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Greece is famous for its idyllic islands, with their towns and beaches. But when you see the beauty and range of things to do in Parga, a town on Greece’s mainland, you may start to care less about a Greek island vacation.
Wonderfully scenic and yet not too busy, Parga serves as a great alternative to Corfu and the Aegean Islands. But holidays to Parga still include all the essentials – traditional scenery, plenty of sun and swimming, and the opportunity for indulgences. Let me show you what visiting Parga is all about.
Is Parga worth visiting?
Yes, you should visit Parga if you want a Greek seaside getaway.
The town provides opportunities to relax at the beach, take a boat cruise, enjoy some traditional scenery, and all the other things you could want from a coastal destination. I’d put Parga over Corfu when it comes to value for money, although my time in Corfu wasn’t that extensive.
Having some uncertainty about Parga is understandable. It’s not as famous as Corfu or the Cyclades, at least not internationally. I wasn’t familiar with Parga before planning my trip and based my visit on just a few photos I’d seen.
And I should say that I enjoyed Parga, even as someone who isn’t much of a beach person. As much as I enjoyed exploring inland cities like Ioannina and Kastoria, it’s hard to beat being on Greece’s coast. It didn’t hurt that Parga was nowhere near as busy as many places in Greece get.
Getting to Parga
Perhaps the biggest challenge with visiting Parga is getting there.
Parga is located on Greece’s northwest coast on the Ionian Sea, surrounded by an extremely hilly landscape. These hills give Parga a beautiful setting but also make it harder to get to.
Travellers looking to fly directly to Parga will want flights to Aktion National Airport in Preveza. It’s a small airport with only seasonal international flights. You can then book a transfer from the airport to your accommodation in Parga.
Public transport options to Parga are limited. Several daily buses run from Preveza to Parga, and you’ll often need to connect through Preveza when coming from elsewhere. However, there are two buses from Igoumenitsa to Parga, if you can make their schedules work for you.
Some advice for those leaving Parga by bus: the local “bus station” is little more than a kiosk by the road. Don’t be surprised if you find it unmanned during the day, but people will be there when the buses are leaving.
Of course, a much more flexible way to get here is by renting a car. Not only can you come and go as you please, but you can also explore more of the Epirus Region, something I’d personally love to do.
Where to stay in Parga
Even though Parga isn’t a large town, you do have some choices to make when deciding where to stay.
Accommodation in Parga spreads up the hills around town in different directions, leaving you with a decision to make. Do you choose close access to the waterfront or the epic views from staying on the hills?
The other choice is whether you stay in/near the old town or among the hills to the east or west. I stayed east of town up the hill in a quiet area and didn’t mind making the walk into town each day.
I stayed at Pagiatakis Suites, a beautiful boutique hotel just off the main road in/out of Parga. While it was up in the hills, it didn’t have much of a view, but the rooms, owner and gardens were all great.
For some other places to look at, these are all highly-rated hotels and apartments in Parga:
Things to do in Parga
Wondering how you’ll spend your holiday in Parga? Well, it’s definitely going to be more relaxing than sightseeing, but as you’ll see, there are opportunities for both here. Visitors really keen on being active and doing things will want to pay special attention to the day trips that are frequently available.
Explore the waterfront
It may seem simple, but the best way to start a holiday in Parga is with a walk along its waterfront.
Going for a stroll first thing serves several purposes. You get a sense of the town and learn where some of its key landmarks. But you also get to scope out local attractions, such as the castle ruins and where the nearest beach is.
On the waterfront, you’ll find the local pier, with information on ferries and cruises you might be interested in. I’ll say now that the pier has some of the best views in Parga, so you can visit just for that.
Local restaurants and cafes hug the waterfront and you’ll also find many more on the same road leading east out of town.
It’s a classic European waterfront – what’s not to like?
Relax at the beaches in Parga
The most popular thing to do in Parga is relaxing at one of its beaches.
Visitors have three main choices of beaches in Parga, each with their own appeal. What visitors should find consistent across them though is the wonderfully clear water of the Ionian Sea that helps make the coast here so enticing. It also helps that they all seem free from jellyfish, unlike some beaches in Corfu.
Krioneri Beach
The main beach in Parga that visitors will see is Krioneri Beach, located just along from the town’s port.
