Beaches Near Athens: The Best Swims on the Athens Riviera
By Vasilis Tsiklos · Updated
Short answer
The closest good beaches line the coast road south of the city, known as the Athens Riviera, and the road ends at Cape Sounion. You can swim from late May to early October. For a simple beach day near the city, take the tram, a bus or a taxi. A private trip makes sense when you want beaches plus the Temple of Poseidon at sunset.
Athens beaches at a glance
Athens sits close to the sea. The Athens coastline runs south from the port of Piraeus along the Riviera, past Glyfada, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza, all the way to Cape Sounion. The further south you go, the clearer the water tends to be, but the longer the ride.
The distances below are from central Athens (Syntagma Square) by road.
Glyfada area
- Distance from central Athens:
- 20-40 min
- Organized or free:
- Both
- Best for:
- Easiest beach day from the center
Vouliagmeni Lake
- Distance from central Athens:
- 30-45 min
- Organized or free:
- Organized, entry fee
- Best for:
- A calm swim, even when the sea is rough
Varkiza
- Distance from central Athens:
- 30-45 min
- Organized or free:
- Both
- Best for:
- Families with kids
Lagonisi
- Distance from central Athens:
- 1h
- Organized or free:
- Mostly free
- Best for:
- Quieter water, fewer crowds
Legrena
- Distance from central Athens:
- 1h
- Organized or free:
- Free
- Best for:
- Swimmers who want space
Near Cape Sounion
- Distance from central Athens:
- 1h 15min
- Organized or free:
- Free and small coves
- Best for:
- Combining a swim with the Temple of Poseidon
The beaches, from closest to furthest
Glyfada area: the closest
What it's like: a long stretch of coast just south of the city, next to the Glyfada shopping and cafe strip. Some parts are organized with sunbeds, umbrellas and beach bars; other parts are free. Entry fees and sunbed prices start from 15€
Who it suits: anyone who wants the easiest beach day from central Athens, and people who want lunch and shopping nearby.
Vouliagmeni Lake: calm water in a natural setting
What it's like: a brackish lake tucked under a cliff, fed by underground springs. The water is calm and warm even when the sea is rough, and the setting is unlike any beach. It is organized, with an entry fee that ranges between 10€-20€, sunbeds and facilities.
Who it suits: people who want a gentle, sheltered swim, and anyone visiting outside the windiest days.
Varkiza: the family choice
What it's like: a sandy bay with shallow water. Part is organized with sunbeds and water sports, part is free.
Who it suits: families with young kids, because the water is shallow and the sand is soft.
Lagonisi: quieter, mostly free
What it's like: a stretch of smaller coves and sandy spots past Varkiza. Mostly free, with fewer facilities.
Who it suits: people who want clearer water and fewer crowds, and don't need a beach bar.
Legrena: space and clear water
What it's like: a long, mostly free beach near the end of the Riviera, with clear water and room to spread out. Facilities are limited. The main one is KAPE, but there are many tiny beaches in the area. Some of them are unofficially reserved for nudists.
Who it suits: swimmers who want space and don't mind bringing their own water and shade.
Beaches near Cape Sounion: swim below the temple
What it's like: small coves and a sandy beach below the Temple of Poseidon, at the very end of the coast road. Mostly free.
Who it suits: anyone combining a swim with the temple, especially at sunset.
Getting to the Athens Riviera beaches
Public transport: the closest beaches are reachable by tram T7 and buses such as A1, A2, E22, 122. It's cheap, but the ride is slow and the further beaches need a change or a long walk from the stop.
Taxi: easy to find and reasonable for the closer beaches. For the far end of the Riviera, agree on the return before you go, because finding a taxi back from a small cove is not guaranteed.
Car: the coast road is straightforward and the drive itself is part of the pleasure. Parking near the popular beaches fills up on summer weekends, so go early.
The honest version: when you don't need us
You don't need a private trip for a beach near the city. Glyfada, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza are all reachable by tram, bus or a short taxi ride, and for a couple on a budget that is the sensible choice.
Our Cape Sounion trip makes sense when you want more than a beach: a drive down the whole Riviera, a swim at a quiet cove you'd never reach by bus, and the Temple of Poseidon at sunset, with no driving, no parking and no bus changes. One van, one group, your own pace.
Questions about beaches near athens
What is the closest beach to Athens?
The closest beaches are along the Glyfada area, just south of the city on the Athens Riviera, about 20-40 min from central Athens. They're reachable by tram, bus or a short taxi ride.
Can you swim in Athens?
Yes. The Athens Riviera, the coast road south of the city, is lined with beaches, and the water is generally cleaner the further south you go. The swimming season runs roughly from late May to early October.
Which beaches near Athens are good for kids?
Varkiza is the family favorite: a sandy bay with shallow water, part organized with sunbeds and part free. Vouliagmeni Lake is also calm and sheltered, though it charges an entry fee that ranges between 10€-20€
When is the swimming season in Athens?
Roughly late May to early October. The sea is warmest in August and September. Outside those months the beaches are still worth a walk, but the water is cold for most people.