Things to Do in Kalamaki
Kalamaki is a resort on the southern coast of Zante that is perfect for a quiet vacation in the sun. With its 5 km of sandy beach, olive groves, and family-friendly vibe, Kalamaki has plenty for people of all ages to do. Start your vacation where you plan to spend most of it: at the beach!
The gentle slope of the sand into the water and the shallow depth of the water makes Kalamaki Beach a great place for families. This area is set aside to protect turtles, and endangered loggerhead turtles come here to nest. So, if you're lucky, you might even see tiny baby turtles coming out of their shells!
Because of the turtles, you can't do any water sports here, so it's a great place to relax and enjoy the sun. In the seaside village of Argassi, which is only 10 minutes away by car, you can do many water sports at the beach. There's a tourist train for younger kids and mini golf, so this is a great place for families.
For a bit more of a challenge, you could hike the three miles to the monastery of Panagia Skopiotissa to see the breathtaking views.
Another great place to go for a day trip from Kalamaki is Agios Sostos. This is one of the most beautiful towns in Zante, and you can get there in just 15 minutes.
There are tavernas and restaurants right next to the golden sand beach, so you could swim or rent a pedal or canoe and then eat some real Greek food.
The glass-bottom boat ride to Turtle Island, where you might see loggerhead turtles nesting, is a lot of fun for kids. Smugglers' Cove is an important part of any trip to Zante. This beautiful white-sand bay can only be reached by boat, and the wreck of a ship thought to have been used by smugglers is there for you to explore whenever you want. People who like to be active will also find a lot to do in Zante Kalamaki.
Why not go on a horseback riding tour with one of the riding schools in the area? Even better, you could walk along the beach at sunset to see some amazing sights.
For families, there is a Crazy Golf course with 18 holes and a Formula Zante Go Kart arena where you can race 300-cc karts around the track as much as you want. There are karts for kids of all ages and sizes that are smaller.
When it comes to things to do in Kalamaki, you'll have a lot of options, so the hardest part will be choosing what to do first!
Crazy golf and
go-karts in Kalamaki
The crazy golf course in Kalamaki is a fun thing for the whole family to do. Play 18 holes of golf surrounded by rocks and palm trees in the warm Greek sun. A day spent here is sure to be full of fun and laughter. After the course, go to the bar for a well-earned cold drink and a tasty meal.
If you want something a little more exciting, go to Formula Zante Go Kart with your family and friends. In well-kept 300-cc karts, you can race each other around the long track's curves and turns in a friendly way. There are different sizes of go-karts, so the whole family, even younger kids, can enjoy it.
Horse riding in Kalamaki
If you want to see the beautiful countryside near Kalamaki, the best way to do it is on horseback. On the island, there are many riding schools for people of all skill levels. They can give you safety gear, lessons, and a well-trained horse to help you get around.
You can choose from different trips for different amounts of time and for different skill levels. A popular trip is a walk along the beach in the evening to see the beautiful sun go down.
Kalamaki Nightlife, Greece: Bars & Clubs
During the off-season, Kalamaki is a quieter resort than some others on Zante. However, in the summer, Kalamaki's nightlife is just as lively as that of Laganas, which is right next door. Here, nightlife tends to be more laid-back and relaxed. Some many great restaurants and bars stay open until the early hours and offer deals on drinks. You can start your evening with dinner at one of Kalamaki's traditional Greek tavernas or at Buon Amici, an Italian restaurant that guests at the resort love.
Something for everyone
There are many English-style bars and pubs with karaoke nights and regular pub quizzes, as well as cocktail bars, sports bars, and even an Irish pub, so there's something for everyone regarding Kalamaki nightlife.
Bring your friends to one of Zante's first sports bars, The Drunk Corner, where you can watch the game on a big screen and drink a few beers. You can start your night at the popular Sugar Reef with a few cocktails. Cave Bar is a great place to get drinks after dinner for cheap nights out.
Lively Laganas
You can take a taxi to Laganas from the bars in Kalamaki and party until the sun comes up at legendary clubs and festivals with top DJs and international artists. One of the best places to go out at night in Europe is the Las Vegas Strip. Most people start their night at clubs like Rescue or Zero's.
Also, don't miss Plus Club, one of the biggest nightclubs in Greece outside of Athens. End your night with drinks and dancing until dawn at Waikiki. Laganas Beach also has a lot of special events, like fancy dress and foam parties, booze cruises, and afterparties.
On the beachfront in Laganas, you can find smaller bars, tavernas, and restaurants if you want a quieter night out or are still tired from the night before.
Cocktails in Zante Town
After the tragic death of her only son, the Empress Elisabeth of Austria built this palace in 1890 as a place to spend the summer. It was made to look like an old palace from Phaeacia, a place in Greek mythology. Paintings and sculptures of Greek gods and goddesses are all over the building. The mythical hero Achilles is the main focus, and a sculpture of him as he is dying is the focal point. The palace is in the town of Gastouri, which is only 10 km (6 mi) from Corfu Town. It costs 5 euros to get in.
Agios Sostis, Greece
Visit Agios Sostis to spend the day in one of Zante's most beautiful beach towns. It's a must-do day trip while you're on the island. It's close to Laganas and only 15 minutes by car from Kalamaki.
