One of the Greek islands in the Ionian Sea, Zante is growing in popularity thanks to its crystal clear waters, sandy
beaches and bustling atmosphere. With good weather virtually guaranteed duing the main tourist seasons, Zante's glorious scenery and blanket of wild flowers provides the perfect backdrop to any holiday. There are quaint whitewashed villages and a 'venetian' harbour that resounds pleasantly with the tolling church bells of St Dennis Cathedral. Approximately three hours and twenty minutes from most UK airports during the summer months, Zante is emerging as one of Europe's holiday hotspots.

With its great nightlife and energetic atmosphere, Zante has an obvious appeal to young adults and couples searching for a fun-filled holiday. However the island has many hidden depths and a relatively unspoilt coastline that can offer a relaxing, rural alternative to typical island getaways, with gentle shelving sands and warm waters appealing to families. There is much to keep holidaymakers entertained once dusk falls with larger resorts attracting shoppers seeking souvenirs, knick-knacks and locally produced handicrafts and clothing.

Many young people are attracted to Zante thanks to its fantastic beaches, discos, bars, multitude of restaurants and summer temperatures that peak around 30°C. This is accentuated in the resort of Laganas, which has a great nightlife centred on R&B, hip-hop and dance tracks with DJs priding themselves on pre-releases of popular tracks. During the summer season this is the best place to go to party, with many of the clubs in the area even offering free entry. Laganas is also a fantastic place to eat with restaurants such as Fatsos (an American Grill) and Georgios (a Canadian-Italian restaurant) offering international cuisine. Please be aware this resort can also be affected by aircraft noise due to its proximity to Zante airport. Alternatively, Tsilivi is a relaxing long beach with less emphasis on partying, though there are a few discos. It is an animated resort ideal for watersports and children with shallow waters and gently sloping sands. There is a friendly atmosphere without being too hectic and there is a wide choice of shops to stock up on souvenirs and gifts. The most unspoilt area of Zante is Vassilikos, which has a rural setting and many great beaches. There are long stretches of sandy beaches around the peninsula that leads down to Gerakas, which is considered the most beautiful beach on the island. The resort is also ideal for shopping with mini-markets and gift shops, while those seeking night-time entertainment can enjoy the many bars and restaurants.

Nature is a major attraction of Zante, particularly during the turtle season, which runs from May to August.
Zante is the most important nesting area in Mediterranean for the logger headed turtles and the island's many coves are worthy of exploration. Smugglers Cove is arguably the most famous beach in the whole of Greece and the Greek Islands as the sight where a coaster carrying contraband cigarettes was wrecked and washed on the beach. It can only be reached by boat, as can the small, uninhabited island of Marathonissi with its amazing scenery and stunning rock formations.

There are a number of caves on the north coast of the island, known as the Blue Caves because of the incredible blue colour of the water due to the refraction of the light. Trips to the mainland are also popular, particularly to Olympia the birthplace of the Olympics. This is an island where everything is different from the music in the tavernas to the historic wineries, while the mountain villages are famous for their hospitality. In the main town it's worth visiting the historic St Mark's Square and the Solomos & Kalvos Museum. The square is lined with neoclassical buildings highlighting that's there's much more to Zante than just a beach resort