Best Beaches Near Athens
If you’re visiting Athens in summer, prepare for some heat! Fortunately, there are an abundance of nearby beaches, so even if you can’t make it out to the islands, you’ll have plenty of options for hitting the beach, all within an hour or so of the city.
Beaches near Athens offer visitors a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the natural beauty of the area without having to go far. They are easily accessible by car and sometimes even public transportation, and at least during the week, they’re not too crowded.
The situation on weekends is very different though, as hordes of Athenians depart the city and crowd onto the nearby beaches.
The Athens Riviera, which is the most well-known set of beaches and coastal towns near Greece’s capital, covers the western coastline of the Athens metropolitan area, stretching along the Saronic Gulf from Piraeus to Cape Sounion.
All along this coast you have several seaside suburbs, such as Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni, Saronida, and Anavyssos, each with beaches and beach facilities. Additionally, while this is not part of the Riviera, there are also excellent beaches on the east coast of Attica (east of Athens).
If you’re expecting paradisiacal beaches similar to those on the Cyclades and other Greek islands, be aware that you’ll probably be disappointed. The beaches of the Athenian Riviera are quite nice and the water quality is mostly very good, but there’s a reason they have not become famous and don’t show up on postcards of Greece. So definitely temper your expectations.
With that said, let’s check out my list of the 5 best beaches near Athens!
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Table of contents
Kavouri Beach
Charakas Beach
KaPe Beach
Althea Beach
Schinias Beach
5 Fabulous Beaches near Athens
The main advantage of the following 5 beaches, as well as other East Coast beaches, is that they can all be easily reached from Athens, either as a day trip or for a weekend getaway. They also offer a plethora of amenities, making your visit as easy as possible.
You probably won’t stare in awe when you arrive at the beach, but if you’re staying in Athens and are looking to escape from the busy city and beat the heat, the Athens Riviera is the perfect choice.
In general, nature begins to take over as you get further from Athens, and at the outer end of the Riviera you’ll find more natural and less built-up beaches. However, the range of offerings along the entire Athenian Riviera is quite wide, ranging from free beaches with no development on or around them, to private beach clubs with luxury amenities.
Many of these beaches are well-equipped with facilities and beach amenities, and there are often excellent traditional taverns nearby to enjoy a seafood lunch on the coast.
Kavouri Beach - Vouliagmeni
About Kavouri Beach
Only 20 kilometers from Athens and reachable by public transportation, Kavouri Beach is one of the nicest and easiest beaches to visit as a day trip from the city. Part of the beach is public with nothing on it but sand and lovely blue water, while part is private and somewhat organized, with beach chairs, umbrellas, changing rooms, and showers.
There are also plenty of nearby restaurants for grabbing lunch or a snack, so you can show up with nothing but your bathing suit and a towel.
Individuals and passionate swimmers can walk along the coastline of the small headland, where they’ll find little coves beloved by locals and swimmers who visit year-round. There’s also a lovely coastal walkway passing by the beach, so this is a favorite destination for joggers as well.
For those coming by car, you should definitely consider adding on a visit to Lake Vouliagmeni, which is a nearby thermal lake with a constant temperature of 28° Celsius.
If your schedule is flexible, it’s best to visit during the week, as this beach gets extremely crowded on weekends.
How to get from Athens to Kavouri Beach
Via public transportation: from Athens, take Metro Line 2 to Elliniko, walk out of the station and catch the 122 bus to the beach. Expect to take about 1 hour each way.
Driving: the beach is about 20 kilometers from Athens and there are two main roads to get there, each of which should take around 30 minutes. The inland route is slightly shorter and will certainly be quicker during busy periods, but is a bit less scenic.
If you choose the coastal road, you’ll pass by a few other beaches and the town of Glyfada on the way to Kavouri and will also have some nice views along the way. Just know that this road gets quite congested during weekends and busy times of day.
Find it on Google Maps here.
2. Charakas Beach – Charakas
About Charakas Beach
Charakas is a lovely long beach that spreads out for ages, giving ample space for swimming, beach games, and long walks. The waters here are shallow, so it’s especially safe for playing and swimming and is great for kids. While this is a very popular spot for families, it also gets quite windy, so you’re very likely to see windsurfers, which can be a real treat.
The beach is “organized”, which means it has umbrellas, sunbeds, showers, and a beach bar, so it has everything you need for a full day of lounging. There’s plenty of space, so you can also bring your own beach gear and spread out on your own further down the beach.
While this is a very popular destination for Athenians, as one of the largest beaches in the area, it never really feels too crowded, even on the weekends.
If you’re planning to spend the day here and want a great meal, I highly recommend Taverna Syrtaki, which is just a few kilometers away and has very good food fish dishes with their own special twist.
Since Charakas is right at the point of Cape Sounio and just a few kilometers from Temple of Poseidon, you should absolutely include an end-of-day visit there. The Temple offers magnificent coastal views and at sunset it’s exceptional.
Visit the beach for the day, head to the Temple of Poseidon for sunset, and then hop in the car and return to Athens. That’s a hard day to beat!
How to get from Athens to Charakas Beach
Via public transportation: Not accessible.
