HIDDEN on an island off the coast of mainland Greece is a gorgeous town with breathtaking sights.
Zante, also known as Zakynthos in Greece, is the ideal location for a summer holiday.
Zakynthos is a Greek island located in the Ionian Sea and is a popular summer resort.
It is less busy and more green than other top Greek destinations including Mykonos and Santorini.
The harbour city is full of gorgeous beach bars, restaurants and crystal clear waters.
One of the most well-known locations is Navagio beach, where visitors can see the wreckage of the famed 1980 shipwreck.
Resting in a sandy cove framed by cliffs, it is one of the hotspots for tourists – but it is only accessible by boat and is classed as ‘hidden’ as not many know about it.
There are many smaller towns within the city of Zakynthos, and many have their own perks.
Another hotspot is the blue caves where you can go for a swim in the crystal clear water.
Located just off the coast is the stunning Cameo Island, which is accessed by a long wooden bridge.
It has a small beach and beach bars with a port for ships.
By booking a boat tour, you can see all of these sights along with the famous Caretta-Caretta turtles.
The turtles are native to Greece and lay their eggs on the Laganas Beach.
Laganas is the top place to go if you’re looking for a lively holiday.
With many nightclubs along the strip and tonnes of beach bars and restaurants, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to options.
Nearby Kalamaki Beach is a protected nesting ground for endangered loggerhead sea turtles.
Turtle Island is another hotspot, aptly named as it is shaped like a turtle.
With beach vendors serving alcohol, soft drinks and food, it’s the perfect place to go and relax.
To take in the scenery, visitors can book a buggie tour which lasts for around six hours and includes a free lunch.
Here you will stop at all the hotspots that have the best views.
For a bit of fun while also taking in the sights, there are companies who offer boat parties where you pay for a ticket and get discounted drinks on board.
It’s a great way to make friends and have a great time off the shore.
In the winter months, temperatures can drop down to 12C, but the weather starts heating up in April.
When travelling to Zante, the hottest month of the year is July where temperatures reach a scorching high of 34C and a low of 20C.
The Venetians called Zante ‘Fiore di Levante’, which means ‘the Flower of the East’
It’s nobility and fertility made it the jewel of their empire, and it is a hotspot for olive trees.
One of the main exports of Zante is olive oil and olives, grown across the country.
To find out more about it, you can visit an Olive Press museum where the guides will take you through the process and show off some of the oldest olive trees.
There are a range of local Greek wines available in restaurants and bars, but if a pint is more your thing it will set you back just €3.50.
The local alcohol of Greece is a spirit called Ouzo and it is sold in almost every shop.
Ryanair offers flights direct to Zante from €68 and it takes around four hours.
