Villas
Zakynthos Villas: How Far From Laganas Is Far Enough
The island's reputation comes from about two kilometres of it. The rest is farmland, cliffs and a protected bay where building stopped decades ago.
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The island's reputation problem#
Zakynthos is two places. There is the south-east corner - Laganas and Kalamaki - which is a loud package strip with a notorious nightlife, and there is everywhere else, which is one of the greenest and least developed of the large Ionian islands.
The distance between them is small. From the middle of Laganas you can be in silent olive country in a quarter of an hour. But a villa in the wrong place puts you within earshot of a strip that runs until four in the morning in August, so it is a decision that deserves more care here than on most islands.
The other thing that shapes the island is the National Marine Park. Loggerhead turtles nest on the southern beaches, and the protection regime - which is genuinely enforced - has kept whole stretches of coast undeveloped. It is the reason the best part of Zakynthos looks the way it does.
Six places to look#
Where to rent, by area
Vasilikos
South-east peninsula
The best of the island and the deepest villa stock on Plum. A long green peninsula of olive groves and small roads, with Gerakas, Dafni and Porto Roma on its shores - all inside the marine park, so all still quiet. Twenty minutes from the airport and a world away from Laganas.
Tsilivi and Planos
East coast, north of town
A developed but family-oriented stretch with a long sandy beach, supermarkets and plenty of tavernas - and villas on the slopes behind that are quiet despite it. Convenient rather than beautiful, which suits groups with small children.
Keri and the south-west
South-west corner, under the cliffs
Where the flat south meets the mountains. A hill village with enormous views over Laganas bay, sea caves below, and the island's best sunsets. Far enough from the strip to be silent, close enough to reach it if anyone wants to.
Zakynthos Town and around
East coast, the capital
Rebuilt in Venetian style after the 1953 earthquake, with arcaded streets, a proper waterfront and restaurants aimed at residents. Villas sit on the hills behind with views over the town and the mainland mountains. The practical base out of season.
Rate bandMid
Shoulder season and travellers who want a town, not a resort.
See Zakynthos Town villas
Alykes and the north-east
North-east coast
Quieter than Tsilivi, flatter than Keri, with shallow water that suits young children and a long beach that never quite fills. Also the departure point for boats to the Blue Caves and the north. Low-key to the point of sleepy in June.
Rate bandMid
Families with toddlers, and anyone who wants quiet without isolation.
See Alykes villas
Volimes and the north
Far north, the cliff country
The emptiest part of the island - mountain villages, the Blue Caves, and the viewpoint above the Shipwreck. There is almost no beach here and very little stock, and you are forty minutes from anywhere. For a certain kind of trip, that is the attraction.
Rate bandMid
Second visits, walkers, and people who actively want nobody around.
See northern villasGetting the decision right#
Decide your distance from the strip
Check the beach walk, in minutes
Read the marine park rules for your beach
Confirm air conditioning in living areas
Book the boat, not the bus, for the Shipwreck
Frequently asked questions
Is Zakynthos ruined by Laganas?
No - Laganas is roughly two kilometres of a 400 square kilometre island. Stay in Vasilikos, Keri, the north or the hills and you will barely know it exists.
Where should a family with young children stay?
Alykes for shallow calm water and easy amenities, or Vasilikos if you want quiet and do not mind driving to the beach.
Can I see the Shipwreck from a villa?
No. It is on the inaccessible west coast and can only be reached by boat; the famous viewpoint is a drive to the north-west of the island.
What do the turtle rules actually stop me doing?
Being on certain beaches after sunset in nesting season, using umbrellas in marked sections, and taking boats into protected bays. Daytime swimming is unaffected.
How does it compare with Kefalonia?
Zakynthos is flatter, greener, cheaper and has a louder corner. Kefalonia is bigger, more mountainous and more spread out. For a first Ionian villa, Zakynthos is the easier week.
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