If beach days and boat trips sound better than museums and historic sights, add Zante holidays to your wishlist. The dramatic coastline is the main draw: Laganas Bay’s long sweep of sand, the Blue Caves and Shipwreck Beach’s sheer limestone cliffs.
Zante, or Zakynthos, feels different from resort to resort. Choose family-friendly Tsilivi for its beach and waterpark, quieter Kalamaki for a protected sand spot that also serves as a turtle-nesting site, Alykanas for waterfront tavernas or Vasilikos for villas among olive groves. Laganas is for big partiers: beach clubs and pool parties by day, then bars and clubs on its neon-lit strip until morning. Elsewhere is much quieter.
Why choose Zante for a holiday?
☀️ Dry Mediterranean summers, with the sea warm enough for swimming.
🏖️ Sandy bays in the south and east; rocky coves beneath the western cliffs.
✈️ Direct UK flights usually take three to four hours.
🏨 Packages range from All Inclusive hotels to private villas.
🧑🧑🧒🧒 Shallow beaches suit families in Kalamaki, Tsilivi and Alykanas.
🌙 Clubs in Laganas, quiet stays in Alykanas and villas in Vasilikos.
Zante All Inclusive holidays
All Inclusive works well in Zante if most days are spent by the pool or on the beach with your meals, drinks and snacks already covered. If you want to try a different taverna most nights, Half Board or Self Catering might be better for you. You'll usually get more choice too — Zante's bigger resorts mean more All Inclusive hotels than you'd find on quieter Greek islands, often for less.
For families, Tsilivi, Kalamaki and Alykanas combine shallow, sandy beaches with family-friendly hotels. Couples can slow things down in Kalamaki or choose Alykanas for a smaller resort built around tavernas and shops.
Family holidays in Zante
Tsilivi is one of the best spots on the island for family holidays — it has the most going on without feeling frantic, with mini golf, bowling and watersports at your fingertips. Kalamaki feels leafy and more open, with no motorised watersports on its protected turtle-nesting beach. Alykanas is smaller and more laid-back, with watersports in peak season.
All three have soft, sandy beaches with paddle-friendly water for little ones, plus shops and tavernas within walking distance. Stay in a Self Catering apartment, family room or All Inclusive waterpark hotel.
Tip: Book early if you need a family room or want a particular flight time during the school holidays.
Cheap and last-minute holidays to Zante
May and September are usually cheaper and less crowded than July and August, but still promise good beach weather. Tsilivi and Kalamaki have plenty of package holidays to compare. Alykanas and Argassi can be better value too, depending on the hotel. Once schools break up, last-minute bargains are harder to find.
Check different UK airports, try midweek flights and compare room types and board options – All Inclusive isn’t always better value than Half Board.
Couples and villa holidays in Zante
Argassi keeps you close to dinners and drinks in Zante Town, while Alykanas and Psarou suit days split between the beach and nearby tavernas. If you’d rather have your own pool and fewer neighbours, look at Vasilikos, where villas sit among olive groves. A car makes beach-hopping and dinners out much easier. Boutique and adults-only hotels are another option for uninterrupted days by the pool.
Tip: For date night, book a table at L’été Sunset Bar - and watch the sun set directly in front of you. Or reserve lunch at Keri Lighthouse Restaurant for views over the Myzithres islets.
Where to stay in Zante
Choose what matters most: having a villa to yourself, shallow water, family-run tavernas, quick trips into Zante Town or bars that stay open late. The main resort centres are easy to explore on foot. Hire a car if you’re staying in Vasilikos or at a more remote villa.
Tsilivi
Tsilivi holidays are a good all-rounder. The beach is sandy and the water stays shallow close to shore. There’s plenty going on after dark, without the late-night clubbing of Laganas. Zante Town is a short taxi or bus ride away.
Kalamaki
Kalamaki holidays are more about nature and the beach, with low-rise hotels set back from a long sweep of sand. It sits in the protected turtle-nesting area, so there are no motorised watersports. For an evening out, Zante Town and Laganas are both a short trip away.
Alykanas
Alykanas holidays feel more village-like than Tsilivi, stay here if you want somewhere relaxed. You’ll have sandy beaches, family-run tavernas and the shops you need a few minutes away. Cross the little river and you’ll be in Alykes in about 15–20 minutes.
Vasilikos
Vasilikos is where you stay when you want plenty of space. The peninsula is scenic and dotted with private-pool villas, tavernas and hidden coves. Gerakas is protected and comparatively undeveloped, Banana Beach has watersports and beach bars, and Porto Roma feels tucked-away.
Argassi
Pick holidays to Argassi if having Zante Town close matters more than having a standout beach on your doorstep. You’ll have restaurants and bars within walking distance, with the capital and port a short taxi ride away. For better beaches, take the bus or hire a car.
Laganas
Laganas holidays are the one to pick if you want loud clubs, foam parties and student crowds. Stay near the strip to be in the middle of it, or farther out if you value sleep.
Tip: Boat trips leave for nearby Marathonisi. Avoid ‘swim with turtles’ trips and choose operators that keep at least 15 metres away. Never touch or feed wildlife.
Zante Town
Zante Town — also known as Zakynthos Town — is where you stay for harbour walks, and bustling squares and restaurants, rather than days on the sand. Above town, the Venetian Castle in Bochali looks across the harbour. You’ll find tavernas and cafés around Solomos Square, with some venues hosting live music. The centre is easy to explore without a car and makes a good break from resort life, but you’ll need to travel for sandy beaches.
Best Zante holidays by type
All Inclusive holidays in Zante
All Inclusive holidays to Zante work well if you plan to spend most days on the beach. Tsilivi, Kalamaki, Alykanas and Argassi give you plenty of All Inclusive hotels, with restaurants nearby if you want to eat out.
Family holidays in Zante
Tsilivi, Kalamaki and Alykanas are a good starting point for family holidays to Zante. You’ll find shallow beaches, family hotels and enough nearby to give you plenty to do.
Cheap and last-minute holidays to Zante
May and September are usually cheaper, but you’ll still get warm days. Once schools break up, last-minute holidays to Zante get harder to find, so if you’re booking at the last minute, it pays to be flexible with your departure airport and travel dates.
Couples holidays in Zante
Choose Argassi for dinners and taxis into Zante Town, or Alykanas or Psarou for easy-going beaches. For more privacy, try Vasilikos and hire a car.
Villa holidays in Zante
Try Vasilikos for Self Catering holidays to Zante — villas with their own pools, sprawling olive groves and hidden beaches to explore. Budget for a car and check the distance to the nearest taverna or shop.
Adults-only holidays in Zante
Try Kalamaki, Argassi or a hotel away from the busiest streets in one of the larger resorts. Check the streets nearby too — an adults-only pool doesn’t always mean peaceful evenings.
Zante vs other Greek islands
Zante does more than most Greek islands manage in one place: clubbing resorts, shallow family beaches, quiet coastal stays and villas, all within a short drive of each other. Laganas brings the clubs, Tsilivi and Kalamaki have the kid-friendly beaches, and Alykanas or Vasilikos will get you away from the busiest streets. One resort doesn't define the island — Zante's bigger than its nightlife reputation suggests.
More travel guides
Find out more with our guides to top spots around Zante, including Alykanas | Alykes | Argassi | Kalamaki | Laganas | Tsilivi
