Athens Riviera: The Best Beaches in Athens to Visit

When we think about Greece, the first thing that comes to everybody’s mind is those beautiful beaches in one of the many beautiful islands across the country, away from the continent.

But we completely forget the fact that Athens is located on the coast of Greece, offering many beautiful beaches in the Athens Riviera, so we don’t need to make it to an island, to appreciate a turquoise sea.

Visiting the Greek islands can be very expensive and can’t be done as a day trip, a good alternative is to visit Athens beaches, that is not so touristy but still keep their scenic views.

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Quick links to plan your visit to Athens, Greece

Athens Riviera Overview

Some of the best beaches near Athens are like clubs, known as private or organized beaches, and you must pay a fee to enjoy its facilities, but others are completely free.

In both cases, it is worth a visit, however, here in this post, let’s take into consideration the best and cheapest beaches in the Athens Riviera.

How to get to the Beach Riviera in Athens

If you are in the capital, why not have a look at the Athens Riviera, the coastal side of Athens, just a few minutes away from the city center? To get there you can take a tram or a bus.

From the center of Athens, it takes about 15 minutes to get to the nearest beaches in Athens. It is really worth a visit to the beaches, at least you will be able to enjoy a Greek beach, without spending all the money and time going to one of the famous islands.

Tram

To get to the Athenian Riviera beaches, you can take the Athens coastal tram, which runs from Syntagma Square to Glyfada Beach. It is certainly the slowest option to get to the beaches, but it is a nice ride for those who have time.

Bus

If you prefer to go by bus, there are several options that make the route from the center to the beaches near Athens.

Bus number 040 runs from Syntagma Square to Piraeus, and number 049 leaves Omonia to Piraeus. From Piraeus, you can take the A1 from Piraeus to Voula beach, or the B1 from Piraeus to Glyfada beach.

From Glyfada, you can also take bus 122 to Vouliagmeni.

Going from the center of Athens to the Athenian beaches yet, you can take the A2, A3 B3, or E2 buses that leave from the Academy, the University of Athens building complex. Any of these buses go to Vouliagmeni.

Hop on Hop off Bus

My favorite option though, and what I recommend doing is taking the Hop on Hop off bus tour, as besides the Greek ruins in Athens, it also has a route that brings you to Piraeus and the Athenian beaches, everything leaving from Athens city center.

👌Top Tip: Hop on Hop off bus is a way more comfortable and easier option for moving around the city, you don’t need to worry about buses timetable, nor run after the buses! They will take you to the main tourist attractions of Athens and pick you up exactly in the same location, you don’t need to worry about anything, just sit and enjoy your tour! buy your ticket here.

Best beaches in Athens

Faliro

Faliro is a coastal district of Athens, it is a very modern part of the city and offers a great infrastructure. If you are going to Athens essentially to enjoy your time on the beach, this is a good location to stay in.

Faliro has a variety of hotels to choose from, and for all budgets, most of them are way cheaper than those in more central areas of Athens.

Honestly, though, Athens offers better beaches than Faliro, and although beautiful, it is not considered a good destination for swimming.

The coast is also quite small and there are few sand stripes. However, it is a great place to relax. In Faliro you will also find a Marina and the Floating Naval Museum.

If you are looking for a beach in this area, try to avoid those near the marina. The further you go, the better.

Private Beach Fee: €8

Distance to Athens: 8 km – 10 to 15 minutes by car.

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Agios Kosmas Beach

It is another option if you want to combine the beach environment with the comfort of the city. Agios Kosmas Beach is located right next to the city and also offers good infrastructure if you are thinking about booking a hotel on the coast side.

The beach has a large sand stripe and is organized with beach umbrellas and sunbeds, the beach is completely free and offers a number of free services.

Distance to Athens: 9 km – 10 to 15 minutes by car.

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Glyfada

Glyfada is one of the most popular districts in Athens and the favorite of many Athenians, it offers hundreds of meters of sandy beaches most of them, completely free, perfect for sunbathing, making this area the first option for those looking for nice beaches in the Athens Riviera.

During the summer season, the public beaches here can get crowded, but for a small fee, you can stay on one of the many private beaches in the area.

Despite being so famous, the beaches in Glyfada don’t have the best quality sand and water due to the marina nearby.

So the tip to choosing a beach in this area is to skip the first two beaches and walk away from the marina area.

The good point in staying at Glyfada beach is that besides the fact that you don’t really need to spend a penny to sunbathe on one of the many public beaches.

This area is full of nice cafes and restaurants, so you will have all the comfort nearby.

Distance to Athens: 15 km – 20 to 25 minutes by car.

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Vouliagmeni Lake

Although it is not a beach but a lake. I will be mentioning the Vouliagmeni Lake here because it is one of my favorite spots in the Athens Riviera, and well, I feel like mentioning it anyway.

For some reason, I only heard about this place, when I got a tourist pamphlet, once I arrived at my hotel. This place is amazing and I don’t know why it doesn’t receive the attention it deserves.

The Vouliagmeni Lake is famous for being a mineral spa. Its thermal water is considered to have healing properties. It is believed to be beneficial in curing dermatological diseases, neuralgia, disfiguring arthritis, and the list goes on.

Besides all the minerals in the water, it is filled with Doctor fish. If you are planning a trip to Greece you probably have heard that there are spas that offer therapies with this kind of fish.

