Last updated: September 2026
Alykes Zante holidays take you to one of the most attractive family resorts on the north coast of the island, where a long, gently curving sandy beach meets calm, shallow water that has made this stretch of Zakynthos a long-standing favourite with British families. Named after the salt pans that once worked this part of the coast, Alykes combines genuine resort comfort with views across the bay towards the dramatic limestone cliffs further north. An Alykes Zante holiday delivers exactly what most visitors come to this part of Greece looking for — reliable sunshine, a great beach, and a relaxed pace.
An Alykes Zante holiday suits families and couples who want a dependable, well-equipped beach resort without the more intense nightlife found at Laganas further south. The resort has grown steadily over the decades into a comfortable, mid-sized destination with a good range of hotels, restaurants, and shops. Alykes Zante holiday deals are widely available through UK tour operators and represent solid value for a north coast base.
The beach at Alykes is the clear highlight of any Alykes Zante holiday — a long, wide stretch of golden sand that curves gently around the bay, with shallow, calm water extending a considerable distance from the shore. This gradual slope makes the beach particularly popular with families, as children can paddle and play safely without venturing into deep water too quickly.
Sunbeds and parasols are widely available throughout the beach during the summer season, with a good number of beach bars and tavernas providing food and drinks within easy reach. The views from the beach across the bay towards the cliffs near Skinari at the island’s northern tip add real scenic interest to an Alykes Zante holiday, particularly in the soft light of early morning or late afternoon.
The relatively sheltered position of the bay keeps conditions calm on most days, though afternoon breezes can pick up, which is part of why this stretch of coast has also become popular with windsurfers. An Alykes Zante holiday spent largely on this beach, alternating between swimming and relaxing in the sun, captures much of the appeal of this resort.
Alykes has developed a reputation among windsurfing enthusiasts thanks to the reliable afternoon winds that build across the bay during the summer months. An Alykes Zante holiday focused partly on watersports is a popular and rewarding choice, with equipment hire and lessons available from operators based directly on the beach.
Beyond windsurfing, the standard range of beach watersports is well represented, including jet-skis, banana boats, and parasailing. The calmer morning conditions suit swimming and general beach relaxation, while the breezier afternoons are better suited to board sports, giving an Alykes Zante holiday a useful daily rhythm.
Zakynthos’s north coast offers some of the island’s most dramatic scenery, and an Alykes Zante holiday gives convenient access to this less-developed stretch of coastline. Boat trips from the nearby harbour at Agios Nikolaos visit the famous Blue Caves, where sunlight filtering through the clear water creates striking blue and turquoise effects on the cave walls and ceiling.
Shipwreck Beach, also known as Navagio, is one of the most photographed beaches in Greece, accessible only by boat or via a viewpoint reached by a short drive and walk. An Alykes Zante holiday that includes either the boat trip to the beach itself or the clifftop viewpoint above it is highly recommended — the dramatic combination of white cliffs, turquoise water, and the rusting shipwreck below makes for an unforgettable sight.
The drive along the north coast road passes through several traditional villages and olive groves, offering a glimpse of rural Zakynthos away from the busier resorts. An Alykes Zante holiday with a hire car gives the flexibility to explore this scenic part of the island at your own pace.
Alykes holidays are particularly well suited to families thanks to the long, shallow beach and the resort’s generally relaxed, unhurried pace. Several hotels offer good family facilities including pools, kids’ clubs, and entertainment programmes, while the calm sea makes this one of the safer beaches on the island for young children learning to swim.
The resort’s modest scale means children can be given a degree of independence to explore safely, and the relative lack of intense nightlife compared with the island’s busiest resorts makes for quieter, more family-friendly evenings. An Alykes Zante holiday with children of varying ages tends to work well given the range of activities and the easy pace of life here.
Alykes Zante holidays are reached via Zakynthos International Airport, with a transfer of around 30 to 35 minutes. Local buses connect Alykes with Zakynthos Town and other resorts, though a hire car gives considerably more flexibility for exploring the north coast and its famous attractions during your stay.
Practical facilities in Alykes are good for a resort of its size, with supermarkets, pharmacies, and banks all available along the main road. For more extensive shopping or services during an Alykes Zante holiday, Zakynthos Town is within a reasonable drive.
Accommodation at Alykes ranges from larger beachfront hotels to smaller apartment complexes and studios set slightly back from the sand. An Alykes Zante holiday at one of the beachfront properties offers genuine convenience, with the beach essentially on your doorstep throughout your stay.
Self-catering options are well represented, supported by good local shops, making an Alykes Zante holiday practical for those who want to control their own dining schedule. All-inclusive packages at the larger hotels are popular with families given the convenience they offer.
The tavernas at Alykes serve a good range of Greek classics and fresh fish, with several offering sea views across the bay. An Alykes Zante holiday dinner watching the sunset over the water, with the cliffs of the north coast silhouetted in the distance, is a memorable way to end the day.
International cuisine is also well represented for those wanting variety during their stay, and the resort’s relaxed pace extends to its dining scene, with unhurried meals the norm rather than the exception during an Alykes Zante holiday.
