ARGASSI
Area: Zante
Country: Greece


Location:
In SE of island, on NE-facing coast, 3 miles SE of Zakynthos and 4» miles E of the airport.

Telephone code from UK:
30 26950

Position:
On land sloping up from beach, gently at first then quickly increasing in height to mountains at back of resort.

Description:
This is a resort that gains popularity with each passing year. Although there are many bars and tourist shops, the resort has not lost its friendly character or traditions.

Suitability:
Very family orientated, but also geared to couples and young singles as there is plenty of nightlife.

Accommodation:
Mainly self-catering studios and apartments, with a few (mid-range) hotels. Apartments are often family run, often with different family members owning different buildings.

Shopping:
A number of minimarkets selling all daily necessities. Various other tourist shops and a couple of clothing boutiques. Motorcycle and car rental.

Beach:
Argassi Beach runs parallel to resort centre and main road for about º mile. It is extremely narrow (even non-existent in places), and is of sand and pebbles with some rocky areas. An interesting old bridge that used to carry the main coast road (damaged during an earthquake) lies about 15 feet off shore. Variety of water sports available.

Entertainments:
Daytime: not much to see, as most of the older buildings were destroyed in the earthquake of 1953. A walk into Zakynthos town will take about an hour. Water sports on Argassi Beach. Children's fun castle. Reptile house and animal farm. Nightlife: bars of various types ranging from family orientated to cocktail and live-music bars. Nightclub. Some hotels run weekly Greek nights.

Eating:
One or two authentic Greek tavernas. English menus in many restaurants, and even roast beef and Yorkshire pudding on Sundays. Most restaurants have basically the same dishes and are reasonably priced. Chinese and Indian restaurants.

Public-transport:
Taxi rank in resort centre, although it could be difficult to locate a taxi after midnight. Regular buses during high season to Zakynthos town and Vasilikos. Bus stops are at either end of the town, but buses also seem to stop at the central crossroads.

Local-excursions:
See Zakynthos.