- Who is better known?
- Cuisine and gastronomy
- Beaches and sea
- About shopping
The two islands that make up the Ionian Islands, two pearls of Greece, are equally ancient and beautiful. How to compare which is better - Corfu or Zakynthos? Unique nature, rich history, excellent opportunities for recreation characterize both of these resorts. Turquoise waters, green forests, orange groves and olive groves. Is there something special about them that distinguishes them from each other and from other tourist destinations?
Who is better known?
Of course, the island of Corfu is more popular with tourists. Primarily because it is known for its famous inhabitants. The island has villas of famous people. It was chosen for recreation by princes of blood and politicians, the princess of Monaco spent time here and Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich used to visit. There are many who have been here, and this list adds extra points to Corfu's already considerable tourist attraction.
Although the more modest Zakynthos (or otherwise Zakynthos) is almost as good as the famous Corfu in terms of natural resources and the number of historical and cultural attractions. By the way, Zakynthos is both the capital of the island and its port. In principle, the whole island is quite small, there is only one city and a couple of villages in it - Maries and Kampi. But here you can see the ancient monasteries, and in Kampi - the famous sea caves and Mycenaean burials, not so long ago discovered.
If we mark the main sights of Corfu, then, of course, the celebration of Easter deserves special attention here - a special ritual to which people come from everywhere. On this day, religious processions are held to the sounds of famous philharmonic orchestras, which play the music of great composers. Really, for this it is worth going to Greece!
Cuisine and gastronomy
The island of Corfu is full of restaurants, bars, taverns (in the Greek manner they are called psarotaverns here). Here they combine the ancient traditions of Greek culinary specialists with a completely varied dishes of a multinational composition. Warm hospitality and authentic Cretan cuisine leaves few people indifferent. Only in Greece, the unique fruit kumquart grows, from which many sweet desserts are made here. Jams and other dishes. So there is something to eat and appreciate.
Zakynthos also has a strong tradition of local national cuisine. But the restaurants offer a wide range of Italian, Chinese, English and even Indian dishes. What to do, globalization is coming … Although if you ask for real Mediterranean cuisine, you will be pleasantly surprised by the freshness and quality of seafood and fish. However, here Zakynthos is no different from Corfu.
Beaches and sea
There are almost endless beaches in Zakynthos, which are caressed by an impeccably clear sea. The beach of Argasi is especially distinguished by this. There are many other picturesque beaches, among which Laganas also stands out - including the fact that the famous sea turtle lays its eggs in this place. The beaches in Zakynthos are almost all sandy, have a good gentle coastline and shallow entry into the sea - an ideal place for families and children.
The beaches of Corfu are the pride of the island and its glory. By the way, most of them are marked with the Blue Flag sign, which confirms their special status. All of them are great for swimming for children and have gentle banks. And where the flag didn't get there, there are stunning views of the surrounding area that make up for minor infrastructure deficiencies. Most of the beaches of Corfu are sandy, but there are also small pebbles or a mixture of sand and pebbles. Surprisingly, in Corfu you can swim in two seas in a day - in the north, the island is washed by the Adriatic waters, and between Corfu and the mainland, the Ionian Sea.
Diving and other sea pleasures are more common in Corfu. There are even numerous diving centers and schools here. They not only teach beginners, but also conduct a kind of refresher courses for experienced divers.
About shopping
Corfu is the dream of a shopaholic who cannot imagine himself without shopping. Everything is there. No wonder Corfu is Greece. Various fur factories arrange goods at every turn - shops selling fur products, a lot. Besides, here you can buy fine leather shoes, more precisely, Greek sandals. They are taken very often just as a souvenir. Souvenirs, however, are also enough. And not only in Corfu, but also in Zakynthos. Figurines and ceramics, fashionable antique style and a variety of silk products - this is what is insanely popular with tourists in Corfu. Of course, all with Greek motives and ornaments. And, of course, the famous local olive oil is extremely popular.
As with any other tourist destination, in Zakynthos and Corfu you will find many unusual things that cannot be found in any other part of the earth. It is worth going to the Greek islands for those who:
- loves the special Greek flavor, which is visible here in everything - from the national clothes painted with ornaments to the famous Greek concoctions and to Greek words that caress the ear of the lover of the ancient Greek epic;
- appreciates the famous Greek cuisine - only here they will meet you in the tavern, they will feed you and the next day they will be greeted as an old acquaintance;
- loves the expanse of Greek beaches and the gentle warmth of the Adriatic waves;
- appreciates the beauty of the extraordinary nature of these places, not spoiled by civilization and crowds of numerous tourists from all over the world.
