Just south of the hustle and bustle of central Athens lies one of the city’s most treasured assets: “The Athenian Riviera”. You won’t find the “Athenian Riviera” on any Google map; the name is local shorthand for the beautiful scenic strip of coast line, that stretches from the municipality of Paleo Faliro, just south of Athens, to the spectacular Cape Sounion, at the southernmost tip of the Attica province peninsula.
Easily accessible by car, bus or tram, the Athenian Riviera is a “must-see” for anyone wanting to enjoy Athens to its fullest.
All along the gorgeous photogenic stretch of palm tree coastline, with it's five-star resorts, spas, esplanades, marinas, rocky coves and sandy beaches with blue-flag certified crystal clear waters, you can experience the kind of island magic that many people come to Greece for…. without having to set foot on a ferry !
The tram, introduced for the 2004 Olympic games, connects Athens center – from Syntagma Square – with the southern suburbs on the Athenian Riviera and is a leisurely way to get to the coast. Route T3, which reaches from Paleo Faliro until Voula, is the most enjoyable way for you to get to know the coastline. Along the way, you’ll encounter seaside neighborhoods and destinations full of temptations for you to stop and check out.
And finally, in the evening you’ll enjoy the coast’s nightlife: in Paleo Faliro, Alimos, Glyfada, Vouliagmeni, Varkiza and Lagonissi, where the city and beach bars are filled year round with people enjoying the Athenians Riviera.
Summer or winter, the Athenian Riviera is to be enjoyed all year round !
The closest city to Athens on the Athenian Riviera, is Paleo Faliro. Due to it’s vicinity to the Greek capital it still has somewhat of an urban flair to it, combining city feel with the beauty of its 2 mile long broad coastal walking boulevard.
The Athenian Riviera is an area bursting with life and activities during the day, also offering a vibrant nightlife and its seaside boulevards, lined up with palm trees, are a favorite for an evening stroll, with the both locals and tourists.
The Athenian Riviera boasts some of the best beaches and seaside destinations in the world. All along the coast, from Paleo Faliro down south to Cape Sounion, one encounters a large number of beaches, some rocky but mostly sandy, some secluded and unspoiled, others luxurious and fully organized.
Cosmopolitan Glyfada is the unofficial “capital” of the Athenian Riviera, a vibrant seaside city with posh shopping boulevards and a large number of café’s, restaurants and seaside clubs.
Open year-round, the Vouliagmeni Lake is a vast sunken limestone cave, in a stunning setting of great natural beauty.
On the southern tip of the unique Athenian Riviera coastline, you’ll find Cape Sounion, where you’ll admire the Temple of Poseidon, built 440 BC – one of the most significant monuments of Ancient Greece and second only to the Acropolis, as the most important tourist attractions in Athens.
