Beaches and How to Reach Them
You do not need a car to swim in Athens. The coastal tram runs from the centre to the Riviera, and most of the good beaches sit within a short walk of a stop.
The coastal tram is the easy way down. Line T6 runs Syntagma to Pikrodafni, about 33 minutes. Line T7 runs along the coast from Akti Posidonos in Piraeus all the way to Asklipiio Voulas, about 54 minutes end to end. Change at Pikrodafni to go from the city centre to the southern beaches. Trams run from about 05:30 to past midnight, and every Saturday there is a 24 hour service on the tram and on metro lines 2 and 3.
| Beach | Nearest stop | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Edem, Palaio Faliro | Edem, on T6 and T7 | The closest proper beach to the centre, about 32 minutes from Syntagma on the T6. Free, shallow and busy with locals rather than visitors. Good for a swim after work rather than a day out. |
| Alimos, Marina Alimou | Marina Alimou or Kalamaki, on T7 | A long organised beach with sunbeds, bars and showers. One of the easiest full beach days reachable without a car. Paid entry to the organised section, free stretches either side. |
| Agios Kosmas | 1st or 2nd Agiou Kosma, on T7 | Free public beach next to the old airport site and the marina, popular with windsurfers. Rocky in places, quieter than Glyfada. |
| Glyfada | Paralia Glyfadas, on T7 | The heart of the Athens Riviera. Beach bars, restaurants and shopping, and the busiest stretch of coast. About 42 minutes from Akti Posidonos on the T7. |
| Voula | Kolymvitirio or Asklipiio Voulas, the T7 terminus | Two organised beaches and a free public stretch, cleaner water than closer in and the end of the tram line, so no changes once you are on the T7. |
| Vouliagmeni and Varkiza | Bus onward from the Voula tram terminus | The best water within reach of Athens, including Vouliagmeni Lake. Beyond the tram, so it is a bus from the Voula terminus or a taxi. Worth the extra leg. |
| Schinias, Marathon | KTEL bus from Athens, or drive | A long pine backed sandy bay on the east coast, inside a national park. About an hour out of the city and a completely different feel to the Riviera. |
Tram lines, routes and running times taken from the STASY official timetable, checked 27 August 2026. Check current times before you travel.