Book now
Floating on the turquoise waters of the Ionian Sea, Zante is more than a party island.
Approximate flight time:
2 hours and 30 minutes (total distance 960 miles)
Airlines that fly direct:
Jet2.com & TUI
Airlines that fly direct:
Jet2.com & TUI, ZTH (airport code)
Seasons:
High = May-September ; Low = November-March
Currency:
Euro (€)
Arriving at Zante Airport
Located just 5km from Zante city centre, Zante Airport is very conveniently situated for holidaymakers visiting the island.
Unfortunately, no local buses service the airport, so you will need to take a taxi to Zante Town, which takes around 15 minutes. If you need to get elsewhere, you can transfer to the bus which will take you to other places on the island.
If you want to explore the island, it’s a great idea to hire a car to get around. There are several car hire companies located in the Arrivals Hall of the airport, we recommend organising car hire before you arrive in Zante, so your car is ready and waiting for you when you arrive.
Pre-book your transfer with HolidayTaxis and avoid the queues when you arrive.
What to expect in Zante
Zakynthos, more widely known by its Italian name Zante, is an island of two stories. If you’re visiting the island to party, you’ll want to head to the southern and south-eastern shorelines, dominated by package holidays and revellers looking for a good time.
However, if you leave the south behind and explore the rest of the island, you’ll discover a different Zante altogether. You will find hillsides covered with pine forests and traditional rural villages, but it is the jaw dropping scenery of the west coast that really steals the show. With mighty limestone cliffs plunging down to mesmerisingly turquoise waters, you’ll feel like you’ve walked into a travel brochure.
Greek is the official language spoken in Zante, but English is widely spoken in the tourist resorts and shops. If you’re heading away from the tourist hotspots, picking up some basic Greek will be useful.
Zante is known for its warm, sunny climate that brings good weather throughout the year. Temperatures in Zante peak in summer with average highs of 32°C, there is little rain or cloud cover. Rainstorms are likely in autumn and winter, with mild and wet weather throughout the off season.
Culture in Zante
When people think of Zante, the first thing that usually springs to mind is party, but the island is so much more than that. And, in fact, there are plenty of cultural sites just waiting to be explored.
Zante has an interesting history, with the island being under Venice from 1484 to 1797. You will therefore find Venetian influence in the architecture, cuisine, and dialect. Unfortunately, few of the island’s old buildings remain, due to two devastating earthquakes in 1515 and 1953.
For an injection of culture, visit the Byzantine Museum of Zakynthos, the Church of St. Dionysios and the Solomos Museum (the Dionysios Solomos and Andreas Kalvos tombs are a must).
Greek food is fresh, colourful and delicious. In Zante you can try Greek favourites such as moussaka, Greek salad, gyros, souvlaki and pastitsio (baked pasta dish). Why is it so great? The island benefits from boundless fresh produce, local olive oil and delicious seafood making it a foodie-heaven.