Things to Do in Preveza: Sights, Beaches and Day Trips

Preveza is a small town on the Ionian coast of Epirus, at the tip of a peninsula where the Ambracian Gulf meets the sea. Across the strait, in 31 BC, Octavian defeated Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium, and much of what there is to see here follows from that day. Here is what we would do, starting in town and moving out.

In Preveza town

Start in the old market streets. The stone Venetian Clock Tower was paid for by the townspeople in 1792; look for the Venetian coat of arms and the sundial on its south face.

Castles & Monuments

Venetian Clock Tower of Preveza

The stone clock tower of 1792 in Preveza's old market, paid for by the townspeople under the Venetians. Ali Pasha took its first bell to Ioannina.

Old market street (Ethnikis Antistaseos), next to Agios Charalambos church, Preveza

A few minutes away, walk around the walls of the Castle of Agios Andreas, the largest of Preveza's castles, built by the Ottomans in 1702 and rebuilt by Ali Pasha in 1807–1808. Walking around the outside is free.

Castles & Monuments

Castle of Agios Andreas

Preveza's largest castle, in the middle of town: built by the Ottomans in 1702, enlarged by the Venetians and rebuilt by Ali Pasha in 1807–1808.

Preveza town centre, a few minutes' walk from the harbour

End the day at Pantokrator Castle, Ali Pasha's sea fort at the mouth of the strait. The interior is closed until it is restored, but the sunset from the shore around it is one of the best in Preveza. The town beach, Kiani Akti, is close by.

Castles & Monuments

Pantokrator Castle

Ali Pasha's sea fort at the mouth of the strait, with one of the very few surviving rivellino gun batteries, famous for its sunsets and now awaiting restoration.

Pantokratoras, south-western tip of the Preveza peninsula, about 2.5 km from the centre

Ancient Nikopolis and its museum

Ten minutes north of town lies Nikopolis, the 'City of Victory' Octavian founded after Actium. See the Archaeological Museum of Nicopolis first: its 1,100 finds make the ruins much easier to read, and its website says one ticket covers both.

Museums

Archaeological Museum of Nicopolis

The museum of Augustus' City of Victory, at the entrance to Preveza: over 1,100 finds from Roman and Early Christian Nikopolis, including portraits of Augustus and Agrippa.

5th km of the Preveza–Ioannina road, at the entrance to Preveza

Then allow at least two hours for the site itself: Roman and Byzantine walls, the Nymphaeum, villas and Early Christian basilicas with fine mosaics. The Roman Odeon is in the centre, and the Great Theatre stands just north of the walls.

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

The Ionian beaches

The coast north of Preveza is one long run of beaches. Monolithi, 10 minutes away, is one of the longest beaches in Greece and pairs well with a morning at Nikopolis. Our beach guide compares it with Loutsa, Alonaki and the town beach.

Beaches

Monolithi Beach

One of the longest beaches in Greece: kilometres of sand and fine pebbles on the open Ionian, backed by the pine forest of Monolithi, 10 minutes from Preveza.

Ionian coast north of Preveza, between Mytikas and Kastrosykia (about 8.5 km / 10 min drive from the centre)

Mount Zalongo and Ancient Kassope

About 30 minutes north, the white figures of the Zalongo Monument stand on a cliff 410 steps above the Monastery of Agios Dimitrios. Directly below are the ruins of Kassope, a planned Hellenistic city with a restored theatre and views over 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)

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)

The Acheron, river of the Underworld

In myth the Acheron carried the souls of the dead to Hades. At its springs near Glyki you can wade upstream in the shallow, cold river under plane trees, or hike the rock-cut path of Skala Tzavelaina. On the way, the Necromanteion at Mesopotamos is the site long identified as the Oracle of the Dead.

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)

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)

Parga

An hour north, Parga's Venetian castle sits on a rock above the town, with free entry from April to October and views over the bay. Ali Pasha's fortress at Anthousa looks down on it from the hill above.

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)

The Ambracian Gulf

Preveza's other sea is one of Greece's great wetlands: lagoons with nesting Dalmatian pelicans, more than 300 bird species and a resident population of bottlenose dolphins. Drive the causeway through the lagoons to Koronisia, and bring binoculars.

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)

Off the beaten track

• The arches of the Roman aqueduct of Nikopolis by the Louros river at Agios Georgios.
• Byzantine Rogoi Castle, built on the walls of ancient Bouchetion.
• Ancient Orraon, with the best-preserved two-storey houses of Greek antiquity.

Getting around

You need a car for almost everything outside town. Aktion airport is about 8 km from the centre through the undersea tunnel, and intercity KTEL buses leave from the station on Ioanninon street. The practical information page has the hospital, police and the emergency numbers. For full-day routes, see our day trips from Preveza.