Athens beaches guide · Greece
9 hand-picked beaches on the Athens Riviera and within day-trip reach of the city — sandy, mostly Blue Flag, and reachable by tram, bus or a short drive.
Curated by the Beach Atlas team · Updated June 2026
You do not need a ferry to find a great beach in Greece — some of the best are a tram ride from central Athens. The Saronic Gulf coast known as the Athens Riviera runs south of the city through Glyfada, Voula and Vouliagmeni: a string of organized, mostly Blue Flag beaches with calm, clear water and easy public transport. This is a hand-picked shortlist of the ones worth your time, plus the scenic day-trips further out and one genuinely unusual swim. For the full regional inventory, browse every verified beach in Attica.
The Riviera classics — Vouliagmeni, Voula, Kavouri, Asteras in Glyfada and Varkiza — are the easy default: sandy, shallow and family-friendly, 30 to 60 minutes from the centre. When you want scenery, drive south to Anavissos and Cape Sounion, where you can swim below the Temple of Poseidon, or east to the long sands of Marathon. And on a windy day, the thermal Vouliagmeni Lake stays glassy when the open sea does not.
The five Riviera beaches here sit along Poseidonos Avenue on the coastal tram and bus lines, so they are the simplest swim from central Athens. Vouliagmeni is the benchmark — a ticketed municipal beach with monitored water, full facilities and free parking — while Voula is the reliable family pick, reachable by car, tram or bus. Kavouri is greener and calmer than the central beaches, Asteras is the stylish, compact option in Glyfada, and Varkiza adds full service and water sports with easy parking. For the broader filters, see the calm-water beaches guide and the family-friendly beaches guide.
When the trip is the point, head further out. Anavissos is a wide, protected bay about 45 minutes south, popular for swimming and water sports; Cape Sounion pairs a clear-water swim with sunset at the Temple of Poseidon — the classic Attica afternoon. East of the city, Marathon trades the Riviera crowds for a long, natural sandy shore. And Vouliagmeni Lake is the wildcard: a thermal, brackish lake framed by cliffs, gently warm year-round and glassy on days when wind chops up the open sea.
For the quickest swim from the centre, pick Asteras, Voula or Vouliagmeni and take the tram. Families do best at Voula or Vouliagmeni — shallow, Blue Flag, lifeguards and parking. For fewer crowds, try Kavouri or Marathon. For a half-day with scenery, choose Cape Sounion or Anavissos. And when the meltemi is up, Vouliagmeni Lake is the calm-water insurance policy.
Showing #1 – #9 of 9 beaches
Why go: Varkiza Beach lies along the Athenian Riviera and blends relaxed charm with full service.
Varkiza Beach lies along the Athenian Riviera and blends relaxed charm with full service. Much of the shore is sandy with scattered pebbles, and the seabed slopes gently, giving clear, shallow water for a good stretch.
Why go: Voula Beach is one of the most popular seaside escapes along the Athenian Riviera, just a short ride from the city.
Voula Beach is one of the most popular seaside escapes along the Athenian Riviera, just a short ride from the city. The coast here is sandy and welcoming, with shallow, crystal-clear water that makes it easy to wade in and safe for families with children.
Why go: Set on the sheltered Saronic Gulf in the suburb of Vouliagmeni, this 650-m, ticketed municipal beach is known for very clear, regularly monitored waters.
Set on the sheltered Saronic Gulf in the suburb of Vouliagmeni, this 650-m, ticketed municipal beach is known for very clear, regularly monitored waters. The shore is predominantly sandy with easy entry. Thanks to the protective bay, seas are generally calm; light chop can occur with southerly winds.
Why go: Anavissos Beach stretches over a wide, protected bay just south of Athens.
Anavissos Beach stretches over a wide, protected bay just south of Athens. The shore is mostly sandy, sometimes with gravel or coarser sand near the water’s edge. The sea is crystal clear, with shallow depth extending quite far out, making it popular for families and swimmers.
Why go: Asteras (also called Asteria in Glyfada) is a stylish, compact beach along the Athens Riviera, blending elegance and relaxation.
Asteras (also called Asteria in Glyfada) is a stylish, compact beach along the Athens Riviera, blending elegance and relaxation. The sand is soft and golden, occasionally mingling with fine pebbles near the edge. The seabed slopes gently, giving clear, shallow water ideal for lounging or a calm swim.
Why go: Nestled beneath the Temple of Poseidon on the rocky promontory of Cape Sounion, this beach blends scenic drama with seaside charm.
Nestled beneath the Temple of Poseidon on the rocky promontory of Cape Sounion, this beach blends scenic drama with seaside charm. The shore is mostly sandy (with some coarser sand or pebbly patches at edges), and the water is very clear, with gentle slope in the shallow zone.
Why go: Kavouri Beach lies on the Vouliagmeni peninsula of the Athenian Riviera and offers a pleasant balance of ease and character.
Kavouri Beach lies on the Vouliagmeni peninsula of the Athenian Riviera and offers a pleasant balance of ease and character. The shore is soft golden sand that continues into the sea, with a gentle slope into clear, shallow water — ideal for families.
Why go: Marathon Beach (along the Nea Makri / Agios Panteleimonas stretch) features a long sandy shore with a gently sloping seabed and remarkably clear shallow water;
Marathon Beach (along the Nea Makri / Agios Panteleimonas stretch) features a long sandy shore with a gently sloping seabed and remarkably clear shallow water; the sand is typically fine and golden, though occasional rockers or coarser grains appear near edges.
Why go: Lake Vouliagmeni is a rare thermal-brackish lake framed by rocky cliffs and pine woodland, about 20 km south of Athens.
Lake Vouliagmeni is a rare thermal-brackish lake framed by rocky cliffs and pine woodland, about 20 km south of Athens. Rather than a sandy beach, swimmers access the lake from decks and platforms and a short pier—there is no broad sandy shoreline.
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