Unmissable Ambracian Gulf
Our guide to the local secret gems...
Towns & Villages
POGONIA
A quiet, traditional village with a low key atmosphere and a lovely position overlooking the Ionian Sea. It has a bakery, a shop and a church, as well as several traditional tavernas.
PALEROS
Sitting on the Ionian Sea coast, Paleros town’s perpetual summer breeze and secluded bay position provide perfect sailing and cruising conditions. Boat trips and island hopping can be arranged from here. There are a couple of lovely pebble beaches for relaxing, too.
PREVEZA
At the entrance to the gulf, this vibrant port town has an atmospheric old bazaar with a tight knit set of alleys. There are beautiful buildings surviving from the Ottoman period, including some excellent ouzeris, and several small museums.
VONITSA
A sleepy little harbour town on the southern coast of the Ambracian Gulf. It is popular with yachties and has a lively promenade lined with restaurants, bars and cafés. There is also a good water sports centre.
AMFILOKHIA
Overlooking the Ambracian Gulf, this charming town has everything you’ll need: supermarkets, restaurants, tavernas, cafés, banks and a hospital. Make sure you carry cash as very few places accept cards, and ATMs are few and far between.
SPARTO
A lovely little gulf front village with a bakery, mini markets and a few tavernas. Close to the small shingle beaches of Katergaki and Koulouri, each of which has a taverna and sunbeds.
Dining & Drinks
Yacht Club Paleros
Right on the beach next to the harbour, this funky beach bar has a great restaurant with wood fire pizza ovens. There are also teak sunbeds, cocktails, ice creams and evening music.
Paleros | +30 26430 42027 | +30 2643 029171 | pyc.gr
New Mill Tavern
A welcoming taverna with excellent set menu traditional Greek food.
Paleros | +30 697 693 5921
Senso Mare
Great at any time of the day for a morning coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner and night cocktails. It features one of the best Ionian Sea views in the town.
Paleros | + 30 2643041889
Nicopolis Club
A buzzing beach bar with something for everyone: waterslides for children and comfortable umbrella shaded sunbeds for parents.
Preveza | +30 6944 074 879 | nicopolisclub.info@gmail.com
Saitan Pazar
Delicious mezze restaurant.
Paleros | + 30 2682060863
The Crazy Shrimp
The Ionian meets Italy- great seafood restaurant.
Preveza | + 30 2682025691
Fillipas
Traditional Greek taverna with jolly interiors serving good seafood.
Preveza | + 30 2682061015
Alati
Modern interiors, right by the sea.
Preveza | + 30 2682027145
Koutavos Taverna
Also the local butcher. Tasty traditional Greek food and specialising in grilled meat. Will deliver to the villa.
Pogonia | + 30 2643041345
Thymari Restaurant
Stylish fine dining restaurant with a lovely courtyard and an excellent wine list. Think pasta, tuna tartare, fresh fish and decadent ice creams.
Lefkas | +30 2645 022266 | thymari-lefkada.gr
Ef Zin
A quirky restaurant that attracts a lively cosmopolitan crowd.
Lefkada +30 2795022130
Fly Me Sun & Stars Bar
Visit in the evening for epic sunsets and watch the paragliders. Great cocktails. For supper afterwards go to Rachi Restaurant.
Exanthia | Flymelefkada.gr | flymelefkada@gmail.com
Rachi Restaurant
A beautiful restaurant that feels as though you’re dining in the sky.
Exanthia | rachi.gr | +30 26450 99439 | rachilefkada@gmail.com
To Maistrali
This beachfront taverna has a shady terrace right by the water and serves super fresh seafood. Try the calamari and courgette fritters.
Vonitza | +30 2643 022767
Do & See
Nikopolis, Near Prevenza
For history buffs, Prevenza’s main attraction is Nikopolis (or Victory City), 8km north of the town. Covering an area of 900 hectares, this sprawling UNESCO listed ancient city was created under the order of Roman Emperor Octavian (later Emperor Augustus) to commemorate his win over Anthony and Cleopatra’s fleet at nearby Actium in 31BC.
