LAGANAS
Area: Zante
Country: Greece


Location:
On the S-facing coast, 5» miles SW of Zakynthos and 3 miles SW of the airport.

Telephone code from UK:
30 26950

Position:
Part of a sweeping bay of mainly flat land, with gentle hills to the W rising eventually to the mountains that line the W coast of the island.

Description:
The most popular resort on the island owing to its fine beach and many amenities. About 1» miles wide by 1» miles long, this modern resort centres on 2 main roads which remain busy day and night, especially with young motorcyclists. Small fields, orchards and olive groves surround many of the properties even quite close to the centre.

Suitability:
For the young and lively who want to dance the night away. Also for families who don't mind some noise from discos and bars. The centre of the resort is not for those who want a quiet or peaceful holiday.

Accommodation:
Self-catering studios in abundance and a variety of hotels, mainly in the lower categories, usually where life revolves around the bar.

Shopping:
Vast number of tourist shops, minimarkets and a couple of leather and gold shops _ both are specialities of the island.

Beach:
Laganas Bay has the best resort beach on the island. It is nearly five miles long, fairly narrow and with gently shelving light tan sand. Plenty of beachside restaurants and snack bars. Motorised water sports are restricted because turtles use some parts of the bay for nesting.

Entertainments:
Daytime: not much beyond the beach. Within walking distance of Sarakina mansion ruins and some superb views. Horse riding. Boat trip to see the turtles. Nightlife: discos and numerous bars ranging from family to cocktail and disco bars; karaoke nights (in English, not Greek!) Various tavernas run their own Greek nights. Very little live entertainment.

Eating:
Numerous restaurants from traditional Greek and Italian, to Chinese and Indian. Plenty of burger and kebab bars. Several British-style pubs.

Public-transport:
Taxis wait by the beach but after midnight they may be difficult to find. Bus service 5 times a day to Zakynthos in high season. Horse-drawn carriages also compete with taxis.

Local-excursions:
See Zakynthos.