Parga is a small Greek town in the region of Epirus, with a slightly Italian feel, where colourful houses blend harmoniously with beautiful beaches, forested mountains and turquoise waters.
I’ve heard many tourists say that this place makes you feel like you’re on a Greek island, even though you’re on the mainland. Among the beauties of Epirus, Parga is the star, the most famous place.
It reminds you a bit of the Amalfi coast and is the choice of many travelers who arrive in the area, even for a day trip. I invite you to discover some of the attractions with which the city charms its visitors.
What to do in Parga
Take the city by foot
The charm of the town lies in its colourful vertical houses, best seen from the harbour area. As with any small town, the first tip is to take your time and discover it, step by step.
The alleys of the old town are picturesque, full of shops and colorful flowers. Between the houses, you can still see a connecting tunnel, which was used for defense in old times.
You’ll discover modest churches and old houses built in a defensive style, with thick walls and small windows.
As well as its charming scenery, Parga spoils its visitors with good food. We were lucky enough to book a table at Taverna Sakis, which has been family-run since 1954.
A perfect meal, very rich, at very fair prices, where a little boy of about 10 years old, with Sakis Jr. written on his T-shirt, learnt to serve tables, to serve tourists, to get to know the tavern that would be his one day.
Visit the Venetian Castle
Parga, although a small town, has an adventurous history. It was an important trading centre and an ideal place for pirates. The bay and nearby islands provided a perfect natural shelter for pirate ships, and the mountains surrounding the town gave them strategic vantage points from which to observe the movements of enemies or merchant ships. The first fortress was built here in the 11th century to protect the inhabitants of Parga from pirate attacks.
The castle was then reinforced and demolished three times in the battles between the Venetians and the Ottomans. An interesting piece of Parga’s history is that Ali Pasha failed to conquer the town, but bought it for 150,000 pounds. The current fortress is a perfect place for a panoramic view of the city. In the central area, two main buildings have been reconstructed to house theater performances, exhibitions and other events.
Beaches near Parga
Close to the town are the beaches of Valtos and Krioneri. Valtos is the largest and can be seen from the Venetian castle. If you’re staying in the old town and don’t want to walk, a taxi boat will take you there in a few minutes for €2 per person. A hidden gem of the area is Sarakiniko beach, which I didn’t get to visit, but the pictures convinced me it was worth it. You can also get there by boat from Parga harbour.
Another beach close to the town is Lichnos (4km from Parga). There are other beaches in the region that are worth considering and can be reached by car, which you can read about here.
Boat trips or cruises
From Parga there are plenty of option to depart by boat, either for very short distances, where the boat functions as a taxi, or for longer cruises.
Just in front of the harbor of Parga, a very short distance away, you can visit the island of Panagia. It owes its name to the little church dedicated to the Virgin Mary (Panagia means Holy Virgin). The church was built in 1808 by the French, at the same time as the castle that stands on the highest point of the island. The best way to reach Panagia is by small boat from Parga. However, there are also the brave who choose to swim there.
Every year on 15th August, on St Mary’s Day, Parga celebrates with a big festival with music, food and fireworks on the island of Panagia.
From Parga you can also sail to other nearby Greek islands. Paxos and Antipaxos are the closest. I did the same cruise from Corfu and enjoyed it very much. But if you think about Corfu or Lefkada, I believe there are destinations that should be visited separately.
There are also several nature walks around the town. There are also several monasteries near Parga, such as Vlacherna or Agia Paraskevi.
When the sun goes down, Parga is still full of life. There are plenty of bars, clubs and tavernas offering live music or an energetic atmosphere.
My impression of Parga is that it’s a place with a soul. It has some of the intimate atmosphere of the islands, but because it’s on the mainland, it has the advantage of being able to reach more attractions from the Greek mainland for a more varied holiday. I’ve written about other beautiful places in the Epirus area here, and I’m sure there are many more to discover. Maybe you’ll tell me about some of them.
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You can read also:
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This trip was made at the invitation of Epirus Tourism Organisation. The articles and opinions expressed are entirely my own and they are not part of a contract. All collaborations on danagont.ro are selected to correspond to my preferences, rigours and values I believe in.
