide a great ambiance for dining and visitors always leave having a memorable experience. The island has an abundance of fresh fish and vegetables which are used to prepare some of the finest local Greek dishes, you can sample these dishes at the more traditional taverns. There are two different types of night life in Zante.

For a quiet evening venture out to Zante Town centre where you can enjoy drinks in a peaceful setting with the sounds of Cantada (traditional Zante music). If you are looking for a crazy night then head to the resorts of Lagunas or Argassi, the town centres here are bustling with party goers enjoying the many bars and discos. Here the party starts early and goes on to the early hours of the morning.