On this jewel of an island, once christened Fioro di Levante, the Flower of the East, by the Venetians, you can drift into nature’s embrace or surrender to the pulse of the dance floor until dawn. Zakynthos, known as Zante, is nothing if not versatile. It is an island of handsome architecture and cinematic scenery, of jasmine-scented evenings and neon-lit nights. Here, you might lose yourself in centuries of history, unwind amid olive groves and Ionian blues, or move from bar to bar as the music spills into morning.
To the south and southeast, package holidays reign and the beaches hum with sunseekers. But elsewhere, the island reveals a quieter temperament, with pine-covered hills, timeworn stone villages, and winding lanes where bougainvillea tumbles over whitewashed walls. The rugged west coast is arguably Zante’s most arresting feature, a procession of limestone cliffs plunging into impossibly clear seas.
Each summer, loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) return to the island’s golden sands to lay their eggs, an ancient ritual unfolding alongside modern tourism. For those willing to observe from a respectful distance, the reward is unforgettable. Boats slip out to hidden coves and secret inlets. En route to Shipwreck Beach, they pass through the island’s famed blue caves before arriving at a crescent of sand encircled by sheer rock. At its center lies the rusted hull of a marooned ship, part relic, part icon.
With a car, the island opens up further, revealing characterful hamlets, eccentric chapels, and centuries-old monasteries. Museums devoted to post-Byzantine art, agriculture, and natural history deepen the story. And always, there is the table, laden with local wine, fresh seafood, and olive oil pressed from nearby groves, at one of the island’s seemingly endless cafés and tavernas.
Whether you come to Zakynthos to revel, to retreat, or to roam its wild landscapes, a small, sunlit corner of paradise is waiting.
