Car Hire Zante - Zakynthos: Volimes Village

Helping you to get the most from your car hire.

Destination Volimes village
Type of place Mountian village
Island Zante, Zakynthos
Distance from Zante Airport 25km




One of the best loved tours on the island for your hire car on Zante is to travel up to the far northern villages of the island. Perched high in the mountains in the far north of Zakynthos (Zante), beyond Katastari, is Volimes.

Arriving from the south of Zakynthos, the two villages of Volimes, upper and lower, look like they have been caught in a time-warp with their old-style agriculture. No high-rise buildings here, no discos or bars, the villages are eerie for their utter contrast to the south of Zakynthos. Don't just drive through the village though, make sure you get out of your hire car in one of the strangest feeling places on Zante! Click here for a great deal on Zante car hire.

About the village

Volimes is a stronghold of Zakynthian peasant life; looms, home-made embroidery, honey, oil, soap and rugs are sold o the street to passing tourist buses on their way to and from the port of Skinari and the neighbouring island of Kefalonia. It's a start reminder of the disparity in wealth between the rich agricultural lowlands and the harsh mountainous hinterland of Zante.

These days it can all get a bit much with tens and tens of tiny shops and stalls selling many items that have certainly not been produced locally at somewhat inflated prices. The best things to buy are perishables like honey, oil and wine. But make sure they were made locally. With its old buildings and narrow streets, Volimes in not unattractive but drive your car carefully though the village.

What to see and do

Come to Volimes to take a trip in a time-machine and to wander around the patchwork countryside around the villages. There is not much to do in Volimes aside from explore the villages. Get out of your car for a drink in the local Kafeneon for a real experience of the Zakynthos of yesteryear or have drink in a local shop.

When you finally do manage to tear yourself away, you can take your hire car down the western flank of the Zante for great countryside and sunsets. There are other great villages to visit along this coastline such as Louha.

Friends of the Ionian are keen to help you get the most out of your car hire. We want you to get the best value for money when you hire a car by having plenty of good idea for routes and excursions across Zante.

Every car hire comes with a free map and DVD/CD Zante Explorer Pack. Just email with your car hire confirmation and address. Email us here

Friends of the Ionian are a not for profit company. For the past 17 years we have been working to bring about sustainable development in the Ionian islands of Corfu, Paxos, Lefkas, Ithaca, Kefalonia and Zante, Zakynthos.

We always encourage visitors to use public transport where possible though on Zante car hire to visit some of the remoter villages is essential. Friends of the Ionian offer competitive rates for car hire on Zante with free maps and Information packs included.