'Whitewashed houses dazzling in the sunshine. A sweeping curve of soft of sand. And nothing louder than the sound of the waves to disturb a light lunch al fresco… It's a retreat that people come back to year after year.'
If you're looking for discos, fast food parlours and booze cruises… forget this place. Alykanas is several miles and a world away from all that. In this small, but growing, village is life has stayed firmly in the slow lane. Traditional tavernas serve typically Greek food and horse-drawn carriages take you at a trot to neighbouring Alikes – setting the pace for an unhurried, hassle-free holiday. There's a choice of cafe bars and little local shops to browse in – that is if you can tear yourself away from the sea and sand. Nightlife is noted by its absence – unless you count taking all evening over a table groaning with stuffed tomatoes, swordfish steaks, honey-soaked baklava and light white wine. And the whole place is enveloped in a friendly informality, a sort of camaraderie of like-minded sunseekers. You could hire a car to explore the rural interior. Board a boat trip to swim at Smugglers Cove. Or you could just sip a sundowner as you look across the sea to Kefalonia… and plan another idyllically lazy day.
Encircled in lush greenery, Alykanas Village gently tumbles down the hillside to pretty bay, split into three semi circular beaches that are backed by a pathway, lazily snaking its way around the coastline. This picturesque village is scattered with colourful souvenir shops, varied bars and restaurants serving inviting international cuisine and delicious Greek dishes. A few cafes and eateries lace the soft sandy beach where you can view the shimmering sunsets sinking down into the horizon. The softly sloping valley the resort nestles in shapes the landscape, retaining the serenity of the abundant natural scenery, and the western peninsula looks out to the dramatic landscape of Agios Nikolaos and the turquoise waters of the Blue Caves. The area offers plenty of activities for those seeking some activity including snorkelling and water sports and there are countless coastal walks from the resort, through the verdant hills and silvery olive groves that border the town. Further along the coastline, there are historical monuments of interest for those craving some Greek culture.
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Alykanas hotels and apartments
Our hotels and apartments in Alykanas include Alykanas Village, Elenis Gardens and Kali Pigi Hotel.
More Zante holiday destinations
Looking for holidays in Zante? Our Zante holiday destinations include Aghios Sostis, Agios Dimitrios, Agios Nikolaos, Zakynthos, Alikes, Alykanas, Argassi, Kalamaki, Kypseli, Laganas, Limni Keriou, Lithakia, Porto Limnionas, Tragaki, Tsilivi, Vassilikos and Zakynthos Town.
Beaches
Alykanas bay is scalloped into three sugary sand beaches, all with plenty of space to stretch out and listen to the surf lightly splashing the shores. The sands softly sink into the transparent indigo waters, which offer very safe bathing and are particularly suited to families with children. Completely unwind you as you melt into the sleepy daytime pace, being broken only to perhaps buy some mouth-watering fresh fruit salad from a beach vendor or to sip a refreshing drink on a beach bar terrace. If total tranquillity is your priority head for Amoudi a couple of kilometres from Alykanas - no British tour operators cover this resort as yet and if you arrive early you can have the beach to yourself - paradise.
Eating out
Alykanas's streets are laced with little pavement cafes where you can soak up the Greek village ambience, perhaps enjoying a traditional breakfast of 'kafeneia', Greek coffee, 'koulourakia', sweet sesame covered rolls, fresh figs and thick yoghurt with pungent honey. There are plenty of restaurants in the resort, alluring you in with their aromas of fresh local ingredients and you can eat al fresco at many, maybe trying an authentic Greek dish such as 'psaria plaki', baked whole fish with vegetables, fennel and olive oil sauce or 'kleftiko', succulent meat wrapped in parchment paper and cooked so all the juices are sealed in and it melts in your mouth. Keeping the resort as traffic free as possible, horse and carriages have replaced taxis and provide free transport to local restaurants - a delight for children and a romantic way to wine and dine your loved one.
Nightlife
The emphasis on evenings in Alykanas is relaxed and has a typical village atmosphere with traditional tavernas and colourful bars - many in the open, under the stars where you can breathe in the heady fragrance of flowers enjoying a bottle of chilled local wine. The village is quieter than Zante's busier resorts of Tsilivi and Laganas but can still be quite noisy in the evening. There is traditional Greek dancing, however all music has to be off by 11:30pm. For a livelier night you can pop over to Amoudi and make your way down the animated bars on the main street.
Shopping
It is a joy to wander around the colourful shops scattered about the village and chat to the friendly locals selling their traditional hand painted ceramics and jewellery as well as souvenirs you can take home. If you want to cook up your own delicacies, buy authentic mouth-watering produce, such as fresh aubergines, tender pork and seafood caught that morning, accompanied with juicy olives, 'paximadia', a type of Greek bread and finish with 'bougatsa', sweet custard pastries.
Local information
There is a selection of watersports on the beach including paragliding and jet skiing for the more adventurous or have a go at snorkelling in the warm, shallow waters and try hand feeding bread to shoals of small shimmering fish. Set sail on the azure waters and enjoy a refreshing boat trip along the striking coastline to the famous Smugglers Cove with its spooky shipwreck and journey past the Blue Caves, jutting dramatically into the luminous aqua waters. There is one main road through the resort, and in general the resort is not well lit on the outskirts.
Alykanas is in a prime position to explore the non-tourist regions of Zante and you can set off on a journey of discovery to secluded monasteries, rustic churches, sleepy mountain villages or taster the red and whites of a Greek vineyard nestled in the rolling hills.
Location
19km from Zante Town.
Transfer time
30 minutes to 1 hour
Recommended
Luxury
