Zakynthos Hotels & Villas: Where to Stay

Accommodation on Zakynthos spreads along the east and south coasts, from the villas with private pools in the green south at Marathia to the cliffside hotels of Tsilivi and the good-value studios of Argassi. Laganas and Kalamaki put you in the nightlife on the turtle bay, Tsilivi and Alykes offer quieter family beaches near the capital, and Vasilikos, Marathia and Keri hold the villas among the vines. This guide covers three places to stay in detail and where to base a self-catering trip. Hire a car to explore Zakynthos at your own pace, covered in our Zakynthos car hire guide.

Best villas

Marathia

Cliffside boutique

Tsilivi

Value studios

Argassi

Nightlife base

Laganas

Exensian Villas & Suites, Marathia

Exensian Villas & Suites is a resort of two-storey villas at Marathia, in the green south of the island, 150 metres from the beach. The villas are built amphitheatrically up the slope, and each has its own private pool with hydromassage, a large veranda with a view, a fully equipped kitchen, a living room with a fireplace and a bathroom with a Jacuzzi, plus satellite TV in every room. It suits couples and families who want space and privacy, with the beaches of the south and boat trips to Marathonisi and the caves close by.

Balcony Hotel, Tsilivi

Balcony Hotel is a family-run boutique hotel on the cliffside near Tsilivi, with a panoramic view of the Ionian Sea and direct access to the beach. It pairs traditional architecture with modern comfort, and every room has a private balcony over the sea, air conditioning, a television, a refrigerator and a bath or shower, while a homemade breakfast is served on the terrace above the water. The hotel stands 5 kilometres outside Zakynthos Town and less than 1 kilometre from the resort of Tsilivi, with its restaurants and shops and the central KTEL bus station close by for excursions.

Noula Studios, Argassi

Noula Studios is a small, good-value complex of self-catering studios in a quiet spot at Argassi, 200 metres from the centre of the resort and 60 metres from the beach, with free parking and views of the sea. A swimming pool with sun beds, showers and a poolside snack bar sits in the middle of the complex, and the comfortable studios each have a ceiling fan, air conditioning, a refrigerator and a well-equipped kitchen, with a private balcony over the pool or the clear water of the Ionian. It is a budget-friendly base just outside Zakynthos Town.

Villas & self-catering

Zakynthos has a strong range of villas and self-catering studios alongside its hotels, most of them in the green, gently rolling south of the island. The Exensian villas at Marathia are the pick for a villa with a private pool, while self-catering studios such as Noula at Argassi cover the budget end near the capital. The areas below set out where to base a self-catering stay, from the villa country of the south to the family beaches of the north-east.

Vasilikos, Marathia and Keri

The green south-east peninsula of Vasilikos and the quiet corners of Marathia and Keri hold most of the island's villas with private pools, set among vines and olive groves a short drive from the softest beaches at Gerakas, Porto Zoro and Banana. This is the choice for a villa holiday with your own pool and calm surroundings, close to the turtle beaches and the boat trips of the south, but away from the nightlife. A car helps here, since the beaches and the tavernas are spread out.

Tsilivi, Planos and Alykes

The north-east coast around Tsilivi, Planos and Alykes is the area for self-catering studios and apartments near a long, easy family beach and within a short drive of Zakynthos Town. The sand is shallow and Blue Flag at Tsilivi, the resorts keep plenty of mini markets and tavernas, and the KTEL bus runs into the capital, which makes this stretch the practical base for a family or a couple who want the beach and the town both close at hand.

Choosing an area

Where to stay on Zakynthos depends on the holiday you want. Laganas and Kalamaki put you on the turtle bay in the thick of the nightlife, Argassi sits just outside town for a handy, cheaper base, and Tsilivi and Alykes give quieter family beaches on the north-east coast near the capital. For a villa with a private pool and calm, choose the green south around Vasilikos, Marathia and Keri, close to the best sand but away from the crowds. A hire car helps wherever you stay, since the marquee sights lie at opposite ends of the island; the Zakynthos travel page covers getting there and getting around.