Athens has a rare advantage among European capitals: in summer the sea can effortlessly become a daily part of the city’s geography. From the center, the road drops quickly toward the southern suburbs, then follows the Saronic Gulf past the townships of Vouliagmeni, Varkiza, Saronida and Sounio, where the coastline changes from easy urban beach to small coves, sandy bays and rockier edges with open water ahead.
See, most visitors to Athens know two options: the organized Riviera beaches with steep entrance fees, or the ferry to an island. These are the swims in between – the ones Athenians actually drive to on a Saturday morning before the heat sets in. A few are organized and easy, with sunbeds, showers and food. Others are best reached by car, reward an early start, and feel more like the coast you came to Greece to find. All of them allow the same small luxury: leaving the city behind for a few hours or the day and returning with deeper color and salt on your skin.
01
KAPE
KAPE is one of the most satisfying swims on the Sounio coast, partly because reaching it already feels like a decision. The beach takes its name from the nearby Centre for Renewable Energy Sources, and access requires a descent of roughly 100 steps from the road. At the bottom, the reward is a compact cove with pebbles, fine gravel, clear cool water and a view toward the islet of Patroklos. There are no sunbeds or beach bars on the shore, only a canteen above the steps, so this is a beach for people who arrive prepared and do not mind the climb back up.
Best For
A clear-water swim with a wilder Attica feeling, away from the organized Riviera beaches.
How to Get There
By car or taxi, allow about one hour from central Athens, taking Syngrou Avenue toward the coast and then continuing along the Athens-Sounio coastal road. Parking is usually found above the beach, near the point where the steps begin. By public transport, take the KTEL Attikis bus from Athens toward Sounio on the coastal route and get off at the KAPE Beach stop, which appears on the official Sounio route stop list. From there, walk to the steps and descend to the cove. Note: This is not a comfortable option with heavy bags, umbrellas or small children.
More Swims + Drinks
Stay close and go to KAPE Beach Bar, the most natural after-swim choice for this beach. It suits the day’s rhythm: a simple coastal stop, a drink after the climb back up from the cove, and the Sounio road still ahead of you if you want to continue toward sunset.
02
Althea
Althea is small, pretty and easy to underestimate from the road. The beach sits below the coastal route near Agia Marina and has clear water in blue and green tones, with a view toward the islet of Douni. It has become better known in recent years, so the word quiet depends on when you go. Early in the day, especially in late spring or early summer, it still works beautifully for a first swim without the full machinery of an organized beach. Bring shade, water and whatever you want to eat.
Best For
A smaller cove within reasonable distance of Athens, especially for readers who want clear water without paying for an organized beach.
How to Get There
By car or taxi, allow around 40 to 50 minutes from central Athens, depending on traffic. Follow the Athens Riviera south through Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni and Agia Marina. Parking can be difficult on warm weekends, so morning arrival is a real advantage. By public transport, take the metro to Elliniko, then continue with bus 122 toward Saronida, but it’s long walk. The Althea stop is served by bus 122, and the Athens-Sounio coastal route can also be useful depending on departure point.
More Swims + Drinks
If you’re heading back toward Athens afterward, Royal Beach in Vouliagmeni (a solid 20 minutes drive) makes a natural stop on the way. The cove is quieter than most Riviera spots, the menu moves from light beach-bar food to Japanese-inspired dishes, and the setting shifts easily from late afternoon into evening.
03
Legrena
Legrena offers one of the most convincing arguments for driving farther down the Attica coast. The beach has soft sand, clear water and small dunes, with a more open, natural character than the busier southern-suburb beaches. The wider area is environmentally sensitive, as parts of the coast are associated with protected wetland and Natura 2000 zones, so visitors should treat the landscape with care and avoid leaving anything behind. This is a beach for a slower day: swim, read, walk, continue to Sounio if you want the sunset.
Best For
A sandy swim near Sounio, with more space and a looser beach rhythm than the Riviera beaches closer to Athens.
How to Get There
By car or taxi, allow about one hour and 10 to 20 minutes from central Athens. The most scenic route follows the coastal road past Vouliagmeni, Varkiza, Lagonisi, Saronida and Palaia Fokaia, then continues toward Sounio. By public transport, take the KTEL Attikis bus from Athens toward Sounio on the coastal route and get off at the Legrena entrance stop. From there, expect a walk toward the beach. This route is possible without a car, but it works best as a full-day outing. KTEL’s official Sounio stop list includes Legraina Entrance.
More Swims + Drinks
After Legrena, continue along the Sounio road to FreezBe Beach Bar at Charakas, about 10 minutes away by car. It keeps the evening close to the same coast, with clear water, sunbeds, music, coffee, beers and cocktails in a sandy beach setting before Sounio. It works best as a late-afternoon continuation of the swim rather than a formal night out: stay for another dip, order a drink, and let the day run toward sunset without leaving the southern edge of Attica.
