Schinias-Marathon National Park: A Visitor's Guide

Most visitors come to Schinias for the beach. But the beach exists within a larger and more significant place — the Schinias-Marathon National Park, established in 2000 as one of the few protected coastal ecosystems in Greece. Understanding the park makes the experience of being here richer, and reveals walking, cycling, and wildlife opportunities that casual visitors often miss entirely.

What Is the Schinias-Marathon National Park?

The park covers approximately 1,400 hectares of coastline, pine forest, and wetlands in the north-eastern corner of Attica. It was established primarily to protect the coastal pine forest — dominated by Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis, known in Greek as schinias, from which the area takes its name) — and the wetlands at the northern end of the coast, which support important bird populations.

The national park designation means that commercial development within its boundaries is heavily restricted. This is the reason Schinias has no hotel strip, no beach clubs with permanent infrastructure, and no overdevelopment — and why it looks the way it does.

The Pine Forest

The Aleppo pine forest at Schinias is the largest surviving coastal pine forest in Attica — a habitat that has been dramatically reduced across the Mediterranean over centuries by agriculture, development, and fire. Walking through it, particularly early in the morning or in the evening, gives a sense of what much of the Attic coast once looked like. The scent of resin in warm air, the filtered light through the canopy, and the sound of the sea through the trees make it one of the more distinctive natural environments accessible from Athens.

The forest also provides natural shade and a significant cooling effect — temperatures under the pines can be noticeably lower than on the open beach during the hottest part of the day.

The Wetlands and Bird Life

The northern section of the national park contains coastal wetlands — reed beds, shallow lagoons, and marshy ground that form an important staging and wintering habitat for migratory birds. The area lies along a major flyway between Europe and Africa, and the wetlands attract a wide range of species during spring and autumn migration.

Notable species recorded in the area include herons, egrets, waders, ducks, and — during migration periods — a variety of warblers, flycatchers, and raptors passing through. For visitors with even a casual interest in birds, early morning in the wetland area during April–May or September–October can be rewarding.

The Olympic Rowing Centre

At the northern end of the park, the Marathon Rowing Centre was constructed for the 2004 Athens Olympics as the venue for rowing and canoe/kayak events. The venue remains, and the wide flat waterway — bordered by the pine forest — is still used for rowing training and occasional competitions. It is an unusual and atmospheric sight: a world-class sports venue sitting quietly within a national park.

Walking and Cycling in the Park

The terrain of the Schinias national park is flat — genuinely flat, which is rare in Greece. This makes it accessible for walkers and cyclists of all fitness levels. The coast road that runs through the park is quiet outside of summer weekends and provides easy cycling with sea views throughout.

Walking paths through the forest connect the beach to the wetlands area and the Olympic venue. The terrain is flat and navigation is straightforward, though the paths are not formally waymarked with signs in the way mountain routes are.

Conservation and Responsible Visiting

As a national park, Schinias has rules designed to protect its ecosystems. Campfires are prohibited throughout the forest area — this is strictly enforced given the fire risk in a dry pine forest. Dogs should be kept under control near the wetlands. Taking plants or disturbing wildlife is prohibited.

The park is free to enter and open year-round. There is no staffed visitor centre with organised services, but the beach and forest areas are easily accessible by car or bicycle from the surrounding villages.

Staying Near the National Park

Schinias Soul Habitats is located next to the Schinias-Marathon National Park — the apartments are a 10-minute walk from the beach, with the pine forest and wetlands of the park a short walk or cycle away. Staying here rather than in a nearby town puts you at the edge of the park: the forest paths, the wetlands, and the beach are all on your doorstep. Contact us to check availability.