Igoumenítsa: Culture, Port and Beaches

Igoumenítsa brings together several travel interests: the city’s cultural history, nearby beaches and connections via the port. The museum, castle sites, the bathing destinations of Drepano and Makrygiali, and the port connections offer different starting points for planning your stay.

Museum and the History of Fortifications

The Museum of Culture and Tradition “Το Σπίτι της Ρένας” opened in Igoumenítsa in September 2012. Handcrafted and loom-woven pieces, authentic traditional costumes, embroideries and textiles are exhibited and preserved there; most of the collection comes from the region. Other everyday household objects are also part of the collection. The exhibits bring together textile crafts and clothing with objects from daily life. This gives the museum its own cultural focus alongside Igoumenítsa’s fortifications: the emphasis is on textiles, traditional costumes and everyday culture.

Igoumenítsa Castle stands on a wooded hill above the modern city, on the site of a fortification that may date from the Late Roman period. Parts of the structure are visible along the lower sections of the southern wall. The ruins of a medieval castle also stand in a small grove within Igoumenítsa. Lygia Castle is located a few kilometres from the town. These sites offer a spatial comparison between the hill above the city, the grove in town and Lygia Castle nearby. The evidence also points to different periods: the fortification on the hill may date from the Late Roman period, while the ruins in the grove belong to a medieval castle.

Swimming and Getting Around Nearby

From Igoumenítsa, you can swim at the beaches of Drepano and Makrygiali. Drepano–Makrygiali Beach is 4 km long and lies about 5 km from Igoumenítsa. There is also a cycle path between Igoumenítsa and Drepano, which residents use for daily exercise and walks. A municipal notice dated 2 April 2026 documents the path’s maintenance and use. The beach and cycle path offer different activities in the area: swimming at Drepano or Makrygiali, and everyday exercise between Igoumenítsa and Drepano. The two figures refer to different things: 4 km is the length of the beach, while about 5 km is the distance between the beach and Igoumenítsa.

Port Connections and Travel Planning

The port plays a distinct role in getting here. Some of the main connections from Igoumenítsa are to the Italian ports of Bari, Brindisi, Ancona, Venice, Trieste and Ravenna, as well as to the islands of Corfu and Paxos. The list therefore covers different destinations: Italian ports and the two islands. For your specific destination, check the operators’ latest information in advance, as routes and timetables may change.

Discover more destinations: Neráïda, Paramythia, Karavostasi, Grekochori, Syvota, Glyki, Plataria Thesprotia, Faskomilia

For the regional travel overview: Thesprotia.