Laganas is a large lively resort on the south coast of the Greek island of Zante (Zakynthos). It is the largest resort on the island and is particularly popular with the 18-30 year olds who flock here for the great nightlife and beautiful sandy beaches.

Laganas

The resort has hundreds of nightclubs and bars, hotels and apartments, shops and plenty of restaurants serving all kinds of cusine, including Chinese, Indian and Italian food.

Laganas Bay is a narrow beach, about 3 miles long and is part of the Greek National Marine Park. Watersports are not allowed here as loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta-Caretta) use the bay for nesting. The turtles visit the protected beach to lay their eggs in June, July and August.

Opposite the beach there is the islet of Agios Sostis which is covered in pine trees and reached by a wooden bridge from Laganas. There are also two

loggerhead turtle

 other islets, Pelouso and Marathonissi.

About a 7 mile drive from Laganas is the deserted village of Agalas where you can visit the Cave of Damianos which has very impressive stalagmites and stalagtites.

Climate

Laganas has a typically Mediterranean climate. Average temperatures in the summer reach 30C with 12-13 hours of sunshine a day. The summers are very dry with hardly any rainfall with temperatures often reaching 31C in July and August.

If you are looking for beautiful beaches and plenty of nightlife why not book one of the many package holidays to Zante that are on offer.

With hundreds of cheap holidays available to this wonderful Greek island, you will be spoilt for choice.

Mykonos is a Greek island, about 41 square miles in area and is made mainly from granite. Part of the Cyclades islands group, Mykonos is the best known and most popular of the Greek islands.

Mykonos

The beautiful, cosmopolitan Mykonos Town (known locally as Chora) is the islands capital and is full of traditional buildings and lots of lively nightlife. Perched on a hillside are the windmills of Chora and there is also the quaint quarter Little Venice, both of which are landmarks of the town. When visiting the restored traditional windmills you can take in the wonderful panoramic view of the village and port. The Little Venice quarter of the town is full of brightly coloured houses, cafes and plenty of nightlife.
The working lighthouse of Armenistis stands 62ft high and offers magnificent views across the Aegean.
The assymetrical, white chapel of Panagia Paraportiani in Chora is the most photographed church on the island and worthy of a visit.
A short boat ride from Chora is the tiny island of Delos where you can see the ruins of an ancient sanctuary and a theatre. In ancient Greek times Delos was a sacred island where, according to mythology, the god Apollo was born.

Mykonos beach

The island is a favourite tourist destination, known mainly for its fantastic sandy beaches and its great lively nightlife.

The most popular beaches are those on the south coast of the island including Paradise, Super Paradise, Elia, Platis Gialos, Psarou, Agios Ioannis, Agrari, Paranga, Kalo Livadi and Ftelia. These beaches are regarded as some of the best in Greece with beautiful pristine sands and crystal clear blue waters.

The nightlife here is famous throughout the world and attracts huge numbers of revellers to its clubs, bars and beach bars. Partying at these clubs and bars lasts all night long. Mykonos is also regarded as one of the best gay and lesbian vacation destinations in Europe.

The climate here is typically mediterranean with dry, hot summers and mild winters, with very little rainfall. The best time to holiday here is between April and August when the weather is at its best.

Summer holidays spent on this wonderful island can be as lively or as relaxing as you wish.

Why not check out the internet for some great last minute holidays to Mykonos.

For those of you considering a Greek holiday, why not consider the beautiful island of Santorini.

The best way to see Santorini is by hiring a car. Among the attractions here are the colourful volcanic beaches, an array of watersports, archaeological sites, churches, beautiful old windmills, cobbled streets lined with shops, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and much much more.

If you are looking for a destination to spend peaceful or romantic holidays then look no further than Santorini. I have just come across this interesting and informative destination guide to Santorini which i am sure will make your decision to visit this wonderful island a whole lot easier.

Trevor Butler set up his first ‘travel’ related business in 2004 and has written many other destination articles with tips and information. I have found these articles both interesting and helpful, hope you do too.

If you are looking for a quiet, relaxing break then look no further than the beautiful resort of Kefalos on the Greek island of Kos.

Located in the south west of the island, about 45kms from Kos Town, Kefalos is a purpose built resort with an idyllic laid back atmosphere.

The sand and shingle beach, and warm clear waters here make it ideal for lazing in the sun or having a go at one of the many watersports on offer. The monastery of Agios Nikolas is close enough to Kefalos that you can easily swim to it. However the nearby Paradise Beach is much kinder to the feet than the shingle beach at Kefalos!

