Grecia - Zakynthos

Population:40000

Currency:Euro, €1 = 100 cents

Opening hours:In summer, normally 8.00-12.00and 16.00-20.00 daily for mostshops. Government offices andbusinesses normally 8.00-12.00and 16.00-20.00 Monday-Friday

Internet:www.zakynthos.grwww.gozakynthos.gr

Newspapers:Athens News, in EnglishAthens News Agency, in Greekand EnglishEkathimerini, in English

Emergency numbers:100 General Emergencies199 Fire166 Health emergencies

Tourist information:There is no official tourist office onZakynthos

ZAKYNTHOSPUBLISHING DATE: 2008-06-18 | COUNTRY CODE: GRContents: The City, Beach Life, Do & See, Eating, Bars & Nightlife, Shopping,Sleeping, Essential Information, Maps

Copyright © 2007 Fastcheck AB. All rights reserved. For more information visit: www.arrivalguides.com

ZAKYNTHOSThe Venetians – who owned it for 600 years – called it ‘theFlower of the East’. Zakynthos is still one of the lushest andloveliest Greek islands, with green hillsides covered withflowers in spring and early summer, white cliffs dropping todazzling turquoise waters, and some of the best beaches inGreece. Even better, it claims to have more sun than anyother Greek island – and it has sizzling nightlife to match.

Make your trip start at hoMe | www.arrivalguides.com

THE CITY #THECITY#

Zakynthos lost much of its centuries-oldVenetian architecture to an earthquake in1953, but Zakynthos Town retains adistinctly Italianate feel, with arcadedstreets and a wide central piazza and ascattering of grand old buildings. Abovethe town, a ruined but still forbiddingVenetian castle looks eastward to themainland and the Gulf of Corinth.

Zakynthos’s hilly hinterland can beexplored in a rented car, though the islandhas few visitor attractions as such apartfrom a handful of small but historicchurches and two small museums.

For most visitors, the main attractions areZakynthos’s beaches – which include someof the very best in Greece – and its cheap,cheerful and unsophisticated nightlife.

Like most Greek holiday islands, Zakynthosreally comes to life between May – whenthe first charter flights arrive – andOctober, when the last packageholidaymakers depart. From Octoberthrough to April, almost every hotel andnightspot on the island closes, and theresorts go into hibernation.

Make the most of your summer onZakynthos with the easygoing, laid backbeach life by day and the party by night.

BEACH LIFE #BEACH LIFE#

AlykesOn an east-facing bay, Alykes is midway

along the northeast coast of the island andhas a long sandy beach, plenty of watersports facilities, a good choice of tavernasand bars, and a handful of small discos.Usually less crowded than Lganas.

ArgassiArgassi’s north facing beach is lessimpressive than those of its island rivals,but it makes up for that with an impressivechoice of water sports and facilities forfamilies. And the word on the street is thatit’s due to take over from Laganas as theisland’s nightlife hot spot.

KalamakiSeparated from Laganas by a 5 km stretchof beach designated as part of the NationalMarine Park (and so free of buildings),Kalamaki is less raucous than its nearneighbour and is more appealing tofamilies and couples. It shares the samemarvellous sands and striking views, andlike Laganas it is very close to the airport.

LaganasThis superb beach - a 14 kilometre longstretch of sand that runs, almostuninterrupted, from Geraki (also calledGerakas) at the southeast tip of the islandto Laganas and beyond – is one of the lastnesting grounds of the endangeredloggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta). Partsof Laganas Bay and the beach have beendesignated as a National Marine Park toprotect egg-laying females and hatchlingturtles. Powered water sports are bannedwithin the waters of the NMP. Laganas isthe island’s biggest and noisiest resort,with dozens of pubs, bars and clubs.

For information on turtle conservation andthe marine park;

Internet: www.earthseasky.org or www.nmp-zak.org

|DESTINATION: ZAKYNTHOSPUBLISHING DATE: 2008-06-18


TsiliviThis resort is around 6 km north ofZakynthos Town and has grown from beinga small fishing village less than 20 yearsago to a full-scale holiday resort. Thebeach is long and sandy, with stunningviews east to the mainland, and there isplenty of mid-range and budgetaccommodation. Tsilivi also has a goodchoice of places to eat and drink, and itsnightlife is a good deal less frenzied thanLaganas.

