Beaches, history, culture and the little details that make Parga special — a local’s notes to help you plan a richer stay.
Past the hill behind Piso Kryoneri lies Ai Giannakis, a hushed, pebble-shored cove whose glassy, spring-fed water glows an improbable emerald green — one of the loveliest short trips out of Parga.
Read the guideFrom the town's own Kryoneri to the long sweep of Valtos and the green bay of Lichnos, here is how to choose — and reach — the finest beaches around Parga.
Read the guideJust south-east of Parga, Lichnos is a wide, green-cradled bay of calm, clear water — and the launch point for a lovely paddle out to its sea caves. Here is how to make the most of a day there.
Read the guideEleven nautical miles south of Parga, Paxos and tiny Antipaxos pack turquoise coves, olive-terraced hills and three harbour villages into one unhurried day by boat.
Read the guideNorth-west of Parga near the village of Agia, Sarakiniko trades the bustle of the town beaches for a still, clear bay backed by olive groves — one of the best spots on this coast for an unhurried swim or a first go at snorkelling.
Read the guideJust over the headland from Parga's old town lies Valtos, a long golden sweep of sand beneath the Venetian castle. Here is how to reach it, and how to spend a day.
Read the guideFrom the lion of Saint Mark to the heartbreaking Exodus of 1819, the little Epirot town of Parga has watched empires come and go. Here is its story, and how to read it on foot today.
Read the guideA short drive from Parga, the Acheron River pairs genuine myth with turquoise springs, gentle rafting and the haunting, hotly debated ruins of the ancient Oracle of the Dead.
Read the guideFrom bandit's son to virtual king of Epirus, Ali Pasha built a court that fascinated Lord Byron, fought the fierce Souliotes, took possession of Parga in 1819, and met a violent end on a lake island in 1822.
Read the guideHigh above Parga's old town, a much-fought-over Venetian fortress rewards a short climb with layers of history and the finest sea views in the bay.
Read the guideA short drive from Parga, the ruins of Nikopolis mark the spot where Octavian founded a city to celebrate the naval victory that ended the Roman Republic. Here's what survives, and how to see it for yourself.
Read the guideParga's old town is a hillside labyrinth of Venetian-hued houses, cobbled kalderimi lanes and flower-draped balconies tumbling down to a horseshoe harbour. Here is how to read its streets, and when to walk them.
Read the guideA green rock crowned by a whitewashed chapel sits just off Parga's town beach. Here is its story, and how to swim or paddle across to see it for yourself.
Read the guideIn the limestone hills behind Parga lies one of Greek history's most sorrowful chapters: the story of the Souliotes and the 1803 Dance of Zalongo, where mountain communities chose death over subjugation.
Read the guideIn Parga, Orthodox Holy Week carries an extra layer of meaning: the town's own Good Friday history sits alongside candlelit processions, a midnight Resurrection, and a table that reopens with lamb and red eggs.
Read the guideLong before Parga's beaches drew visitors, its hills were being planted with olives. This is the story of the groves that still cloak the town in silver-green.
Read the guideFrom spring wildflowers to the quiet hush of a winter harbour, Parga looks and feels different every month of the year. Here's what to expect, season by season.
Read the guideFrom dolphins in the Ionian swell to herons in the Acheron reed beds and tortoises among the olive terraces, Parga's coastline and hinterland reward the curious traveller with a surprising amount of wild life.
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