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Welcome to the No.1 website for renting luxury villas in Zante. Zante or Zakynthos is a tale of two halves. To the south and east you can enjoy nightlife to rival Ibiza whilst the opposite side of the island to the west, is a serene coastal hideaway.
Whichever side of Zante you choose, you'll always experience a beautiful isle, resplendent in natural beauty and stunning coastline.
Zakynthos, Greece's third largest island, is also known by its Italian name, Zante. Zante spent over 300 years under Venetian rule and its dual Italian - Greek heritage is present on every corner.
Zante means amazing and lovely - a name given easily by the Venetians to an isle which left them bewitched by its natural beauty. Zakynthos' white chalks cliffs are bordered by soft white sands and sapphire-blue seas. Inland, Zanthe's rolling hills are cloaked in magnificent fragrant blankets of olive groves, bougainvillea, citrus trees and pine trees.
Read on for the best things to do, places to stay, restaurants, nightclubs and more for a Greek holiday to remember.
I look forward to helping you choose the best luxury villa in Zante for your family holiday.
All the best,
John Paul Donnelly
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This good-looking isle has something for every traveller with plenty of stunning luxury villas to accompany its magnificent terrain.
The vibrant resort of Lagonas is the place of pilgrimage for pumped clubbers, ready to party by night and rejuvenate on the beach by day. For families and those who want night-time fun turned down just a little, Tsilivi and Argassi are the perfect blend of traditional beach resort with beautiful coastline, karoke bars, tavernas, watersports and pubs.
For pretty bays and sea caves, Alykanas, Kalamaki and Vassilikos are peaceful coastal towns where you can while away the days with the sea lapping at your feet or explore this stunning isle at your leisure.
For things to do there are endless picturesque beaches to enjoy as well as hiking, boat tours, caving, diving and lots more. Loggerhead turtles are native to Zante so be sure to book a visit to their favourite nesting grounds along the coast.
For culture, head into the friendly traditional stone villages in the hills, to Zante Town for shopping and alfresco dining by the harbour or out to some of the many historical sights scattered across the island.
From Byzantine churches to Venetian architecture, museums filled with Ancient Greek history, world-class archaeological sites, Venetian castle ruins, shipwrecks and more, there's an endless collection of fascinating history to uncover here.
With fresh local food and wine to punctuate each day, however you choose to spend your time in Zakynthos, you're guaranteed to leave refreshed and ready to return for more.
Byzantine, Ancient Greek, Renaissance, Venetian and Ottoman history accompanied by picturesque rural landscapes and a huge array of outdoor activities mean when you can tear yourself away from the beach, there's lots more to do and see in Zante. Here's our top picks of the best things to do in Zakynthos.
There are stunning beaches of every kind in Zakynthos so it's easy to find a beach and when you do it's likely to be sublime. Whether you want a quiet spot of unspoilt coastline to enjoy on your own or a long stretch of soft white sand with excellent facilities and plenty of watersports, you'll happen across it with ease.
Here's our favourites from Zante's best beaches.
Navagio Beach is without a doubt, one of the finest beaches in Zakynthos. Its high white curve of cliff filled with a slash of white sand and a strip of aqua-blue sea, looks almost too good to be true. With a shipwreck part-hidden in the sand, it's no surprise Navagio is one of the most photographed beaches in Greece.
It is though, a small cove surrounded by dramatic cliffs so you'll need to take a boat to reach it meaning it's usually a stop-off on a boat tour for adults rather than a destination for the family.
Instead, for families, Gerakas Beach is a memorable experience. Gerakas' long shoreline is a favourite with loggerhead turtles so there are areas marked off in sand because they're places where turtles nest. The beach has a rescue centre and wildlife area where you can learn more about the turtles plus tavernas and bars close by.
Tsilivi Beach's shallow waters, many activities and neighbouring water park are another favourite for families and groups. Walk up to the headland for beautiful sunsets as evening approaches.
Porto Limnionas Beach is another unique spot for adults. This rocky cove features transparent deep waters, sea caves and terraces with views over the water. If you don't mind the rocks and love to swim and snorkel this is a lovely alternative to more traditional sandy shores.
For a pretty beach with a buzz, Agios Nikolaos is beautiful setting with bars, beach clubs and restaurants along the shore plus one of the island's best range of watersports.
The best all-rounder has to be Banana Beach. You'll find plenty of space to recline on a sun lounger, when you get hungry, take a short stroll to a contemporary beachfront restaurant for lunch by the water's edge – perfect for families, couples and groups.
One of the biggest attractions on the Zakynthos are its loggerhead turtles. For the best experience, head to Marathonisi in Laganas Bay, also affectionately known as Turtle Island.
This protected islet just off the shore, is a favoured hatching ground for loggerhead turtles, the world's largest hard-shell turtle.
Part of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, Marathonisi remains uninhabited and its beach can only be used for a short time so it remains clear turtles to travel into its sands and lay their eggs. Boat cruises in glass-bottomed boats are one of the best ways to spot the turtles on their travels, you may also see a monk seal or two which also inhabit these waters.
On water, make a date to explore the limestone sea caves at the Blue Caves of Volimes. On arrival by boat, you can float though majestic sea caves with stunning tunnels of formations overhead and your complexion paled and blue from the caves' bright blue waters which reflect the sun above and vibrant blue water below.
Another magnificent sea cave can be found beneath the 300m cliffs that top the Keri Caves. These caves have waters that run over 20 metres in some areas and are a popular place to swim for fascinating underwater exploration.
There are many magnificent historic monasteries and churches from Zante's rich heritage scattered across the island, a number of which are Byzantine. For a full review of Zakynthos' Byzantine past, visit the Byzantine Museum.
