Zakynthos, also known as Zante, is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea that offers the perfect combination of authentic chic, with abundant natural beauty, luxury hotels, fun activities, and style.
Whether you're looking for amazing scenery and spectacular viewpoints, pure nature, authentic culture, classy resorts, or delicious cuisine, Zakynthos has it all.
Our Authentic Chic Zakynthos Experience
Half May we went to Zakynthos for the first time, after having visited 4 Greek islands so far, and explored much of the island in just 6 days. In this blog, I will share our personal experiences at the best hotels and some of the activities that made our stay on Zakynthos so memorable.
So definitely read on if you want to discover why Zakynthos is called the "Flower of the Levant" by the Venetians and the "Paradise Island" by many.
Get ready to experience Zakynthos like a VIP and enjoy the beauty and charm of this hidden gem in Greece.
Luxury hotels & activities on Zakynthos, Greece's hidden gem
Zakynthos is the third largest island of the Ionian Sea, located west of Peloponnesus and the Greek mainland. It has a mild climate, with sunny summers and mild winters. The island is known for its dramatic cliffs and lush green hills, olive groves, vineyards, and pine forests.
The coastline is dotted with small beaches, stunning viewpoints, and lined by bright turquoise water. Around Zakynthos, you can also find the endangered Caretta Caretta sea turtle.
And if you're looking for luxury and style, as I always do, you will not be disappointed with Zakynthos either. The island has a wide range of hotels to suit your taste and budget.
You can choose from elegant resorts with pools, spas, and restaurants, to cozy boutique hotels with personalized service and charm.
Some of the best luxury hotels on Zakynthos are of the Lesante Collection, members of Leading Hotels of the World for a reason. During our 6-day trip, we stayed at 2 of their resorts, with the best package deal, including flights, via Corendon.
2 unique hotels to experience Zakynthos in style
Lesante Cape Luxury Resort & Villas
This five-star resort opened in 2022 and is located near Akrotiri village. Built as a traditional Greek village, with a square, a taverna, a museum, an extensive vegetable garden, and a church.
The resort offers elegant rooms, suites, and a big range of private villas, with private pools and Jacuzzis, all surrounded by flowers and traditional Greek walls.
We stayed in a signature private pool suite with sea view, which was private and super convenient. I loved the classy boho-style interior design, accessories, and attention to detail.
The breakfast was very complete and delicious. Plus with half-board, you get to choose from a themed 4-course menu every night at Elea Restaurant.
The resort also has a spa, gym, and several infinity pools, 1 of which is adults-only, and also 2 a-la-carte restaurants.
Lesante Cape also has a small private beach, which can be reached through an idyllic stair at the left side of the resort, with stunning views of the sea and the surrounding mountains.
The resort is located on a secluded cliff, offers private parking, and is the ideal choice for a luxurious and quaint holiday on Zakynthos.
Get a small taste of this authentic chic resort through this gallery, don't forget to swipe:
TOP TIP: Although this resort is top-notch and can be a bit more expensive, depending on the period of your stay and room type, you can find the most affordable options, including flights, via the Corendon premium offering, through this link:
This will save you at least 20-30% compared to booking everything separately.
Lesante Blu Exclusive Beach Resort
This luxurious beach resort near Tragaki Village is an adults-only property that offers exclusivity, tranquility, and five-star comfort. Lesante Blu has contemporary chic rooms, suites, and villas, some with private pools or outdoor Jacuzzis on the balcony.
We stayed in a sea-view suite with private balcony Jacuzzi, which was so nice and luxurious. And although Lesante Blu is a bit more modern in design and older than Lesante Cape, it has won several awards and is perfect for a romantic, relaxing, and luxurious holiday on Zakynthos in style.
With half-board, dinner is included at Gaia Restaurant, offering a themed 4-course menu with several options to choose from every night, while watching the sun set into the sea.
The resort also has a spa, a gym, an infinity pool, 2 other a-la-carte restaurants, and 3 bars. Lesante Blu also offers private parking and has direct access to the sea, with a beach bar, plenty of beach beds, and impressive views of the Ionian Sea and mountains.