VassilikosClose to the south-east tip of Zakynthosand looking west across Laganas Bay,Vassilikos is one of the most attractive andpeaceful of the island’s beach resorts, withsome of the best hotels on Zakynthos.

DO & SEE #DOANDSEE#

Church Of Agios DionysiosThis small church, built in 1925, containsthe silver-encrusted sarcophagus of St.Dionysios, the island’s patron saint. Itsurvived the 1953 earthquake – proof, saydevout islanders, of the Saint’s miraculouspowers.

Address: Odos Agiou Dimitriou, south side of Zakynthos Townharbour

Post-byzantine MuseumThe main attraction here is the collection offine Orthodox icons and wall-paintingsfrom the churches and monasteries whichwere leveled by the earthquake in 1953. A

model of Zakynthos Town prior to thequake shows what the town looked likepre-1953.

Address: Plateia Solomos

Solomos MuseumThis modest museum celebrates the lifeand works of Dionysios Solomos, theZakynthian author and poet who pennedthe Greek national anthem, along withother notable islanders.

Address: Plateia Agiou Markou

Monitis Panagias (monastery Of TheVirgin)Virtually the only historic building leftstanding intact on the island, thismonastery near the northwest tip of theisland was the home of St Dionysios, whobefore being canonised was the abbot hereduring the 17th century. His cell, with hisfew possessions, can still be viewed.

Address: Moni tis Panagias Anafonitrias, near Volimes

Round The Island CruisesExcursion boats leave daily (buy tickets thenight before at the quayside or at yourhotel) from all the island resorts insummer. They take trips to the BlueGrotto, a marine cave carved out of thewhite limestone cliffs by thousands ofyears of wave action, and to the so-called‘Smugglers Wreck’ – the rusting hulk of aSyrian cargo vessel that ran aground in the1980s on a spectacular white beachoverlooked by towering cliffs – it is almostimpossible to reach except by sea.

Ancient OlympiaThe spectacular ruins of ancient Olympia,birthplace of the Olympic Games, are onlyan hour away from Killini, the small port onthe Greek mainland opposite Zakynthos.There are several ferries and hydrofoilsdaily in summer, taking around 90minutes, so a day trip is possible – see the



Greek Travel Pages web site; www.gtp.gr;for up to date schedules and fares. Travelagents in Zakynthos also offer escortedcoach tours to Olympia.

Seaplane FlightsThere are no direct ferries from Zakynthosto other islands – but you can island-hopby seaplane with a new service operatedby AirSea Lines. For prices and bookings;

Phone: +30 (2610) 224 655Internet: www.airsealines.com

EATING #EATING#

Zakynthos’ resorts are not short ofcheerful, affordable and family-run placesto eat.

Like night-spots, restaurants and tavernasin the island’s resorts may appear for acouple of seasons, then vanish when thelease runs out or when they fail to make aprofit – so last summer’s favourite dinermay not be there on your next trip.

I FratelliWith a stunning view of Laganas bay, thisrestaurant and pizzeria serves excellentGreek dishes such as mussels in saganakicheese sauce, kelftiko and other islandfavourites, as well as grilled steaks,chicken, pizza and pasta.

Address: LaganasPhone: +30 26950 51178Internet: www.ifratelli.gr

To AntetiThis family run taverna is as near as you

will find to authentic dining in Zakynthos,priding itself on Greek standards such asarnaki stamnas (oven-cooked lamb) andrich Greek salads. There are tables in thepretty garden, and as you eat you maywell be serenaded by local musicians.

Address: Kipi, Zakynthos TownPhone: +30 26950 23612

StaniAll the Greek favourites including ahighly-recommended moussaka; also has aspecial menu for children, so ideal forfamilies – especially the rich and stickydesserts. Greek traditional music anddancing on Sunday nights.

Address: Kalamaki beachPhone: +30 26950 26374

Tasos BistroPopular, friendly taverna right on thebeach serving a mix of internationalfavourites and Greek standards and run byan extended family of brothers, wives,cousins and children. Excellent value formoney.

Address: Laganas BeachPhone: +30 26950 52195

Totis BurgerDon’t be misled by the name – Totis serveslocal dishes and island wines from thefamily’s own vineyards as well as burgers,chicken, and pasta.

