It’s easy to get to the beach from downtown Athens by tramway, bus or metro! You’ve already visited the Acropolis, walked the streets of Athens in the heat, and now you’re dreaming of cooling off?
We’ve put together a small selection of beaches that are easily accessible from Athens by public transport. From Syntagma Square, it takes about 45 mins by tramway, bus or metro to reach the beaches of southern Athens.
The Athenian Riviera is yours!
Edem beach (Paralia Edem)
How to get there?
Located Leoforos Poseidonos 72, in Paleo Faliro
- Tramway line 6 (T6) from Syntagma (towards Pikrodafni) takes about 35 mins.
- Metro line 2 from Syntagma to Sigrou Fix. Then take the B2 bus to Voula, stop at Edem. Approx. 30 mins.
- Take the A2 bus from Syntagma to Gephyra. The stop is an 800-meter walk from the beach. It takes between 30 and 35 mins from Syntagma to reach the beach.
- From Piraeus, Edem Beach can also be reached by tramway line 7 (T7).
I opted for tramway line 6 from Syntagma. Access to the tramway is with the same ticket as for the metro. There’s an automatic machine on the platform to buy your ticket before boarding the streetcar. You can even buy a bottle of water from the periptero opposite.
The air-conditioned train makes for a pleasant journey. The tramway, with its outdoor journey, allows you to see the Temple of Zeus, which runs alongside the line. And it can even drop you off at the EMST museum for a cool visit before a dip in the sea.
When you arrive at the seaside, Edem beach is the first beach you see that’s easily accessible by streetcar.
Edem beach in a nutshell
As soon as you get off the streetcar, you’re on the Edem beach, next to a beach bar and tavern offering deckchairs and parasols for hire (approx. €15). More info on the website The Place: Tavern-Bar-Beach. In addition to this part of the beach, you can also bring your own towel and parasol and enjoy the undeveloped part of the beach, free of charge.
The beach also features a lifeguard post, changing rooms and the essential shower for rinsing off after a swim.
A stroller ramp also provides access to the beach from the play area located on the embankment above the beach.
Edem beach is a large sandy beach with a row of palm trees and a small tropical garden along the embankment wall offering shade on sunny days.
Mpati beach
How do I get there?
Located Leoforos Poseidonos 52, in Paleo Faliro
- Tramway line 6 (T6) from Syntagma (direction Pikrodafni), about 40 mins. Get off at the Edem stop, then walk north (5 mins) to the Mpatis streetcar stop.
- from Syntagma again, take metro line 2 to Sigrou Fix, then bus line B2 to Batis, about 30 mins.
- From Piraeus, it’s even easier: get off streetcar line 7 at the Mpatis stop.
Mpati beach in a nutshell…
Mpati beach is a free, family-friendly beach with a lifeguard station.
It’s a sandy beach with a strip of small pebbles before you reach the water. Simple, but with all the essentials, including changing rooms and showers for rinsing off before setting off, as well as a few fixed umbrellas and shade points. However, you won’t find a café on the beach.
The Mpati beach also features a children’s play area, as well as free-access weights for sports enthusiasts.
Because it’s slightly off the tramway from central Athens, Mpati is generally less crowded than Edem beach.
Kalamaki beach
How to get there?
Located Leoforos Poseidonos Akti Alimou Palaio, in Paleo Faliro
- By bus from Syntagma on line A2, get off at stop 3n Kalamakiou, about 30 mins.
- Metro line 2 to Siggrou-Fix, then bus B2 to 3n Kalamakioui, just over 30 mins from Syntagma.
- If you prefer to admire the scenery from the streetcar, take line T6 from Syntagma to Edém, then line T7 to Kalamaki beach. This will take about 40 mins.
Kalamaki beach in a few words …
If you love beach bars, you’ve come to the right place!
As soon as you get off the bus or streetcar, to access the beach, go through the large door of the “Cape Sol – Penarrubia Beach” bar.
Kalamaki beach is largely a managed beach run by the eponymous bar. The Penarrubia bar offers a classic beach bar menu with coffees, cold drinks, snacks, club sandwiches, pizzas, burgers and salads. For a deckchair and parasol, expect to pay an additional €10 to €15 per person (prices vary on weekdays and weekends).
The beach is rather small, not sandy but with tiny pebbles. There’s also an undeveloped area that has no parasol.
There’s also all the equipment you need before or after a swim, including showers, changing rooms and WCs.
A word of advice for Kalamaki beach: go early in the morning if you want space on the sunbeds, because on weekdays in June, the beach was packed.
Following on from Kalamaki Beach is Akti Tou Iliou. One part is managed by the Bolivar Beach Bar, the other part is also landscaped and requires an entrance fee. As an indication, in June 2022: weekdays – admission €6 (€3 for children) + €2 per deckchair / weekends and school vacations – admission €8 (€4 for children) + €4 per deckchair.
Agios Kosmas Beach
Following on from the beaches mentioned above is Agios Kosmas beach.
How do I get there?
- By bus with line A2 from Syntagma
- Metro line 2 then Bus lines B2 or 109
- Streetcar line T6 from Syntagma to Edem, then line T7
Allow 35-40 mins from the center of Athens and get off at the 2nd Aghiou Kosma stop. Don’t get off at the previous stop, Elleniko: the “beach” indicated here by Google Maps is on the other side of the old abandoned athletics center and is of no interest.
Agios Kosmas beach in a few words …
Agios Kosmas beach is a family beach, with sand and palm trees for shade. Although not furnished, it is equipped with fixed sunshades, which are free of charge. There is also a lifeguard station. However, it has no checkroom or shower facilities.
And to get back from the beach, the cab option?
After your afternoon on the beach, what’s next for you?
- enjoy the festive atmosphere of the beach bars in the evening
- you can take the streetcar back to Piraeus and Mikrolimano to dine in a waterside taverna.
- or if you’ve had a busy day, book a cab from your beach towel with Welcome Pickups and enjoy the comfort of a car to reach your accommodation.
- and for next time, you can try one of this closest beaches of Athens.
Virginie W.
