Beaches · Athens · Greece
The best beaches in and near Athens
Where to swim and spend a beach day, and when the water is warm.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The best-known beach is Edem Beach, Palaio Faliro (About 8 km, 30–40 minutes by tram). The sea is usually warm enough for a comfortable swim (21°C+) in June–October.
Key facts
- Beaches in this guide
- 5
- Swimming season
- June–October
- Warmest sea
- 27°C (81°F)
The beaches
About 8 km, 30–40 minutes by tram · A quick swim from the centre
1.Edem Beach, Palaio Faliro
The closest sandy beach to the centre, free and reached directly by tram; handy for a quick swim, though the water is less clear than further south.
About 17 km, about 1 hour by tram · A beach day with restaurants
2.Glyfada beaches
Organised beaches with sunbeds, beach bars and summer lifeguards, plus free stretches, along the main seaside suburb.
About 23 km, about 35 minutes by taxi · Swimming outside summer
3.Lake Vouliagmeni
A brackish lake fed by warm springs beneath a limestone cliff, with paid entry, loungers and a café; the mild water makes it popular outside summer too.
About 25 km, about 40 minutes by car · A luxury beach day
4.Astir Beach, Vouliagmeni
A sheltered, upmarket private beach in a pine-fringed bay, with paid entry, sunbed packages and restaurants.
About 30 km, about 1 hour 15 minutes by bus · Families
5.Varkiza
A long sandy bay with organised and free sections, popular with Athenian families at weekends.
Sea temperature by month
| Month | Sea | Air high |
|---|---|---|
| January | 16°C (61°F) | 13°C (55°F) |
| February | 15°C (59°F) | 14°C (57°F) |
| March | 15°C (59°F) | 16°C (61°F) |
| April | 17°C (63°F) | 20°C (68°F) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 25°C (77°F) |
| June | 24°C (75°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
| July | 26°C (79°F) | 33°C (91°F) |
| August | 27°C (81°F) | 33°C (91°F) |
| September | 25°C (77°F) | 29°C (84°F) |
| October | 22°C (72°F) | 24°C (75°F) |
| November | 19°C (66°F) | 19°C (66°F) |
| December | 17°C (63°F) | 15°C (59°F) |
Staying near the beach
$$$ · Best for beach, families, luxury and shopping
Glyfada
About 17 km south of the centre, Glyfada is the best-known of the coastal suburbs, with organised beaches, a marina, a golf course and shopping streets around Metaxa and Lazaraki. The tram links it with Syntagma in about an hour, so it suits beach-focused stays more than sightseeing.
- Good
- Beaches within walking distance; Upmarket restaurants and bars; Shorter drive to the airport
- Watch out
- About an hour from the ruins by tram; Car or taxi needed for some beaches
- Nearby
- Glyfada Marina, Vouliagmeni, Lake Vouliagmeni, Varkiza
Getting to the beaches
- Metro — Line 1 (green) runs from Piraeus through Thiseio and Monastiraki to Kifisia; line 2 (red) stops at Akropoli and Syntagma; line 3 (blue) links Monastiraki and Syntagma with the airport.
- Tram — The tram runs from central Athens down to the coast at Palaio Faliro and along the shore towards Glyfada and Voula, giving access to the Riviera beaches and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.
- Bus — Buses and trolleybuses fill gaps in the metro network, and the X95 express bus runs between Syntagma and the airport around the clock.
- Ferry — Ferries and fast catamarans to the Saronic islands and the Cyclades leave from Piraeus, at the end of metro line 1, and from Rafina, east of the airport.
Beach-weather months
Days of 24°C (75°F) or more with no more than nine rainy days come in May–October. The busiest of those is June, so book early.
Beach safety
Athens is generally safe for visitors, but pickpocketing is common on metro line 1, around Monastiraki and on crowded buses. Summer heatwaves are a real risk: avoid exposed sites at midday, drink plenty of water and use the shade. Swim at lifeguarded beaches where possible and follow local flag warnings.
Questions travellers ask
+Does Athens have beaches?
Yes: Edem Beach, Palaio Faliro, Glyfada beaches, Lake Vouliagmeni, Astir Beach, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza.
+When is the sea warm enough to swim in Athens?
Usually June–October, when the sea averages 21°C or more.
+What is the best beach near Athens?
Edem Beach, Palaio Faliro: The closest sandy beach to the centre, free and reached directly by tram; handy for a quick swim, though the water is less clear than further south.