Address: Laganas BeachPhone: +30 26950 65040



BARS & NIGHTLIFE #BARSANDNIGHTLIFE#

Laganas is the raucous epicentre ofZakynthos’ nightlife, rocking until dawnfrom May until September, with more than50 clubs, music bars and pubs. But theother resorts, especially Argassi, haveplenty of nightlife to offer too. Names,management, music and door policy maychange from season to season, but a hardcore of well-established stalwarts can berelied on.

RescueIf the names Dave Pearce, N-Trance, JX,Angie Brown, Dirty Sanchez or DavidMorales ring a bell for you, Rescue is theplace to be on Zakynthos. With room for2000 people on its packed dance floor,three bars inside and two more outside,and the best imported DJs, Rescue isLaganas’s nightlife flagship.

Address: Laganas beachPhone: +30 (69726) 03387Internet: www.rescueclub.net

ZerosProbably Rescue’s biggest rival, with aloyal following drawn by its laid-backatmosphere, top sounds, and top DJs.

Address: Laganas beachPhone: +30 (26950) 53326Internet: www.zeros.gr

FactoryFactory has made a name for itself overthe last five years and is now anestablished place of pilgrimage for the

dance scene, with great cocktails, themenights and special events, and wide-screensports TV. A great night out all round.

Address: ArgassiPhone: +30 (26950) 65012Internet: www.factoryclub.gr

KoutsisFor something different and out of theordinary! Zakynthos has a handful ofvenues where visitors can watch and listento traditional island music and costumeddancers. Koutsis, in Argassi, is one of thebest.

Address: ArgassiPhone: + 30 (26950) 44852

SHOPPING #SHOPPING#

Visitors come to Zakynthos for the beachand the party. The shops and stalls offerthe visitor plenty of opportunities to buycheap and colourful beachwear, designerknock-offs and conventional souvenirs. Themain shopping street in Zakynthos Town isOdos Alexandras, two blocks back from theharbour esplanade, which has a plentifularray of shops selling leatherwear and goldand silver jewellery, all of which are wellmade and well designed. Elsewhere, theshopping streets in the resorts concentrateon souvenir towels and tops, beach toysand other essential holiday requirementssuch as sunblock, dive masks, snorkels,tequila and imported English beer.



SLEEPING #SLEEPING#

EXCLUSIVELouis Imperial ZanteAddress: VassilikosPhone: +30 (26950) 35031Internet: www.louishotels.com

GOOD VALUEThe BayAddress: Vassilikos

Louis Zante BeachAddress: Laganas

BASICPlaza PallasAddress: Tsilivi

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

AirportZakynthos Airport is midway betweenKalamaki and Laganas.

It is around 1 km (10 minutes by coach orfive minutes by taxi) from each area.

There is no public transport from theairport, though plenty of taxis meet eachflight.

In addition to summer charter flights,

there are several daily flights to Athens.

A new departure hall is scheduled to openin 2007.

Phone: + 30 (26950) 48400

Public transportRegular bus services connect all the mainresorts with Zakynthos Town. The centralbus station is at 42 Odos Filitas. You canbuy tickets on board.

Car rental is widely available andaffordable, as is fuel. Scooters andmotorcycles may also be hired, butinexperienced riders should take greatcare!

TaxiTaxis are plentiful, cheap and professional.Most taxi drivers speak English. Taxis carryup to four passengers. The main taxistation is in the central square ofZakynthos Town. Taxis can be booked bythe day for island tours.

Airport transfers by taxi can also bebooked:

Phone: + 30 (26950) 48400Internet: www.zantetaxi.gr

PostMain Post Office

Address: corner of Odos Tertseti and Odos S. Gouskou,Zakynthos TownPhone: + 30 (26950) 44875

PharmacyThere are several pharmacies in ZakynthosTown and at least one in most resorts.Opening times are 8.00-14.00,Monday-Friday; and 17.15-20.30, Monday,Thursday and Friday. If you requiremedicine after midnight, a doctor mustcontact the pharmacy first. For the locationof the nearest pharmacy, ask at yourhotel.



DentistVasilios Kolios

Address: 32 Odos Alex. RomaPhone: +30 (26950) 28681

TelephoneCountry code: 30

Island/Area code: 26950

Electricity230 v 50 Hz; two-pin (southern European)plug.

#ESSENTIALINFORMATION#


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Grecia - Zakynthos

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