Swimming on the Athens Riviera
Sand beaches on the coast south of Athens, from Kavouri and Astir at Vouliagmeni through Varkiza to Legrena, a few kilometres before Cape Sounio, plus the brackish lake at Vouliagmeni under its rock wall. The sea is typically about 25 °C in August and September and 22 °C in October, and the operator gives the lake as 22 to 29 °C through the year. Astir Beach and Lake Vouliagmeni are ticketed, and at both you swim inside a buoyed zone.
- Spots6
- Water in Nov20°
- Free to enter4
Every spot on the Athens Riviera
Typical water temperature in November.
Vouliagmeni, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SAAstir Beach
Beach, Vouliagmeni · Private beach: admission only with a ticket. Swimming inside the buoyed zone only; no pets, no own umbrellas or chairs
A private sand beach on the Vouliagmeni peninsula, open since 1960, with the remains of the Temple of Apollo Zoster inside the grounds.
Kavouri Beach
Beach, Vouliagmeni · Partly free, partly organised with sunbeds
Two sand beaches in a row, about 900 m in all, with shallow water and a small islet you can walk out to.
20°NovFreeLake Vouliagmeni
Lake, Vouliagmeni · Ticketed, operator-run site inside a Natura 2000 area. Swimming only inside the buoyed zone; no diving (use the stairs); no pets; no own umbrellas, sunbeds or food; rinse off sunscreen before swimming; no nudism
A brackish lake under a sheer rock wall, fed by spring water and by seawater that seeps in through flooded caves; the operator gives the water as 22 to 29 °C through the year.
22 to 29°Legrena Beach
Beach, Legrena
A large sand beach in front of the village of Legrena, about 62 km from central Athens and a few kilometres before Cape Sounio.
20°NovFreeLimanakia
Cove, Varkiza
A string of small coves between Lake Vouliagmeni and Varkiza where wind-worn rock drops fairly steeply into the sea, reached only on foot by paths down from the coast road.
20°NovFreeVarkiza Beach
Beach, Varkiza · Part organised beach resort (Varkiza Resort, with sunbeds and beach bars), part free public beach (East Varkiza)
A long sand bay: the western half is Varkiza Resort with sunbeds, beach bars and free parking, the eastern 650 m is a free public beach next to the Vari-Varkiza Nautical Club.
20°NovFree
Nothing here for that filter.
Questions about the Athens Riviera
Can you swim on the Athens Riviera in November?
Yes. The sea is typically about 20 °C in November after 22 °C in October, then drops to 17 °C in December and 15 °C from January to March. The sea beaches' season runs from June to November. Lake Vouliagmeni, fed by springs and seawater, is 22 to 29 °C through the year according to its operator.
Is there a free beach on the Athens Riviera?
Yes, at Kavouri and Varkiza. At Kavouri part of the sand is free and the rest has sunbeds; at Varkiza the eastern 650 m is a free public beach and the western half is Varkiza Resort with sunbeds and beach bars. Astir Beach is private and Lake Vouliagmeni is operator-run, and both need a ticket.
Which Athens Riviera beaches can you reach by bus?
Kavouri, Lake Vouliagmeni, the Limanakia coves, Varkiza and Legrena are all stops on the KTEL coastal bus from Athens to Sounio. Bus 122 also serves Kavouri, the lake and Varkiza, and you can reach Kavouri on metro line 2 to Elliniko and then the 122.
What are the swimming rules at Lake Vouliagmeni?
You get in from the wooden decks by the stairs, diving is banned, and you stay inside the floating buoys. Rinse off sunscreen before you swim; pets, nudism and your own umbrellas, sunbeds or food aren't allowed. The lake is in a Natura 2000 area, and the lifeguards may stop swimming when they judge it a danger.
What is the water quality like on the Athens Riviera?
Every place listed here with an EEA monitoring site was classified excellent in the 2025 EEA bathing season.