Athens is that rare capital with a full Mediterranean coastline on its doorstep. The Athenian Riviera runs south from the city, strung with organized beaches, glamorous beach clubs and free public sand — from the easy-to-reach Alimos and cosmopolitan Glyfada to the gin-clear water of Vouliagmeni, exclusive Astir, the warm thermal Lake Vouliagmeni and wilder, pine-backed Schinias. Here are 8 of the best, with how to get there by tram and bus, prices and tips.
Vouliagmeni Beach
Area
Vouliagmeni
Facilities
Organized, sunbeds, bars, watersports
“The organized Astir/Vouliagmeni bays have the clearest water on the Riviera — go for calm, turquoise swimming.”
Astir Beach (Asteras Vouliagmeni)
Area
Vouliagmeni
Facilities
Luxury club, sunbeds, restaurants, watersports
“The priciest, most polished beach club on the Riviera — book a sunbed in high summer and make a full day of it.”
Glyfada Beaches
Area
Glyfada
Facilities
Beach clubs, bars, shops, nightlife
“Glyfada is as much about the buzzing beach-club scene, shopping and bars as the sand — great for a lively day-into-night.”
Kavouri Beach
Area
Kavouri / Vouliagmeni
Facilities
Free & organized mix, tavernas, calm water
“There are lovely free public stretches here — arrive early with a mat for a beautiful, low-cost swim.”
Varkiza Beach
Area
Varkiza
Facilities
Large organized resort beach, watersports, bars
“The big organized Varkiza Resort has watersports, pools and events — good for an active or family beach day.”
Lake Vouliagmeni
Area
Vouliagmeni
Facilities
Thermal spa lake, sunbeds, café, fish spa
“This is a warm, mineral-rich thermal lake, not the sea — the little 'doctor fish' nibble your feet for free.”
Schinias Beach
Area
Marathon (northeast Attica)
Facilities
Long natural sandy beach, pines, watersports
“A long, pine-backed natural beach near Marathon — quieter and wilder than the Riviera, best reached by car.”
Alimos Beach
Area
Alimos
Facilities
Closest organized beach, sunbeds, bars, easy access
“The nearest proper organized beach to central Athens — grab it by tram when you want sea without a long trip.”
Athenian Riviera beaches in detail
1.Vouliagmeni Beach
Vouliagmeni, about 20 kilometres south of central Athens, is the most prestigious and beautiful stretch of the Athenian Riviera — the smart coastal suburb where Athenians with means come to swim. Its sheltered bays hold some of the clearest, most turquoise water within easy reach of the city, framed by pine-covered slopes and lined with a mix of polished organized beaches, upmarket beach clubs and free public patches. The main Vouliagmeni beach is a well-run, family-friendly bay with fine sand, calm shallow water ideal for children, sunbeds and umbrellas for hire, bars, cafés, showers and watersports. Nearby, the exclusive Astir Beach adds a more luxurious, boutique-club experience for a higher fee. The whole area feels a world away from the dense city — leafy, affluent and refreshingly clean — yet it's reachable by public transport (tram plus bus, or the express coastal bus) in around 40 minutes, or a short taxi. Come for a proper Mediterranean beach day of swimming in gin-clear water, a seafood lunch and a sunbed, and combine it easily with the other Riviera beaches or a sunset run down to Cape Sounion. The pick of the coast.
Hours
Organized beaches daily, summer season; free public stretches too
Price
Organized entry ~€5–15+; public areas free
Getting there
Tram to Voula/Glyfada then bus, or the coastal express bus / taxi (~40 min)
Insider tip: The organized Astir/Vouliagmeni bays have the clearest water on the Riviera — go for calm, turquoise swimming.
2.Astir Beach (Asteras Vouliagmeni)
Astir Beach — properly Asteras Vouliagmenis — is the most exclusive and manicured beach on the Athenian Riviera, a beautifully landscaped private bay tucked into the pine-clad peninsula at Vouliagmeni beside the luxury Astir resort. This is beach-going Athens at its most polished: an entrance fee (higher on summer weekends) buys you access to immaculate golden sand, a sheltered swathe of crystal-clear, calm turquoise water, and full facilities including plush sunbeds and cabanas, upmarket restaurants and beach bars, watersports, changing rooms and even a small archaeological site (a temple of Apollo Zoster) on the sand. The atmosphere is chic, relaxed and family-friendly, drawing a well-heeled crowd of Athenians and visitors who want their beach day with comfort and style. It's noticeably pricier than the public beaches and the more egalitarian organized ones nearby, so it suits those happy to pay for the setting and service. Reach it via the coastal bus or tram-plus-bus, or a taxi from the centre in around 40 minutes. For a glamorous, hassle-free day of swimming in some of the clearest water near Athens, with everything laid on, Astir is the Riviera's flagship.
