I first visited Parga back in 1994! It was an interim stop returning home from Corfu. What remained from that first visit was the vague memory of an inland (albeit coastal) city with island vibes. It’s also accessible from Athens by car, no ferry needed. That’s why we chose Parga as a summer getaway for a few days last year. Let’s see what the city of Parga and vicinity has to offer!
Exploring Parga
Parga is built on the side of a hill on the north side of a picturesque cove in the Ionian Sea.
A medieval castle is built on the top of the hill. It was built in the 14th century by the Normans, destroyed by the Ottomans, rebuilt in 1572 by the Venetians and restored by Ali Pasha in 1814. You can visit the castle by walking up the picturesque streets of Parga.
You can walk the streets of the city as well as the waterfront.
Beaches around Parga
The Ionian Sea is known for its crystal-clear water and the beaches around Parga are no exception. During our stay, we visited two of them: Sarakiniko and Valtos.
Sarakiniko is located around 11km north of Parga. It is a small cove so get there early in order to find an umbrella and sunbeds on the beach. You can always carry your own equipment as well. The beach has a couple of cafes/ restaurants where you can dine as well.
Valtos is located on the north side of Parga’s hill and is a wide beach. It is full of beach bars, resorts, restaurants and the lot. Out of the two beaches that we visited, this one was my favorite.
Your options don’t stop there though. A few kilometers south you will find Lychnos beach (that’s where we stayed back in 1994). If you don’t mind driving even further south, there is a large stretch of beaches from Loutsa all the way to Preveza.
Day Trips from Parga
Depending on how many days you have to spend or how much you’re willing to move around while on vacation I have a couple of options for you.
From Parga, you can take a day cruise to Paxoi and Antipaxoi islands. I’ve done such a cruise from Corfu in the past and recommend it. There is a beautiful beach on Antipaxoi with white/golden sand and light turquoise waters. It is a dream. The cruises leave Parga at 10 am and return around 6 pm.
Those fascinated with Greek Mythology or even exploring the countryside will be interested to visit Acheron River Springs in Glyki. According to ancient Greeks, the river and the now-extinct Acherousia lake were the gates to the Underworld. Hermes guided the souls of the dead to Charos. Charos ferried the souls across the river to the gates of Hades (the underworld). Nowadays the river is a great destination for activities such as rafting or just walking along the shores and in the river.
If you plan on getting in the river do wear appropriate shoes and a bathing suit. The water is ice cold and at some point, it reached my navel (I’m 1,60m for reference). You can swim if you like, but if you’re carrying cameras like us, better avoid it.
Last but not least, you can drive north to Syvota for more beaches.
Where to eat in Parga
We only dined in Parga once since the other days we preferred to dine in Anthousa, where we were staying. In Parga, we dined in Hellinikon Traditional Tavern. It needs some effort to discover it, but it’s worth it. The restaurant’s courtyard is very cozy and the food is delicious! In Anthousa we dined at Panorama tavern which was right next to our hotel. The restaurant has a view over the Ionian Sea. Definitely, recommend you to try out these restaurants if you visit Parga.
Essential Information about Parga
Parga is located in the region of Epirus, in western Greece. The best way to get there is by car. The distance from Athens is 433 km, from Patras 224 km and from Ioannina 99km. You can also get there by bus, but it’s not easy to get around without a car.
Accommodation wise, we stayed at My Suite in Anthousa. It is a pricey option, but the location was very good, the breakfast had lots of options and it has free parking. Anthousa is a 10-minute drive from Parga. It’s built on the mountain near the castle of Ali Pasha. In the night it gets cooler than Parga and it isn’t humid (a pet peeve of mine while on vacations).
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I'm Anna and this is my lifestyle and travel blog! 
