Zakinthos, Greece

Zakynthos is the third largest of the Greek Ionian Islands, and is one of the most beautiful and fertile islands of the Mediterranean. Due to repeated earthquakes, the morphological structure of the island is of great interest. Thus, the beaches on the northeastern side of the island are sandy and flat, while the beaches on the southwestern side are rocky and steep. Zakynthos has a thriving tourism industry and is one of the top tourist destinations in Greece.

Top tourist attractions on the island include the well-photographed Wreck beach and the popular Blue Cave at Cape Skinari on the northern side of the island. On the northeastern side, are the islands Marathonisi and Pelousi as well as the bay of Laganas, one of the most frequented beaches in Greece.

There are also many mineral springs dating back to ancient times to be found on the island. Such springs are the St. Panteleimon springs in the village of Koukesi and the Tsouri springs in the village of Aghios Dimitrios. The mineral springs are an ideal therapeutic treatment for arthritis and rheumatism.

Things to See & Do

* Solomou square - Zakynthos Town
* Shipwreck beach (Navagio)
* Blue Caves
* Agios Nikolaos beach and the Bay of Laganas

General information

Cruise Season - Feb to Dec
Currency - Euro (€)
Language - Greek
Land Area - 410 km²
Population - 42,000
Electricity - 2 round pins European style
Time - GMT/UTC plus two hours
International Country Telephone Code - + 30

Port Location - The port is located in Zakynthos town. Cruise ships dock in the downtown area.

Travel Links - Zakynthos is served by one airport (airport code ZTH), located towards the south end of the island near to the resort of Laganas and Kalamaki, it caters for both international and domestic flights. Almost all international flights are chartered flights from other European cities during the holiday season (May-October). Domestic flights are available between Zakynthos airport and Athens, served by the national airline Olympic Airlines, there are usually two flights a day. The journey time to Athens is approximately 1 hour. Zakynthos has ferry links to Kyllini on the Greek mainland from Zakynthos Town. Ferries to Kefalonia can be joined at Aghios Nikolas, on the North-East tip of the island.

Bus services on the island are rather infrequent and sometimes unreliable. Taxis, however, are not too expensive. The best way to get around is by rental car. Scooters and bicycles are excellent for use in the southern parts of the island, however are not recommended for use in the more hilly terrain of the north.