Top Beaches for Kids in Athens

When you’ve climbed the ancient Acropolis and done all of the museums, a relaxing afternoon at a family-friendly beach where the kids can have fun in the sun sounds ideal!

In Athens, there are many fantastic beaches where you can do just that. The Athenian coastline actually offers some of the best family beaches for you to explore within an hour’s reach, providing a wonderful escape from the bustling city center. Most of the larger resorts and beach clubs offer all the amenities your family need, first-rate services, exciting culinary experiences, children’s playgrounds, sports facilities and a range of watersports. Several beaches also hold the Blue Flag certificate for cleanliness and safety, with lifeguards on duty at most of the organized resorts.

You will find the unique BOXAKI service on several beaches below (marked with a B). The secure safe with a digital lock is attached to your umbrella post to store any personal items such as your cell phone or wallet while you have a carefree dip in the turquoise waters.

SOUTHSIDE FUNSPOTS

The Athenian Riviera to the south begins at Piraeus and runs all the way along the Saronic Gulf to Cape Sounio. As its name suggests, the Riviera is a golden stretch of palm-lined promenades, high-end resorts, child-friendly amenities, fabulous dining options, and stunning coastline. You will find numerous sandy beaches with transparent shallow waters that offer total safety and endless hours of fun for all the family.

Here’s our list of the top kid-friendly beaches in the area:

Alimos: Costa Del Sol Beach Resort

Alimos Beach is just a 15-minute ride from the center and has a unique island vibe that all the family will love. The large, sandy beach is partly organized with umbrellas, sunbeds, showers, lifeguards as well as a swimwear boutique.

The kids can spend all day in the Wet Park and play area, or the whole family can hire a pedal boat or some canoes. A string of lively bars and funky restaurants do all-day dining and you can enjoy scrumptious pizza, burgers, and more right on the beach!

For more info: Alimos – Costa Del Sol Beach Resort

Glyfada: Asteras Beach Glyfada (B)

Glyfada is a fantastic cosmopolitan suburb only 16 km from the city center with a great beach complex for the whole family. The kids will love the water trampolines and large playground and you can enjoy sun-beds, umbrellas, lockers, changing rooms, and showers.

The Balux Restaurant and House Project is on the waterfront, offering self-service and all-day dining in fabulous surroundings. This also happens to be one of the best sunset spots in town!

APRIL 2022 UPDATE: BALUX Closed for Renovation!

Take the tram and enjoy the coastal views

Voula: Thalassea (B)

Just 14 minutes down the coast is the exclusive suburb of Voula, which boasts a couple of fine, sandy beaches.

Thalassea is our favorite: a very well-organized family beach club in a lovely setting, where children can swim safely in very clean, shallow waters and have a run around on the grassy lawns. Snacks and refreshments are served all day and there is also a small mini-market on site for all your needs.

The sea is very shallow with a smooth, sandy bottom

Kavouri: Apollon Beach (B)

Kavouri is a lush, pine-clad suburb with stunning sandy beaches only 4 km after Glyfada and the Apollon Beach is one of the best family-friendly beaches you will find due to its shallow, safe waters.

The Apollon Beach is part of the Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso and offers amenities and services for the whole family to enjoy. While the kids are having fun paddle-boarding or learning water-skiing, you can sit back and order a cool drink at the press of a button or take a family excursion with a skipper to the nearby islets.

Website: Kavouri – Apollon Beach (B)

Some of the best fresh fish restaurants in Athens are right next to the beach

Kavouri: Zen Beach (B)

This exclusive beach is tucked away from the main road in a small cove and is well known for its natural beauty and yellow sand. Luxurious sunbeds and decking mean you can sit back and relax while the kids spend endless hours of fun in the azure waters.

The beachfront restaurant serves an eclectic mix of dishes and refreshments allowing you to spend the whole day at this top family-friendly beach without a worry.

Website: Kavouri: Zen Beach (B)

Book your sunbeds before you go to avoid disappointment

Vouliagmeni: Astir Beach (B)

The upscale Astir Beach can be found in one of the plushest neighborhoods in Athens and is a beach experience like no other. Apart from the great water sports available and designated areas for beach rackets and volleyball, Kid’s Fun Sessions are organized throughout the summer. Take a sip of your designer cocktail in a plush private gazebo or use the Concierge Service for a tailor-made visit sure to satisfy all the family.

Website: Vouliagmenis: Astir Beach (B)

Walk along to Astir Park to enjoy the sunset

Vouliagmeni: Akti Vouliagmenis (B)

This beach is an all-time classic and one of the best child-friendly beaches you will find.

Whole families arrive in the morning and leave at sunset, having spent the day lounging in comfortable sunbeds, swimming in the shallow clear water, and soaking up the perfect combo of sun, sea, and sand. The kids will love the playground and the grassed areas while the snack bar will keep them fuelled up as you relax and enjoy the views out to sea.

Website: Akti Vouliagmenis (B)

Join in a game of beach volley with the locals

Varkiza: Varkiza Resort (B)

The seaside town of Varkiza lies just along the coast after Vouliagmeni and has a real holiday feel to it.