Driving: Charakas beach is about 60 kilometers from Athens. Unfortunately, it’s not reachable via public transportation, so you’ll have to have your own car to get here. The drive from Athens will take a little over an hour and you can take the coastal road or the inland one.
The coastal road is more pleasant as long as traffic isn’t heavy, as you’ll have some nice views and can also make stops at beaches or towns along the way (or on the way back).
Find it on Google Maps here.
3. Kape beach – Sounio
About Kape Beach
If you’re looking for a taste of the islands without leaving the Athens area, Kape Beach is probably as close as you’re going to get. Getting here is a bit interesting, as you´ll park your car in what feels like the middle of nowhere, and will then have to descend a flight of stairs down to the beach.
Once you reach the beach, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to somewhere entirely different. The water is crystal clear, the sand is soft and fine, and the beach is surrounded by high, imposing cliffs. It’s pretty spectacular.
Befitting the setting, this is an unspoiled beach that has no facilities on it. You won’t find beach cabanas, cafes, showers, or anything else: just sand and sea. There’s a small canteen at the parking area, but the hours are uncertain, so you can never guarantee it will be open.
This beach isn’t exactly a secret and it’s quite small, so it’s best to visit during the week if you want to avoid the crowds. It can also get very hot, so unless you’re bringing an umbrella, you should plan to come very early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
How to get from Athens to Kape Beach
Via public transportation: the beach isn’t really reachable by public transportation, so you should plan to come by car. While the KTEL bus company does run a twice daily route from Athens to Sounio, which is only a few kilometers from the beach, this option will take around 2 hours and you’ll need to arrange for a taxi to take you to and from the beach. Driving is much easier.
Driving: Kape is about 70 kilometers from Athens and taking the inland route to get here (the fastest option) will take around 1 hour and 15 minutes with minimal traffic.
Find it on Google Maps here.
4. Althea Beach – Varkiza
About Althea Beach
Secluded Althea Beach, set in a little sandy cove just a few steps away from the bigger and more well-known Agia Marina Beach, is a lovely place to escape the heat and chaos of Athens. The beautiful clear water is a gorgeous turquoise that you rarely see in this area, and which is far more characteristic of the islands.
There are no beach facilities here, so don’t expect luxury or to be pampered. This is a natural beach which is beloved for its pristine condition and lack of development.
This used to be a real hidden gem and local secret, but the beach has certainly been “discovered” now and it sees its fair share of visitors. It’s not a large beach, so if you can make it here on a weekday that would definitely be best if you want to avoid the crowds.
And if you’re planning to spend the day and don’t want to pack a lunch, Kekrops Taverna is one of my favorite little restaurants anywhere along the Riviera. Right next to a yacht/sailing club, this tavern has surprisingly fair prices and excellent, high-quality seafood. You’ll be eating lunch directly next to the sea, so it’s a real treat.
How to get from Athens to Althea Beach
Via public transportation: take Metro Line 2 to the Elliniko Station and then catch bus 122 until you reach the Kekropos stop. Just don’t imagine an easy, pleasant ride to get here: on busy days the bus will be very, very crowded, especially heading back to Athens as it will pick up beachgoers from other beaches all along the route.
Driving: about halfway out to Cape Sounio, Althea beach is 30 kilometers and 30-40 minutes away from Athens by car. There are two main routes here, one coastal and one inland, and which one you take should just depend on traffic conditions.
The coastal road is more pleasant and passes through multiple towns and beaches, so if traffic is light, go that route.
Find it on Google Maps here.
5. Schinias – Marathonas
About Schinias Beach
For a change of pace and a bit more tranquility, you can head away from the Athens Riviera, and instead go to the less developed eastern coast. Here, Schinias Beach in Marathon stretches on and on for 3 delightful kilometers of sun, sea, and sand. The waters are clear and shallow, so it’s an excellent beach if visiting with children.
At the beach’s northern end, you’ll find lush pine forest which extends right up to the edge of the beach, almost reaching the sea. On a hot day, this is the perfect beach to visit, as you can set up camp in the shade of the trees, or even stretch a hammock between them (if you have one).
With an impressive surrounding landscape and ample room to wander, you can also enjoy a leisurely stroll, taking in the atmosphere.
And in case you prefer a more organized beach experience with all the amenities, the southern end of the beach is actually quite developed, with showers, beach umbrellas and loungers, cafes, and more.
There are also plenty of good tavernas nearby, especially Kali Kardia, so you’ll have plenty of options for nice beach-adjacent meals.
To really make a full day of it, if you have your own car, you can have a stop at the Marathonas Lake and its dam. Also, on the southern end of the beach, there is a small archeological site of a rare sanctuary dedicated to the Egyptian Gods.
How to get from Athens to Schinias Beach
Via public transportation: the KTEL public bus offers direct routes from Athens to Marathonas, with departures about once per hour throughout the day, starting relatively early in the morning.
Once you reach Marathonas, you can take a local bus right to the beach or hire a taxi (which will be inexpensive). You can see the KTEL schedule here.
Driving: The drive is about 42 kilometers and should take around 50 minutes with normal traffic.
Find it on Google Maps here.
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