Hours
Daily, summer season ~08:00–20:00
Price
Entry ~€15–40+ depending on day/season; sunbeds extra
Getting there
Coastal bus or tram+bus to Vouliagmeni, or a ~40-minute taxi from the centre
Insider tip: The priciest, most polished beach club on the Riviera — book a sunbed in high summer and make a full day of it.
3.Glyfada Beaches
Glyfada is the cosmopolitan capital of the Athenian Riviera — a stylish, upmarket seaside suburb around 15 kilometres south of the centre that's as much a lifestyle destination as a beach. Its coast is lined with a string of organized beaches and fashionable beach clubs (Balux, Bolivar and their neighbours) offering sunbeds, pools, cocktails, DJ sets and food, where a lively, see-and-be-seen crowd spends long summer days that slide seamlessly into evening parties. Behind the seafront, Glyfada itself is a buzzing town of designer shops, cafés, restaurants and bars, giving it a real day-into-night energy that the quieter Riviera beaches lack. The sand-and-sea quality is good if not quite as pristine as Vouliagmeni further south, but the atmosphere and amenities are the draw. Crucially, it's the easiest beach area to reach from central Athens — the tram runs all the way down the coast to Glyfada in under an hour, cheap and simple — making it the default choice for a spontaneous beach day without a car. Come for a full day of swimming, beach-club lounging, shopping and sundowners, and stay on for the nightlife. For a lively, accessible, all-in-one coastal day out, Glyfada is hard to beat.
Hours
Beach clubs daily in summer; suburb always lively
Price
Organized/club beaches ~€5–20; free stretches too
Getting there
Tram from central Athens directly to Glyfada (~50 min), or coastal bus / taxi
Insider tip: Glyfada is as much about the buzzing beach-club scene, shopping and bars as the sand — great for a lively day-into-night.
4.Kavouri Beach
Kavouri, on the wooded peninsula between Glyfada and Vouliagmeni, is one of the Riviera's most appealing and relaxed beach areas, and a favourite of Athenians in the know for its balance of beauty, value and calm. The coastline here is a series of pretty coves and sandy stretches backed by pine trees and low bluffs, with a mix of organized sections offering sunbeds and beach bars and — importantly — generous free public patches where you can simply lay down a towel and swim for nothing. The water is clean, clear and often gentle, making it good for families, and the setting is greener and more low-key than glitzy Glyfada or exclusive Vouliagmeni. A handful of well-regarded seaside tavernas and cafés along the shore serve fresh fish and Greek classics with a sea view, perfect for a long lunch between swims. It sits a little further from public transport than Glyfada, so it's reached by tram plus a short bus or taxi, or by car, roughly 45 minutes from the centre. For a beautiful, more affordable and less crowded Riviera day that mixes free swimming with the option of a sunbed and a taverna lunch, Kavouri is a smart, lovely choice.
Hours
Free areas always open; organized parts summer season
Price
Free public stretches; organized areas ~€5+
Getting there
Tram to Glyfada/Voula then a short bus or taxi; ~45 min from the centre
Insider tip: There are lovely free public stretches here — arrive early with a mat for a beautiful, low-cost swim.
5.Varkiza Beach
Varkiza, around 25 kilometres south of Athens beyond Vouliagmeni, is home to one of the Riviera's largest and best-equipped organized beaches, centred on the sizeable Varkiza Resort (Yabanaki). This is a proper full-facility beach destination: a long, broad sweep of sand with plenty of room, calm clean water, and an extensive line-up of amenities and activities — sunbeds, umbrellas, beach bars and restaurants, swimming pools, watersports including windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding, volleyball courts, playgrounds and, in summer, events and beach parties. That breadth makes it especially good for families and active groups who want more than just sand, and the scale means it rarely feels as cramped as the beaches closer to the city. The wider Varkiza area has a relaxed, resort-town feel with tavernas and cafés. It's further out along the coast, so it takes a little longer to reach — the coastal express bus towards Sounion serves it, or tram-plus-bus, or a taxi, roughly 50 minutes from the centre. For a spacious, activity-packed beach day with everything laid on, particularly with children or a group wanting watersports, Varkiza is an excellent Riviera option, and a natural stop en route to Cape Sounion.
