Athens Riviera – Attica’s amazing coastline

The Athens Riviera, Attica’s amazing coastline to the south of Athens, resembles the lacy edge of an embroidered doily 60 kilometres long that begins in Piraeus and ends at the tip of Cape Sounion. Along the winding road are pockets of bays, coves, cliffs, caves and beaches: some sandy, other pebbled.

The fact that these beaches are just 20-40 minutes away from the centre of Athens explains why the Attica coastline is so popular with Athenians and visitors. Many of the beaches are open to the public, while several beach clubs are charging an entrance fee.

The seaside area between Neo Faliro and Paleo Faliro is about to being transformed into a recreational and cultural complex featuring a variety of cultural centres, marinas, leisure parks, sports arenas, museums and an aquarium. Heading south along the coast, after Faliron, the area near Agios Kosmas is home to a large seaside park.

The suburb of Glyfada attracts large numbers of visitors, with its great shopping and dining scene, whereas posh Vouliagmeni stands out for its exclusive resort hotels and the unique Vouliagmeni Lake known for its therapeutic waters.