On a stroll around Kefalos you can see a traditional house which has been turned into a folk museum showing the agricultural life in the village of times gone past, a traditional windmill and the ruins of an old castle.
At the port of Kamari, about 1km from Kefalos, there is a marina and the early 5th century christian basilicas of Agios Stefanos with their preserved mosaics and sculptures.
To see more of the island it is best to hire a car and take a leisurely drive.

There are lots of good restaurants to endulge in, especially the seafront taverns, and don’t forget to try the local deserts made from the famous local honey, you won’t be disappointed. There isn’t an awful lot of nightlife here but there is always something to do or see, with plenty of bars, some of which have live entertainment.

CLIMATE

The island of Kos enjoys hot, dry summers and mild winters with hardly any rainfall during the summer and only showers between October and March. Temperatures in July and August average around 28C during the day and 22C at night.

 We booked our direct holidays to Kefalos online and were completely satisfied with every aspect of our holiday.

With Greece being one of the most popular holiday destinations you will find there are lots of cheap package holidays available at the moment.

For more information on Greece and the Greek Islands  and to view my latest articles please visit my Greece Blog.

Crete is a very popular destination, with many cheap holidays to the island advertised throughout the internet.

Crete

Crete is the most southern and the largest of the Greek Islands and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean.
The island has over 600 miles of coastline, complete with coves, bays and beautiful sandy beaches.

BEACHES

Crete has many beautiful beaches, some of the best in the world, too many to mention, but here are just a few

Elafonissi and Falasarna at Chania.

Chania

Georgioupolis, which is located on the north coast between Chania and Rethymno.
Vai in the northeast of the island.
Matala beach, located south of Heraklion.
Red beach is a naturist beach and is located in the south of the island.
 
THINGS TO DO

Sightseeing

Crete is steeped in history and has many museums, the most important being the Archaeological Museum in Heraklion. There are also many historical sites to visit, including the Minoan Palaces of Knossos and Phaestos, Malia, Gortyn and Zakros.

Walking and Riding

During the spring months Crete is perfect for walking, hiking and rambling. The island has a vast network of both country and coastal trails and ancient paths. The most popular walk on Crete is the Samaria Gorge which is both challenging and rewarding.

A great way to explore the beautiful island of Crete is to go on horseback. This way you can discover the ancient donkey trails, deserted beaches, quaint unspoilt villages, olive groves and vineyards.

Crete mountains

Mountains

The rugged mountains on Crete offer rock climbing, caving, mountain biking and even jeep tours.

Diving

There are plenty of places around the island for scuba diving and snorkelling, with several diving schools which provide courses for both beginners and experienced divers, and excursions.

Watersports

Because of the summer sunshine, constant wind and great beaches, Crete is ideal for jet skiing, water skiing, windsurfing, parasailing, kayaking, pedalos and banana boat rides.

CLIMATE

Crete has a Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and mild winters.
In April temperatures reach 18C, with over 8 hours of sunshine a day, making the weather perfect for outdoor pursuits.
During May temperatures reach 20C, 22-24C in June, and peak at 27C in August with 13 hours of sunshine a day, making this the best time for beach holidays.
During September and October the temperature stays above 20C, with about 10 hours of sunshine a day.

January and February are the wettest months, with temperatures dropping to 12C and 4 hours of sunshine a day.

Kefalos

Kos is one of the Greek Dodecanese Islands located in the Aegean Sea 370 kms south east of the mainland port of Piraeus and just five kms south of Turkey. It is the second largest island in the archipelago after Rhodes.  The island has 290 kms of coastline with many wonderful beaches. It is an island of big resort complexes and frantic foam parties, but it is also the birthplace of Hippocrates, the Father of Modern Medicine, and home to the western world’s first ever medical school.

Huge numbers of visitors descend on the island in the summer months, the vast majority intent on serious sunning on the beaches by day and even more serious partying after the sun goes down. However Kos is also an island steeped in history, a land of castles and temples from antiquity, a place where traditional unspoilt villages cling to the craggy slopes of pine-clad mountains.

Beaches

Kos has 290 kms of coastline, its best sandy stretches being packed with holidaymakers in the high season. However it is still possible to find tranquil, almost deserted beaches where you can swim and sunbathe in peace or relax over a leisurely lunch in a fresh fish taverna by the sea.

In Kos Town there is a pebbly strip of beach just south of the main harbour, but the nearest decent beach is 3 kms north west along the coast at Lambi. Another 4 kms west along the coast there’s beautiful and unspoilt Selveri Beach where the sand shelves gently into the shallow water.