The Vouliagmeni lake is located in the middle of nowhere, next to a rock formation that gives charm to the place.

Its thermal water is home to those small fishes, known as Doctorfishes. They clean your skin and help in your blood circulation. The thermal water of the lake is considered medicinal and offers many benefits.

The lake is a kind of club so you must pay to visit. But it has a nice infrastructure, worth the price.

Price: €9

Distance to Athens: 21 km –  30 to 35 minutes by car.

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Vouliagmeni Beach

There are two Vouliagmeni Beaches near Vouliagmeni Lake. One of them is an organized beach with a long sand stripe, the price for using its facilities is 5 euros.

The other option, which is my favorite, is a small beach right in front of the entrance of Vouliagmeni Lake. Although this is a pretty small beach, it is one of my favorites in Athens.

The water is so clear, and the atmosphere of this place makes you feel like spending your whole day here.

Sometimes it is completely empty. However, sometimes you will find yourself surrounded by families playing and enjoying their time.  The water is really calm and you can see small fish swimming all over it.

Private Beach Fee: €5

Distance to Athens: 21 km –  30 to 35 minutes by car.

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Kavouri Beach

Kavouri Beach is considered one of the most beautiful beaches near Athens. It mixes a beautiful blue sea with a green landscape around it.

Perfect if you are looking for a scenic view to take nice photos, or just to enjoy the moment.

Although the beach is completely free, you do have the option of renting a sunbed, which depending on where you are, might be a good option.

The beach is almost 2 km long, however, just a small part of it is sand, and the rest of it is rather pebbly, so if you are looking for comfort, a towel may not do the job here.

Among its facilities in Kavouri Beach are many cafes by the sea. This beach is also located close to the city.

It is perfect for swimming, sunbathing and practicing some sports such as volleyball. The sea is really calm and completely safe for kids.

Private Beach Fee (renting a sunbed): €3

Distance to Athens: 25 km –  35 to 40 minutes by car.

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Best Tours

If your trip to Greece is not long, and your destination is just Athens, you will hardly have time to visit the other Greek islands, as they are a little away from the capital and it is impossible to meet them in just one day

But don’t worry, it is still possible to visit more places on day trips from Athens, including paradisiacal places, with a beach, crystal clear sea, and that sun so that you can go back home with a tanned face.

👉Tip: The main Greek islands are far from the coast and to get there, you need to take a ferry, the journey can take up to 9 hours, so it is necessary to plan ahead so that your time is not too short and you have more than a day to enjoy this tour.

Yacht tour along the coast of Athens

For those who like to sail, why not enjoy a day of sailing with a yacht sailing along the coast of Athens? This morning tour gives you the chance to enjoy the sun, swim & snorkel in the crystal clear waters, or maybe even fish.

During the tour, you will pass by the Bay of Vouliagmeni mentioned before in this post, among others. For lunch, you will be able to taste Greek wine and the famous Greek Meze dish, also known as Greek Tapas.

Or you can also choose the option of the yacht tour in the late afternoon to enjoy the sunset while having a wine.

Visiting Hydra, Poros, and Aegina

Another nice option, if you want to get out of Athens a bit to see other cities, is to opt for a day trip through the Saronic Islands.

The boat departs at 8:15 am towards Hydra, where you will be able to stroll for 1 hour after arrival. Then the ship goes to Poros, for a stop of 1 hour before heading to Aegina, where you can visit the Temple of Afaia or spend time sunbathing or swimming on the island’s beach. After that last stop, an hour and a half, the tour returned to Athens.

The tour also offers the service of picking you up at your hotel and then taking you back. So you don’t even have to worry about arriving at the agreed-upon time; just wait at your own hotel.

Tour through Agistri, Moni, and Aegina

You can also choose another island alternative to visit. On this boat tour, you will also pass through the Saronic Islands, but the stops are on the islands of Agistri, Mone, and finally, Aegina.

The tour departs from Marine de Zeas at 8:45 am straight to the island of Agistri, known for its crystal blue waters and vibrant color. On the island, you can also take the opportunity for a bike tour through the old streets.

The boat goes to the island of Moni, where you will be served a typical Greek lunch, and then you can enjoy some time on the beach. The beach has no residents and is an environmental reserve, home to several species, including deer and peacocks.

At 15:00 the boat goes to the last destination of the trip, the island of Aegina, where you can also enjoy the beach, and the temples, or take a walk in the local shops.

Then the tour returns to the Marina Zea in Athens.

More About Greece

• 3 Days in Athens Itinerary
• Visiting the Acropolis of Athens
• Best Greek Monuments in Athens
• Acropolis Museum Guide

Greece Travel Essentials

• FLIGHT TICKET: Get the best flight deal with Skyscanner.
• ACCOMMODATION: Find the perfect accommodation on Booking.
• VISA: Apply for a Visa on iVisa.
• eSIM: Stay connected throughout your trip with Airalo eSim. It offers packages from 7 to 30 days for accessible prices.
• PRIVATE TRANSFER: Book your private airport transfer.
• RENT A CAR: Find the best rates on DiscoverCars.
• GUIDED TOUR: Find the best tours in Italy on GetYourGuide

Another option if you want to get to the Athens beaches or travel around Greece, is to rent a car, you should check this guide to rent a car in Greece.

This text was originally written and posted in October 2018, and updated on May 06, 2021. New information has been added and links have been updated so that it could offer a better experience to the reader.elhor experiência ao leitor.