Inside, you'll uncover all sorts of stunning Byzantine Art displayed on the island between the 15th to 17th century when it was under Ottoman rule. Housed in a resplendent mansion by the sea, you'll see everything from frescoes to paintings, wood carvings, artefacts and more, all with a religious theme.
Another fascinating Zakynthos museum is the Aristeon Olive Press and Museum. Chart the history of this family business, through the evolution of oil pressing from 1850 to today. Then taste fresh olive oil from its presses in the family village.
With the opportunity to buy artisan Zakynthos olive oil, said to be some of the finest olive oil in Greece, this is a brilliant chance to see how an island cottage industry has grown into a global business whilst getting your hands on gorgeous products made from organic olive oil.
For the family, Askos Stone Park has plenty to keep everyone entertained. Part zoo, nature reserve and archaeological site, there's something for everyone.
You'll discover all sorts of animals to see and feed, including rabbits, goats, ponies and raccoons. There are also farm activities to get involved in, over 150,000 plants, flowers and trees to view, plus all sorts of ancient stone structures and buildings from the past.
Like most of the Greek isles, food in Zante is fresh, local and delicious. Food is served up in family-run tavernas as well as some restaurants, usually with wonderful views out to sea. At night, tavernas often get particularly entertaining with live music and Greek dancing.
Favourite dishes you'll happen across often include: handmade pasta, stews, meat dishes, fish, meze, fresh salad, moussaka and handmade kebabs (souvlaki). Meals are tasty and served with local wine. It's always easy to find international fare as an alternative, if you choose.
Top Zakynthos restaurants include: Votsolo, Avil, Porto Limnionas Tavern, Varkarola, Al Nur, San Leon Tavern, Prosilio Restaurant, Ole Ole and Paradosiako Alykes.
Enjoy a superb selection of luxury villas for rent in Zakynthos with spectacular views across this beautiful isle.
Whether you want a sumptuous villa for rent in the hills or a beautiful beachfront villa by the water, you'll find a fantastic choice of luxury villas for rent with private pools, top facilities and stunning surroundings. With beautiful holiday villas available for families, couples and groups, it's easy to find the perfect accommodation to suit your needs.
Browse our top picks of the best places to stay in Zante today.
Find out more about the top local attractions in Zakynthos:
The best airports for Zakynthos is Zakynthos International Airport.
Though winter in Zante doesn't really get going until the latter months of the year, the best times to visit Zakynthos are between June and September when temperatures have settled to between 24 and 28°C.
If you do want to visit outside peak season, October and May see temperatures of around 19°C and less crowds. However it may be a little cool for the beach and you might see a little rain in October.
Browse more top holiday villas in Zante for rent or call us to discuss the best villas to suit you and your family.
John Paul's deep love for travel inspired him to turn his passion into a business and 5 Star Villa Holidays was founded in 2011. He is one of eight children and loves spending quality time with his larger-than-life family. In his spare time he loves immersing himself in different sporting activities around the world; skiing, surfing and football. He is always seeking new adventures and his philosophy is simple; love the journey of life.
Currently travelling the world and working remotely, it's no surprise that Helena is the author of 5 Star Villa Holidays' collection of travel guides. She loves exploring new countries and experiencing new cultures. If you need some holiday tips, look no further! In her spare time she loves going to the gym, compiling her 'Living the Dream' travel blog and enjoying fine wines!
Living in Ireland, Joe is a family man with 2 beautiful daughters and a mischievous dog called Bruno. He is a very skilled chef who loves hosting dinner parties for family and friends. He is passionate about sport and boating. Joe is a keen golfer and loves nothing more than playing 18 holes on the best golf courses Europe has to offer. Joe has worked in the travel industry since 2005 and prides himself and his team as trustworthy travel experts.
Born and raised by the beach in sunny Australia, Suzanne carries a deep-seeded affinity with the ocean and loves nothing more than exploring beautiful seaside destinations around the globe. As our travelling Creative, she is currently doing her best to experience and capture all that this incredible world has to offer, while living on a steady diet of coffee and art gallery visits.
Wilter's desire to see and experience the world took him from his home country of Brazil all the way to Vancouver, Canada, where he now lives and works for 5 Star Villa Holidays. He is an avid lover of the great outdoors and volunteers for the Canadian boat race committee. Wilter is a man of many talents, with a persevering passion for technology, programming (of course!) and science, as well as being a talented musician who likes to unwind by playing the bass and piano in his spare time.
In 2005, John Paul Donnelly, began his luxury villa journey. He spent three years building resorts and holiday apartments in Alanya, Turkey, along with his brother, Joe. The concept was to create the most luxurious villas on the Turkish coastline and provide clients, along with their family and friends, the opportunity to enjoy exclusive holidays together.
By 2008, after the successful development of 3 resorts, JP had well and truly fallen into the world of villa rentals. With a portfolio of 6 villas and a desire to explore new places, he decided it was time to take the villa rental business outside of Turkey. He wanted to give his clients access to beautiful holiday rentals in destinations across the globe.
The expanding villa rental company was rebranded in 2011 to 5 Star Villa Holidays, and today 5 Star Villa Holidays offers over 10,000 luxury villas around the world.
JP and his partner, Helena are currently travelling the globe, devoted to hand selecting the best villas and property management companies, and giving them their stamp of approval! 5 Star Villa Holidays' ambition goes beyond being an ordinary holiday rental company. It is a marketplace for luxurious and exclusive villas around the world.
Let us do the research, saving you time. Arrange your free consultation at a time that is convenient for you. Tell our travel experts your itinerary and requirements. They will email you a short list of luxury villas for your perfect holiday.
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