The newly opened Varkiza Resort and sandy Yabanaki Beach offer a holistic beach experience for all the family, with beach tennis, volleyball, aqua aerobics and fitness events, windsurfing, massage, and even manicure-pedicure services. Kids can choose from a range of family-friendly restaurants serving everything from Tex-Mex to burgers and pizzas. All you need to do is let your hair down and enjoy!

Website: Varkiza Resort (B)

Enjoy a walk along the lively promenade

Lagonissi: Grand Beach

Lagonissi is a prime coastal location about 30 kilometers from the city center and has been well developed to provide a wonderful beach experience for the whole family.

Grand Beach is part of the Grand Resort Lagonissi and visitors can take advantage of a superb setting, first-class amenities, and plenty of activities to keep the children busy. Enjoy sushi on the beach after a morning of beach volley, swimming in the sea or pool, and fun in the kid’s playground. A range of different membership cards can be obtained for additional perks.

Website: Lagonissi Grand Beach

Stay at the Grand Resort and enjoy extra beach benefits

Anavyssos

If you want to combine a family-friendly beach with an amazing gastronomy experience, then Anavyssos is the place for you. This lovely seaside town is about an hour’s drive from the capital and has always been a family favorite because of the long sandy beach and very clean water, making it ideal for toddlers and young children.

At the L’Amico Beach Club you can rent a private gazebo, which will offer plenty of shade, and there is no shortage of water fun for the kids before you sit down to enjoy authentic Italian dishes served on the waterfront.

Let the kids have windsurfing lessons with qualified instructors

Cape Sounion

A drive along the coast of the Athenian Riviera will take you to the spectacular Cape Sounion, where you will find the Temple of Poseidon overlooking the Aegean Sea.

A wonderfully organized beach can be found just before that belonging to Cape Sounio Grecotel Boutique Resort, ensuring fun and pleasure for the whole family. The crystal clear waters and sandy seabed make the bay very safe for children to swim in and boho gazebos provide welcome shade from the sun. Umbrellas, showers, sunbeds with padded mattresses, beach towels, changing cabins, and toilets are available to all hotel guests.

Book a Percy Jackson Tour of the Temple of Sounion with a children’s guide

EAST OF ATHENS

If you want to explore the east coast of Athens, some excellent family-friendly beaches offer a comprehensive range of amenities for you and the children in around an hour’s drive.

Schinias

Schinias is one of the best beaches for families, about 45 kilometres from the city centre, near Marathon. Its reputation for crystal clear waters and golden sand lined by pine forests make it a lovely place to spend the day and the kids will have plenty to do. The beach is partly organized although changing rooms and showers are available. The kids can have a go at snorkelling, sailing or windsurfing, and a line-up of cafés and small snack bars means they will never go hungry. This is a relaxing beach without the frills but blessed by natural beauty.

Visit the Schinias National Park while you are there

Porto Rafti

Although one of the most beautiful coastal resorts outside of Athens city center, Porto Rafti has yet to be fully discovered by visitors. It can be found 35 km south-east of the capital and is well known as having some of the best family beaches in the area.

The bay is well-protected from strong winds and has tranquil, safe waters for children to swim in. There are several beaches to choose from and some of them provide umbrellas and sunbeds, such as Avlaki Beach, which is also a Blue Flag holder. Swimming, snorkelling, and water sports will keep everyone happy all day long!

Enjoy an iced coffee at Kastro up on the hilltop

THE WESTERN SHORES

The west coast of Athens is washed by the Corinthian Gulf and you will find a string of relatively unknown beach spots that Athenian families love to visit. There are many hotels, restaurants, seaside bars, cafés and picturesque villages for you to explore and some wonderful, long shallow beaches with pebbles or sand.

Psatha Beach

If you fancy a day trip, Psatha Beach is well worth a visit because of its stunning setting and laid-back vibes, where you can fully unwind while the kids take advantage of the wonderful shallow waters. It is partially organized and will give you an authentic Greek experience, with its traditional taverns overlooking the stunning bay. Youngsters can try paragliding, windsurfing, SUP, and kayaking while you sip on ouzo and try some mouthwatering mezes.

You can book your sunbeds and umbrellas with the PLAZZ app

Porto Germeno

Porto Germeno is a 60 km drive from Athens and has five beaches for you to choose from, with Prosili Beach a family favourite due to its shallow waters. Situated in the Corinthian Bay, you will find many accessible beaches ideal for swimming, with several taverns and cafés waiting to welcome you. Many Athenians have summer homes here which they escape to with their families throughout the year and it is worth spending a day there to see the other side of city life.

Visit mid-week to avoid the traffic

Did you know?

You can download the PLAZZ app and book your sunbeds at many of the beaches mentioned above before arrival!

Book one of our exciting family activities when you visit any of the above beaches and discover archaeological sites, enjoy a private sailing trip, visit the local sea turtles centre or take part in Greek cookery lessons.

You can find our full range of half-day and full-day activities in Athens HERE!