The Acropolis, Parthenon, Ampitheater, and surrounding ruins are usually the go-to places of most tourists when they go to Athens because it gives such a surreal feeling to be standing amidst structures and buildings that have been up for centuries and hold so much rich history. It is simply unfathomable. But one thing that people forget about this city of ruins is that it actually has more to offer than what the ancient Greeks have built centuries ago. Though Greece is partly an archipelago and thus have a lot of islands and beaches, Athens is usually passed off by tourists as just a city of ruins and resort to going to Greece’s other islands if they want to go to the beach. Athens can actually offer pieces of paradise amidst its city of ruins where you can enjoy the Aegean’s sun, sand, and sea.
Vouliagmeni
This is one of the most popular and organized beaches in Athens and is just a bus or two away from the city center depending on where you’re coming from in Athens. It is complete with amenities, a restaurant, cabins, courts, and everything you would need to make your beach experience very enjoyable. However, since it’s one of the more popular beaches in the city, it gets very crowded in the summer time, but if you don’t mind meeting lots of new people, you should definitely try and go to Vouliagmeni beach.
For those who enjoy water sports, I believe Schinias is the beach for you. This long stretch of sand and sea can be found in the very windy area of Marathon which makes it perfect for wind surfing and other water sports. It even has a windsurfer club at the tip of the beach. This is also one of the best beaches in this side of Athens and so is also frequented by both locals and tourists alike during the summer and on weekends.
This beach is one of the closest ones to Athens’ city center which is probably why it can get a bit overcrowded during the peak season. However, its proximity to the city center is not the only reason why both locals and visitors swarm this beach on a regular basis. Alimos is very popular for its beautiful fine sand that stretches throughout its coast and its clean and refreshing blue water can also be conducive for lots of water sports. Beach lovers of all ages can definitely all enjoy in this one place with the array of activities, play areas, and amenities that it has to offer.
For those who want to enjoy a more peaceful and quiet beach, Legrena is the beach for you. It is a more secluded area separated by small coves which makes it popular to divers. Since it is also protected from the winds, not much water activities can be done in this cove. It is not a very organized beach so you would have to bring your own beach umbrellas and other beach essentials, but if what you’re after is to just have a relaxing day to enjoy the warm sun and have a dip in the cool water; this would be the best place to hit.
This beach is more popular for party-goers as Glyfada houses some good bars and clubs for those who want to enjoy some cocktails and good music after a day at the beach. In fact, some of the most popular clubs in the city even transfer to Glyfada beach during the summer to make the locals and tourists’ night life more interesting as they get to dance, drink, and dine by the sea.
