Description

Zakynthos, also known as Zante is one of the most frequented islands in the Ionian cluster, in Greece. The surrounding islets are beautiful, with blue waters and perfect beaches. Zante’s lush hillsides and plains are filled with fragrant flowers, and its sandy beaches are the finest in Greece. Some Zakynthos beaches are home to the endangered Caretta-Caretta turtles, which come to lay their eggs in the sands. The areas where the turtles lay their eggs are protected by special markers to keep visitors away from the hatchlings. Visitors can find a wide array of amusement venues throughout the island, from clubs and bars, to the more relaxed cafes and tavernas. There are historical monuments and natural sites that are worth visiting in Zante. Zakynthos villages are very old-world and offer visitors a taste of the conventional Zakynthos lifestyle.

Shopping

There is a lot that a tourist will find in Zakynthos that are worth buying. Most of the shops are located in Alexander Street near the waterfront and they range from leather shops to jewellery stores. Gold and leather are cheaper here than in other European countries. Tourists can also buy local products and delicacies as there is a great variety in agricultural goods like olives, wines and cheeses like the “ladotiri” or oil cheese which are specialties worth taking home.

Restaurants

Zakynthos has a large variety of fresh and high quality sea food. Most restaurants and tavernas serve the fresh fish dishes like the ‘To Petrino Taverna’ which has an extensive menu which includes Italian, Mediterranean and vegetarian cuisine. They specialize in home made traditional Greek and Zakynthian cuisine with fresh fish on the menu.
In the "To Paradosiako" restaurant, tourists can have a Greek experience with traditional Greek cuisine with local specialties like Kokkinisto or meat cooked in tomato sauce. Tourists in Zakynthos should taste the local delicacies which are served at the traditional tavernas like cock in a wine sauce and rabbit in a tomato sauce. The local sweet called fytoura which is fried semolina with cinnamon and sugar, which is sold at stands by the port and in pastry shops, should not be missed. Other restaurants and tavernas include the Paporo Restaurant, Mouria Restaurant, Eros Piccadilly, Lighthouse Taverna, Dionysus Taverna etc.

Night Life

There are a lot of nightlife venues in Zakynthos in the popular tourist resorts of Laganas, Argasi, Alykes and Alykanas, where clubs and bars line the main streets. Some of the suggested names are Buca Bar, Calypso Bar, Catcomves Bar, Enigma Bar, Ghetto Club, Iris Bar, Jam-in-Bar, Factory Club etc. Bowl ‘m Over is a state of the art bowling centre in Tsilivi which has a 4 lane bowling, pool tables, foosball tables, air hockey tables and an indoor bar which is worth visiting.

Activities

For a true Zakynthian experience tourists should attend local festivities and events. In Zakynthos Town, Tragaki and Volimes, an array of cultural events are held throughout the year, together with concerts, theatrical plays and dance performances. Zakynthos Town also organizes the Mardi Gras celebrations and the festival of Agios Dionysius on August 24. A visit to Zakynthos during Easter, will give the opportunity to witness the Easter litanies.

Communications

The international access code for Greece is +30. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). The city code for Athens is 21. Surcharges are applicable on calls made from hotels and it is generally cheaper to use OTE offices for local and international calls. The local mobile phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts and are cheaper.

Contacts

Greek Tourist Office: +30 210 3310392 or www.gnto.gr
Greek Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 939 1300
Greek Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7229 3850
Greek Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 238 6271
Greek Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6273 3011
Greek Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 430 7351/2/3
Greek Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 676 7254
Greek Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 473 7775/6
United States Embassy, Athens: +30 210 721 2951
British Embassy, Athens: +30 210 727 2600
Canadian Embassy, Athens: +30 210 727 3400
Australian Embassy, Athens: +30 210 870 4000
South African Embassy, Athens: +30 210 610 6645
Irish Embassy, Athens: +30 210 723 2771
New Zealand Consulate-General, Athens: +30 210 692 4136
Emergencies: 112/100 (Police); 112/166 (Ambulance)

Currency

EUR

Attractions

Zakynthos Town has a plethora of historical and religious monuments for tourists to visit. The Orthodox Churches of Agios Dionysius, the patron saint of the island, and Agios Nikolaos of Molos, as well as the Catholic Church of St. Mark, are all quite impressive. History buffs can visit the Museums of the National Resistance and the Post-Byzantine Era. The Museum of the poet Dionysius Solomos who was author of the National Anthem of Greece and other pre-eminent Greeks should not be missed. Above Zakynthos Town, one can visit the Venetian Fortress Ruins and the area of Bochali which is lined with cafes. Tourists can make excursions to the archaeological sights on Zakynthos Island like the Mycenaean Domed Tomb in Keri and the Mycenaean Graveyard in Kambi. The Stone Bridges in Alykes and Argasi are some of the most photographed sights on the island. The collections at the Folklore Museums in Katastari and Vasilikos and the Maritime Museum in Tsilivi can also be visited. For tourists visiting Zante, an excursion to Marathonissi Island, which is the breeding area of the Caretta-Caretta Turtle located in Laganas Bay, is worth taking. The Blue Caves surrounded by turquoise waters are a natural wonder at the northern tip of Zakynthos. Visitors can take tour boats from Agios Nikolaos to visit the Kambi Cliffs. In Keri, they can visit the Spring of Herodotus, from which tar and sulphurous waters flows.

Language

Greek

Language Description

The national language is Greek, but English is spoken and understood all along the country.

Tipping

Restaurants generally include the tip in the bill itself; if not, 10 to 15 % of the bill amount is considered a normal tip. Taxi drivers and porters expect loose change.