This fine pebble beach is quite flat and not very deep, but still wasn’t overly full, even in July. Krioneri Beach is very sheltered thanks to the coastline and the small island of Panagia just off the coast. While you can rent umbrellas here, there are places to put a towel down.
Besides enjoying this central place for sunbathing and swimming, Panagia Island is the other reason to visit this beach. You can swim across relatively easily, and with water shoes or other footwear brought over, you could explore the island.
Piso Krioneri Beach
Just east of Krioneri Beach past a forested headland lies Piso Krioneri Beach.
This small back beach is found down a side lane off Αγίου Αθανασίου and feels quite secluded. While smaller than the main beach, it’s considerably deeper, allowing more space for sunbeds and umbrellas on its pebbles. The water is also deeper at Piso Krioneri Beach, and together with several large rocks on the beach, make this beach less suitable for young kids.
Valtos Beach
For the largest beach near Parga, you need to head over the hill west of town to Valtos Beach.
Another pebble beach with plenty of sunbeds and umbrellas, Valtos Beach is popular and generally busy. For those not wanting to pay to use the beach, head to public areas at either end.
Besides being much larger and busier, Valtos Beach also has several beach bars near its middle that blast music. It may be what you’re looking for, but to me, it suffers some of the same problems as Ksamil in Albania.
Wander about Parga Old Town
Parts of Parga are certainly modern, but visitors will find a small old town area to check out.
The old town of Parge climbs from the port and waterfront up to the top of its enclosing hills. The steep landscape gives the old town the look of an amphitheatre, with houses almost stacked on top of each other.
Looking at many of the homes, plus the backstreets and stairways connecting the old town, I was reminded of other destinations with Venetian history. Those who visit Corfu Old Town or even Adriatic places such as Piran and Rovinj may notice some similarities.
What’s odd about Parga Old Town is that there aren’t many landmarks to visit. There are hotels, restaurants, and shopping boutiques, but few cultural attractions. The Paragaea Old Olive Oil Factory is maybe the one exception.
Visit the Venetian Castle of Parga **
As soon as you set foot on the town’s waterfront, you’ll notice the Venetian Castle of Parga.
This huge fortress ruin dominates the town’s skyline and the headland beside the old town. Locals built a castle here in the 11th century, but it was the Venetians who kept rebuilding it for over 400 years as they wrestled with the Ottomans over territory.
Staircases through Parga’s old town lead up to the fortress ruin which you can freely explore as you like. Many parts of the ruins are overgrown, but clear paths and some steps allow you to reach viewpoints and different sections.
The perspectives from the castle are interesting. You don’t get a great look at the old town directly below, but the coastal views are fantastic. Find your way through to the other side of the ruins and you find the view of Valtos Beach.
If one ruin isn’t another, continue around the coast past Valtos Beach to the ruins of the Vlacherna Monastery.
Enjoy the sunset views
By now you should agree that Parga is clearly a scenic destination.
While the town is pretty during the day, it’s even better at sunset as the sun drops behind the castle and old town. Sure, you can appreciate this time of day at a restaurant or bar by the water, but that’s not where the best view is.
For the best view of Parga, look for the Kiosk of Captain Andrea on Google Maps. It’s a small observation deck with great views of the city and coast, especially at sunset.
Only two other people came to the viewpoint while I waited for the sun to go down. Afterwards, it’s a short walk into town for drinks and dinner.
Day trips from Parga
Even though Parga is a little isolated, you’re not stuck there when you visit.
Day trips from Parga are easily organised and quite popular. Had I spent longer in Parga, I would have gone on one. The most common option is to take a boat cruise to Paxos, Antipaxos, and the Blue Caves. Spend the day swimming and exploring the islands before coming back for dinner.
These boat tours in summer are very popular, so I highly recommend booking in advance.
I was also stunned to learn you can visit Meteora from Parga. But I suppose if you’re short on time in Greece, you should take the opportunity. It’s a long way to drive there and back, so I’d suggest a tour to save you some of the trouble.
A different, and closer, option for a land-based outdoor day trip is visiting Vikos Gorge and the mountain villages of Zagoria. I’m disappointed I haven’t been to either yet, but they’re high on my list for next time.
