Thinking of staying at Valtos Beach in Parga? Here’s what to expect from this laid-back beach resort on the west coast of Greece.
Where is it?
Valtos Beach is part of Parga but it’s west along the coast, a short (but steep over-the-hill) walk or a taxi/water taxi away.
What’s the vibe like?
Valtos is a much larger and more spacious beach than the two main town beaches in Parga. The beach is sandier and there’s of a relaxed beach resort vibe. It’s ideal if you want to stay right on sandy beach but still have the buzz of Parga accessible.
It’s not densely built up. There are a few establishments for eating and drinking, and then accommodation tucked away amongst vegetation behind the beach. It can feel busy mainly because the beach itself is so wide (sun loungers 8 deep in some places) and it also has a big enough car park to accommodate those coming for the day.
Valtos has a lively, family-friendly feel and an array of watersports during the day.
But come the evening it’s sleepy. There’s no shopping or nightlife here as everyone heads over the hill into town. There are plenty of tavernas on the Valtos side of the hill though, including some with excellent sunset views of the beach, so you don’t have to walk all the way to the harbour at night.
Don’t miss an evening cocktail (or a morning coffee) at Stefanos Taverna.
What’s the beach like?
Valtos Beach is a 1km sweep of mostly golden sand, although the sand quality varies across its length. Unsurprisingly, the free section is where you’ll find the most pebbles. But it’s one of the most scenic parts – sitting at the foot of the hill with Parga’s Venetian Castle at the top.
You can walk down to Valtos from the castle – definitely recommended. The castle is a popular sunset spot.
In the middle of the beach is a row of (reasonably priced) beach clubs with rows of sun loungers. There’s also a large car park here.
On the western end of the beach, the sun loungers tend to belong to the beachfront hotels. So this is a great place to stay if you want to be right on the beach.
The seabed is sandy and doesn’t get deep too quickly. It’s in an enclosed south-facing bay so tends to be sheltered from most of the winds in the summer.
At the far end of the beach is an intriguing harbour area graced with colourful oleander plants and cypress pines. At first, I thought there must be tavernas under there but alas, there’s nothing else there (business idea, anyone?) except a small chapel, the ruins of Vlacherna Monastery, and lots of stray cats.
It’s a beautiful sight but this end of the beach is a bit run down (and littered) so take care with small kids.
Activities and amenities
There’s no shortage of watersports on Valtos Beach. There are several outfits spaced out along the beach that will organise a range of water-based activities for you, including inflatables, parasailing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and private boat rental. The lifeguard towers tend to be located near the watersports companies.
There’s also a volleyball net towards the west end of the beach.
For everything else (shops, ATM, pharmacy, travel agencies, rentals), you’ll have to head over to Parga.
Transport and accessibility
The main path between Valtos and Parga is steep, roughly paved, and not accessible by car. Instead, take the longer route behind the town.
Parga is tricky for driving – and for parking, although the parking lot at Valtos is large and free. The main road/car park runs right alongside half of the beach, no steps are required to access the beach here.
Apart from the hill to Parga, the rest of Valtos is completely flat, including the narrow backroads that wind between the hotels.
There is no bus route to Parga but there is a water taxi at €6. Normal taxis are around the same price but can be hard to get hold of.
Prices
Prices in Valtos are good value for such a popular destination, and a bit lower than in Parga proper. Certainly, sun beds are cheaper. Food and drink prices are average, especially at Greek tavernas.
Where to stay
The standout beachfront hotels at Valtos are:
- Parga Beach Resort – a recently renovated 5-star hotel and spa, some private pools available
- Valtos Beach Hotel. – modern 3-star with large pool
There are also some traditional studios in the backstreets, and villas if you’re prepared to walk a bit further from the beach.
Read more:
How to get from Preveza Airport to Parga
All images © The Mediterranean Traveller