Thinking of booking a trip to Parga in Greece? Here’s what to expect from this picturesque beach resort on the north coast.
Where is it?
Parga is on the west coast of the Greek mainland, south of Igoumenitsa and north of Preveza.
What’s the vibe like?
Parga is one of the most beautiful towns in Greece.
At its heart is a scenic harbour with pastel-hued neoclassical buildings tumbling down from the hills. It spreads around a series of small bays with beaches backed by lush green mountains and overlooked by the remnants of a Venetian castle.
Parga definitely has island vibes. It has a similar feel to Paleokastritsa and Skiathos Town.
It’s unsurprisingly popular, both with Greeks and international visitors. There’s a mix of package and independent tourism. It’s also visited by daytrippers from Corfu and Paxos.
The waterfront is lined with cafes and bistros offering modern fare. It comes alive in the evenings. There are plenty of traditional tavernas dotted around town, particularly up at the top of the hill where you’ll find wonderful sunset panoramas.
The main part of Parga around the harbour is packed with small old buildings and narrow streets. It widens out a bit around the beaches. Parga sure is pretty but it is also densely touristy – perhaps too much for some (if you think that might be the case for your then consider Preveza instead).
Parking in Parga is notoriously difficult so many visitors don’t bother renting a car and instead explore the broader area via Parga’s numerous water taxis and excursions.
What’s the beach like?
Parga has 3 town beaches:
Ai Giannakis – this is the main town beach (pictured above) located right next to the harbour. It’s the busiest beach and the most expensive for sun loungers.
Piso Krioneri – a smaller pebble beach, a short walk beyond Krioneri Beach. Entrance is via a path next to Golfo Beach Taverna. The best for swimming and snorkelling – there are lots of rocks at either side of the beach.
Valtos Beach – located on the other side of Castle hill, Valtos is by far the biggest and sandiest of the town beaches. It can be a hot and sweaty walk but worth it for the extra space. There’s an unorganised section right underneath the castle, or keep walking for beach clubs. The best sand is in the middle of the beach. Valtos is the only one of Parga’s beaches which is Blue Flag rated. Most of the beach is organised and it has lifeguards and watersports. Some sections of sun loungers at the far end are for hotel guest use only.
There are also several beaches you can reach by water taxi or car (there are no public buses to the beaches around Parga):
Lichnos Beach – this beach is similar to Valtos but it has small pebbles rather than sand and is enclosed by green hills. It has a large organised section but isn’t as busy as Valtos. There are several hotels based here plus a public car park. There are beach bars right on the sands.
Sarakiniko Beach – this beautiful beach is the furthest from Parga. As with Lichnos, there are several hotels based here and the beach is organised with sun loungers, watersports and a few tavernas. It’s smaller though and gets very busy in high season – the car park fills up quickly so get there early if you’re driving. The beach is a mix of coarse golden sand and small pebbles. It faces west so gets impeccable sunsets.
If you’re renting a car and are looking for a smaller wilder beach try Agios Giannakis or Agios Sostis., or keep heading south to Ammoudia at the entrance to the River Acheron which has a camping vibe.
Read more: A Quick Guide to Valtos Beach
Activities and amenities
Parga is a harbour town with a large seasonal population. It has good tourist infrastructure and a range of amenities including pharmacies, bakeries, souvenir shops, boutiques, rental agencies, tour agencies, and small mini-markets.
Do check out the remains of the Venetian Castle – entrance is not currently controlled so just mind your step as you walk around. It has amazing views over both the harbour and Valtos Beach and is a popular sunset photo spot. You can walk around it and down to Valtos. There’s plenty of shade around the castle grounds. There are plenty of bars on the way up for cocktails with a view.
The walk up from the harbour to the castle also contains some of the town’s best shopping (including a great little bookshop selling Greece-themed reading) and the streets at the top are home to some of the best tavernas including the ever-popular O Sakis (you might need to make a reservation).
An easy way to see some of the wider area is to catch the tourist train. There are 3 routes for Parga Trains – the watermill and Mylos Cafe (a great shady route to do on a hot day), Ali Pasha Castle, and a tour of the town and Valtos Beach.
