Getting from Athens to Parga

If you are heading to Parga from Athens you are going to one of the most beautiful small towns on the Greek mainland. Parga sits on the Epirus coast facing the Ionian Sea, a Venetian-built harbour town of pastel houses climbing a hillside above a bay dotted with small islands. The castle above the town, a Venetian fortress, gives it its dramatic silhouette. The beaches around it, particularly Valtos and Lichnos, are outstanding. The town itself is intimate and genuinely charming, with good tavernas along the waterfront and a relaxed atmosphere that draws people back year after year. The surrounding region of Epirus is wild and beautiful, with the ancient Oracle of Dodona and the Acheron River nearby.

Getting there by air

Parga has no airport. The closest airports are Preveza, around 65 kilometres south, and Ioannina, around 103 kilometres northeast. Daily connections from Athens to Preveza take around 50 minutes and from Preveza Airport a taxi or bus to Parga takes around 1 hour. Total travel time via Preveza is around 3 to 4 hours.

Take the train, bus or drive

The drive from Athens to Parga takes around 5 to 6 hours via the E65 motorway and Arta, a good road through central Greece and the mountains of Epirus. The KTEL bus from Athens Kifissos terminal runs to Parga with a change at Preveza or Igoumenitsa, taking around 6 to 7 hours. There is no train service to Parga.

Take the ferry

There is no ferry from Athens to Parga. It is a mainland coastal town with no connection to the Aegean ferry network.

Your best option

Fly to Preveza and take a taxi or bus to Parga. It is the fastest approach and gets you there in under 4 hours. If you are travelling with a car and want the flexibility to explore the Epirus coast and the surrounding region, drive from Athens. The road through Epirus on the approach to Parga is one of the finer drives in Greece.