Alykes holidays

How to reach Alykes

Flight time: Flights to Zante take around 4 hours from London and other major UK airports.

Transfer time: Zakynthos International Airport is within a 35-minute drive of Alykes. Making the trip by bus is a two-step process. You’ll need to take the airport bus to Zante Town (a 20-minute ride) and transfer to a service for Alykes (a further 30 minutes). The feasibility of this option depends on your flight arrival time.

Price: Taxiing from Zakynthos International Airport to Alykes costs approximately €30; bus tickets should come in under €5.

Best time to visit Alykes

The best time for your holidays to Alykes depends on your holiday agenda: sun-soaked, lazy beach days or a laundry list of outdoor activities.

• May to June sees temperatures between 21 and 24°C, 8 to 10 hours of daily sunshine and minimal rainfall. The sea will be fresh in May but comfortably warm by June.

• July to August is perfect for sunseekers, with temperatures hovering in the high 20s, 11 hours of daily sunshine and only a slim chance of rain.

• September to October will suit you better if you like things less hot – temperatures drop from 25°C in September to a comfortable 23°C in October – and are willing to play the odds with rain – four days in September versus nine days in October. The season begins to wind up around the second week of October.

• November to April are cooler months, temperatures falling from 20°C in November to 15°C for January and February before climbing to 17°C in April. There’s a high likelihood of rain these months (it doesn’t ease off much before April). November going into December is the last window for swimming; after that, the water drops below 17°C, but there’s something to be said for winter-spring coastal hikes.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: Greek is the official language, but English is widely spoken in Alykes.

• Currency: Greece is in the eurozone.

• Getting around: Alykes is relatively flat and easy to navigate on foot (keep an eye out for cars; the locals are speedy drivers). If you’d rather not walk everywhere, you can ride in style in a horse and carriage or rent a bicycle (day rentals cost around €10). KTEL Zakynthos operates a route between Alykes and Zante Town, the island’s transport hub. Single bus tickets cost around €2. Bus services can be unreliable and awkwardly timed, so a rental car is your best bet if you plan to explore further afield (€30–€60 per day is a ballpark figure).

• Electricity and plug types: The standard voltage is 230V 50 Hz. Plugs are two-pin Type C and F.

• Time zone: Greece runs on Eastern European Time, 2 hours ahead of GMT (3 hours ahead during Daylight Saving Time).

Best things to do in Alykes

A tourist town with a decidedly village vibe, Alykes holidays are all about unwinding, whether that’s do-nothing beach days and easy-going evenings or getting out and exploring the broader area.

Viewpoints and panoramas

• Black Cave: Set into the mountains southwest of the resort, the steep climb pays off with a gorgeous panorama over Alykes.

• Agriosikia Bay: Hidden between Xehoriatis and Ammoudi beaches, this small, rocky cove offers sweeping seascapes.

The best districts

• Alykes Main Street: This is Alykes' main drag, lined with shops, bars, restaurants and cafés, with a few vehicle rental agencies thrown in for good measure.

• Alykanas: This is a separate resort, but the two are close enough to each other to walk to and fro. Alykanas has two parts; the newer bit is a shade livelier than Alykes, with plenty of bars, tavernas and shops, while the old village (Xehoriatas) has a more traditional feel.

Parks and gardens

• Alykes Salt Flats: Out of commercial use since the 1980s, the salt pans have been reclaimed by nature and now provide a habitat for wildlife. A little TLC wouldn’t go astray, but the place has a raw beauty.

Museums

• Vertzagio Folklore Museum: A hop, skip and jump away in Pigadakia, this heritage museum recreates a traditional Zakynthian house, everything and anything from period furniture to traditional costumes, agricultural machinery and everyday bits and bobs.

• Helmi’s Natural History Museum: Located in Agia Marina, a 10-minute drive away, this natural history museum is a hit-and-miss affair. The shell and butterfly collections are big pluses; the taxidermy art looks like it could have been salvaged from a haunted house.

Historical monuments

• St John’s Baptist Monastery: Sloping up the mountain north of Alykes, this 16th-century monastery has more to offer than just fab views of Kefallonia; inside, you’ll find some fine examples of post-Byzantine ecclesiastical art.

• Pentokamoro Old Bridge: Spanning the Skourtis River, this picturesque stone bridge dates to the 15th century.

Day trips in the area

• Zante Town: A half-hour drive from Alykes, cosmopolitan Zante Town offers a change of pace with its bustling shops, cafés, museums and historic sites.

• Kefallonia: Famous for its golden beaches, azure sea and lush mountainous interior, Zante’s neighbouring island is a 1-hour-45-minute ferry trip away from Agios Nikolaos (roughly a 30-minute drive from Alykes).

Activities for families in Alykes

Alykes is a fantastic family destination, offering a relaxed environment and plenty of activities to entertain the kids.

• Family-friendly beaches: Alykes Beach is a firm family favourite, with soft sand, shallow waters and thrilling banana boat rides.

• Playgrounds: There’s a basic kids' playground near the salt flats, and many bars have play areas.

• Aquariums and zoos: For nature and animal lovers, Askos Stone Park in Volimes, a nature-reserve-cum-animal-sanctuary, is within a 25-minute drive. The tame deer are heart-stealers.

