Artelia

The Area

Artelia occupies a wonderfully panoramic position in the southwest of Zakynthos and offers spellbinding views down over the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, the idyllic islet of Marathonissi, and a 6km-long stretch of sandy beach where sea turtles come to lay their eggs.

In terms of amenities, there are several inland villages nearby with tavernas, such as Agalas, Lithakia and Koiliomenos (all between a 10- and 15-minute drive), while down on the coast, at Agios Sostis (20 minutes) and Limni Keriou (25 minutes), there is a greater selection of amenities, including minimarkets, cafés and bars (not to mention beaches and boat hire).

A 20-minute drive will also take you to the charming little village of Keri (not to be confused with Limni Keriou mentioned above) on the southwestern tip of Zakynthos. It's a particularly attractive spot in the late afternoon when the sun begins to set into the sea, and there are a couple of good tavernas in which to while away an evening.

As far as beaches are concerned, nearby are Agios Sostis and Limni Keriou, both of which offer a gentle summery buzz and a good selection of seafront tavernas, cafés and bars. The long stretch of sand that's part of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos (mentioned in the opening paragraph) is the obvious choice for many. Some sections have beach clubs and facilities, while others are quieter, out of respect for the visiting turtles. For more dramatic coastal scenery and wonderful snorkelling, head to the cliffs and rocky coves of the west coast, such as those at Porto Roxa and Porto Limnionas (around 30 minutes away).

Zakynthos's most popular, most spectacular and most photographed beach is Navagio, located in the northwest of the island. Taking its name from the shipwreck that has lain on its sand since the early 1980s, the bay is surrounded on three sides by spectacular tree-topped white cliffs and is only accessible by boat. This sublime setting and the bay's transparent, electric blue waters attract the crowds in high summer, but it's most certainly a sight to behold, both from the viewing point above and from the water below.

At just over 30km long and 20km wide, Zakynthos, also known as Zante, is easily discoverable in a week and you're never more than an hour's drive from most places of interest. The island's hinterland is peppered with other villages, a few of which, such as Lithakia and Exo Chora (this latter with 16th-century houses, a 17th-century church and a 2,000-year-old olive tree) survived the earthquake of 1953 relatively unscathed.

Finally, just half an hour's drive away from Artelia is the capital of Zakynthos, Chora (or Zakynthos Town), which is well worth a visit. A few of its historic Venetian buildings remain, there are some interesting museums and galleries, and its streets and squares are flanked by a summery buzz of bars, cafés and tavernas.