Beaches - destinations in Attica for the first dips of the season.
The Whit Monday long weekend is, for most people, a great chance to kick off seaside getaways and enjoy the first swims of summer. This year Whit Monday falls on Monday, June 9, marking in a way the official start of the summer season. With short or long trips, these days mean calm, time for ourselves and an escape from the everyday. So what could be better than to pause and set sail for places that will make you forget you are still in Athens.
For those counting down to the first dives and already in a holiday mood - but who will not leave the boundaries of Athens - we have gathered in one list some of the best beaches a short distance from the city center.
Schinias Beach, Marathon
To reconnect with nature and its authentic beauty, you do not always need to cover long distances. A small oasis lies a few kilometers from the city center. Where the blue of the sea meets the green of the pine forest. On the famed sandy beach of Schinias, one of Attica’s largest beaches, you discover a new side of it every time. On Marathon’s Schinias beach there is the organized section with sunbeds and beach bars, but as you head toward its northern end, you will experience the pleasure of its natural landscape. Wherever you choose to be, Schinias beach will reward you.
Agios Nikolaos, Anavyssos
The beach where your gaze gets lost in countless shades of blue. And yet, such “picturesque” turns of phrase come to mind even for beaches near Athens, like Agios Nikolaos in Anavyssos. The beach with a Cycladic aura, named after the little church of Agios Nikolaos that presides at its edge, is the closest this city can offer to an island atmosphere. Note that if you start from central Athens, it will take you around 50 minutes to get there, while if you are farther south, e.g. Glyfada, you will need about 35 minutes. At Agios Nikolaos you can enjoy the comforts of beach bars as well as savor privacy on its free section. A heavenly beach with clear waters, and a very good reason to take the car and drive there this long weekend.
Limanakia, Vouliagmeni
One of the most renowned spots in the southern suburbs is Vouliagmeni’s Limanakia. This signature landmark of Vouliagmeni, with paradisiacal and calm waters, is surely a place someone in any group will have told you is their summer destination in Athens. The picturesque Limanakia of Vouliagmeni are divided into small coves that emerge one after another. In the wild yet captivating rocky setting, swimmers lay out their towels, enjoying the clean and crystal-blue waters. Limanakia are split into A and B. We will start with the A Limanakia of Vouliagmeni, the dreamlike refuge of the Athenian Riviera, with the Kantina of Lefteris, the bathers’ hangout since the legendary 60s. How will you get there? Driving past Kavouri and Vouliagmeni, you encounter a few bends as you climb the hill. There are the coves, one after another, that feel like small “private” beaches. You will see the parked cars on the right side of the road, on a dirt road. Leave your car as well (if you are not wearing a swimsuit, it is best to change in it, since there is no option on the beach) and walk down following the easy path you will find. The B Limanakia of Vouliagmeni is also a cove that you can reach on foot from the A. There you will find far fewer people because it is usually preferred by those who practice nudism.
Daskaleio, Keratea
The Daskaleio beach in Keratea transports you back in time to those nostalgic childhood summers when everything felt easier. The beach of the namesake seaside settlement, with picturesque little houses around, reacquaints you with the beauty and essence hidden in simplicity. Daskaleio consists of three little coves, each with something of a Cycladic island to it, making you forget the chaos of the city you left behind. On the first two beaches there are beach bars and sunbeds, while on the third - the smallest - you will spread your towel and enjoy the freedom nature gives you.
KAPE, Sounio
At a distance of about 10 kilometers from the archaeological site of Sounio, there is a magical place that captivates you from the moment you see it, from up on the road where you will leave the car. With crystalline waters, pebbles and the unique feeling when you are somewhere in the Aegean Sea, it is rightly considered by many as the most beautiful beach in Attica. You will find it a few meters after the settlement of Charakas and the sign for the beach of the same name (Charakas). You will see a sign that says "Property of K.A.P.E." and you will turn right, downhill. On the unorganized KAPE beach, the idyllic setting will sweep you away and reward you for the almost 1 hour drive from the center of Athens.
Erotospilia, Porto Rafti
The famed Erotospilia beach is a charming, sheltered cove with turquoise waters and trees in the seaside resort of Porto Rafti. It could not be missing from the list, as over the years its shoreline has hosted the most carefree moments of Athenians. Erotospilia is a magical destination for the first dips, yet due to its unparalleled beauty it has spread by word of mouth and has now lost the allure it once had as a seaside hideaway. On weekends, therefore, you will need to go early to find a good spot under the shade of the trees.
Source: Reader.gr
