Athens Beach Holiday: Skip the City, Head to Schinias

Most people who fly into Athens assume they need to spend time in the city before heading to the coast. The Acropolis, Monastiraki, a rooftop dinner — and then the beach. But a growing number of visitors do the opposite: they fly in, skip Athens entirely (or save it for the end), and go straight to the sea. If your priority is rest, nature, and swimming rather than sightseeing, this is often the better choice.

Schinias, on the north-eastern coast of Attica, is the place that makes this possible. It is around 40 minutes from Athens International Airport, and it offers something Athens itself cannot: quiet, clean water, a pine forest national park, and the kind of unhurried atmosphere that is genuinely hard to find this close to a major city.

What Kind of Trip Is This For?

This approach works well if you are:

• Taking a short break (4–7 days) and want maximum time in the water rather than museums
• Travelling with family and want calm, shallow sea rather than a crowded resort
• A couple looking for somewhere peaceful and naturally beautiful, away from tourist infrastructure
• A solo traveller who wants to swim, walk, eat well, and read — without a packed itinerary

It is not ideal if Athens sightseeing is a priority — in that case, base yourself in the city and visit Schinias as a day trip. But for a proper beach-focused stay, Schinias works far better than any city hotel.

What Schinias Offers

The Beach

Schinias Beach stretches for approximately four kilometres of sand, sheltered by the bay and backed by a pine forest. The water is calm, clear, and shallow — the kind of sea where you can wade out 50 metres and still see the bottom. Water quality is consistently high. Even at the height of summer, the beach is large enough to find space.

The National Park

The beach sits within the Schinias-Marathon National Park, which protects the pine forest, coastal wetlands, and their wildlife. This is why there are no large hotel developments here — the national park designation limits construction. Walking and cycling paths run through the forest, and the wetlands at the northern end attract migratory birds in spring and autumn.

The History

If you want a half-day of culture, the area has one of the most significant historical sites in the ancient world. The plain of Marathon — where a small Athenian army defeated a vastly larger Persian force in 490 BC — is just inland from the coast. The burial mound of the Athenian soldiers (the Soros) still stands on the plain, and the Marathon Archaeological Museum is a short drive away.

Food and Local Life

The nearby town of Nea Makri has a seafront promenade with good fish tavernas — the kind of unpretentious, reasonably priced restaurants that serve fresh grilled fish and cold Greek wine overlooking the sea. Marathon town has its own tavernas and a relaxed local atmosphere. Neither place has been built for international tourism, which is precisely what makes them good.

Practical Information

Getting There from the UK, Europe, or Beyond

From the airport to Schinias is approximately a 40-minute drive — hire a car at the airport, or take a taxi (approximately €35–50).

Best Time to Visit

• June and September — the best months: warm water, fewer crowds, pleasant evenings
• July and August — peak summer, hottest, busiest, but still manageable at Schinias given the beach's size
• May and October — quieter, cooler, ideal for walking and nature; swimming is possible but the sea is fresher

How Long to Stay

A minimum of three nights is worth the journey. Four to seven days gives you enough time to settle into the rhythm of the place — morning swims, afternoons on the beach, a day trip to Marathon, evenings at a taverna — without rushing.

Where to Stay

Schinias Soul Habitats offers three apartments designed for exactly this kind of stay. Each is a 10-minute walk from the beach, next to the Schinias-Marathon National Park, with private parking and everything needed for a comfortable few days. Three options are available:

• Aura — open-plan studio, up to 3 guests
• Gaia — one-bedroom loft, up to 4 guests
• Karma — two-bedroom apartment, up to 5 guests

Bookings are made directly with us — no Airbnb or Booking.com fees, no intermediaries. Contact us to check availability and arrange your stay.