Alykes Holidays

Salt flats, three kilometres of golden sand and a properly slow Greek village rhythm. Alykes is the laid-back northeast corner of Zante, where the days run on horse-and-carriage time, the beaches are calm and shallow, and boat trips to Shipwreck Cove and the Blue Caves leave from just down the coast.

📌 Good to Know

• ☀️ Weather: Summer highs around 30-32°C with up to 12 hours of sunshine. Sea temps hit 26°C by August and the water stays warm into October.

• 💶 Money: Greece is on the Euro (€), but in sterling a pint should be £3 to £4, a sit-down taverna meal for £13 to £18 a head, and a quick gyros wrap for £3 to £4 when you need a fast bite.

• 🧂 Fun Fact: The name Alykes means "salt flats" in Greek. The village grew around the old salt pans that supplied much of the island from the Venetian period through to the 1980s, and the disused flats are now a quiet wildlife haven for waders and small reptiles.

✨ Alykes Highlights

🏖️ Blue Flag Beach – 3km of golden sand with shallow, crystal-clear waters and gentle slopes – perfect for families

🚢 Shipwreck & Blue Caves – Boat trips leave from nearby to Zante's most iconic sights

🧂 Salt Flats – Abandoned salt pans now teeming with wildlife, great for a wander

🐴 Horse & Carriage – Traditional way to get between Alykes and Alykanas (or to a taverna)

🌊 Watersports – Jet skis, paddleboards, pedalos and banana boats right on the beach

🏨 Alykes Hotels

The Alykes-Alikanas beach strip has a solid spread of family-friendly resorts, couples' boutiques and value picks. See all hotels in Alykes or browse all-inclusive holidays in Zante.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best Alykes Hotels for Families

• Alykanas Village Resort, the family blockbuster of the strip, beachfront with multiple pools, a splash park with waterslides, kids' club and evening entertainment. Swim-up rooms and junior suites available for an upgrade. The pick if you want everything sorted on site.

• Alykanas Beach Grand Hotel by Zante Plaza, beachfront with a large outdoor pool, kids' pool, jacuzzi and playground. Studios, apartments and holiday houses cater to families who want self-catering flexibility alongside resort facilities.

• Zante Village Hotel, traditional, comfortable and well placed, with an outdoor pool, daily buffet and poolside snacks. Walking distance to the village centre for shops, bars and restaurants.

💑 Best Alykes Hotels for Couples

• Astoria Hotel, a friendly three-star sat 50m from the beach in the village centre. Air-conditioned rooms, a relaxed atmosphere and properly walkable to everything Alykes has going on. The pick for couples wanting a no-fuss base.

• Koukounaria Hotel & Suites, a family-run retreat 300m from the beach with an Olympic-sized pool, a separate kids' pool and al fresco dining overlooking the water. The bistro serves authentic Greek dishes alongside international staples.

• Clio Aparthotel, a peaceful base just outside the village core with an outdoor pool, sun terrace and snack bar. All rooms have balconies and kitchenettes, properly good value for couples wanting space and self-catering options.

💰 Best Value Hotels in Alykes

• Panorama Studios, a cheap and cheerful three-star right behind the salt flats, 300m from the beach with a pool, kids' section, free loungers and kitchenettes for self-catering days.

• Zante Village Hotel (also strong for families) earns a value mention with the buffet-and-pool combo at gentler weekly costs than the headline beachfront hotels.

• Clio Aparthotel (also a couples pick) sits in the value bracket too, with the kitchenette format keeping weekly costs down.

👉 All hotels in Alykes | All-inclusive holidays in Zante

🏖️ Best Beaches

Alykes sits on a quietly stunning stretch of Zante's northeast coast, with shallow, family-friendly water on its main beach and a handful of more characterful coves within easy reach.

• 🏖️ Alykes Beach, the headline event, three kilometres of golden sand with shallow, crystal-clear water and the gentle slope that makes it brilliant for kids. Sunbeds, beach bars and watersports at the village end, quieter as you walk south.

• 🌊 Alikanas Beach, essentially the southern continuation of Alykes Beach, with the same calm shallow water and a slightly more local feel. Easy to walk between the two.

• 🧂 Xigia Beach, a 15-minute drive north, a small cove with natural sulphur springs that turn the water milky and are said to be properly good for the skin. Spa-day-by-the-sea energy.

• 🌅 Porto Vromi, about 25 minutes north on the wild west coast, a tiny pebble cove with crystal water and the boats to Shipwreck Cove leaving from the harbour. Worth the drive on a Shipwreck day.

🗣️ Local Lingo

Greek is the official language but English is widely spoken across Alykes, every hotel, taverna and beach bar runs comfortably in English. That said, locals always warm to a few words. A handful to get you started:

• Yassas, YAH-sas (Γειά σας), Hello / Goodbye

• Efharisto, ef-hah-ree-STOH (Ευχαριστώ), Thank you

• Parakalo, pah-rah-kah-LOH (Παρακαλώ), Please / You're welcome

• Yamas, YA-mas (Γειά μας), Cheers

• Kalispera, kah-lee-SPEH-rah (Καλησπέρα), Good evening

🎯 What to Do

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Things to Do in Alykes for Families

Alykes is properly set up for a family holiday, calm beach, easy village, activities calibrated for kids without writing off the parents.

