Late summer in Zakynthos – Greece without the crowds

The late summer and autumn is one of my favourite times of year to visit Zante. The August crowds have gone home and the island starts to breathe again, but the temperature is still warm right through September and October.

This is the time when the tiny pink cyclamen are in bloom in the olive groves. You’ll smell the scent of woodsmoke as the piles of olive pruning are set to burn in the fields.

You might pass the local co-operative where the trucks of olives are being brought by all the farmers. Every family wants to make sure they will have their supply of olive oil to keep them going right through the year.

After the August rush the price of your holiday is likely to be a lot lower. Slow right down and enjoy the simple pleasures of life on a Greek island.

Beaches on Zakynthos

In September and October you can still enjoy a swim in the sea. Many of the sun-loungers will have been packed away and you can see the natural beauty of the beaches.

As my sister lives in Argassi, we tend to explore the beaches on this side of the island. Our favourites are Gerakas, Dafni beach and Porto Zoro towards Vasilikos.

Gerakas is at the south-east tip of the island and the beach is known for its loggerhead or Caretta Caretta turtles that nest on this beach. This area is part of the Marine Park of Zakynthos. No building is allowed on the beach and sun loungers are limited to a small area away from the turtle nesting sites.

Dafni beach is just around the headland from Gerakas and is less accessible. You’ll need to drive down a steep and winding road and will definitely need a hire car to get there. It’s a long sandy beach with a row of beach bars if you want to sit with a drink in the shade.

Out of season my favourite beach is Porto Zoro. There is a rocky section at one end where you can have fun swimming and snorkeling around the rocky outcrops. Again there are a couple of bars here, one which is more traditional, the other that is catering for the trendy crowd.

Read more in my article: Explore 20 of the best beaches in Zakynthos

Around Zante town

When we visit, we always like to spend some time just wandering around Zante town looking at all the boats in the harbour. Don’t forget to explore the backstreets to find the more interesting bakeries, cafes and shops that the locals use.

If you want to people-watch then head down to St Mark’s square. At the harbour end of town you can sit on the rattan sofas and sip a chilled coffee frappe. Along the main harbour road you can see some of the traditional fishing boats unloading their nets.

If you walk down the long jetty at the end of town you’ll really get away from the hustle and bustle. Here you can feel the sea wind set fair for a sail over to the next island of Kefalonia.

You may spot some smart jet set yachts or beautiful wooden sailing ships. Or, perhaps dream of taking one of those smaller boats to spend a summer sailing from island to island.

The Venetian Fort at Bochali

If you can, head up to the Venetian fort on the Bohali cliff set above the town. It’s a steep climb so make the most of your hire car or take the little tourist train up if you can’t face the walk.

The fort was built in the 15th century. When you go through the stone archway, you find yourself inside a compound that was once like a small village. Now you can wander under the pines and see the cannons and remains of the buildings that once stood on the site.

Even if the fort is closed, I recommend sitting with a drink in one of the terrace cafes with a fantastic view over Zante town and harbour. It’s a favourite place for the Greeks to come for an early evening drink.

Eating out on Zante

Traditional Greek cooking is very much based on the produce of the island. Tomatoes, olives, local cheese and vegetables abound. If meat is prepared, it may often be local rabbit, goat or lamb that is cooked slowly in plenty of olive oil.

If you want something light then go for the Mezze dishes. You can share a selection of different plates such as fried whitebait or calamari. There’s also local dishes such as giant butter beans in tomato sauce. Be sure to try the garlicky tzatziki made from creamy yogurt and cucumber.

A turtle spotting boat trip

If you want to treat yourself to one memorable experience, take a boat trip around the south of the island, where you may see turtles swimming.

We skirted around the coastline, crossed Laganas Bay. Then, we moored up for some swimming in the crystal blue water near the sea cliffs and sea caves.

On the way back across the bay, we kept our eyes peeled for turtles, but unfortunately we didn’t see any as they are become increasingly rare. Be sure to choose a boat that respects the code of the Marine Park, so that the turtles are not harassed by too much close contact.

We had a great day, and ended up back at Porta Roma beach at the cafe overlooking the bay. Our boat had plenty of space and a shady area at the back as well as a cabin if you felt the sun was getting too much.

Read more about our trip: A turtle spotting boat trip on Zante

We’re looking forward to our late summer break and searching out new corners of the island of Zakynthos. We will be soaking up the sunshine before winter truly sets in. Perhaps we’ll see you there?

Read Next

Read more about everything to see in Zakynthos: Driving in Zante, what to see when you hire a car

More things to enjoy on Zakynthos

The Venetian fort at Bohali on the Greek island of Zakynthos
Sunday morning Greek coffee and glika on Zante in Greece

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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