Things to do
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Parga Castle
Walk the Venetian walls on Parga's headland for the view down over the harbour, Panagia islet and the open Ionian Sea, a short walk up from the port.
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Ai Giannakis Beach
A small cove along the coast towards Lichnos, Ai Giannakis is reached by car and sits away from the busy beaches of Krioneri and Valtos. It suits a swim on a high summer day when the town sand is full. Parking near the harbour fills up in summer, so drive straight from the room to the cove.
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Alonaki Beach
Alonaki is a beach south east of Parga, beyond walking reach of the harbour, so plan on a drive out from town. It makes a change from the crowded sand at Krioneri and the bays served by the taxi boats. Summer days on this coast are hot, so carry water for the afternoon.
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Ammoudia
A small beach village where the Acheron reaches the sea, with a sandy beach and a river mouth lined with fishing boats. Short boat trips run up the river, the route the ancient dead were said to take toward Hades. It lies south of Parga along the coast, close to the Necromanteion.
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Anthousa Castle
Ali Pasha of Ioannina built this fort on the hillside above Parga in the early nineteenth century, while he was trying to take the town. The walls, gate and corner towers are largely intact, set among olive groves. From the ramparts the view runs down over the coast to Parga and its islet.
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Karavostasi Beach
North west of Parga, near the village of Perdika, Karavostasi is a beach up the coast that no taxi boat from the harbour serves, so it is reached by car. The access road is badly potholed, so take it slowly and allow extra time for the drive back.
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Krioneri Beach
Krioneri is the town beach of Parga, where the promenade from the base of the castle ends, with the chapel on Panagia islet just offshore. It is a short walk from the centre, which is why it gets very crowded in summer. The hillside directly above the sand is one of the handiest places in town to take a room.
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Lichnos Beach
A sheltered bay east of the town, with fine sand and calm water backed by olive groves and low cliffs. Boats on the coastal round trip from Parga harbour stop here for a swim. The road in is short and steep, and there is a hotel on the beach.
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Necromanteion of Acheron
On a low hill above the village of Mesopotamos stands the sanctuary the ancients believed was a gate to Hades, where pilgrims came to consult the dead. Visitors walk through thick stone walls and corridors, then down a metal stair to a vaulted underground chamber. A small church sits on top. The site is ticketed and open daily, with shorter hours in winter.
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Panagia Island
The islet just off the town beach, topped by a small white chapel among the trees, is the view that defines Parga from the water. Strong swimmers cross from Krioneri beach, and pedalos and small boats make the short trip in summer, and the rocks around its shore suit snorkelling.
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Piso Krioneri
Next to the main town beach, Piso Krioneri is a smaller and quieter strip of shore within easy reach of the centre of Parga. Follow the promenade past Krioneri to find it. On a summer day when the town beach is packed, this is the nearest place to swim with more room to spread a towel.
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Sarakiniko Beach
A sandy cove west of Parga, reached on a winding road through olive groves, with clear water and a couple of tavernas at the back. It lies further from town than Valtos, so the sand stays calmer in high summer, and the shallow water suits children.
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Springs of Acheron
Above the village of Glyki, the river Acheron runs out of a narrow gorge, and the walk is made in the river itself. Visitors wade upstream between rock walls, waist deep in places, through water that stays cold all summer. Water shoes help on the stones. Rafting and riding outfits work the calmer stretch below the village.
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Valtos Beach
A long sandy beach in the next bay north, behind the castle headland. A water taxi runs from Parga harbour in summer, and a footpath climbs over the castle hill for those walking. Sunbeds and beach bars line much of the sand, and the far end stays quieter, with calm, shallow water near the shore.
