The go-to Zakynthos travel guide for discovering the best walks and car tours.
Strap on your boots and discover Zakynthos on foot with the Sunflower Zakynthos travel guide. And on the days when your feet may have had enough, enjoy some spectacular scenery on one of our legendary car tours.
The Sunflower Zakynthos guide is indispensable for hiking in Zakynthos or seeing Zakynthos by car. A complete guidebook to walking on the Greek island of Zakynthos (Zante), featuring 65 long and short walks. We cover the whole of the island, showing mostly easy trekking routes, all of which are mapped in 3D by the author and also in GPS-compatible format.
Many of the hikes are circular and accompanied by hundreds of photos illustrating island culture, geology, habitats, flora, fauna and land use.
Whatever your age or ability we've got some glorious walks and car tours to ensure you have a memorable holiday in Zakynthos.
Inside the Sunflower Zakynthos guide book you'll find:
65 long and short walks for all ages and abilities - each walk is graded so you can easily match your ability to the level of walk Topographical walking maps - give you a clear sense of the surrounding terrain with a scale of 1:50 000 Free downloadable gps tracks - for the techies Satnav guidance to walk starts for motorists 5 car tours and fold-out touring map - for easy reference on your tour Strolls to idyllic picnic spots - enjoy our recommendations for where to picnic along the way Timetables for public transport - ideal if you want to link two walks or avoid hiring a car on your holiday Online update service for the latest information
Whether you tour the region by car or explore on foot, we look forward to showing you around.
Preface 5
About the author; acknowledgements 6
Introduction 8
Geography 8
Climate and weather 9
Geology 9
Economy 10
Ecology 10
Wildlife and plant life 12
The National Marine Park of Zákynthos 13
Panel: Visitor rules in the NMPZ 14
Getting to Zákynthos 16
By air; By car and ferry 16
By coach/bus 17
Getting around Zákynthos 17
By car 17
By bus 18
By taxi; By boat 19
Panel: Touring and picnicking 19
By moped, motorbike or quad-bike; By bicycle 20
By hitchhiking 21
Accommodation 21
Food and drink 22
Panel: Eating Greek-style 23
History 24
Cultural heritage 30
Practicalities A-Z 36
Beaches; Camping; Churches, visiting; Consulates; Crime;
Electricity; Holidays 36
Information; Internet access; Language 37
Maps; Medical care 38
Money; Name days; Newspapers, etc; Opening times;
Períptera; Pharmacies; Post offices; Souvenirs 39
Sports; Telephones/internet 40
Time; Tipping; Toilets; Water 41
ZÁKYNTHOS town 42
Town plan and suggested walking tour 42-43
Panel: Diony´sios Solomós 44
Panel: Saint Diony´sios 46
Car tour 1: The south 50
Zákynthos town Argássi Vassilikós Cape Ágios Nikólaos
to Pórto Róma Cape Gérakas area Kalamáki Laganás
Ágios Sóstis Lithakiá Lake Kerí and Marathoníssi Islet
Contents
4 Zákynthos
Car tour 2: The centre 62
Zákynthos town Krionéri Akrotíri Tsiliví and Plános
Tragáki Gerakári Alikanás Alikés Katastári Pigadákia
Kallithéa Agía Marína Macherádo Kilioménos Agalás
Car tour 3: The north 70
Zákynthos town Katastári Ksígia Makrís Gialós and
Míkro Nissí Ágios Nikólaos Cape Skinári Volímes
Shipwreck Anafonítria Orthoniés Mariés Pórto Vrómi
Éxo Chóra Kampí Loúcha (Girí) Ágios Léon
Pórto Róxi Limniónas
Car tour 4: General island tour 78
Zákynthos Bóchali Tsiliví Plános Tragáki Gerakári
Alikés Katastári Ksígia Makrís Gialós Míkro Níssi
Ágios Nikólaos Cape Skinári Volímes Shipwreck
Mariés Éxo Chóra Ágios Léon Limniónas Pórto Róxi
Ágios Léon Kilioménos Pantokrátora Lithakiá
Lithakiá Ágios Sóstis Pórto Koúkla Lithakiá Lake Kerí
Marathiá Kerí
Walking 80
Quick-glance walk map 82
How the walks are described 82
When to walk; Grading and timing 83
Navigation and maps 84
Equipment checklist 85
Potential hazards 86
Country code 87
Walk 1: Gérakas headland trail 88
Walk 2: GérakasDáphne trail 92
Walk 3: Dáphne hills trail 96
Walk 4: Ksirocástello trail 100
Walk 5: Mount Skopós trail 104
Walk 6: Vrondónero trail 108
Walk 7: Kalamáki sand dune trail 112
Walk 8: Ágios Sóstis olive trail 116
Walk 9: Lake Kerí trail 120
Walk 10: Marathiá coastal trail 124
Walk 11: Marathiá hills trail 128
Walk 12: Kerí hills trail 132
Walk 13: Kentinária coastal trail 136
Walk 14: Agalás coastal trail 140
Walk 15: Loúcha monastery trail 144
Walk 16: Korakoníssi trail 148
Walk 17: Kampí coastal trail 152
Walk 18: Éxo Chóra trail 156
Walk 19: Vrachíonas mountain trail 160
Walk 20: Volímes monastery trail 164
Walk 21: Cape Skinári coastal trail 168
Walk 22: Pigadákia hills trail 172
Index 176
Photographs of flora and fauna 181
Fold-out area map inside back cover
Since 1983 people out walking in sunny climes have been relying on our little blue books to follow the trails and to make friends with other walkers. Sunflower started by exploring the Atlantic Islands, but has branched out: we still love islands from the Azores to Zakynthos but we cover many mainland destinations too, like land-locked Switzerland and the coastal Basque Country. All our guides have the familiar mix of car tours, walks and picnics. More recently, we introduced restaurants and recipes in our Walk & Eat series, which explores around cities from Stockholm to Avignon.
