Car Hire Zante - Zakynthos: Vassilikos Region

Helping you to get the most from your car hire.

Destination Vassilikos region
Type of place scenic region
Island Zante, Zakynthos
Distance from Zante Airport 20km




A long but satisfying day out is to hire a car on Zante and head out onto the Vassilikos peninsular. This region is very pretty with a wonderful beach at its tip.

Vassilikos has of recent years been the reserve of wealthier Zakynthians and a handful of fortunate tourists. Today it receives visitors keen to explore Zante at its finest.

Leaving the urban settings of Zante Town and Argassi far behind, the road winds along the Vassilikos peninsula through a cool area of scented pine forests That tumble down the flank of Mount Skopos. You can stop off in your hire car anywhere along this stretch of coastline. There are numerous beaches on this stretch of the Zante coastline such as Banana Beach, Porto Zorro and Agios Nicholaos, all with ample parking for your hire car.

About the region

This area of Zakynthos is a real haven for wildlife with diverse landscapes and environments; pine forests, olive groves, orchards, meadows and pockets of wetlands. In the spring and autumn, large areas of the peninsula are carpeted with flowers. This area is relatively remote you'll need to hire car hire can help you to explore this region of Zante to the full.

In early spring and autumn, in particular, the region is alive with birds especially doves, making a first or last stop on their migration routes from and back to Africa. Less than a decade ago, the peninsula was popular with hunters who came from all over Greece to shoot birds at these times of year. This practice is fortunately becoming less and less fashionable and it is safe to walk around at these times of year. If you leave your hire car in the car park at Gerakas beach you can explore on foot some of the features of this once remote spot of Zante.

Modern day hunters were not the first to bring guns to the Gerakas Peninsula. The far easterly tip of Zakynthos made for a good look out spot and during the occupation of Zante during World War 2, German soldiers built a road to the tip of the peninsular to station soldiers and artillery. The tip of the island is still known as Kanoni and all sorts of remnants of the war, such as bunkers and gun emplacements, can be seen in the area.

The Gerakas Peninsula of Zakynthos is a pretty and varied region, home to all sorts of wildlife. Visit in spring and early autumn for maximum effect. The peninsula also has some of the most stunning beaches on Zakynthos and has to date successfully resisted the mass tourism that scarred so many other beauty spots on Zakynthos.
Things to see and do

The Gerakas Peninsula is a place to come and get away from it all. You will definitely need a car hire to access this region as the public transport down here is very limited. There is a bus that runs out to this region but some of the beaches are not served by it. Although many people visit this region of Zakynthos for its beaches, the area makes for some interesting exploration too. It’s always a good idea to map sure you have map with your Zante car hire so you know where you are.

FoI have a self-guided trail that will lead you around the headland at Gerakas on the far easterly tip of Zakynthos. Another booklet of walks leads you around this stunning area too. There are several beaches including Gerakas, perhaps the most beautiful accessible beach on Zakynthos, that are in easy walking distance.

There are several good tavernas in this part of Zante. Of particular renown is Kostas Brothers, which is easy to find, just off the main road as you enter the pine forests driving from Argassi to Gerakas. Its to be found on a sharp bend in the road, slightly set-back

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.