04
Kavouri
Kavouri is one of the easiest ways to swim near Athens. It has shallow water, sandy sections, public access and enough nearby cafés and restaurants to make the outing simple. In late spring and early summer, before the highest heat and weekend crush, it gives visitors a clear picture of everyday Athens Riviera life: people walking along the coast, families arriving with towels, swimmers staying until early evening, and the city still close behind.
Best For
A simple, accessible Riviera swim, especially for visitors without a car.
How to Get There
By car or taxi, Kavouri is usually around 25 to 40 minutes from Syntagma, depending on traffic. Follow Syngrou Avenue toward the coast, continue through Glyfada and Voula, then turn toward Kavouri before Vouliagmeni. Parking is easier early in the day. By public transport, take the metro to Elliniko and continue by bus toward Voula, Vouliagmeni or Saronida. Bus 122 is one of the most useful coastal connections for this stretch, and bus 117 also serves nearby Riviera stops.
More Swims + Drinks
Nearby in Vouliagmeni (Kavouri is an area within Vouliagmeni) you’ll find Zen Beach, a restaurant serving all-day treats. Nearby in Voula visit The C, especially if you’d like to continue being by the water without shifting into full club mode. The setting combines beach, cabanas, sunbeds, cocktails, wines and food.
05
Erotospilia
Erotospilia, near Porto Rafti, is not a secret, but it still feels different from the southern Riviera beaches. The cove has clear water, a compact setting and an eastern Attica mood that makes the outing feel more like a proper escape from Athens. It gets crowded as the season advances, so it is best early in the day or outside peak weekends. The beach is better by car, and the surrounding Porto Rafti area makes it easy to stay for food or drinks afterward.
Best For
A clear-water cove on the eastern side of Attica, especially for readers with a car.
How to Get There
By car or taxi, allow around 45 minutes to one hour from central Athens, heading east toward Markopoulo and Porto Rafti. Once in Porto Rafti, continue toward the Erotospilia area and expect the final approach to be on local roads. By public transport, take the metro to Nomismatokopio or another convenient transfer point for the KTEL Attikis Porto Rafti route, then continue by local taxi or on foot depending on the exact stop. This is less convenient than the Riviera beaches without a car. KTEL Attikis lists Erotospilia among the beaches of Porto Rafti.
More Swims + Drinks
Stay in Porto Rafti and go to Nakal State of Mind. It is the strongest fit after Erotospilia because it keeps the evening on the eastern side of Attica, with a sea-facing lounge-bar and restaurant atmosphere that suits the bay after dark.
06
Thymari
Thymari sits on the quieter southern stretch of Attica, after Palaia Fokaia and before Sounio. It is not difficult in an adventurous sense, but it asks for more effort than Kavouri or Vouliagmeni. The beach is unorganized, with clear water, rock, sand and a simpler coastal setting that suits people who want to swim without music, service or rows of umbrellas. Bring water, shade and shoes you can walk in. A car makes the day much easier.
Best For
A lower-key swim on the Sounio road, with less infrastructure and a more local summer feeling.
How to Get There
By car or taxi, allow about one hour from central Athens, following the Athens-Sounio coastal road past Varkiza, Lagonisi, Saronida and Palaia Fokaia. The final access is easiest by car because you can stop close to the relevant point on the coastal road.By public transport, take the KTEL Attikis bus from Athens toward Sounio on the coastal route and get off at one of the Thymari stops. The official KTEL stop list includes 1st Thymari and 2nd Thymari. This remains a better beach for drivers, especially with umbrellas, water and food.
More Swims + Drinks
After Thymari, the closest option with sunbeds and drinks is Mavro Lithari, a sandy beach bar just before Saronida on the coastal road. It has the easygoing energy of a proper beach club without the Riviera price tag or production: clear water, a straightforward menu, cocktails, and enough music to carry the afternoon into evening. For something quieter, continue to Saronida or Palaia Fokaia, where the bars are smaller, more local, and better suited to an after-swim drink on the pavement than a curated night out.
07
Tsiou / Chiou Beach
Tsiou, also written as Chiou in some listings, is one of the smaller coves near the southern end of Attica. It is reached by following the road toward Lavrio and Akrotiri, parking where the road ends, and continuing on foot down to the beach. The cove is small, plain and best approached with light bags, proper shoes and a willingness to do without services.
Best For
A small Sounio-area cove for visitors who have a car and want to swim in a less crowded beach.
How to Get There
By car or taxi, allow around one hour and 10 minutes from central Athens, following the coastal road toward Sounio and then continuing toward Lavrio. Near the beginning of Lavrio, follow signs toward Akrotiri, continue until the road ends, park, and follow the footpath down to the cove. By public transport, this is not a practical first-choice option. You can take a KTEL Attikis bus toward Sounio or Lavrio and then use a taxi for the final section, but the beach is best reached by car.
More Swims + Drinks
After Tsiou, stay close to the southern coast and head toward Anavyssos for Nuevo Loca Beach Bar, about seven to 10 minutes away by car. It is a practical after-swim stop rather than a detour, with drinks, music and an easy beach-bar atmosphere close to the water.
