Day Trips from Preveza: Acheron, Parga, Zalongo and the Louros

Everything below is north of Preveza and needs a car. Distances are by road from the town centre. Opening hours at archaeological sites change by season, so check them before you set off, and in summer start early: there is little shade at the ancient sites.

Route 1: the Acheron and Parga

This is the classic day out, following the river of the Underworld to the sea and ending in Parga.

Morning: the Necromanteion. Start at Mesopotamos, about 42 km (35 minutes) from Preveza, at the hilltop complex identified as the Oracle of the Dead. Take a torch for the underground crypt.

Archaeological Sites

Necromanteion of Acheron

The legendary Oracle of the Dead by the river Acheron, where tradition places Odysseus' journey to Hades: a Hellenistic stone complex with a vaulted underground crypt, beside Mycenaean Ephyra.

Mesopotamos, by the Acheron (about 42 km / 35 min north of Preveza)

Midday: the Acheron springs. Continue inland to Glyki, about 55 km from Preveza, where the river leaves the Souli gorge. In summer, wade upstream under the plane trees; in spring and autumn, hike the stepped path of Skala Tzavelaina. Wear shoes you don't mind getting wet.

Nature & Rivers

Acheron Springs (Glyki)

Where the mythical river of the Underworld bursts out of the Souli gorge: walk in the river under plane trees, raft, or hike the old Souliote path of Skala Tzavelaina.

Springs of Acheron, by Glyki, off the Preveza–Paramythia road (about 55 km / 50 min from Preveza)

Afternoon: a swim at Alonaki. Back on the coast near Ammoudia, the small cove of Alonaki has emerald water and shade from the pines.

Beaches

Alonaki Beach (Fanari)

A small, sheltered cove of sand and pebbles under pine-covered cliffs, with emerald water and a little islet to swim to. About 40 minutes north of Preveza, near Ammoudia and the Acheron.

Fanari coast near Valanidorachi, Municipality of Parga (about 42 km / 40 min drive from Preveza)

Evening: Parga. Walk up to Parga Castle, about 8 minutes on a cobbled path from the harbour. Entry is free from 1 April to 31 October. For the view over the whole bay, drive up to Ali Pasha's fortress at Anthousa before dark.

Castles & Monuments

Parga Castle

The Venetian castle on the rock above Parga, which held out against Ali Pasha. Free entry, a café in the old barracks and views over Parga bay and Panagia islet.

Top of the old town, Parga (about 62 km / 1 hour from Preveza)

Castles & Monuments

Anthousa Castle (Ali Pasha's Castle)

The fortress Ali Pasha built in 1814 on a hill above Parga to threaten the Venetian town. Unfenced ruins with a big gun tower and wide views of the Ionian.

Hill between Anthousa and Agia, above Parga (about 66 km / 1 hour from Preveza)

Route 2: Nikopolis, Kassope and Mount Zalongo

The ancient history route, all within 30 minutes of town.

Morning: Nikopolis. Start at the Archaeological Museum of Nicopolis at the entrance to Preveza, then spend at least two hours at the site of Augustus' City of Victory, including the Roman Odeon and the Great Theatre.

Archaeological Sites

Ancient Nikopolis

The 'City of Victory' Octavian founded after the Battle of Actium: Roman and Byzantine walls, the Nymphaeum, the Odeon and Early Christian basilicas famous for their mosaics, 7 km from Preveza.

Ancient Nikopolis, on the Preveza–Arta/Ioannina road, about 7 km (9 min) north of Preveza

Midday: Kassope. Drive about 27 km north to Kamarina and walk the grid streets of Kassope, from the agora and the inn for travellers down to the restored theatre. Allow at least an hour, with good shoes, water and a hat.

Archaeological Sites

Ancient Kassope

A whole Hellenistic city on a mountain terrace above the Ambracian Gulf: grid streets, agora, an inn for travellers, two theatres and houses, abandoned when Nikopolis was founded.

Near Kamarina, on Mount Zalongo (about 27 km / 25 min north of Preveza)

Afternoon: Zalongo. From the Monastery of Agios Dimitrios, climb the 410 steps to the Zalongo Monument, about 20 minutes up. The view reaches the Ionian, Preveza and the Ambracian Gulf.

Castles & Monuments

Zalongo Monument

The huge cliff-top monument to the Souliot women of 1803, by sculptor George Zongolopoulos, reached by 410 steps from the Monastery of Agios Dimitrios.

Mount Zalongo, above Kamarina (about 29 km / 26 min from Preveza)

Late afternoon: Monolithi. On the way back, stop for a swim at Monolithi, a few minutes from Nikopolis.

Route 3: the Louros valley and the Ambracian Gulf

The quiet route, for green river landscapes, Byzantine walls and birdlife.

Morning: the Roman aqueduct. At Agios Georgios, north of Filippiada, about 46 km from Preveza, the arches of the aqueduct that carried water to Nikopolis stand among plane trees by the Louros. It is a good picnic stop.

Nature & Rivers

Louros River & Roman Aqueduct (Agios Georgios)

The green Louros valley at Agios Georgios, where the arches of the Roman aqueduct that carried spring water some 50 km to Nikopolis still stand by the river.

Agios Georgios, north of Filippiada, on the Louros (about 46 km / 1 hour from Preveza)

Midday: Rogoi Castle. Further down the Louros, west of Nea Kerasounta, the Byzantine castle of Rogoi stands on the walls of ancient Bouchetion, with a 15th-century church inside.

Castles & Monuments

Rogoi Castle

A Byzantine castle on a hill above the Louros river, built on the walls of ancient Bouchetion, with a 15th-century church inside. Once said to hold the relics of Saint Luke.

West of Nea Kerasounta, on the Louros river (about 36 km / 40 min from Preveza)

Afternoon: the lagoons. Drive the causeway through the lagoons of the Ambracian Gulf to the fishing village of Koronisia. Bring binoculars for the Dalmatian pelicans, and try the local fish and gámbari at a taverna.

Nature & Rivers

Ambracian Gulf Wetlands (Amvrakikos)

One of Greece's great wetlands, right next to Preveza: lagoons with Dalmatian pelican colonies, more than 300 bird species, sea turtles and a resident population of bottlenose dolphins.

Northern Ambracian Gulf lagoons, e.g. Koronisia (about 61 km / 1 hour 10 min by road from Preveza)

If you have time for one more remote site, Ancient Orraon, about an hour from Preveza, has the best-preserved two-storey houses of Greek antiquity.

Before you go

• Car: these routes include mountain and dirt roads. For intercity buses, check the KTEL Preveza timetable.
• Heat: bring water and a hat; the ancient sites have very little shade.
• Hours: check opening hours with the Ephorate of Antiquities of Preveza or the museum before you go.
• Emergencies: dial 112.

For more ideas closer to town, see things to do in Preveza.