• 🏖️ Beach day at Alykes Beach: Shallow water, gentle slope, sunbeds and beach bars, with watersports at the busier end and quieter sand to the south. The natural rhythm of the holiday.

• 🌊 Watersports for older kids: Jet skis, banana boats and inflatables run from the beach, with parasailing for the bravest. Bookable directly on the day.

• 🐴 Horse-and-carriage ride: A village tradition still running daily through summer, clip-clopping between Alykes and Alikanas. Kids will be wide-eyed.

• 🧂 Walk the salt flats: Half an hour behind the village, properly quiet and full of wildlife. Pack water shoes if it's been raining recently.

• 🚂 Ride the Vertzagio train: A summer tourist train running from Alykes up to Pigadakia village and the Vertzagio Cultural Museum. Easy half-day out for younger kids.

💑 Things to Do in Alykes for Couples

Alykes is a properly relaxed base for a couples' break, with the romantic-village rhythm built in and bigger day trips an easy drive away.

• 🚢 Boat trip to Shipwreck Cove and Blue Caves: The headline Zante day out. Boats leave from nearby Agios Nikolaos harbour and from Alykes itself in season, don't miss it.

• 🍷 Sunset taverna dinner on the beach: Fresh seafood, Greek wine and proper Ionian sunset views. Most of the seafront tavernas handle this brief well.

• 🏰 Day trip to Zante Town: 25 minutes south, the island capital with Venetian architecture, the Byzantine Museum, St Dionysios Church and the Bohali Castle viewpoint over the harbour.

• 🍇 Winery visit: Zante's wine and olive oil production goes back centuries. Several local wineries run tastings and tours, with rare grape varieties like Avgoustiatis worth seeking out.

• 🚶 Wander Alykes' village lanes: The village's old stone bridges and quiet back streets are properly photogenic in the late afternoon light. Pair with a coffee at a side-street café.

🎉 Things to Do in Alykes for Groups

Alykes isn't group holiday territory in the wild-night-out sense, the strip is calmer than Laganas, but it's a brilliant base for boat days and beach activities.

• 🚤 Speedboat hire: Rent a small boat for the day (no licence needed for the smaller engines) and explore the coastline at your own pace.

• 🏊 Watersports session: Jet skis, paddleboards, pedalos and parasailing all bookable from Alykes Beach. Brilliant group bonding without the hangover.

• 🍹 Beach hop to Alikanas: Walk south along the strip to the calmer Alikanas end, or grab a horse and carriage. Different beach bars, different vibe.

• 🍴 Long taverna lunch: The seafront strip handles big tables happily, with mixed-grill platters and carafes of local wine the natural pick.

• 🌃 Evening on the Laganas strip: When the group needs a livelier night, Laganas is 35 minutes south with the full club-and-bar scene. Pre-book a transfer back if it's late.

📅 When to Visit

☀️ Peak Summer (June–August) | 28–32°C

Long, hot days with barely any rain and up to 12 hours of sunshine. The sea is warm and watersports are in full swing. This is when Alykes is at its liveliest – though still properly laid-back compared to the party resorts.

What's On:

• 🎭 Zakynthos Cultural Festival (July) – Theatre, concerts, traditional dance and art exhibitions across the island

• 🎷 Zante Jazz Festival (June) – Jazz musicians from around the world performing island-wide

• 🐎 Panigiria (July–August) – Traditional village festivals with dancing, food, music and proper Greek atmosphere

• 🎵 Shapes Festival (mid-August) – Week-long electronic music festival with beach parties and boat events

🌸 Spring (April–May) | 19–24°C

Warming up nicely with wildflowers everywhere. The sea might still be a bit fresh but it's gorgeous weather for exploring without the crowds.

What's On:

• 🥚 Greek Easter (April) – The biggest celebration of the year with processions and festivities, especially in Zante Town

• 🌺 Wildflower season – The island is lush and green after winter rains

• 🐢 Turtle nesting begins – Loggerhead turtles start arriving on the south coast beaches

🍂 Autumn (September–October) | 22–27°C

Still properly warm with the sea at its toastiest. Crowds thin out but everything's still open.

What's On:

• 🍇 Wine Festival (late August–early September) – Wine tasting, traditional dancing and celebrations in Zante Town

• 🌅 Golden hour photography – Softer light makes for stunning sunset shots

• 🏖️ Quieter beaches – perfect for swimming and snorkelling without the summer crowds

❄️ Winter (November–March) | 12–16°C

Mild but rainy – warmer than back home but expect some storms. Most tourist facilities close but the island has a peaceful, local feel.

What's On:

• 🎄 Greek Christmas and New Year – Traditional celebrations in Zante Town

• 🍊 Citrus season – Fresh oranges and lemons everywhere

• 🏰 Low-season exploring – Perfect time to see Zante Town, churches and museums without crowds

🏖️ Nearby Resorts

• Tsilivi – Zante's rising star with Blue Flag beaches, family vibes and just enough nightlife, 10 minutes south

• Laganas – The party capital if you want big nights out, 35 minutes south

• Zante Town – The harbour capital with history, shopping and gorgeous waterfront tavernas, 25 minutes south