Vacation Rentals in Zakynthos

Picturesque villages, pine and olive trees as well as blue water are wonderful conditions for a relaxing holiday at the Ionian Sea. Along the shores you will find a wide range of terraced hostels offering breathtaking views of the crystal clear sea bays. Gentle hills and mountains provide an elevated residential area just a few metres from the beaches. Around Zakynthos you can reside in an excellent apartment or a luxurious holiday home. In communities like Korithi, Alikanas or Xirokastello you can enjoy the rural charm on the one hand and at the same time reach shopping facilities near the beach.

Many of the island's hosts offer you first-class beach villas, cottages or farmhouses where you can enjoy absolute privacy. In the small villages like Tsilivi, Vasilikos or Katastárion you will find a vacation rental with several sleeping areas and spacious living areas. Travel groups such as families or friends can be the graceful gardens, barbecue areas and private pools and enjoy the undisturbed tranquillity at the same time.

About 40 kilometers west of the mainland and the city of Amaliada, the island of Zakynthos extends over an area of 407.58 square kilometers in the southwest of Greece. It is the southernmost of the Ionian Islands and measures 20 kilometres wide and 40 kilometres long. The villages are assigned to six municipalities. These are the capital of the same name, Zakynthos, Alykes, Arkadii, Artemisia, Elatia and Laganas. About 40,000 islanders live on the island.

Zakynthos is characterized by a mountain massif, which runs along the longitudinal axis. The highest elevation is the Vrachionas with 756 meters. To the southeast are the two striking peninsulas of Skopos and Marathia, which surround the bay of Laganas.

The diverse landscape of the island, which varies according to the coastal section, guarantees varied bathing fun by the sea. The west is dominated by cliffs that rise into the azure blue sea. The beautiful bays can only be reached by boat and offer white sandy beaches in magnificent seclusion. On the east coast, however, there are sand and pebble beaches that merge into each other and belong to the seaside resorts of Tsilivi, Amboula or Alykes. A highlight are the Blue Grottos at Cape Skinari. The south belongs to the Marine Park and is the bay of the turtles.

One of the most protected species in Europe is the loggerhead turtle "Caretta Caretta", which uses an important breast site in the south of the island for life support. Every year during the mild summer nights, around 300 female reptiles stream to the 5,000 metre long sandy beach and lay between 50 and 100 eggs, which they then bury and swim back into the sea. Since 1999, nature conservationists have been working to unite tourism and nature, protecting the nests with metal frames, prohibiting water sports and closing off the beach at night.

The Smuggler Bay is the most photographed beach in Greece and can only be reached by boat. In the northwest of the island is the so-called "Shipwreck Beach", on which the ship Panagiotis stranded in 1980. The freighter loaded with smuggled cigarettes escaped from the coast guard. Today the wreck lies in the bright white sand and is surrounded by 200 meter high cliffs.

West of the capital Zakynthos visitors can visit the Venetian Castle. The medieval castle complex is idyllically situated in a small forest area and shows the impressive ruins of historic residential buildings, churches, a stone vault prison and the bastion.

The National Marine Park is located in the south of the island and is dedicated, among other things, to the protection of sea turtles. In the exhibition centre visitors can learn everything about the mysterious animals, their habitat and their nesting sites on the beaches. In addition, you will gain interesting knowledge about the flora and fauna of the island.