Varkiza is a relaxed beach suburb on the Athenian Riviera, with a big sandy organised beach, watersports, beach bars, a famous clifftop summer club and seaside seafood tavernas. Combine a sun-and-sea day with skip-the-line sightseeing tickets and tours from My Greece Tours for the best of city and coast.
This breezy Riviera escape is a seaside corner of the Athens travel guide. The sections below cover what Varkiza is, the beach and watersports, the beach resort facilities, the nightlife, the seaside dining, and how to visit this coastal spot near Athens.
What is Varkiza?
Varkiza is a popular beach suburb on the Athenian Riviera, around 22 km south of central Athens, on the coast just beyond Vouliagmeni toward Cape Sounion. Bathed by the clear waters of the Saronic Gulf, it is known for its large sandy organised beach, watersports, beach bars and a relaxed seaside atmosphere that balances beach-club amenities with accessibility for families and locals. With good swimming, dining and nightlife, it makes a lively, easygoing coastal escape from the city.
For a fun, breezy day by the sea within easy reach of Athens, Varkiza is one of the most popular and enjoyable beach destinations on the Athenian Riviera, the coastline that runs south from the city along the Saronic Gulf. Lying around twenty-two kilometres from the centre of Athens, on the coast just beyond the upscale suburb of Vouliagmeni and toward Cape Sounion, Varkiza is a relaxed seaside suburb blessed with the clear, clean waters of the gulf and a big, sandy beach. Its great appeal is that it strikes a happy balance: sophisticated enough to offer beach-club amenities, watersports, bars and waterfront dining, yet accessible and unpretentious enough for families on a budget and for locals who simply want a swim after work.
The result is a lively, sociable and easygoing beach resort atmosphere that draws crowds of Athenians and visitors alike, especially in summer. With its excellent swimming, range of activities, good food and buzzing nightlife, Varkiza makes a perfect, carefree coastal escape from the heat and bustle of the city. It is the Riviera at its most playful. Its beach is the main event. The sand and sea draw everyone here.
What is the beach and watersports like?
Varkiza has a large, sandy, organised beach in a sheltered bay with clear, shallow water ideal for swimming and families. The bay is a top spot for watersports, with operators offering jet skiing, water skiing, paddleboarding, banana-boat rides and more. Sunbeds, umbrellas and beach bars line the sand. The combination of a fine sandy beach, calm water and a full range of watersports makes Varkiza one of the best and most active beaches on the Athens Riviera.
The heart of Varkiza, and the reason most people come, is its splendid beach, one of the finest and most active sandy beaches on the entire Athenian Riviera. The main beach occupies a sheltered, gently curving bay, with a broad stretch of soft sand washed by the clear, clean and notably calm, shallow waters of the Saronic Gulf, conditions that make it excellent and safe for swimming and especially appealing to families with children. What sets Varkiza apart from many Riviera beaches, however, is its reputation as a prime destination for watersports, the relatively sheltered bay being ideal for activities on the water; here you will find professional operators offering an exciting range of pursuits, from jet skiing and exhilarating water skiing to the gentler pleasures of stand-up paddleboarding, along with banana-boat and tube rides that bounce across the waves, catering to thrill-seekers and casual fun alike.
The beach is well equipped, with sunbeds and umbrellas to rent, beach bars serving drinks and snacks, and a vibrant, sociable atmosphere. This combination of a beautiful sandy beach, calm swimming water and abundant watersports makes Varkiza a wonderfully active and enjoyable seaside spot. There is fun for every taste. The organised beach resort adds further facilities.
What facilities does the beach resort offer?
Varkiza’s main beach is part of an organised resort complex offering a wide range of facilities, including several beach bars, sunbeds and umbrellas, a watersports kiosk, beach volleyball and basketball courts, playgrounds for children, and bungalows for day use. Visitors can choose their preferred zone, from lively music-filled areas to quieter, family-friendly or more secluded spots. This well-equipped, all-in-one beach resort makes for a comfortable, fun-filled day by the sea for all ages.
Much of Varkiza’s beach is run as an organised beach resort complex, which means visitors enjoy an impressive array of facilities and amenities that make for a comfortable and entertaining day out, catering to every kind of beachgoer. The complex typically offers several beach bars and cafés serving refreshments, food and cocktails throughout the day, along with rows of sunbeds and umbrellas to hire for shade and comfort, and a watersports kiosk for arranging activities on the water. For the active and the young, there are sporting facilities such as beach volleyball and basketball courts, as well as playgrounds to keep children happily occupied, and in some areas bungalows or cabanas are available for day use by those wanting a more private base.
