I went to the busiest party island in Greece — it was nothing like I expected
When you think of 'Zante,' images of raucous parties, intoxicated Brits stumbling along the strip to the beat of blaring dance music might spring to mind. The Greek island of Zakynthos, often shortened to 'Zante,' is notorious for being a party hotspot swarming with tourists, but that's not always the case.
Indeed, while Zakynthos certainly has its wild side, it's not compulsory. This was my revelation when I visited the island for a friend's 30th birthday bash last week.
Initially, I was rather wary about the chosen destination due to the tales I'd heard, but as it turned out, I couldn't have been more mistaken.
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The main party hub of Zakynthos is Laganas Strip, where thousands of pleasure-seeking tourists gather to get drunk, dance and eventually be scraped off the floor and out of their own sick by patient bouncers.
We chose to steer clear of this part of the island and instead opted for a villa in Vasilikos, a more traditional town at the easternmost point of the island, reports the Express.
Here, the twisting roads are lined with olive trees shimmering silver from the dust stirred up by the few cars that pass by, and the sound of cicadas is almost deafening. Mountains tower above the ocean with villas and traditional stone cottages scattered across them, and goats adorned with bells meander between the groves.
From our peach-hued villa perched atop the mountain, we had a direct view down to the glistening sea, which beckoned us to take refuge from the scorching 35C temperatures.
Despite the house being a fair distance from the hustle and bustle of the strip, it didn't mean we were short of things to do.
We spent our time at Amigo Beach Club, a mere 20-minute stroll from our digs, which boasted sunbeds, a pool, and beach access. The staff there were absolutely amazing and more than willing to cater to all 22 of us.
Just a quick 10-minute drive from Vasilikos is the renowned Gerakas Beach, which was definitely worth a look. A protected marine reserve, this lengthy stretch of pristine white sand is a turtle nesting area and strictly safeguarded, but still open during the day for those wanting to catch some rays.
There is complimentary parking just a stone's throw from the beach, and sunbeds are available for hire; however, there is no bar on the beach itself.
We packed our own umbrellas and towels and spent a rather lovely (albeit sweltering) few hours on this sandy shore, dipping in and out of the crystal clear sea before heading back up the hill.
Free showers were available to rinse off the salt, and they were spotless and straightforward to use — a real blessing after a long day of sweating and swimming.
Once freshened up, we nipped to one of the many tavernas that dot the hillside for a late lunch.
Nicos Taverna was our chosen spot, and once again, they were more than accommodating of our large group. Here, we ate and drank to our hearts' content for a very reasonable price (€4 Gyros, anyone?).
After spending four blissful days in this haven, I can confidently admit that my initial impressions of Zakynthos were misguided. Despite its somewhat tarnished reputation, my stay was filled with utter relaxation, delectable cuisine, warm hospitality, and stunning landscapes.
Indeed, Zakynthos is what you choose to make of it.
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