Schinias vs Other Athens Beaches: An Honest Comparison

Athens has beaches in almost every direction, and choosing between them is harder than it looks. Some are close to the city but crowded and commercialised. Others are beautiful but require a long drive or a ferry. This is a straightforward comparison of the main options — what each one is actually like, and who it suits best.

The Athens Beaches Worth Knowing

Vouliagmeni

Vouliagmeni is Athens' most famous beach, located on the south-western coast of Attica about 20 kilometres from the city centre. The water is clean, the setting is attractive, and the area has good restaurants and the well-known Lake Vouliagmeni (a thermal-spring lake). It is also expensive, busy in summer, and lined with beach clubs that charge for sunbeds. If you want an upmarket beach close to the city, Vouliagmeni delivers — but it is not a quiet or natural experience.

Glyfada

Glyfada is effectively a suburb of Athens with a beach attached. It is popular with Athenians, has good shopping and restaurants nearby, and is easy to reach by tram from the city centre. The beach itself is pleasant but small and gets crowded. Better as a half-day trip than a destination.

Varkiza

Further south than Glyfada, Varkiza is a long sandy beach that gets strong winds — making it one of the best spots in Attica for windsurfing and kitesurfing, but less ideal if you want calm swimming. More relaxed than Vouliagmeni, and less expensive.

Rafina

Rafina is primarily a port, the main departure point for ferries to the Cyclades. There is a small beach, but it is not the reason to go there. Useful as a transit point; not a beach destination.

Marathon / Nea Makri Coastline

The string of small beaches between Nea Makri and Marathon on the north-eastern coast is popular with locals and relatively undiscovered by international visitors. Decent, accessible, and unpretentious — though individually less striking than Schinias.

Schinias

Schinias is the standout on the north-eastern coast. Protected as part of a national park, it has a long sandy beach backed by a pine forest, calm and shallow water, and none of the commercialisation that affects the south-western beaches. It is further from central Athens (45 kilometres) but closer to the airport (around 40 minutes), and the journey is simple by car.

Head-to-Head: Schinias vs the Alternatives

Beach	Distance from Athens	Crowds	Natural setting	Water	Best for
Vouliagmeni	20 km	High	Moderate	Clear	Upmarket day trip
Glyfada	15 km	Very high	Low	Moderate	City beach, half-day
Varkiza	23 km	Moderate	Moderate	Clear	Wind sports
Schinias	45 km	Low–moderate	High (national park)	Clear, calm	Multi-day stay, nature, families

The Honest Verdict

If you are spending a day in Athens and want a nearby beach, Vouliagmeni or Glyfada are the practical choices — they are close and easy. But if you are planning a beach-focused trip, or want to base yourself somewhere genuinely peaceful for a few days, Schinias is in a different category. The national park setting, the pine forest, the calm water, and the lack of overdevelopment make it the most naturally beautiful beach in Attica.

It is also one of the least well-known among international visitors — which is part of what makes it worth going to.

Staying at Schinias

Schinias Soul Habitats has three apartments a 10-minute walk from the beach, on the edge of the Schinias-Marathon National Park. Three options — studio, one-bedroom loft, and two-bedroom — for groups of up to 5. Bookings taken directly, no platform fees. Get in touch to check availability.