Alykes Beach is on the northeast coast of Zakynthos. Its golden sand, former salt flats and the Pentocamaro Old Bridge give the area distinct points of interest for its coastline, habitat and built heritage.
A sandy beach on the Ionian Sea
Alykes Beach is a golden sandy beach; the sandy seabed slopes gently down to the Ionian Sea. The water is described as shallow, warm and clear; conditions can vary. Visitors can wade quite a way out into the water from the beach. Because of its gently sloping sandy seabed, Alykes Beach is considered suitable for families with young children.
Salt flats and local history
The former salt flats of Alykes remain undisturbed and provide a habitat for local wildlife. Check whether access is possible before visiting. The meaning of the name is another local detail: Alykes means “salt flats” in Greek.
Alykes developed into a holiday resort relatively late. Before that, it was subordinate to the village of Katastari, with which its history is closely connected. Those interested in how the area developed can distinguish a sequence over time: Alykes’s earlier connection to Katastari was followed by its development into a holiday resort.
The Pentocamaro Old Bridge
The Pentocamaro Old Bridge is a stone bridge over the Skourtis River in Alykes. It has five arches and dates from the 15th century; the exact year it was built is unknown. For readers interested in local architecture, it combines a clearly identified structural form with a historical date.
When looking for hotels in Alykes, you can first decide whether the beach, or also local history and architecture, suits the purpose of your trip.
Zakynthos in a wider context
Other cultural attractions on Zakynthos broaden the perspective beyond beaches and local history. The Museum of Zakynthos displays works of the Cretan School, Cretan-Ionian icons and works of Ionian Naturalism from the 15th to the 19th centuries. The mausoleum is on the ground floor of the Museum of Solomos and Eminent Zakynthians; since 1968, it has housed the remains of the national poets Andreas Kalvos and Dionysios Solomos. The Monastery of Agios Georgios sta Gremna in Volimes was founded in 1535.
Natural areas and views are also part of the wider Zakynthos destination. The Blue Caves are in the Aspros Vrachos area at Cape Skinari. Lake Keri is a wetland protected under the Ramsar Convention, a Natura site and a nature reserve within the Zakynthos National Marine Park. The Keri Lighthouse is known for panoramic sunset views of the Ionian Sea and the Myzithres rocks.
Ladotyri is one of Zakynthos’s local products: in Volimes, Zakynthian cheese is made in dairies and home workshops and offered as a local product. Individual producers’ offerings may change. The port of Agios Nikolaos in Volimes is a seaport access point and connects Zakynthos to Kefalonia by ferry. Check the current schedule for your travel dates.
Discover more destinations: Anafonitria, Romiri, VolĂmai, Alikanás, Vasilikos, Keri, Marathias, KampĂon.
For the main travel overview: Zakynthos.