+30 26820 89892 | efapre@culture.gr
Archaeological Museum
Many of the findings from Nikopolis are exhibited in Prevenza’s archaeological museum. There are two spaces: the first presents the historical evolution of the city from its foundation in 31BC until the 10th century AD, while the second gallery illuminates aspects of everyday life in ancient Nikopolis.
+30 2682 089892 | nicopolismuseum.gr
Vonitza Castle
Dating back to the 10th century, the castle was built by the Venetians and sits above the town, overlooking Amvrakikos Bay.
Water Sports
If you’re looking for a bit of activity, go to the Vonitsa Water Sports Centre - great for kite surfing.
Dolphin Watching Cruise
The Gulf is a natural refuge for a diverse range of aquatic animals, including a thriving community of dolphins. Great for families, take a fun and educational day cruise to see dolphins and sea turtles playing around the Trehandiri boat. An engaging on board marine scientist can tell you all about what you see. The boat can be rented out privately.
+30 2682 41992 | eco-cruising.gr/en
Bird Watching
The Gulf is perfect for those wanting to do some serious bird watching, with 67 protected species in the region, all described as endangered in Europe. Don’t forget to bring your camera and binoculars!
Fishing
Fishermen make their living from the shallow bay and surrounding marshlands’ rich resources
- grey mullet and sole are especially prevalent. Working in the morning, you may be able to join them to catch your own supper.
Walking & Cycling
There are many biking and walking routes in the area. Set off for a timeless journey through verdant forests and crystalline waters on the legendary Acheron.
Island Hopping
Lefkada
If you fancy venturing a little further, you could sail or drive to the beautiful Ionian island of Lefkada. The heart of the island is thick with olive groves and it is common to see women at work dressed in the traditional lace scarf and brown clothing. The far west coast has some of the best beaches in Europe - endless ribbons of silver and turquoise like Egrémni and Pórto Katsíki. Lefkada Town gave up on bricks in 1948, when an earthquake shook its Venetian architecture to bits. Today its buildings are a colourful combination of pastel painted walls and corrugated iron cladding - we’re not sure what you call this style (tin chic?) but the yachties seem to love it.
Meganissi
Just off Lefkada’s south east coast, Meganissi is a small and verdant island with just three small villages and a population of 1,000 people. There are no high rise hotels and even the roads are quite limited, but the village of Vathy has a handful of pastel houses and traditional tavernas
for lunch. There are many beautiful shingle beaches and hidden coves, most of which can only
be reached on foot or by boat – favourites include Limonari, Agios Ioannis, Fanari, Spilia and Barbarezou. If you’re sailing the coastline, look out for Papanikolis Cave, said to have been a WWII Greek navy submarine hideaway.
Kefalonia
The Ionian jewel of Kefalonia (or Cephalonia) is full of wonders. The island’s natural features and its unique cultural character make it one of the most appealing destinations in Greece. The northernmost port on Kefalonia, Fiskardo, is a beautiful and picturesque fishing village that’s definitely worth spending time in. As one of the few villages that wasn’t destroyed by the 1953 earthquake, the traditional Venetian buildings are under a special preservation order, giving the prevailing architecture a unique charm. There are lots of beautiful pebble beaches and coves in the north too, offering calm and crystalline waters. There are also the ruins of a Palaeolithic settlement, a Byzantine church and many other picturesque and interesting sites.
Ithaca
Unspoiled by the modern world, Ithaca is essentially two heavily wooded mountain tops rich in flora and fauna, which protrude steeply from the Ionian Sea, joined in the centre by a thin stretch of land. Many mountain pathways link historical villages and shores dotted with small white pebbled beaches. With just over 3,000 permanent residents, the population grows significantly in the summer months, with most visitors arriving on boats. On the north east coast, Kioni is one of the prettiest little harbours we have seen, with three former windmills on a low-lying promontory, and below, a few old Venetian houses.
Please call first to check restaurants and museums are open, and check the relevant government guidance before travelling.
No responsibilty can be accepted by Scott Williams for any issues that may arise as a result of the enclosed recommendations and information.