Combining a city break and a beach holiday on the Athenian Riviera

Athens has long been a popular destination for city breakers. But what many people don’t know is that the perfect beach holiday is just a stone’s throw away from the Greek capital. Cultural, culinary and luxurious highlights await travellers on the Athenian Riviera. We reveal the hotspots you shouldn’t miss on a trip to Greece.

An exciting onslaught of museums and architecture, cool new trendy districts such as Psiri and Exarchia, boutique hotels galore – Athens is in the fast lane when it comes to urban tourism. But it gets even better. The option to combine your city tour with a beach holiday nearby is often overlooked. This is exactly what the Athenian Riviera has to offer. Less than 30 minutes from the Acropolis, a 50-kilometre-long coastline stretches between Piraeus and Lavrio, offering a perfect mix of nature and urban charm.

Authentic fish taverns, which until recently were primarily known only to Athenians. An open-air cinema that exudes retro charm in the beach suburb of Varkiza. Luxury shopping in the trendy celebrity spot of Glyfada. A touch of Ibiza in the natural bay of Limanakia Vouliagmenis – the exclusive Astir Marina Vouliagmeni is not far from here.

Stay in style – our hotel highlights on the Athenian Riviera

The nearest five-star hotel is never far away on the Athenian Riviera. These six hotels make a stay on the Riviera an absolute dream.

Cape Sounio Grecotel Boutique Resort

Boasting an iconic location overlooking the Temple of Poseidon, this renovated 5‑star resort combines culture and luxury. Pine forests, private beaches, villas with pools, and eight restaurants make it an elegant retreat.

grecotel​.com/​c​a​p​e​s​ounio

91 Athens Riviera – The Resort

An innovative luxury concept in Voula: stylish ​‘luxents’ (luxury tents), many with plunge pools. Tennis, a spa, a beach club atmosphere, and the ​‘Barbarossa’ Paros restaurant ensure a holiday feeling with glamping flair.

91athensriviera​.gr

One&Only Aesthesis

New splendour with retro style: this elegant resort in Glyfada (open since 2023) is located in a nature reserve and offers Greece’s first Guerlain spa, Peruvian cuisine, and total privacy in a sophisticated setting.

oneandonlyresorts​.com/​a​e​s​t​hesis

The Margi – SLH Boutique-Hotel

A charming retreat with Mediterranean chic style in Vouliagmeni. Organic cuisine from its own farm, a peaceful pool oasis, excellent service – and just a short walk from the beach.

themargi​.gr

Grand Resort Lagonissi

Luxury spread over 72 hectares: the Grand Resort is almost an island in its own right, with 16 private beaches, a spa, seven restaurants and spectacular villas right by the sea. Perfect for complete privacy.

lagonissiresort​.gr

The Roc Club

Artistic, intimate, and exclusive: this boutique hotel in Vouliagmeni boasts just 34 rooms, elegant retro design, and a pool set into the rocks featuring views of the marina.

grecotel​.com/​t​h​e​r​o​cclub

A trip back in time: the ​‘Golden Years’ of the Athenian Riviera

In the 1960s, the Athenian Riviera became a mecca for the international jet set and experienced its ​‘Golden Years’. Celebrities from the world of film, the fashion industry and high society made the region synonymous with luxury and style. Brigitte Bardot, the French sex symbol of the era, played a particularly significant role in establishing the global reputation of the beaches of Glyfada and Vouliagmeni as a glamorous and exclusive location. Her appearances at exclusive resorts along the coast – often accompanied by her husband, the actor Jacques Charrier – attracted the attention of the international media.

However, Bardot was just one of many who left their mark on the Athenian Riviera during this period. Aristotle Onassis, the Greek shipping magnate, and his then wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, regularly spent their summers on the Riviera, in particular on the private island of Skorpios. Together with celebrities such as opera singer Maria Callas, who was considered the muse of the 1960s, they created an environment of elegance and luxury. British actor Peter O’Toole, Oscar winner Elizabeth Taylor, and actor and director Kirk Douglas were also frequent guests on the Athenian coast, adding to the glamorous atmosphere.

The Riviera also became the setting for exclusive parties where the rich and beautiful from all over the world gathered. During the legendary ​‘Golden Age’ of the Greek jet set, the Athenian Riviera was not just a holiday resort, but a meeting place for the international elite.

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