The beach has panoramic views of the Turkish coast and is blissfully quiet compared with the busy seaside resorts further west.

Akti Miaouli

The waterfront to the south east of the Castle of the Knights in Kos Town is called Akti Miaouli and leads to the fairly busy pebble beaches of Psalidi (3 kms from town), Agios Fokas (7 kms) and Therma Loutra (11 kms). The latter is popular for its bubbling hot mineral springs which gush from a grotto into a shoreline pool where they warm the sea water to a pleasant temperature.

The two most popular resorts on the north coast are Tingaki and Marmari, separated by the Aliki Salt Lake which attracts hundreds of migratory birds between January and April. Both resorts have good beaches and are highly developed to meet the needs of package holidaymakers. The water here in summer is warmer than the sea off the south coast of the island and strong winds make this stretch of coastline popular with windsurfers.

Mastahari

Mastahari, west of Marmari, is far less developed. It is far more “Greek” than its neighbours to the east and has a small port with excursion boats to Kalymnos and the small island of Pserimos.

The most frantic seaside resort on the island is Kardamena (30 kms from Kos Town). This resort is swamped with shops, bars, hotels, travel agencies and of course hordes of holidaymakers. All kinds of water sports and leisure facilities are available here and you can take a boat over to the volcanic island of Nisyros (where the floor of the main crater is hot enough to melt rubber-soled shoes).

Kefalos

Further south west along the coast you come to the beautiful Kefalos Bay which has the most scenic and secluded beaches on the island. A series of six magnificent beaches form an almost uninterrupted stretch of fine white sand at the base of the cliffs. The beaches have all acquired new names designed to appeal to international tourists – Exotic Beach, Magic Beach, Sunny Beach, Banana Beach, Paradise Beach and Camel Beach.

At the western end of the bay there is Agios Stefanos which is dominated by a huge Club Med complex but even if you’re not a guest there this beach is well worth a visit. The small peninsula is topped by the well-preserved remains of two 6th century basilicas and you can swim out to the islet of Kastri which has a tiny blue and white chapel. The snorkelling around the rocks here is the best to be found around the island’s coastline.

At the south west tip of the island you’ll find wild and rugged scenery and the unspoilt pebble beach of Agios Theologos which is a popular body-surfing spot.

Head north around the cape to Limnionas which is a little fishing harbour with two uncrowded sandy beaches either side of the peninsula.

Places to visit

Start by exploring Kos Town, in the north east corner of the island where the ferries dock, visiting yachts are moored and excursion boats line up to transport holidaymakers to various beaches around the coastline and to neighbouring islands.

Hippocrates

Dominated by the huge 15th century Castle of the Knights, the town is an odd blend of ancient and modern. Shops, restaurants and bars co-exist with ancient ruins exposed after the earthquake which rocked the island in 1933. The quake revealed the remains of a Roman agora (market place) with a third century BC temple and a 5th century AD Christian basilica. Here you can see the Hippocrates Plane Tree, allegedly planted 2,400 years ago by Hippocrates. The tree is almost certainly one of the oldest in Europe but is no more than 600 years old.

Casa Romana

One of the most interesting historic sites is the Casa Romana, a roman villa which once had 26 rooms and three pools surrounded by shady courtyards. Here you can still see lions, leopards, dolphins and other sea creatures in the mosaic floors.

In the town’s main square, Plateia Eleftherias, you will find the archaeological museum which gives an insight into the island’s past with finds from Hellenistic and Roman times. One of the star exhibits is a 4th century BC marble statue of Hippocrates.

The Asklipion site

The Asklipion site (4 kms from Kos Town) is one of the most important classical sites in the whole of Greece. The ruins consist of a 3rd century BC propylaea (the elaborate porch built at the entrance of ancient sanctuaries), Roman baths dating back to the 1st century AD, the 4th century BC Altar of Apollo and the 2nd century BC Temple of Asclepios (the god of healing). People came from far and wide to visit this religious sanctuary and healing centre and also to study at the medical school until the 6th century AD.

The Asfendiou villages scattered along the wooded, northern slopes of Mount Dikaios, give an insight to how the people of Kos lived before the advent of tourism. The picturesque hamlets of Agios Georgios and Agios Dimitrios have managed to maintain much of their traditional character whilst nearby Zia, the island’s highest village, attracts lots of tourists who come to witness the beautiful sunsets.

However,  Lagoudi (close to Zia), remains unspoilt and from here you can visit the medieval village of Pyli overlooked by the Palaio Pyli castle which contains a Byzantine church with 14th century frescoes.