Is Parga Worth Visiting in Greece? 7 Reasons We Say Yes!

Is Parga worth visiting in Greece? As soon as we arrived, we didn’t want to leave! From the ancient Parga Castle to the gorgeous beaches and colorful old town, there is no shortage of great things to do. Here are 7 Reasons you’ll fall in love with Parga, fun tips, and all about our experience.

7 Reasons You’ll Love Parga Greece

1. Parga is Easy to Get to

The first reason we loved Parga is how accessible it is from different places around Greece. With its location in the Northwest part of the country, you can easily drive here from nearby destinations like Lefkada and Preveza. 

On our recent trip, we were coming from inland Greece and the lake town of Ioannina. We couldn’t believe how vastly different these areas were being just over an hour from each other. After our relaxing 5 star stay at Hotel du Lac, we made the short drive to Parga.

There are public buses available with routes to Parga. Just know that the easiest way to get there is by renting a vehicle.

We actually picked up our rental car in Athens and headed straight to the monasteries of Meteora. From there, we stopped in the mountain town of Metsovo, Ioannina, and then ended in beautiful Parga.

Other transportation options include flying into Aktion National Airport in Preveza, or taking the ferry on a day trip from Corfu Island. Whatever way you choose, it’ll definitely be worth it once you catch your first glimpse of Parga Greece!

2. Colorful Parga Old Town

Once you set your eyes on the colorful old town of Parga, it will tough to look away. The houses stacked on top of each other with their different hues of pink, red, orange, and blue are shockingly beautiful.

They lead up to the Venetian castle that sits above Parga town. While it’s easy to get lost wandering in the maze of back streets, you should know Parga Old Town isn’t very big.

That’s one reason it’s such a great day trip from the nearby villages. Even so, to truly experience the beauty of Parga Greece, you should spend a couple of nights. 

3. Amazing Parga Beaches 

Like much of the Western Coast of Greece, Parga has some delightful beaches. You can find everything from small pebbly beaches to private coves, and long stretches of golden sand.

Believe it or not, one of the best beaches is right next to Parga Old Town! It was so nice to stroll right steps from our apartment and jump in the crystal clear Ionian Sea.

Another lovely beach which is right around the corner is called Piso Krioneri. There is an awesome restaurant here and bar called Golfo Beach Taverna here where we had a delicious lunch. 

For a much larger place to swim and relax, head to Valtos Beach. It’s located up over the hill from Parga Old town. You’ll walk right past the historic castle to get there making it the perfect way to combine the two on a sunny afternoon. 

Not up for the walk? Don’t worry! You can jump on a quick 3 Euro ferry boat ride from Parga Old Town which leaves every hour.

4. Wonderful Parga Accommodations

If you’re still considering “is Parga worth visiting,” you’ll love our next fact. The town may be small, but there are some fantastic places to stay if you choose to spend the night.

We found a great accommodation called Pansion Nikos Vergos. The price was super reasonable considering it was the start of the summer in late May, and it was just steps from the beach.

Even if you choose to be a bit further back from the Parga beaches, know that you won’t be more than a few minutes walking from all the action. Here are more of the best places to stay on your trip to Parga Greece.

Where to Stay in Parga Greece

Luxury Suites – Oniro Parga Town – Looking for a little luxury? Oniro might be for you! The suites are located centrally in Parga Old Town and just a short walk to the Castle and Valtos Beach.

Fun Vacation – Agnanti – Highly rated and just 5 minutes from all the best things to do in Parga. Enjoy the swimming pool with sea views and rustic studio apartments.

Affordable Stay – Studios Spiros Parga – While Spiros might be a little bit further back from Parga, you can still get a room with a stellar view. Enjoy terraces that overlook the sea and castle for a much lower price than being right in Old Town.

5. Historic Parga Castle 

People have inhabited Parga for thousands of years, and it’s a place with a special history. Nowhere better can this be seen than at the castle ruins atop town.

It was built in the 13th century by the Venetians when their empire was at its peak. Today, you can make the short hike up from Parga Old Town and explore the castle.

There is no entrance fee and the views of the colorful buildings below are spectacular. If you walk around the far corner to the right you can also see Valtos Beach in the distance. 

6. Delicious Greek Food & Fun Bars

There are many great restaurants, bars, and cafes to enjoy along the waterfront of Parga Old Town. Most of them feature gyros (we really liked Simple Gyros Grill House) and traditional Greek food.

The ones along the town beach have sun beds available for rent so you can relax after your meal. For a great view, head up to the top of town under the castle.

Here there is Kastro 1380 restaurant. We didn’t eat here so can’t speak to the food. However, you can’t beat this view over Parga Greece!

7. Day Trips From Parga Greece

There is plenty to entertain you in Parga, but also some super fun day trips if you have time! One of the most popular is by boat to Paxi and Antipaxi.

You can take the ferry yourself there, or take a full day boat tour around both islands. Two of the best companies in Parga are Megalochari Motorsailer Βoat Parga and Parga Cruises.

Both offer similar routes so it just depends on the type of boat you want to be on. The trip stops at some of the most beautiful coves and beaches where you can swim and snorkel. 

Another great day trip is to take the Parga tourist train. They offer different excursions from town such as Ali Pasha’s Castle and Louka’s Mill. This is a great option if you’re visiting Parga Greece with kids. 

Is Parga Worth Visiting?

So is Parga worth visiting in Greece?? If you’ve read this far, then you know we totally think so! 

Really, you can’t beat this town Greece’s west coast. It’s got a great mix of history, beaches, and mind-blowing views. 

For the best experience, we recommend going outside of July and August. Know that it does get super busy in the peak summer months. It’s also great to spend 2 or 3 nights here and include it in a longer Greece road trip. 

Have any questions about this article or want to share your own favorite things to do in Parga Greece? Leave us a comment below!

Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake

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Greece Travel Planning 

For island hopping use FerriesinGreece to compare different routes, prices, and companies. The fast ferries like Sea Jets will cost more but often takes half the time of slower ferries like Blue Star.

 Flights: We always check Skyscanner and Kayak to search for cheap flights. That’s how we got from Athens to Santorini for under $50 USD!

 Accommodation: Always compare multiple sites to get the best deal. We search both Booking.com and Agoda! Also,  Hostelworld should be your go-to source if you’re traveling on a budget. 

 Rental Car: You can book a rental car for as little as $20 a day in Greece! We use Discover Cars to explore the larger islands with a vehicle.

 Tours: Go to Get Your Guide for hundreds of activities in Santorini. You can find everything from group sailing tours to private catamaran cruises. Go wine tasting around the island, horseback riding down the beach, or even jump on an ATV tour!

 Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without insurance. We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last few years on the road and they are there when we need them.

 Packing Lists: Find all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists. Including electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials!

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