Hours
Daily, summer season
Price
Entry ~€5–12; sunbeds and activities extra
Getting there
Coastal express bus towards Sounion, or tram+bus / taxi (~50 min)
Insider tip: The big organized Varkiza Resort has watersports, pools and events — good for an active or family beach day.
6.Lake Vouliagmeni
Lake Vouliagmeni (Limni Vouliagmenis) is one of the most unusual and delightful swimming spots near Athens — not a sea beach but a natural brackish thermal lake, tucked spectacularly beneath a towering sheer cliff at Vouliagmeni. Fed by underground springs, its mineral-rich water stays remarkably warm year-round (around 22–29°C), making it a rare spot for a genuinely pleasant swim even in the cooler months, and the minerals are reputed to have therapeutic, skin-soothing properties. The organized lakeside has a relaxed, spa-like atmosphere with sunbeds and umbrellas on wooden decks, a café-restaurant, and shallow areas that suit families and less confident swimmers. A famous, quirky bonus: shoals of little 'doctor fish' (Garra rufa) live in the lake and will gently nibble dead skin from your feet as you float — a natural fish pedicure that children find hilarious. The dramatic backdrop of the cliff and the cave system behind adds to the sense of somewhere special. It's an easy trip down the coast (about 40 minutes by public transport or taxi) and pairs perfectly with the nearby Vouliagmeni and Astir sea beaches. For a warm, scenic, wellness-flavoured swim, it's a unique Athenian treat.
Hours
Daily year-round ~08:00 to evening (extended summer)
Price
Entry ~€12–20 (varies by season)
Getting there
Tram to Glyfada/Voula then bus, or coastal bus / taxi (~40 min)
Insider tip: This is a warm, mineral-rich thermal lake, not the sea — the little 'doctor fish' nibble your feet for free.
7.Schinias Beach
For a wilder, more natural beach day away from the developed Riviera, Schinias, near the historic plain of Marathon in the north-east of Attica, is the standout choice. Set within a protected national park, it's a long, beautiful stretch of soft golden sand backed by a dense, shady forest of umbrella pines that grow almost to the water's edge — a rare and lovely landscape close to Athens. The shallow, clean water and gentle gradient make it excellent for families and swimmers, while the steady winds at one end have made it a renowned spot for watersports; the Olympic rowing and canoeing venue from the 2004 Games sits alongside. Much of the beach is free public sand where you can spread out under the pines, with some organized sections and a few beach bars and tavernas for shade, sunbeds and food. Because it's a national park and further out, it feels more unspoilt and less crowded than the Riviera, though it can get busy on summer weekends with Athenians escaping the city. It's on the opposite (eastern) side of Attica from the Riviera and is realistically best reached by car in about an hour. For nature, space and pine-scented swimming, Schinias is a gem.
Hours
Always open; some organized sections in summer
Price
Free public areas; organized parts ~€5+
Getting there
Best by car (~1h); or bus to Marathon then local transport/taxi
Insider tip: A long, pine-backed natural beach near Marathon — quieter and wilder than the Riviera, best reached by car.
8.Alimos Beach
Alimos (also known as Edem, and formerly Kalamaki) is the most convenient beach for anyone based in central Athens — the first proper organized beach as the coast begins, and the easiest to reach without much effort. The tram runs straight down from the city to Alimos in around 30 to 40 minutes, dropping you close to a long, well-organized strip of sand with all the essentials: sunbeds and umbrellas, beach bars and cafés, showers, changing facilities, volleyball and a lively, sociable summer atmosphere. It's a popular, buzzy city beach rather than a pristine natural cove — busier, more built-up and with water that's decent rather than the crystal-clear turquoise you'll find further south at Vouliagmeni — but for a quick, cheap, hassle-free swim and sunbathe close to the centre, it does the job admirably. Its accessibility makes it the go-to for Athenians and visitors who want a spontaneous few hours by the sea without committing to a longer journey down the Riviera. Come for an easy afternoon of swimming, a frappé at a beach bar and some sun, and you can be back in the city centre within the hour. For convenience above all, Alimos is the practical pick.
Hours
Daily, summer season
Price
Entry ~€4–8; sunbeds extra
Getting there
Tram from Syntagma down the coast to Alimos / Kalamaki (~30–40 min)
Insider tip: The nearest proper organized beach to central Athens — grab it by tram when you want sea without a long trip.