• Trackless trains: All aboard at Alykanas or Alykes stations, kids (and big kids) will get a kick out of tooling around the surrounding area on the Trainaki tourist train.

• Mini-golf: Perfect for an evening outing, there are two 18-hole courses at Iris Bar.

• Water parks: Under 10km away in Sarakinado, Zante Water Village has something for everyone, from tube rides and slides to an interactive jungle-themed play area with a gigantic tip bucket.

Free things to do in Alykes

There’s plenty to do in Alykes and its environs, even if you’re holidaying on a tight budget.

• Free events: During the daytime, look for posters and blackboards promoting upcoming events, such as live music or quiz nights.

• Annual festivals: Getting a head start on the main Carnival parade in Zante Town (held on the last Sunday before the start of Lent), several of the local villages get together the Sunday before in nearby Katastari and stage a parade of their own – floats, colourful costumes, traditional music and dancing.

• Beaches: Alykes Beach is famously lengthy, so you’ll find plenty of spots to lay out your towel. If you can’t bear to go without creature comforts, sunlounger rentals are priced at around €12.

• Churches: There are plenty of churches in and around Alykes to explore, from simple seaside chapels to grand edifices filled with iconography.

• Geocaching: GPS scavenger hunts aren’t just for kids; it’s a fantastic way of finding scenic spots off the mainstream tourist track.

Nature and outdoor activities

• Hiking: Surrounded by hills and lush countryside, Alykes is an ideal spot for hiking. The walk to Katastari is popular for those looking for a scenic route.

• Potholing: Just squeaking into the Alykes municipal unit, at the end of a 2km-long dirt track, Cave Hagioti is a little hard to find (the entrance is a hole in the ground), a little spooky, and full of bats.

• SUP: The calm waters of Alykes Beach are tailor-made for paddleboarding. Paddle Surf Zante offer lessons and board rentals.

• Horse-riding: Local stables like Lucky Luke’s offer guided horse riding tours into the mountains or by the sea.

Beaches in Alykes

Alykes, located on the northeast coast of Zakynthos, offers a beautiful and family-friendly beach experience. Alykes Beach is a long stretch of fine, golden sand that gently slopes into the Ionian Sea, making it perfect for families and swimmers of all levels. The shallow waters extend quite far from the shore, allowing even younger children to enjoy the sea safely. The beach is also known for its Blue Flag status, ensuring cleanliness and excellent facilities.

The beach is well-organised with plenty of sun loungers, umbrellas, and nearby tavernas, offering food and refreshments just steps from the sea. Water sports enthusiasts will enjoy a variety of activities, including paddle boarding, jet skiing, and pedal boats. For those looking for a bit of adventure, boat trips to the nearby Blue Caves and Shipwreck Beach are also available.

If you're in the mood for a longer beach stroll, you can walk along the coast to Alykanas Beach, a neighbouring beach that offers a similarly laid-back atmosphere and stunning sea views. With its family-friendly vibe and excellent facilities, Alykes Beach is the perfect spot for a relaxing beach holiday.

Local dishes in Alykes

Whether you’re an adventurous eater or prefer to play it safe with old familiars, you’re in good hands on holidays to Alykes; most restaurants serve varied menus, ranging from Greek classics and Zakynthian specialities to international favourites.

Some typical dishes

• Moussaka: Classic taverna fare, you won’t go far wrong with this béchamel-topped meat and aubergine casserole.

• Boutridia: Chock-a-block with vegetables – aubergines, beans, courgettes, garlic, okra, potatoes, sugar beets, tomatoes – this oven-baked stew is a Zakynthian original.

Meze dishes

• Garides Saganaki: This is one of those dishes that is so good you won’t want to share – sautéed prawns in a rich, feta-topped tomato sauce.

• Htapodi Ksydato: Another seafood classic, this small plate consists of boiled octopus marinated in vinegar, olive oil and oregano.

Meat dishes

• Moshari Kokkinisto: Served over pasta, this slow-cooked beef and tomato stew is pure comfort food.

• Kouneli Stifado: Rabbit meat, lots of onions, tomatoes and aromatic spices; an Ionian classic.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Xifias Souvlaki: Bite-size swordfish, veggies – onions, peppers, tomatoes – and bay leaves grilled on a stick.

• Bakaliaros Skordalia: The Greek take on fish and chips – crispy, batter-fried cod served with a garlicky potato dip.

Street food

• Crepes: A little heavier than their French cousins, these pancakes can be stuffed with all sorts of delectable sweet or savoury fillings.

• Gyros: Deliciously messy to eat, these pitta-wrapped sandwiches are loaded with grilled meat, cucumber, chips (sometimes), lettuce, onions, tomatoes and a dollop of Tzatziki or yoghurt.

Sweets and desserts

• Frigania: Syrup-soaked, cinnamony Greek rusks layered with cream and garnished with almonds or ground walnuts, served straight from the fridge.

• Mandolato: This Ionian spin on Italian nougat is made with egg whites, honey, sugar and almonds.

Typical drinks

• Verdea: The island plonk, Verdea whites (not to be confused with Italian Verdea) are made from a blend of local grapes – typically Avgoustiatis, Goustolidi, Pavlos, Robola, Skiadopoulo – and have high acidity and citrus flavours.

• Liker Lemoniou: Greek Limoncello, this lemon liqueur is served in almost every taverna as a digestif.