Kalamaki holidays

Holidays to Kalamaki are designed to be low-key; they’re about spending each day beside a peaceful sea unspoilt by the roar of jetskis and powerboats and kicking back after dark in a local restaurants and friendly music bars.

Just minutes from Zakynthos International Airport, holidays to Kalamaki are the definition of fly-and-flop; not long after your flight touches down you can be lounging poolside at an affordable apartment complex or enjoying the feel of sand between your toes on the beside a great value resort hotel.

You'll find every variety of global cuisine in Kalamaki, from moussaka to Tex-Mex, sushi, pizza, curry and kebabs. There are plenty of local wines to sample (not just retsina, but sophisticated vintages from island vineyards), though if you fancy a satisfying pint, that's no problem, either.

If you want more from a cheap holiday to Kalamaki, there's plenty to see and do beyond the beach or pool. There's throbbing nightlife at Laganas, a five-minute drive away, and a bevy of watersports on beaches a just little further.

On a cruise around the island, you can swim and snorkel in azure grottos and picnic beside an iconic shipwreck. In Zakynthos Town, the island's capital, you can browse for silver jewellery and stylish beachwear and discover the island's medieval past at a ruined castle.

For a bigger adventure, amateur archaeologists can plunge deep into the past on a day trip to the nearby Greek mainland and the wonders of ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games.

Zakynthos claims to be one of Greece's sunniest isles. From June until the end of September you can count on cloudless skies, warm seas and temperatures that climb above 30C.

The resort is busiest at Easter, and from mid-June until mid-September, so for cheap holidays to Kalamaki, look for good deals in spring and autumn. The sun-kissed shallow waters of Kalamaki's sheltered bay warm up quickly in early summer, too – if you’re looking for a good balance between affordable prices and balmy weather, this can be an excellent time to visit.

You'll also find cheap holidays to Kalamaki in late-September and October as the season winds down with the temperatures (expect temperatures in the early 20s). These months are perfect for those who don't like it too hot. The beach is less crowded, too, at this time of year.

Kalamaki's nightlife scene is less lively than nearby Laganas, where the beat goes on from dusk ‘til dawn all summer. If you’re after a holiday that combines Kalamaki's relaxed charm with all the fun of Laganas after dark, plan to go between mid-June and the end of August.

With a sandy beach that stretches far into the distance, Kalamaki is perfect for lazy days on a lounger. Powered watersports are banned on this sheltered bay to protect the endangered loggerhead turtles, which lay their eggs on the 3-mile (5km) stretch of beach, so you won't be disturbed by the sound of engines. But, if waterskiing or banana boat rides are your thing, you'll still find them at nearby resorts such as Argassi on the island's north coast.

Cruise around Zakynthos

Take a boat trip around the island from Zakynthos Town, 10km (6 miles) from Kalamaki, to swim and snorkel in luminous turquoise water at the famous 'Blue Caves'.

You’ll also visit the iconic 'Smuggler's Wreck' – the rusting remains of a freighter which ran aground on a dazzling white beach beneath steep cliffs in the 80s.

Discover a castle

Zakynthos Town (like most of the island's villages) was almost levelled by an earthquake in 1953, and while most of the town has been completely rebuilt, not many of its historic buildings survive.

For a small glimpse of past grandeurs, hike up to Kastro, a picturesque medieval castle perched just above the town. Wander the ramparts and enjoy unobstructed views of Zakynthos Town and the sea.

Go clubbing

Kalamaki's nightlife scene is laid-back, with plenty of music bars but no massive venues.

If you’re after a serious club night head straight to Laganas, 5km (3.5 miles) from Kalamaki. Here, Rescue is the big daddy of the club scene, with VIP booths, six bars and the biggest paint parties in Europe.

Head for the hills

Tear yourself away from Kalamaki's sands and rent a car to explore Zakynthos's hilly hinterland.

The island is criss-crossed by country roads that lead through vineyards and olive groves, and you can discover small, out-of-the-way beaches for a picnic away from the crowds. Further inland, traditional villages, Kiliomenos and Agios Leon, are well worth a stop.

Visit the mainland

Join a one-day escorted tour to the mainland by boat (a 90-minute hop to Killini) and coach to the ruins of Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games.

Ramble among the toppled columns of ancient temples and imagine the crowds cheering on their city's athletes in the great stadium thousands of years ago.