GENERAL

Famed for its beauty and nicknamed the 'Flower of the East' by its former Venetian rulers, Zante (Zakynthos in Greek) is the most southerly of the Ionian Islands, lying just off the western coast of the Peloponnese peninsula of mainland Greece .

Zante is an idyllic island, showered in Mediterranean sunshine and characterised by rugged mountains and dramatic cliffs, rolling pineclad hills, colourful flower-strewn meadows, lush citrus orchards and vineyards, hidden coves, bays and pristine beaches.

This friendly, relaxed island has really taken off as a party destination in recent years, and holidays to Zante, as well as being a wonderful place for a relaxed beach break for families and a romantic setting for couples, are ideal for groups of friends looking to take advantage of the bars and clubs.

Laganas is home to one of the longest beaches in Zante, and is also the party capital of the island. The beach stretches for nearly 10km of fine golden sands that shelve gentle some clearest water in the Mediterranean. There are plenty of sun loungers and parasols where you can soak up the rays, but no watersports are available as the beach is a protected nesting ground for the endangered Caretta-Caretta turtles - nesting takes place between June and August.

Laganas is home to a buzzing, hedonistic nightlife scene that pulls in crowds of young revellers. There are countless bars and clubs where you can party all night, particularly on the 'Golden Mile' where you can see many big name international DJs playing at the top clubs.

The tranquil north coast is the best place to go to really chill out on a Zante holiday. Here you'll find numerous lovely beach resorts including the Tsilivi with its sweeping golden bay, and the quiet, traditionally Greek Alykes , both of which have Blue-Flag awarded beaches.

The north coast is also where you'll find one of Zante's most celebrated attractions, the famous Shipwreck in Smuggler's Cove. This magnificent cove, one of the most photographed beaches in the world, is framed by dramatic cliffs and enjoys fine white sands that slope into the incredibly clear sea. The cove is so cut off it can only be reached by boat.

Another essential attraction for a holiday in Zante is the stunning Blue Caves, on the northwest coast tip of the island, which can also only be accessed via boat. In the west of the island, lively Argassi and family-orientated Kalamaki are also popular beach resorts.

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