Athens: The best free beaches on the Athenian Riviera
No entrance fee needed here: Just bring your own umbrella! In the southern suburbs of Attiki, the famous Athenian Riviera, you will find many beaches that can easily be compared to those of the Greek islands.
- 12/06/2022
The Athenian Riviera offers everything: from vibrant beach bars and fully organised beaches to hidden, quiet ones, where you’ll get to enjoy the Greek sun and the Saronic Gulf’s waters in maybe their most authentic form: You’ll just have to lay your towel on the beach, relax under the sun and dive in!
The list below includes small and large beaches, some sandy and others pebbly, where you can relax from day till night, without paying an entrance fee or a fee for a sunlounge.
Bring water, maybe a snack (even though there are street food stalls near most of these beaches) and don’t forget to pack your suncream!
Extra Tip: If you can, visit these beaches on a weekday, so you can enjoy them without the weekend crowds, and you’ll also get to skip the traffic of the Poseidonos Avenue (Paraliaki -which means “Coastal”- as Athenians call it).
Althea Beach
This is a small, sandy cove with pebbles in the water. The clear waters are a guarantee, but space is limited. We strongly advise to get there on a weekday if you can, since it gets very crowded during weekends.
Lagonisi Cove
Sandy beach with small rocks in the water. If you are not someone that is happy being under the sun, you need to bring an umbrella because there is no natural shade. Bring a book too and enjoy this beach, that is only an hour’s drive from the centre of Athens.
Thimari Beach
Here you will find both tiny and large coves that offer both organised and more secluded options. For those who prefer peace and quiet, in between the various bars lie some secret -and some not so secret- coves to dive in. At the same time, those who prefer beaches with bars, food stalls and shade, will find plenty of options to keep them satisfied too.
Charakas Beach
This beach is huge, one of the largest (and most popular) of Attiki. It’s shallow, sandy and spacious. You can play tennis or football in the sand, run and do pretty much anything you can think of. There’s also a café where you can get coffee, water etc.
Legrena Beach (Sounion)
Lovely golden sand, crystal clear waters and a sense of calm that -at least on weekends- can help you forget about the hustle and bustle of the city. This is Legraina, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful beaches in Attiki (and only a 7 minute drive away from the Temple of Poseidon, Cape Sounion).
Extra tip: Just before going down the small steps, you will find a food cart, where you can buy all the necessities.
Agios Petros Beach (Sounion)
A tiny beach with calm waters. While you swim, you’ll have Agios Petros’s little church right behind you, while the sailboats that are anchored in the cove (as well as the magnificent Temple of Poseidon) will be right ahead. Honestly, what more could you ask for?
Asimaki Coast (Sounion)
A small, sandy beach, perfect for playing tennis, beach volley etc. If you want some shade, don’t just rely on the palm trees of the coastline, it’s a good idea to bring your own umbrella. The waters are shallow and ideal for families and beach games.
Poseidonia Coast (Sounion)
Though this beach is mostly sandy, there are some big rocks on its right side, suitable for amazing dives. The waters are crystal clear. The beach has only got a few sun loungers therefore if you don’t want to risk not being able to get under the shade, we recommend you bring your own umbrella.
Tsiou Beach
A well-hidden slice of heaven, between Sounion and the area of Lavrio, with a huge boulder creating natural shade and with clear green and blue waters. You’ll swim like nowhere else here and you’ll almost feel like a castaway – even though you are still in Athens (don’t bother searching for a sign, you can find the co-ordinates here)