See for yourself in this gallery, don't forget to swipe:
TOP TIP: Avoid high season for the best rates and find an affordable package deal for your preferred dates to save about 20-30%, as opposed to booking everything separately, via the Corendon premium label offering on Zakynthos, Greece, through this link:
And for even more Greece hotel inspiration and Corendon's full Zakynthos offering, do check:
6 of the best activities on Zakynthos
This island also has plenty of activities to keep you entertained.
During our 6-day trip, besides relaxing, we did quite some exploring. Here are 6 of my favorite spots and activities on Zakynthos I can highly recommend:
1. Rent a car to see even more of Zakynthos
We did so via Mercury-Rent a Car so we could easily explore more of the island in just 1-2 days. We rented a lovely Fiat 500 Cabrio, which was super convenient, cute, and affordable.
2. Explore the beaches & cliffs
Some of the beaches and coves I would recommend visiting are Plakaki Rocks, Xigia Beach, Porto Limnionas, and Agio Sostis, where you can also go to Cameo Island by crossing the wooden bridge.
Most cliffs and viewpoints around Zakynthos are rugged, and sandy beaches are rare. The views and watercolor are however pretty spectacular due to the white limestone of the cliffs, that gives an extra glow to the bright blue waters!
3. Experience Zakynthos from the water
On Zakynthos, you can also enjoy several water sports, such as sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, snorkeling or scuba diving. My favorite is renting a boat, which we did via Zakynthos Luxury Boat Rental.
You can book several boat tours with a captain or even charter a luxury yacht with them, for bigger groups.
TOP TIP: They also offer a variety of motorboats to rent privately for a half or full day and sail without a license. We had an amazing day with this luxury motorboat all to ourselves to sail past the iconic spots along the Zante coast.
Must-visits on the water are the Blue Caves, where the water reflects the blue color of the sky and creates a magical effect. And of course, Navagio Beach, both easily reached by boat.
4. Shipwreck (Navagio) Beach
One of the most popular attractions of Zakynthos. Although it's just a rusty shipwreck lying on a secluded beach surrounded by high cliffs, it does make a stunning sight, with the imposing white rocks and almost luminescent blue water!
IMPORTANT NOTE:
The beach can only be reached by boat but is not accessible anymore due to safety reasons.
This spot can also be visited from above, which proved quite challenging😊 When we were there in May it was raining and quite windy. Despite that, there was still quite a queue for the small fenced viewpoint to see the ship lying on the beach from above.
You can skip the line and walk to the right, past a fence and scramble over cliffs to see the beach from the side. This was however quite hard, as you have to climb far or lean over to really see the ship.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is certainly not worth losing your life over, so please be careful here! However stunning it may seem in pictures, people have died by falling off these cliffs trying to take a selfie with the ship!
5. Myzithres' viewpoint
I preferred this viewpoint as it’s also pretty secluded, easy to reach by car, and then just a 10-minute walk, leading to the viewpoint. It's pretty spectacular from above, especially with a drone:
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you don’t have a drone, be careful not to lean too far over the edge, as it is very steep and not protected by any gate. As mentioned before there have been people falling down cliffs on Zakynthos in the past years…
TOP TIP: A much safer option is to enjoy the view from the nearby Restaurant Keri Lighthouse, which was unfortunately still closed when we were there.
6. Windmills in the north
You can also go hiking or biking in the countryside to discover the traditional villages and monasteries of Zakynthos. Make sure not to miss small mountain villages like Keri in the south and the quaint Potamitis Windmills in the north.
Also recommended to follow the steps down here at the end, opposite the restaurant, for a swim and beautiful views like this:
Zakynthos will surely captivate you with its natural beauty, local cuisine, and hospitality.
And although we felt that the traditional Greek towns are less represented here as on other Greek islands, and the offering of commercial restaurants and busy seaside towns was more than we preferred, the rugged and impressive coastline and unique landscapes of Zakynthos do make up for that.
More info about other Greek islands I loved in these blogs: The Beauty of Lesvos and Exploring Kos & Patmos and my Greece page for all Greek blogs.
The stunning hotels and extensive offering of Zakynthos make it truly a Paradise Island and the ideal destination for a holiday in style, combined with exploring the authentic natural beauty of Greece.
I hope I was able to inspire your next vacation to Greece's hidden gem, and that you can also experience Zakynthos Authentic Chic, through my top 8 luxury hotels & activities.