Alykes takes its name from the salt pans (alyki in Greek) that once operated along this stretch of coast, a traditional industry that shaped the local economy for generations before tourism arrived. Evidence of this earlier way of life can still be glimpsed in the flat, low-lying land behind parts of the beach, though the pans themselves are no longer in commercial use.
This agricultural and industrial heritage gives an Alykes Zante holiday a sense of historical continuity, with the resort having evolved from a working coastal settlement into a tourist destination over the course of the 20th century. The transition has been gradual enough that Alykes retains a more grounded, less artificial feel than some of the island’s more rapidly developed resorts.
An Alykes Zante holiday in June or September offers warm weather and a noticeably calmer beach than the peak summer months. These shoulder season weeks suit visitors who want reliable sunshine without the busiest crowds, and accommodation prices tend to be more favourable too.
Spring visits in May reward Alykes Zante holiday guests with lush green surroundings following the winter rains, while the sea gradually warms towards comfortable swimming temperatures by the end of the month. Windsurfing conditions remain excellent throughout the main season, with the reliable afternoon breeze a near-constant feature from May through September.
A popular full-day excursion during an Alykes Zante holiday combines an early start with the boat trip or clifftop walk to Shipwreck Beach, followed by a stop at the Blue Caves on the return journey. Starting early avoids both the heat and the largest crowds at what is one of the most photographed locations in Greece.
Returning to Alykes in the late afternoon for a relaxed swim and dinner overlooking the bay rounds out a satisfying day that showcases both the dramatic beauty of the north coast and the comfortable, easy-going character of your Alykes Zante holiday base.
Alykes occupies a sensible middle ground among Zakynthos resorts — comfortable and well-equipped enough for a relaxing family beach holiday, yet positioned perfectly for exploring the island’s most dramatic natural attractions on the north coast. An Alykes Zante holiday suits travellers who want a dependable base without sacrificing easy access to genuine scenic adventure.
Repeat visitors to Alykes often comment that the resort has changed relatively little in character over the years, retaining the same comfortable, unhurried atmosphere that first attracted them. This consistency, in an industry where resorts can change dramatically within a few seasons, is one of the quieter strengths of choosing an Alykes Zante holiday — you generally know what you are getting, year after year.
Whatever else an Alykes Zante holiday includes, most visitors leave feeling they made a sensible, dependable choice for a relaxed Greek island beach break, with just enough natural drama nearby to keep things interesting.
That balance of comfort and adventure, reliably delivered year after year, continues to make Alykes one of the more sensible recommendations for travellers weighing up where to stay on the north side of Zakynthos.
An Alykes Zante holiday booked for a week or two consistently strikes a good balance between enough time to properly relax and enough variety, through nearby excursions, to avoid the trip ever feeling repetitive or one-dimensional.
For these reasons, an Alykes Zante holiday continues to feature prominently on shortlists for north coast Zakynthos bases, recommended consistently by those who have experienced it firsthand.
Few resorts on this side of the island balance comfort and adventure quite so evenly, and that balance remains Alykes’s defining and most enduring strength.
An Alykes Zante holiday, in short, suits travellers who want comfort without crowds and convenience without sacrificing genuine character along the way.
Many visitors combine a stay in Alykes with a trip to Vassilikos and Tsilivi, all easily reached within the island.
| Resort type | North coast family beach resort |
|---|---|
| Best for | Families, windsurfers, north coast exploring |
| Nearest airport | Zakynthos (30–35 min) |
| Beach type | Long sandy beach, gently shelving |
| Water sports | Excellent — windsurfing especially good |
| Nightlife | Quiet — relaxed tavernas and bars |
| Family friendly | Excellent — calm shallow water |
| Typical season | May to October |
Alykes Zante holidays are available as package deals from most UK airports, with a transfer of around 30 to 35 minutes from Zakynthos airport. Alykes Zante holiday deals are competitively priced and widely available, reflecting the resort’s enduring popularity with families.
June and September offer an excellent Alykes Zante holiday experience, with warm weather and a relaxed atmosphere. July and August are busier and warmer, particularly appealing to those wanting reliable windsurfing conditions on the bay.
Search4Sun works with leading UK tour operators to find the best value Alykes Zante holidays for UK travellers. Browse departures from local airports across the UK. For peace of mind when booking, always check your holiday is ABTA protected.
For last-minute Alykes Zante deals, check LastMinute.com for the latest availability and rates.
Yes — the long, gently shelving beach and calm water make Alykes one of the best family beaches on Zakynthos. An Alykes Zante holiday suits families with children of all ages.
Yes — Alykes has a strong reputation for reliable afternoon winds, making it a popular choice for an Alykes Zante holiday focused on windsurfing or other board sports.
Shipwreck Beach (Navagio) is around 30 minutes by car from Alykes, with boat trips and the famous viewpoint both easily arranged during an Alykes Zante holiday.
Yes — Alykes has a relaxed evening atmosphere compared with busier resorts like Laganas. An Alykes Zante holiday suits those who prefer calm evenings over intense nightlife.
Search4Sun has been comparing UK holiday packages since 2005. We work with some of the best ABTA-registered operators.
