In the region of Epirus, known for its winter ski tourism, the so-called summer coastal tourism is still an emerging sector.

The most popular resorts in this part of Greece are Parga, Sivota, Vrahos, Kanali… of which the most significant tourist destination is Parga. From a tourism perspective, the places of interest to us in this region are Preveza, Kastrosikia, and Igoumenitsa. Considering the level of development of the region, the main supply points are still Preveza, Parga, and Igoumenitsa. In Preveza, there is also a supermarket from the Lidl chain, and near the town of Arta, there are two more. The market day in Preveza is Saturday, and besides Lidl, there are several other large supermarkets in Preveza. Parga and Igoumenitsa also have large supermarkets, while all other places only have small local markets.

Since Vrahos, Kanali, and other surrounding places are small settlements without tourist facilities, yet very popular due to the beautiful sandy beach of Vrahos, many visitors are interested in exploring the surroundings during their vacation. The advantage of vacationing in the areas around Vrahos beach is that the Epirus region is extremely rich in natural beauty, offering a lot in that sense.

One of the places worth visiting is Janina, a very beautiful, university town with significant tourist development. It is located on Lake Pamvotida, famous for the inhabited lake island that you can reach by regular boat lines. Once you arrive in Janina, you can also visit the famous Perama Cave.

The region of Epirus also includes several artificial lakes, the large Amvrakikos Bay, which is also a national park, the mythical River Acheron, the mountain village and ski center Metsovo. When you are in this region, be sure to visit the Meteora monasteries, the remains of the famous city of Nikopolis, one of the five fortresses, museums, the Zalongo Monument, Nekromanteion…

Vacationing in the Epirus region offers the opportunity, during one of the excursions or on your own, to visit Corfu, the islands of Paxos and Antipaxos, the Peloponnese, the Albanian coast, Kefalonia, Lefkada. Most excursions are organized from Parga, as we have detailed here.

If you are staying in Vrahos, we suggest visiting the beaches in the vicinity. Heading south from Vrahos, you can enjoy the natural shade provided by impressive eucalyptus trees on the 6km long Monolithi Beach at the foot of the town of Mitikas. This sandy beach is known for its popular bars, which are very modernly designed, with a large number of sun loungers and good music. The bars are popular among the younger population, and there is enough space between them for those who have their own equipment. Then there is the town of Kanali with a beach of the same name, and then Kastrosikia. The entire beach is sandy on the shore with rocks and sand in the sea, so it is best to decide for yourself which part suits you best. You can choose to be in a crowd at a popular bar or opt for seclusion, as there is enough space for that as well. There are also nudist-friendly sections on the beach. Sunbeds and umbrellas are provided with a purchased drink, and the sunsets are unforgettable.

If you continue towards Parga, you can explore and discover hidden coves or lesser-known beaches, of which there are plenty. 40km from Preveza, there is a small gem of this region, the beach of Alonaki Fanariou with its beautiful emerald sea. Behind the beach, there is a forest, with trees towering over the beach. The beach has only a small canteen and a lot of natural beauty. Nearby is Odysseus Bay, or Kerentza Beach. The beach is in a deep bay, so the sea is calm even when it is windy with waves in the vicinity. Kerentza is sparsely visited and perfect for those who prefer quiet and less popular beaches. The beach is also characterized by a shallow seabed and fine sand. Then there is Ammoudia Beach. This wide and long sandy beach is perfect for families with children due to the shallow waters. The beach offers natural shade and is not crowded. Next to it is the delta of the famous River Acheron, so you can visit this beach as part of a trip to Acheron River and Nekromanteion. You can organize a trip to the river by yourself or book it through a local agency. You can combine a visit to the Ammoudia Beach by car, where you can rent a kayak and with a local guide, paddle to the source from where you will gently descend the river back to the beach and your car. Perhaps a better option is to drive to the river yourself, then take a walk and choose one of the activities. A boat ride costs around 6€ per person and lasts about 10 minutes. Visiting this river can also be an opportunity to explore Nekromanteion, an ancient sanctuary dedicated to Hades, the god of the underworld. The entrance fee is 8€ for adults and 4€ for children, which we believe is too much for just a few minutes of walking.

When vacationing in the areas around Vrahos beach, we recommend starting by visiting Parga. Most excursions to tourist attractions are organized from Parga. Your visit to Parga can be combined with swimming at the beautiful beaches around Parga, such as Lichnos if you prefer a quieter option, and Valtos Beach if you are a fan of more popular beaches.

If you decide to venture further, we recommend heading to Preveza and visiting one of the five fortresses or four museums. Just 5km from the city are the remains of the famous ancient city of Nikopolis, built in honor of Octavian’s victory over the combined forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. One of the museums is dedicated to this city, and we suggest visiting the city first and then the museum.

Fifteen kilometers from Vrahos is Zalongo Mountain, known for the famous Zalongo Monument. This monument commemorates the women and children who chose death over falling into the hands of the Turks. They performed a deadly dance in the early nineteenth century, and the impressive monument is now a place visited by thousands of tourists annually. You can reach the monument by car through a winding road passing through interesting traditional Greek villages to the Monastery of Agios Dimitrios, which you can also visit. Next to the monastery, you can park your car and continue on foot to the monument, reached by about 400 steps. The monument is 13 meters high. From this place, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the sea and Lefkada, Preveza, and Parga, and on clear days, even Ithaca, Kefalonia, Corfu, Paxos, and Antipaxos.

If you do not have your own car, we highly recommend taking the opportunity to rent a car for at least a few days. Even without a rented car, it is possible to visit a large number of places in the vicinity. The local bus can take you to Amoudia Beach four times a day, with the first departure at 8:05 in the morning and the last return at 18:20. The final bus stop is Parga, and it also stops at Nekromanteion. Besides Amoudia, from Vrahos, you can take the bus to Ligia, Kanali, and Preveza. If you arrive in Vrahos on your own and without a car, we recommend taking the bus to Parga, where you can find a wide range of offers for exploring the region. Since there are no local tourist agencies in Vrahos, excursions are offered by representatives of Serbian agencies, and you would need to inquire on the spot about the conditions under which you can join them.

Bus departure schedule:

Parga 9:30, 13:00, 16:00, 18:00 - (Ammoudia 9:50, 13:20, 16:20, 18:20, Nekromanteion 9:55, 13:25, 16:25, 18:25, Vrahos 10:05, 13:35, 16:35, 18:35, Ligia-Riza 10:15, 13:45, 16:45, 18:45, Kanali 10:20, 13:50, 16:50, 18:50) Preveza 10:40, 14:10, 17:10, 19:10.

Preveza 7:30, 9:30, 11:10, 15:15 - (Kanali 7:50, 9:50, 11:30, 15:35, Ligia-Riza 8:00, 10:00, 11:40, 15:45 Vrahos 8:05, 10:05, 11:45, 15:50, Nekromanteion 8:15, 10:15, 11:55, 16:00, Ammoudia 8:20, 10:20, 12:00, 16:05,) Parga 8:50, 10:50, 12:30, 16:35.

Choose the right accommodation in Epirus for you and your family HERE.

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