When you get to Agios Sostis, park your rental car or quad bike in the free parking lot and walk down the concrete path toward the sea. There are tavernas and restaurants along the small, quiet beach. Spend a few hours soaking up the sun on the golden sands, paddling in the clear blue water, and reading a book. If you want to stay in the shade, bring an umbrella.
There are lots of things to do at the beach if you like moving around. Rent a pedalo, canoe, or boat and head to Turtle Island, where you can swim in the caves and see turtles nesting.
After a relaxing swim, pack up your things and head back into town to eat a Greek meal at one of the local restaurants. Kiki's Tavern is very popular, so you'll need to make a reservation or be ready to wait. You can sit outside under a canopy and watch it cook as you eat your food on a traditional grill. Even the salad bar is tasty.
As night falls, Agios Sostis comes to life around you as you relax in a traditional taverna and have a beer with locals and tourists. You might even see Greek dancing; if you want to party all night, you can walk to Laganas's nightclubs.
Argassi Greece
During your time in Kalamaki, you should go to the nearby beach town of Argassi. Just ten minutes away by car, it's the perfect place to spend the day seeing the sights and relaxing on the beach.
When you get to Argassi, you'll have a lot of things to do. If you have kids, they will love riding the tourist train. Older kids will like playing mini golf or taking a boat tour along the coast.
While you're in the village, take some time to enjoy the beautiful scenery. In the distance, you can see the green peaks of Mount Skopos.
Take the three-mile walk up to the Monastery of Panagia Skopiotissa if you are interested in culture and history. It's a hard hike, so bring lots of water and snacks. When you get to the monastery, you'll see the whole village and the sea in a way that will blow your mind.
After you've seen what the village offers, take some time to relax on Argassi Beach. You can go snorkelling in the clear waters, try some water sports, or just relax with a good book in the warm Greek sun. When you get hungry, there are a lot of great Greek restaurants in the area for you to choose from. You might even get the chance to smash plates the old-fashioned way.
The only places to go out at night in the village are a few bars, which have a lively but friendly atmosphere. After seeing Argassi, you can drive or walk along the coast for ten minutes to Zante Town, the island's capital, where you can visit shops, museums, and churches.
Greece Boat Trips from Kalamaki
Turtles on Kalamaki Beach
On the sandy shores of Kalamaki, there are times when you can see something unique. Strangely, people aren't the only ones who want to make the most of the golden sand. The name is "Zante turtles," and the "game" is to protect them.
The beach at Kalamaki is a protected area for turtles. During the nesting season, endangered loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) come to the beach to lay their eggs. They only have babies once every two to three years on average. They mate for up to six weeks, so now is a very important time to protect this endangered amniote. Since Zante is mostly known for its party scene, the turtles' rare journey is beautiful to see if you like nature.
The nests are marked and easy to find to protect the "loggerheads," which get their name from their big heads and horned beaks. Volunteers also patrol the area to make sure the birds stay alive. It takes the hatchlings a while to reach their average adult size, which is between 31 and 45 inches. First, they are so small that nature has a good chance of killing them.
When pollution, a weak shell at birth that doesn't protect them, and threats from tourism are taken into account, their numbers go down quickly. Even though they are only 1.8 inches
long, baby turtles in Zante swim to the sea for seven days to get used to the water. If you're lucky, you might see the baby turtles come out of their shells for the first time and swim away.
Don't worry if you miss this incredible event; the shallow coves are great places to see turtles all year. The Caretta caretta is in danger of dying out, so the national marine park has taken it upon itself to protect it. Because more than 80% of "loggerhead" turtles only go back to the same place to nest, the south coast of Zante has many more tourists than it used to.
Seeing these beautiful creatures swim long distances, sometimes thousands of kilometres is a real treat. Even though there is plenty of room for sunbathers in this remote part of the island, steps are taken to protect the birds, such as moving the sunbeds away from their nesting areas and turning off the lights at night.
Even the smallest disturbance can cause the female to give up on nesting and go back to the water. The beach is a quiet place to relax under the warm Greek sun, and turtles used to live there for a short time. The golden sands are in perfect shape because they are kept very clean so that the Caretta Caretta can mate without any problems. The shallow depths of the cool, blue water make it safe for families.
Because turtles live in the area, water sports aren't allowed on this beach, and boat trips are a popular way to better look at the loggerheads in the sea.
Wine Festival, Kyoto
People from all over the island come to this week-long festival in honor of the vine because Zante is known for its tasty wines. It takes place in the square of Keri, which is right by the lake, and lasts until the early hours so that everyone can try as many of the different kinds as possible.
Go for a Greek Night in the Village
The charm of an old village is still there in Kalamaki. There are tavernas that serve traditional Greek food like kleftiko, moussaka, and gyros in gardens with olive trees, water features, or begonias in bloom. Find places that have Greek nights. This means fire dances and shots of ouzo, which are pretty much the beginning and end of a good time in Greece.
Enjoy the
slow-burning nightlife.
Laganas, which is close by, is the party capital of the area. It has bars and nightclubs the size of airport hangars. The nightlife in Kalamaki is much more laid-back, with chill-out cocktail bars, family-friendly karaoke spots, and teen-friendly places that offer drink specials to attract visitors.
PARTHENON
This family-run business has everything you could want, from grilled sole to kleftiko to tender souvlaki. The staff goes above and beyond for their guests. Nothing is too much to ask for, whether you need a high chair or a special portion. You'll have a good time if you can get the waiters to show off their Greek dance moves.
