Koukla Holidays 2024/2025
The beautiful, unspoiled village of Porto Koukla is often discovered by accident during cheap holidays to Zante, and is a haven of peace and tranquility despite being within walking distance of neighbouring party resort, Laganas. Located on the south west coast of Zante, this blissful retreat is surrounded by countryside exuding natural beauty, and is a popular choice for visitors who want to get away from the bustle of everyday life.
Koukla Holiday Deals
A taste of Greek tradition close to Laganas
Porto Koukla offers the best of both worlds, making it a great spot for All Inclusive holidays to Zante. On the one hand you’ll feel like you’re experiencing the traditional Greek way of life, surrounded by greenery and little winding roads that lead you to beaches through olive groves. However, if you need an injection of modern life, in less than 10 minutes’ drive you can be at the island’s busiest resort, Laganas.
The main attraction in Porto Koukla is the beautiful beach which enjoys views of Marathonissi Island and is serviced by a handful of tavernas serving delicious, authentic Greek cuisine. The resort is the perfect base to discover the surrounding region and offers a tranquil and relaxing space to come back to after a busy day out exploring.
Blissful Porto Koukla, with its near-transparent blue ocean and endless sunshine is ideal for interesting walks, and the area is dotted with a few traditional restaurants and tourist shops. Taxis to surrounding areas are readily available and reasonably priced but for ultimate freedom – and if you’d like to explore in your own time and at your own pace – it’s worth hiring a car.
Find the perfect beach
Porto Koukla Beach is a beautiful bay of golden sand and the surrounding landscape is quiet and unspoilt, offering stunning views of the coast. You’ll find a handful of beach bars and tavernas lining the sands serving up freshly made, authentic Greek dishes and refreshing drinks as well as sun loungers and umbrellas.
A five minute drive up the coast you’ll find the picturesque Agios Sostis Beach which has considerably more to offer in the way of activities while remaining tranquil and not too crowded. Here you can hire pedalos and take advantage of one of the many sun loungers spread out over the sand.
If it’s crowds, bars and a lively beach atmosphere you’re after, Laganas Beach, one of the longest in Greece, is less than 10 minutes drive away.
Visit Marthonissi Island
From Porto Koukla Beach you can see this uninhabited island that is a breeding ground for the endangered loggerhead turtles, locally known as *caretta-caretta*. Small boat trips leave from Porto Koukla and Agios Sostis while larger cruise boats operate from Laganas.
The sandy beach on Marthonissi Island is spotless, while the clear blue skies reflect into the beautiful tranquil ocean. You’ll find two beaches with both pebbles and sand, as well as cliffs covered in rich vegetation and olive trees, making this island feel worlds away from civilization and other tourists on package holidays to Zante.
Some of the island is off limits due to the nesting turtles, but you can still relax on parts of the beach, swim in the warm water and explore the caves.
Explore the area on horseback
Whether you’re a novice or an experienced rider, the riding schools over in Laganas have horses and ponies to suit everyone’s needs and offer treks through forests, sand dunes and valleys. All trips are supervised by a qualified instructor and safety equipment is included in the cost.
There are a number of different excursions available, depending on your experience, from one-hour treks to full days out exploring the mountain ranges and the natural beauty of the island. Whatever your experience, trekking across such beautiful terrain on horseback will definitely be a day out to remember.
Day trip to Zante Town
The capital of the island, Zante Town, is a quick 15-minute drive from Porto Koukla. Here you’ll find Venetian architecture and locals bustling about the commercial centre as you sip a coffee in one of the main squares. After a busy day of sightseeing, head down to the port and sample some fresh seafood and Greek wine in one of the many local tavernas.
From Solomos Square you can jump aboard the Tourist Train of Zante Town, which will guide you around the main attractions, including the Church of St. Dionysios and Romas Mansion. If you’re into history you’ll find two museums, The Ecclesiastical Museum of Zante and The Byzantine Museum of Zakynthos, where you can observe artefacts from before the earthquake in 1953.