Zakynthos, also called Zante, is a famously green Greek island with sparklingly blue seas, rugged cliffs and caves, celebrated wildlife, such as loggerhead sea turtles, and popular sites, including Shipwreck Cove. Whether you’re looking to experience traditional rural village life, relax at a luxury resort by a private pool or get your adrenaline fix through a series of outdoor adventures, you’ll need a great place to stay. Here’s our pick of the best hotels in Zakynthos, all bookable with Culture Trip.
Olea All Suite Hotel
Luxury, Boutique Hotel
Sitting atop cascading green hills, the five-star Olea hotel offers a peaceful retreat from the lively Zakynthos town centre. Rooms are fitted with oakwood furniture, woven wall panels and terraces that lead straight to a private pool or multi-level communal pool. Relax in the sand-bottom poolside bar (frozen margaritas, anyone?), and take in views of rolling olive groves and the sparkling sea beyond. The restaurant buffet showcases live cooking, local flavours and colourful desserts fit for any Instagram feed.
Phoenix Hotel
Independent Hotel
Next to the harbour on Zante’s famous Dionysios Solomos Square, Phoenix Hotel promises the soundscape of rolling Ionian waves. Colourful Venetian streets and al fresco taverna dining are steps away, while this Zakynthos hotel has a restaurant where you can watch life unfold in the square by day and enjoy romantic, candlelit dinners by night. Rooms are simple but elegant, with sleek cream and grey furnishings.
Porto Zante Villas and Spa
Hotel
These luxury seaside villas on a private beach overlooking nearby Kefalonia island and the Peloponnese peninsula have ample space, marble-lined bathrooms with whirlpool tubs and private pools with a view. You can arrange an in-villa private dining experience or reserve a table at the beachfront Maya Restaurant for some top-notch Asian fusion cuisine. During the day, treat yourself to a massage at the waterfront spa, and join a hotel excursion to go caving or turtle-spotting.
St John Resort Villas, Suites and Spa
Villa
Stay at St John Resort for its private swimming pool and gardens, where you’ll easily pass the time. Other highlights at this villa in Zakynthos include its central building that houses a spa, a beauty salon and a restaurant shaded by a pergola, overlooking the rolling hills and the sparkling Ionian Sea. Statement walls and colourful fabrics bring these private villas to life, while plush beds and floor-to-ceiling drapes create a homely vibe.
Lithies Boutique Hotel
Boutique Hotel
Just a short drive from the island’s famous Blue Caves, Skinari Lighthouse and Shipwreck Cove, Lithies Boutique Hotel in Zakynthos is a great option for adventure seekers. Hire a free bike from the hotel and cycle around the surrounding hills before stopping off and swimming in the island’s clear waters. Back at the resort, the outdoor pool provides further respite from the heat, while barbecue facilities and ping-pong tables make it all the more tempting to stay in for the night, away from the crowds.
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Lesante Classic Luxury Hotel and Spa
Hotel
Lesante Classic Luxury Hotel and Spa, just 80m (262ft) from Tsilivi beach and 5km (3mi) away from Zakynthos, is the epitome of a luxurious five-star hotel. It boasts three swimming pools and a kids’ pool, a sauna room and a fitness hall, while its rooms include a plasma-screen television and free wifi. The on-site Ambrosia Restaurant offers a rich buffet every morning and local and Mediterranean specialities for dinner.
Eco Resort Zefyros
Resort, Hotel
The eco-friendly Zefyros hotel in Zakynthos is surrounded by olive trees and vineyards – a typical island landscape. Its 71 rooms have wifi, cable television, air conditioning, minibars and furnished balconies, complete with views of the garden and the hotel’s swimming pool. Enjoy your breakfast on the restaurant’s terrace; at night, savour the dinner buffet with Greek, Italian and international dishes.
Palatino Hotel
Hotel
In a quiet setting close to the city centre, Palatino Hotel offers elegant rooms with views of the Ionian Sea or the surrounding mountains. Its rooms and suites, complete with balconies, are nicely decorated, air-conditioned and equipped with cable television and wifi. Start your day with an American breakfast, and finish it with a cocktail and local Mediterranean specialities made with fresh ingredients.
Hotel Plagos Beach
Hotel
Hotel Plagos Beach is a large property with 161 spacious rooms. Travelling with the kids? Book into a family-friendly room and make use of the children’s activity club, which will keep the little ones suitably entertained while you relax by the pool or enjoy a game of tennis. Free breakfast is on offer daily.
Mabely Grand Hotel
Hotel
Sitting in the village of Kampi, 29km (18mi) from Zakynthos, Mabely Grand Hotel lives up to its name, with a grand offering of two swimming pools, a kids’ pool, a gym, a restaurant and much more. The 108 rooms have air conditioning, luxurious furniture, cable television and great views of the Ionian Sea or the hotel’s garden; some even have shared or private pools. The on-site restaurant serves European breakfast every morning and local and traditional tastes of Zakynthos throughout the day.
Kim Gregory contributed additional reporting to this article.
Looking for more? These great budget hotels are a more affordable option and best of all, you can book your stay right here on Culture Trip.
Vagelis Tsirmpas is a 23-year-old Athens-born travel enthusiast who holds a BA in interpreting and a MA in translation. He studied in Corfu, the island of his heart, and uses foreign languages as a passport to different cultures. After traveling to various European countries, his next goal is a trip to Africa. Paraphrasing Marx, Vagelis does not only want to travel around the world, but also change it. Therefore, he has actively participated in student unions and self-organized solidarity groups.