The Athens Riviera, or Apollo Coast, is a 48 km stretch of beaches south of the city, from Glyfada and Vouliagmeni to Cape Sounion, with the famous Astir Beach, the thermal Lake Vouliagmeni and stylish seaside bars. Explore the coast on a catamaran cruise and plan your trip with My Greece Tours.
The Riviera is the seaside escape of the Athens travel guide. The sections below cover the best beaches, how to get there and tips in full.
What is the Athens Riviera?
Often called the Apollo Coast, the Athens Riviera is a roughly 48 km stretch of coastline along the southern suburbs of Athens, running from Faliro near Piraeus down to Cape Sounion and its Temple of Poseidon. It is lined with sandy beaches, glamorous resorts, marinas, beach bars and seaside dining, offering an easy seaside escape from the city.
The Athens Riviera, widely known as the Apollo Coast, is the city’s beautiful seaside playground, a roughly 48-kilometre coastal zone running along the southern suburbs of Athens beside the Saronic Gulf. It stretches from Flisvos Marina in Palaio Faliro, near the port of Piraeus, southwards through a string of seaside neighbourhoods, including Alimos, Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni, Varkiza and beyond, all the way down to the ancient Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion. Along this coast you will find a wonderful mix of sandy beaches and coves with clear, warm water, glamorous beach clubs and luxury resorts, busy marinas, seaside cafes, restaurants and cocktail bars, and upmarket suburbs. This makes the Riviera a perfect way to combine a city break with beach time, offering a refreshing escape from the summer heat and sightseeing of central Athens without travelling to the Greek islands. Whether you want a quick swim, a glamorous beach-club day, a seafood lunch by the water or a sunset cocktail, the Apollo Coast delivers. It is an easy, rewarding day out, set out alongside the guide to things to do in Athens. The best beaches are worth knowing.
What are the best beaches on the Athens Riviera?
The best Athens Riviera beaches include the glamorous Astir Beach at Vouliagmeni, with turquoise water and top facilities; the long beaches of Glyfada and Voula; the wild coves of Limanakia; and family-friendly Varkiza. Vouliagmeni is the Riviera’s crown jewel, known for its beauty, luxury resorts and the unique thermal Lake Vouliagmeni nearby.
The Athens Riviera offers a great variety of beaches to suit every taste, from organised, glamorous resort beaches to wilder coves. The undisputed crown jewel is Vouliagmeni, the most beautiful and exclusive part of the coast, known for its serene atmosphere, upscale hotels and secluded swimming spots; its famous Astir Beach is a glamorous, organised, blue-flag beach with smooth sand, shallow turquoise water and excellent facilities, though it charges an entrance fee. The popular suburbs of Glyfada and Voula have long, well-equipped beaches with sunbeds, bars and watersports, lively and easy to reach. For a more rugged, scenic experience, the rocky coves of Limanakia, near Vouliagmeni, offer deep blue water, dramatic rocks and laid-back rock bars perched at the water’s edge, a favourite spot for swimming and sunset. Varkiza and other beaches further south are good for families and watersports. Many beaches are organised, with entrance fees and facilities, while some are free public stretches. With so much choice, the Riviera has a beach for everyone, set out alongside the guide to Cape Sounion. Lake Vouliagmeni is a unique highlight.
What is Lake Vouliagmeni?
Lake Vouliagmeni is a unique natural thermal lake on the Athens Riviera, fed by underground springs, with warm, mineral-rich brackish water year-round. Set against a dramatic rock face, it is renowned for its therapeutic, spa-like waters, said to ease conditions like rheumatism and arthritis, and offers a relaxing, scenic swim with sunbeds, a cafe and resident Garra rufa fish.
One of the most distinctive attractions on the Athens Riviera is Lake Vouliagmeni, a remarkable natural lake located at the southern end of the Vouliagmeni area. This rare half-lake, half-sea formation is fed by underground thermal springs that keep its mineral-rich, brackish water pleasantly warm all year round, typically around 22 to 29 degrees even in winter, making it a wonderful place to swim in any season. Set dramatically against a towering rock cliff in a tranquil, scenic spot, the lake is famous for the therapeutic, spa-like qualities of its waters, which are rich in minerals and have long been believed to help relieve conditions such as rheumatism, arthritis and skin ailments, giving a swim here a wellness dimension. The organised site has sunbeds, umbrellas, a cafe and a relaxed atmosphere, and the resident little Garra rufa fish gently nibble swimmers’ skin for a natural spa effect. A swim in the warm, healing waters of Lake Vouliagmeni is a unique and relaxing experience close to the city. It is a special highlight of the coast, set out alongside the guide to the best time to visit. Getting to the Riviera is easy.
How do you reach the Athens Riviera?
You can reach the Athens Riviera by the coastal tram from central Athens, which runs to Glyfada and Voula in around an hour, by bus, or by taxi and ride-hailing apps. Driving along the scenic coast road gives the most flexibility to explore. The northern beaches near Faliro and Glyfada are easiest to reach by public transport.
