Grand Resort Lagonissi

Athens' beaches

by Lilasel

You don't have to get on a ferry boat to the islands to enjoy swimming in the Aegean Sea. Athens has a string of beaches which begins in Pireaus, known as The Apollo Coast.

Like any city the further you get out of town the better the beaches are. Public beaches like Vouliagmeni, run by EOT(Greece's National Tourist Organization) offer changing cabins, self-service restaurants, tennis courts, basket-ball and volleyball pitches, children's playgrounds, canoes and pedal canoes for hire. Other public beaches run by EOT are in Paleo Faliro, Alimos, Glyfada, Voula, Varkiza, Alcyoni, and Lagonissi. But these beaches are overcrowded most of the time on summer.

In Sounion there is a small beach below the temple with two tavernas and a large hotel. Between Sounion and Lavrion are a number of tiny coves and beaches but the problem is finding them. You can find less crowded beaches following the direction of Porto Rafti, Loutsa and Rafina,Marathon, Schinias and Oropos.

The best way to go to the beaches of Atika is by car. For Glyfada, Voula take the Coastal Tram in the center of Athens.
The blue public buses go to Vouliagmeni and Varkiza (Nr.116 and Nr.117 from Amalias Street right by the National Gardens).
The yellow Attika buses leave from Areos Park and will take you to Agia Marina, Anavissos, Lagonissi, Sounion and Lavrion as well as to the beaches on the other side of Attika like Rafina, Porto Rafti, Marathon, Schinias and Oropos.