In just a few minutes from Athens city centre you arrive in enchanting places by the sea. You wander along a stunning coastline that starts in Faliro, continues to Alimos and Glyfada and ends in Sounio. Here you will live extraordinary experiences, with the endless view over the Saronic Gulf in the background. Coasts for all preferences, marinas, ideal routes for walking, jogging and cycling, summer cinemas, parks, playgrounds, water sports, sights, museums, hotel complexes, restaurants, cafés and bars.

We begin our tour from Paleo Faliro. We are in Flisvos marina, one of the best marinas in the world, which is the ultimate meeting point and ideal walking place for thousands residents and visitors of Attica. A park with a mini fairground for the little visitors, an esplanade, stores by the sea and the famous steps, a favourite spot for those who wish to relax and enjoy the sunset.

Here we will visit the Park of Maritime Tradition and marvel at some of the best known historical vessels of the country, such as the Averof Battleship that has been associated with the most significant moments of Modern Greek state. Today the ship is a naval museum. A few metres away from the historical vessels of the park, the massive boats and luxurious yachts are lined up, safely moored in Flisvos marina.

Next stop is the Benaki Toy Museum, housed in a building that looks like a fairytale tower! The exhibits include 20,000 toys, books, ephemera, clothing and other items associated with childhood from Greece and the whole world.

We are still in Paleo Faliro and this time we visit a space that brings us closer to the stars! The Eugenides Foundation Planetarium was built in 1966 and was the first planetarium in Greece and the only in southeastern Europe. A dome with a diameter of 24.5 metres, 278 audience seats and state-of-the-art audiovisual media make it one of the best and biggest planetariums of the world.

During spring and summer months, the cinema experience under the stars is a “must” in Attica. In Paleo Faliro our favourite movies are screened not only under the stars but also just 9 metres away from the sea! Where? In Ciné Flisvos, one of Attica’s most popular summer cinemas.

How about a chess match by the sea? Under the wood pavilion on the promenade of Paleo Faliro, the game is played on a giant chess board on the floor, with huge pieces. A meeting point for the area’s residents, who gather up here in the afternoon to relax, see friends and enjoy the wonderful sunset.

Our tour in the southern suburbs of Attica finds us in Alimos, strolling along the narrow streets of the area that boasts stunning examples of architectural design. At 5 Metamorphoseos Str. we come across one of Alimos’ jewels, the tower residence where one of Greece’s greatest poets, Angelos Sikelianos, lived. A few steps away, at 6 Metamorphoseos Str., we stop to marvel at the “Alps” cottage as locals usually call it, which reminds us of Grimms’ Fairy Tales.

In Alimos we will swim in organised beaches, enjoy our coffee or food at the seaside cafés and restaurants and stroll along the promenade. Spots that are not to be missed here are the breakwater, the promenade gazebo and the Pani Hill that offers panoramic views of the Saronic Gulf, Piraeus and Mount Hymettus, all the way to the Acropolis and Lycabettus Hill.

In Alimos marina, the greatest in the southeastern Mediterranean Sea, we will lay eyes on the most incredible yachts, while right by the sea “Ciné Alimos” Municipal Cinema welcomes us with wonderful movies in an enchanting environment.

Glyfada needs no introduction. Relaxed atmosphere, shopping, entertainment, numerous choices for good food, strolls with the whole family or friends in the market or by the sea, busy places as well as quiet spots.

In Glyfada marina it feels like we are on one of the Cyclades islands, with the beautiful fishing boats on one hand, and the residents and visitors of the area on the other, cycling or rod fishing with Mount Hymettus in the background. Here we will savour delicious fish and seafood in the seaside tavernas and have a coffee or drink in the atmospheric cafés along the coast.

Glyfada boasts one of the most extraordinary and best known markets of Attica. In the streets around the tram lines we will come across international chain stores, fashion boutiques, jewellery, famous brand stores, shoes and cosmetics.

In a lush green area near the sea, the world-class Glyfada Golf Course is an ideal location for exercise, recreation and culture. The facilities extend over a 530 acre stretch of land and feature the main 18-hole Golf Course, practice range areas, a golf academy for young athletes, a pro shop where you can buy or rent the necessary equipment, two tennis courts, restaurant, bar, reception halls, locker rooms, parking and other supplementary facilities. Even if you are not an expert golfer, a visit at the Golf Course of Glyfada will be truly hard to forget!

The unique experiences in Glyfada continue, with newly released and classic international films in the summer cinemas of the area, right by the sea. And if you don’t feel like calling it a night just yet, Glyfada offers a multitude of choices for night entertainment for all preferences.

A stone’s throw away from Athens city centre, the southern suburbs of Attica boast fascinating destinations that invite you to discover them!

Photo: GNTO, Yannis Skoulas