The prospect of going sailing off the wider Athens coast may not seem like an obvious choice but the lacy coastline from Piraeus to Sounion, a voyage offering exceptional beauty and wonderful waters, is ideal for a one or two-day sailboat trip. The entire Attica region is full of surprises. It is a safe and attractive area of many features, promising an unforgettable holiday experience throughout the year.
Beginning from Piraeus, where you can rent a sailboat with or without as skipper, you will have escaped to relaxing faraway sea areas within just a few hours. You are sure to find the sailboat that suits you best at one of numerous Piraeus port companies renting sailboats, including catamarans. If you have a skipper’s license, invite friends along and set sail to discover the secrets of the Saronic Gulf. If wanting to enjoy the experience without taking on the voyage responsibilities, then hire a skipper who will do the work for you, leaving you free to enjoy the Attica sea with a refreshing cocktail or favourite book in hand.
Pick a stern or bow position on the boat, whatever you prefer, and surrender to the warmth of the Athenian sun and sound of the waves. To your left, the Athens Riviera is lined with sandy beaches and beach bars, while, to the right, the superb wide open blue sea of the Saronic Gulf offers infinite visual escape. If you prefer more mainstream experiences, make stops at the Glyfada and Voula beaches, both fully serviced. Further south, sail around the small, protruding Kavouri peninsula and carry on for the next peninsula, Vouliagmeni, as well as Lagonisi, both offering cosmopolitan atmospheres. If preferring swimming in solitude at more remote beaches, the rocky coastline between Vouliagmeni and Varkiza offers many small coves, while a small bay blessed with crystal-clear waters, right before Trypes Tou Karamanli, is a fantastic swimming spot.
The Saronic Gulf offers choices for all preferences, including getting further away from the security of the coastline area for discovery of nearby islets. One of these, Hydrousa, opposite Voula, is well-known among sailing enthusiasts of the region who swarm the area in summertime, attracted by its superb sandy beach and sensational waters on the side facing the mainland. A small reef at this islet is ideal for snorkeling. Hydrousa measures just 5.7 square hectares and has an underground shelter that was constructed during World War II. Beware the rocky shallow water at the islet’s main beach.
Just a few nautical miles further south, directly opposite Vouliagmeni’s Lemos, another islet, Fleves, which is slightly larger than Hydrousa, is endowed with wonderful spots for private swimming. The waters here, offering a rich underwater world of many fish and octopuses, as well as a shipwreck from 1984, are interesting for divers. The shipwreck, situated southwest, is a 14-metre cargo ship named Panagis. If into shipwreck diving, definitely have your scuba diving gear with you. Yes, the Piraeus-Sounion route has a bit of everything.
If desiring yet another islet stopover, the Saronic Gulf has more surprises to offer. Arsida, a rock islet opposite Anavysso’s School of Tourism Professions, has three small beaches resembling a Cycladic island setting, on the side facing Anavyssos, as well as a renowned cave with an open top, Artzenta, at the other side, also ideal for scuba diving. Close to Sounion, the islet Patroklos, also known as Gaidouronisi, opposite Legrena, is about 1km from the mainland coast. It features two to three beaches as well as some delightful spots for swimming in privacy.
If you reach Sounion in the afternoon hours, pour yourself a chilled glass of fine white wine, such as aromatic Savvatiano, settle on deck and prepare to enjoy the most magical sunset to be experienced anywhere in the Attica region, under the shadow of the Temple of Poseidon. If you happen to be there on a full moon night, the experience is made even more amazing.
Without a doubt, the Piraeus-Sounion route is the ideal Attica voyage.