Getting from central Athens to the Riviera beaches is straightforward, with several options. The most useful for visitors without a car is the coastal tram, which runs from the city centre down to the seaside suburbs of the northern Riviera, reaching beaches around Faliro, Alimos, Glyfada and Voula in roughly an hour, a cheap and scenic ride to the coast on the standard transport ticket. City buses also serve the coast and run further south. For more flexibility, taxis and ride-hailing apps are quick and reasonably priced, especially when shared, and can reach the more distant beaches like Vouliagmeni that are less well served by the tram. The most flexible option is to drive, either in a hire car or a taxi, along the beautiful coastal road, which lets you explore the length of the Apollo Coast at your own pace, stopping wherever you like and continuing on to Cape Sounion. The closer beaches near Faliro and Glyfada are the easiest to reach by public transport, while the exclusive Vouliagmeni area is best reached by car or taxi. Choosing the right transport gets you to the sea easily, set out alongside the guide to getting around Athens. A few tips help your beach day.
What tips help for a day on the Athens Riviera?
For an Athens Riviera beach day, go early in summer to beat the crowds and heat, bring cash for organised-beach entrance fees, and pack sun protection, water and beach gear. Choose an organised beach for facilities or a free cove for a wild swim, combine it with a seafood lunch or sunset cocktail, and consider a boat cruise along the coast.
A few practical tips help you make the most of a day on the Athens Riviera. In the hot summer months, head to the beach early in the day to claim a good spot and enjoy the calmer morning before the crowds and the fierce midday sun, especially at the popular organised beaches. Be aware that many of the best beaches, such as Astir Beach and other beach clubs, charge an entrance fee, which can be significant in peak season, so bring some cash and check prices, while free public beaches are also available if you prefer. Pack the essentials: plenty of sun protection, water, a hat, a towel and beach gear, plus water shoes for any pebbly or rocky entries, such as at Limanakia. Decide what kind of day you want, choosing an organised beach with sunbeds, bars and facilities for comfort, or a wilder free cove for a natural swim. Make the most of the seaside setting by enjoying a long seafood lunch at a beachfront taverna or a sunset cocktail at a coastal bar. For a special experience, take a catamaran or boat cruise along the coast. With these tips, the Riviera is a perfect escape, set out alongside the guides to a Riviera catamaran tour and where to stay. The questions below cover the points visitors ask most.
What else can you do on the Athens Riviera besides the beach?
Besides the beaches, the Athens Riviera offers seaside dining and cocktail bars, glamorous marinas like Flisvos and the Astir, the cultural Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre, watersports and sailing, shopping and nightlife in Glyfada, and spectacular coastal sunsets, plus the clifftop Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion at the coast’s southern tip.
The Athens Riviera is about far more than just swimming, offering a wealth of things to do that make it a rewarding destination in its own right. Dining and drinking by the sea are a highlight, with the coast lined by excellent seafood tavernas, stylish restaurants, beach clubs and cocktail bars, perfect for a long lunch or a sunset drink with the water lapping nearby. The marinas are glamorous spots to stroll, from the Flisvos Marina with its superyachts, cafes and the Volta fun park for children, to the upscale Astir and Vouliagmeni marinas. Culture lovers can visit the magnificent Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre near Faliro, with its park, fountains, opera house and library, often with free events. The coast is also a hub for watersports and sailing, from windsurfing and paddleboarding to boat trips and catamaran cruises. The suburb of Glyfada offers buzzing shopping streets, cafes and nightlife, while the whole coast is renowned for its spectacular sunsets over the Saronic Gulf. At the southern end, the iconic clifftop Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion crowns the Riviera. This variety makes the coast a full day out, set out alongside the guides to Cape Sounion and Athens boat tours. The questions below cover the points visitors ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Athens Riviera?
Often called the Apollo Coast, the Athens Riviera is a roughly 48 km stretch of coastline along the southern suburbs of Athens, running from Faliro near Piraeus down to Cape Sounion and its Temple of Poseidon. It is lined with sandy beaches, glamorous resorts, marinas, beach bars and seaside dining, offering an easy seaside escape from the city.
What are the best beaches near Athens?
The best beaches near Athens are on the Riviera: the glamorous Astir Beach at Vouliagmeni with turquoise water, the long beaches of Glyfada and Voula, the wild coves of Limanakia, and family-friendly Varkiza. Vouliagmeni is the crown jewel, also home to the unique warm, thermal Lake Vouliagmeni for a spa-like swim.
How do you reach the Athens Riviera beaches?
You can reach the Athens Riviera by the coastal tram from central Athens to Glyfada and Voula in around an hour, by bus, or by taxi and ride-hailing apps, which are best for the more distant Vouliagmeni. Driving along the scenic coast road gives the most flexibility to explore the whole Apollo Coast.