About Athens Riviera
The Athens Riviera is the spectacular coastal side of Athens, stretching south from the city toward the Saronic Gulf and all the way to Cape Sounion.
Here, the energy of the Greek capital meets the sea. Beaches, marinas, waterfront promenades, seaside restaurants, stylish neighborhoods, archaeological sites, and dramatic sunset views create a completely different experience from the historic center of Athens.
Once widely known as the Apollo Coast, the area is now better known internationally as the Athens Riviera. It includes popular coastal districts such as Palaio Faliro, Alimos, Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni, and Varkiza before continuing south along the coastline of Attica toward Cape Sounion.
The Athens Riviera at a Glance
The Athens Riviera offers visitors the unusual opportunity to combine a major European capital with the atmosphere of a Mediterranean seaside destination.
Within a relatively short distance from central Athens, visitors can swim, walk along the coast, enjoy waterfront dining, visit marinas filled with sailing boats and yachts, shop in modern commercial districts, or simply relax beside the sea.
The coastline becomes particularly lively during the warmer months, but many of its restaurants, cafés, marinas, walking areas, and attractions remain popular throughout the year.
Beaches and Seaside Life
The coastline south of Athens includes a wide variety of organized beaches, free swimming areas, rocky coves, and sandy stretches.
Areas such as Alimos, Glyfada, Voula, Vouliagmeni, Kavouri, and Varkiza are among the most popular seaside destinations for both Athenians and visitors.
Along much of the Riviera, the sea is accompanied by promenades, marinas, parks, cafés, restaurants, and places to enjoy the sunset.
The combination of urban convenience and easy access to the coast makes the Athens Riviera an excellent choice for visitors who want to experience both city life and the sea during the same stay.
Glyfada – Shopping, Dining and Nightlife
Glyfada is one of the best-known districts of the Athens Riviera and a major center for shopping, dining, and nightlife.
Its commercial center combines fashion boutiques, international brands, cafés, bakeries, restaurants, and bars, while the nearby coastline offers beaches and marinas.
Glyfada has a lively atmosphere throughout much of the year and is particularly popular during spring and summer when the coastal lifestyle becomes a major part of everyday life.
Lake Vouliagmeni
One of the most unusual natural attractions on the Athens Riviera is Lake Vouliagmeni, located close to the coast beneath a dramatic limestone landscape.
The lake is fed by underground springs and maintains naturally warm water throughout the year, with temperatures generally ranging from approximately 21°C to 29°C depending on the season.
Its mineral-rich waters, impressive geological setting, and calm environment have made it a popular destination for swimming, relaxation, and wellness.
The lake offers a completely different experience from the nearby beaches and is one of the most distinctive natural landmarks of the southern suburbs of Athens.
Vouliagmeni and the Southern Coast
Vouliagmeni is one of the most attractive seaside areas of the Athens Riviera, known for its beaches, sheltered bays, marinas, coastal restaurants, and relaxed atmosphere.
The surrounding coastline includes Kavouri and several swimming areas with views across the Saronic Gulf.
Farther south, the urban landscape gradually gives way to a more open coastal environment, with small bays, seaside settlements, beaches, and scenic sections of road leading toward Cape Sounion.
The Ellinikon – A New Chapter for the Athens Riviera
One of the largest transformations currently taking place on the Athens Riviera is The Ellinikon, the redevelopment of the former Athens International Airport and its surrounding coastal area.
The project covers approximately 6.2 million square meters and is creating a new mixed-use coastal district with parks, residences, sports facilities, shops, restaurants, hotels, cultural venues, walking and cycling routes, and an upgraded waterfront.
At the center of the development is The Ellinikon Park, planned as one of the largest coastal parks in the Mediterranean, together with a revitalized coastline extending for approximately 3.5 kilometers.
Parts of the project are already open to visitors, including the Experience Park and new sports facilities, while several major developments remain under construction.
Riviera Tower
One of the most recognizable new landmarks of The Ellinikon is the Riviera Tower, designed by Foster + Partners.
The residential tower will rise to approximately 200 meters and is designed as Greece's first green residential skyscraper.
With views over the Athens Riviera, the Acropolis, and the surrounding coastline, the tower is expected to become one of the most distinctive modern architectural landmarks of southern Athens.
Construction is currently underway, with completion planned for the first half of 2027.
A New Waterfront Destination
The Ellinikon development also includes a new coastal promenade, marina areas, hotels, residential neighborhoods, shopping destinations, and the Riviera Galleria, a major new retail and dining development on the waterfront.
The wider project is designed to connect urban life more closely with the sea through public spaces, parks, pedestrian routes, and cycling paths.
As the project develops, it is expected to significantly reshape this section of the Athens Riviera and create a major new destination for residents and international visitors.
Marinas and Sailing
The Athens Riviera has a long connection with sailing and recreational boating.
Marinas along the coastline provide bases for sailing boats and yachts, while areas such as Palaio Faliro, Alimos, Glyfada, and Vouliagmeni offer easy access to the waters of the Saronic Gulf.
The coastline is also an important starting point for cruises, sailing trips, and excursions toward the nearby islands and coastal destinations of Attica.
From the Athens Riviera to Cape Sounion
One of the most scenic ways to experience the wider Athens Riviera is to continue south along the coastal road toward Cape Sounion.
The route follows the coastline through seaside communities, beaches, rocky coves, and open views of the Aegean Sea.
At the southernmost tip of Attica stands the magnificent Temple of Poseidon, built during the 5th century BC on a dramatic headland high above the sea.
The temple served both as an important sanctuary dedicated to Poseidon and as a prominent landmark overlooking the sea routes approaching ancient Athens.
Sunset at Cape Sounion
Cape Sounion is particularly famous for its sunset.
As the sun descends over the sea, the marble columns of the Temple of Poseidon are illuminated by the changing evening light, creating one of the most memorable views in Attica.
The combination of ancient history, dramatic landscape, and panoramic sea views makes Sounion a natural conclusion to a journey along the Athens Riviera.
The Athens Riviera Today
Today, the Athens Riviera is much more than a summer beach destination.
It combines swimming, shopping, dining, nightlife, sailing, wellness, archaeology, natural landscapes, and major new urban developments within easy reach of central Athens.
Visitors can spend the morning exploring the historic center of Athens, enjoy the afternoon beside the sea in Glyfada or Vouliagmeni, and continue south for sunset at Cape Sounion.
With the continuing development of The Ellinikon, the Athens Riviera is entering a new era while retaining the beaches, coastal scenery, and Mediterranean atmosphere that have made it one of the most attractive parts of Attica.