There are many excursions on offer. The main ones are:
- Acheron River – known in antiquity as the River Styx and the entrance to the underworld! A beautiful and freezing cold river
- Boat trip to Paxos and Antipaxos – two stunning islands
Additionally, some operators offer trips further afield but these don’t run every day and you might only find them in high season:
- Day trip to Meteora
- Zagoria and Vikos Gorge
You can also drive or bus to the Acheron River where you’ll find horse-riding and rafting.
Watersports are available at Valtos Beach including parasailing, inflatables, pedalos, kayaks, jet skis, wakeboarding, boat rental, and SUP.
The harbour itself is relatively small as is the number of boat trips on offer. There is no marina.
Nightlife in Parga isn’t crazy but there are plenty of late bars, cocktails, sports bars, and Greek nights.
Transport and accessibility
From the airport:
Parga is a 1-hour drive from Preveza-Aktion International Airport (PVK).
A taxi from the airport is €85-95.
Public transport:
Parga is served by the local KTEL Preveza bus service. A one-way bus ticket from Preveza to Parga is €7. From Preveza you can connect with buses to the airport, Lefkada, and other cities on the Greek mainland.
For more information check out How to Get from Preveza Airport to Parga (and Vice-Versa).
The only other bus which might be of use to tourists is one that runs to Acheron Springs.
It’s worth noting that the bus stop is a 15-minute walk downhill to the main part of the town – see location on Google Maps.
Water taxis leave from the harbour.
Accessibility:
Car parking is very limited in Parga, don’t expect to be able to park at your hotel unless it’s explicitly listed. There are a few parking lots on the outer roads, prices are around €8 per day. There are several car rental agencies in town.
Some parts of Parga are very steep. If you stay on Valtos Beach you need to walk over the hill to get to the harbour (and vice versa), although a taxi is around €6.
Krioneri Beach has a road running behind it, although no parking, and the far end (next to Villa Rossa) can be entered without steps.
Piso Krioneri is accessed via a dirt track but there are no steps.
The eastern end of Valtos Beach has a large car park and road running alongside the beach. The western end is accessed via small side roads. There is no proper boardwalk along the sand.
The nearest Seatrac for wheelchair sea access is at Ammoudia.
Prices
Prices in Parga are slightly above average – perhaps reflecting the lack of nearby competition. Accommodation is a mixed bag, you can find plenty of budget studios although you’re best to book in advance for the best prices.
Cafe and restaurant prices are most expensive down by the harbour and Krioneri Beach. It pays to do a bit of exploring. Tavernas are nearly always cheaper than restaurants or bistros.
Sunbeds vary by location – expect to pay €20 for a pair on Krioneri Beach in high season. On Piso Krioneri it’s more like €10. And on Valtos you can find sun beds that are free with a minimum spend.
Some examples of water taxi prices are:
- Acheron River €16
- Sarakiniko €15
- Lichnos €12
- Cave €14
- Valtos €6
- Island €5
Where to stay
For location and atmosphere, you can’t beat Villa Rossa which is right on Krioneri Beach.
If you want to stay close to Piso Krioneri then it doesn’t get any closer than Achilleas Hotel. This part of town is a bit less cramped than around the harbour and there are some nice tavernas and comfortable rooms around here like Serenity Luxury Suites.
Irida Boutique Hotel has amazing views and a pool that glitters at night.
After a proper beach resort hotel? On Valtos you’ve got Parga Beach Resort and Valtos Beach Hotel. The best luxury resort in the wider area though is the 5-star Elix Marbella which is further up the coast at Karavostasi Beach (a 30-minute drive).
On a budget? Paradise Hotel is cheap, central, and cheerful and you can enjoy breakfast around its small pool – perfect for those on a budget.
Read more about Greece:
Where to Stay in Greece: Ultimate Beach Resort Guide
Best Quiet Beach Resorts in Greece
Best Sandy Beach Resorts in Greece
50 Most Beautiful Beach Destinations in Greece
Where to Stay on Corfu: Ultimate Beach Resort Guide
Where to Stay on Lefkada: Ultimate Beach Resort Guide
All images © The Mediterranean Traveller