A particularly appealing feature of the resort is that it is divided into different zones to suit different moods, so visitors can pick their spot, whether they prefer a lively, vibrant area pulsing with music and energy, a calmer and more secluded stretch for relaxation, or a family-friendly section near the playground. This flexibility and the breadth of facilities make Varkiza an easy, all-in-one beach day for groups, couples and families alike. It has something for everyone. When the sun goes down, the fun continues.
What is the nightlife like in Varkiza?
Varkiza is famous for its nightlife, above all as home to one of the most famous summer clubs in Athens, a spectacular venue built dramatically on the rocks above the sea, offering unforgettable views and atmosphere on warm nights. The suburb also has beach bars, seaside cafés and a retro outdoor cinema screening films in summer. This lively after-dark scene makes Varkiza a destination not just by day but well into the warm Athenian evenings.
Varkiza’s appeal does not end when the sun sets, for the suburb is well known across Athens for its lively summer nightlife, making it a destination for an evening out as much as a day at the beach. Its crowning glory in this respect is one of the most famous summer clubs in the whole of Athens, a spectacular open-air venue built dramatically on the rocky cliffs above the sea, where, on warm summer nights, glamorous crowds gather to dance and socialise amid unsurpassable sea views and a magical, sophisticated atmosphere that has made it a legend of the Athenian summer scene.
Beyond this celebrated club, Varkiza offers a more relaxed evening scene too, with its beach bars and seaside cafés staying lively after dark, perfect for sunset drinks and casual nights by the water. A charming and beloved local institution is the suburb’s retro open-air summer cinema, a cheerful picture house that screens new films, often Hollywood releases with Greek subtitles, under the stars on balmy evenings, a quintessentially Greek summer pleasure. This vibrant after-dark life means Varkiza buzzes well into the warm Athenian nights. It is fun by day and night. The seaside dining completes the picture.
What is the seaside dining, and how do you visit?
Varkiza is packed with eateries, from casual beach cafés to excellent seafood tavernas serving the fresh catch of the day by the water, plus modern restaurants and cocktail bars for breakfast through dinner. To visit, drive about 30 minutes south from central Athens along the coast, or take the coastal tram to Voula or Glyfada and continue by bus or taxi, or a direct bus. Spring to autumn is best for the beach, with summer the liveliest for the full resort and nightlife.
Rounding out the appeal of Varkiza is its abundant and varied dining scene, for although mainly a residential and beach suburb, it is packed with eateries and restaurants offering a wealth of choice for every taste and time of day. Along the seafront and through the suburb you will find everything from casual beach cafés and snack bars for a quick bite between swims to excellent traditional seafood tavernas, some run by local naval clubs and set right by the water, where you can feast on freshly grilled fish and the day’s catch in a relaxed, authentic setting with the sea lapping nearby.
These naval-club and family tavernas, with tables almost on the sand, are a real highlight, serving simple, beautifully prepared seafood at fair prices well away from the tourist-trap restaurants of the centre. There are also trendier modern restaurants and cocktail bars serving everything from breakfast and brunch through to dinner and drinks. Getting to Varkiza from central Athens is easy: by car it is around a thirty-minute drive south along the scenic coastal road, while by public transport you can take the coastal tram down to Voula or Glyfada and continue by local bus or taxi, or catch a direct bus toward the coast.
The beach is best enjoyed from spring through autumn, with the height of summer bringing the liveliest atmosphere and the full swing of the resort, watersports and famous nightlife. Many visitors combine Varkiza with the wider Riviera, pairing a swim here with the neighbouring beaches of Vouliagmeni or a sunset at nearby Cape Sounion. For a complete coastal day and night, Varkiza delivers. The coast is detailed in the Athens Riviera beaches guide. The questions below cover the points visitors ask most.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Varkiza known for?
Varkiza is known as a popular beach suburb on the Athenian Riviera, famous for its large sandy organised beach in a sheltered bay with clear, calm water and excellent watersports like jet skiing and paddleboarding. It also offers beach bars, a well-equipped resort with sports courts and playgrounds, seaside seafood tavernas, and a famous clifftop summer club, making it lively day and night.
How do you get to Varkiza from Athens?
Varkiza lies around 22 km south of central Athens on the Riviera coast, about a 30-minute drive along the coastal road. By public transport, you can take the coastal tram to Voula or Glyfada and continue by local bus or taxi, or catch a direct bus toward the coast. The beach is best from spring to autumn, with summer the liveliest for the resort and nightlife.
Is Varkiza beach good for families?
Yes, Varkiza beach is good for families, with a large stretch of soft sand and clear, calm, shallow water ideal and safe for children to swim. The organised resort offers sunbeds, beach bars, playgrounds, sports courts and a family-friendly zone, alongside watersports for older children and adults. Its mix of facilities and gentle water makes it one of the more family-friendly Riviera beaches.